Dual purpose trailer sway control device and safety connector for mounting on either the towed or towing vehicle

Claim 2

A sway control device adapted for mounting onto the rear portion of a towing vehicle provided with a pivotal hitch connection connectable to a coupler provided for the tongue of a trailer comprising in combination: a curved guiding surface adapted to be secured to said towing vehicle adjacent to said pivotal hitch connection comprising a convex configuration at least partially surrounding the pivotal hitch connection of the towing vehicle, said curved guiding surface containing the coupler to limit its forward and lateral movement and having curved portions laterally positioned an equal distance on each side of said pivotal hitch connection, a flexible connector comprising first and second ends and an intermediate portion, said first and second ends adaptedly securable to opposite sides of the tongue of the trailer, said intermediate portion adapted to cooperatively engage the external surface of said curved guiding surface in a taut manner to cause frictional damping thereon and limit movement of the coupler from the area of said pivotal hitch connection in the event said coupler accidentally becomes disengaged from its pivotal hitch connection while the trailer is being towed, and means to tighten and loosen the perimeter of said connector encompassing said curved guiding surfaces.

Claim 3

The sway control device set forth in claim 1 whErein: said curved guiding surface is a non-rotatable structure.

Claim 4

The sway control device set forth in claim 1 wherein: said curved surface is arranged laterally to the axial alignment of the pivotal hitch connection and the coupler when connected.

Claim 5

The sway control device set forth in claim 1 wherein: said curved surface extends vertically over the pivotal hitch connection of the towing vehicle.

Claim 6

The sway control device set forth in claim 1 wherein: said curved guiding surface comprises a convex configuration having ends which turn toward the coupler of a connected trailer.

Claim 7

The sway control device set forth in claim 1 wherein: at least the part of said flexible connector engaging said curved surface comprises a belt.

Claim 8

The sway control device set forth in claim 6 wherein: said belt is substantially equal in tensile strength to chain linkages normally employed as safety chains on trailer towing vehicles.

Claim 9

The sway control device set forth in claim 6 wherein: said flexible connector comprises at least one turnbuckle.

Claim 10

The sway control device set forth in claim 1 in further combination with: a safety chain arranged to extend underneath the tongue of the trailer and having its ends connected to opposite points on said flexible connector.

Claim 11

The sway control device set forth in claim 1 wherein: said curved guiding surface is provided with means for maintaining the flexible connector on said surface.

Claim 12

The sway control device set forth in claim 10 wherein: said means comprises at least one bracket for limiting the movement laterally of the flexible connector along the length of said curved guiding surface.

Claim 13

The sway control device set forth in claim 11 wherein: two brackets are provided one on each end of said curved guiding surface.

Claim 14

The sway control device set forth in claim 1 wherein: said curved portions comprise a pair of rotatable structures laterally positioned an equal distance on each side of said pivotal hitch connection.

Claim 15

A sway control device for mounting on the rear portion of a towing vehicle towing a trailer having a tongue and hitch coupler comprising in combination: a hitch bracket adapted to be secured to the rear portion of said towing vehicle and extending rearward therefrom, said hitch bracket adapted to receive a trailer mounted hitch coupler for pivotal connection therewith, at least one non-rotatable curved guiding surface secured to said hitch bracket adjacent said pivotal connection, said surface extending laterally of the longitudinal axis of the said hitch bracket and comprising a convex configuration at least partially surrounding the pivotal connection of the hitch coupler, the outer portion of the convex configuration serving as a friction guiding surface for a flexible operating means and the inner portion facing the hitch coupler and partially surrounding it, a flexible operating means having first and second ends and a middle portion, said ends each being provided with attachment means for engaging opposite sides of the tongue of the trailer, said middle portion of said operating means cooperatively engaging the friction guiding surface of said curved guiding surface in a taut manner to induce frictional damping movement of said operating means thereon, and means for tightening and loosening the perimeter of said operating means encompassing said arcuate surfaces and said attachment means.

Claim 16

A sway control device for mounting on the rear portion of a towing vehicle towing a trailer having a tongue and hitch coupler comprising in combination: a hitch bracket adapted to be secured to the rear portion of said towing vehicle and extending rearward therefrom, said hitch bracket adapted to receive a trailer mounted hitch coupler for pivotal connection therewith, at least one non-rotatable curved guiding surface secured to said hitch bracket adjacent said pivotal connection, said surface extending laterally of the longitudinal axis of the said hitch bracket and comprising a convex configuration at least partially surrounding the pivotal connection of the hitch coupler, the outer portion of the convex configuration serving as a friction guiding surface for a flexible operating means and the inner portion facing the hitch coupler and partially surrounding it, a flexible operating means having first and second ends and a middle portion, said ends each being provided with attachment means for engaging opposite sides of the tongue of the trailer, said middle portion of said operating means cooperatively engaging the friction guiding surface of said curved guiding surface in a taut manner to induce frictional damping movement of said operating means thereon, and means for tightening and loosening the perimeter of said operating means encompassing said arcuate surfaces and said attachment means.

Claim 17

The sway control device set forth in claim 14 wherein: said curved surface comprises two separated curved portions positioned on said hitch bracket an equal distance on each side of the pivotal connection with said coupler.

Claim 18

The sway control device set forth in claim 14 in further combination with: a trailer hitch ball mounted on said hitch bracket to form said pivotal connection, and clamp means forming a part of said hitch bracket foR attachment to the rear portion of said towing vehicle.

Claim 19

The sway control device set forth in claim 14 wherein: said curved guiding surface is provided with one or more brackets for limiting the lateral movement of said flexible operating means.

Claim 20

A sway control device demountably connectable between a towing vehicle and a vehicle being towed comprising in combination: a flexible operating means comprising first and second ends and an intermediate portion, a fixedly mountable curved guiding surface frictionally engaging said intermediate portion of said operating means, said curved guiding surface comprising a pair of spaced apart convex curved configurations, said ends of said operating means being secured to one of said vehicles and said intermediate portion of said operating means being positioned over said convex curved configurations in a taut manner to induce frictional damping between said operating means and said guiding surface, and dual purpose means for tightening the perimeter of said operating means to operationally engage said guiding surface and to loosen said operating means for disconnection between said vehicles.

Claim 21

A sway control device demountably connectable between a towing vehicle and a vehicle being towed comprising in combination: a flexible operating means comprising first and second ends and an intermediate portion, a fixedly mountable curved guiding surface frictionally engaging said intermediate portion of said operating means, said curved guiding surface comprising a pair of spaced apart convex curved configurations, said ends of said operating means being secured to one of said vehicles and said intermediate portion of said operating means being positioned over said convex curved configurations in a taut manner to induce frictional damping between said operating means and said guiding surface, and dual purpose means for tightening the perimeter of said operating means to operationally engage said guiding surface and to loosen said operating means for disconnection between said vehicles.

Claim 22

The sway control device set forth in claim 18 in further combination with: means mounted on said convex curved surface configuration for limiting lateral movement of said operating means when moving longitudinally thereof.

Claim 23

A trailer having a tongue with opposite sides adapted to receive opposite ends of a flexible connector having an intermediate portion adjustably connectable to the rear portion of a towing vehicle comprising in combination: a hitch bracket having opposite ends, one of said ends adapted to be secured onto said rear portion of said towing vehicle, the other of said ends adapted for mounting a pivotal connection connectable to a coupler secured to said tongue, a vertically positioned convex arcuate guiding surface secured to said hitch bracket adjacent said pivotal connection, said surface at least partially surrounding the pivotal connection and containing the connection to limit its forward and lateral movement, the external perimeter of said arcuate surfaces adapted to receive said intermediate portion of said flexible connector in a manner to induce frictional damping thereon and to restrict movement of said coupler in event said coupler becomes accidently disconnected when towing a trailer.

Claim 24

A trailer having a tongue with opposite sides adapted to receive opposite ends of a flexible connector having an intermediate portion adjustably connectable to the rear portion of a towing vehicle comprising in combination: a hitch bracket having opposite ends, one of said ends adapted to be secured onto said rear portion of said towing vehicle, the other of said ends adapted for mounting a pivotal connection connectable to a coupler secured to said tongue, a vertically positioned convex arcuate guiding surface secured to said hitch bracket adjacent said pivotal connection, said surface at least partially surrounding the pivotal connection and containing the connection to limit its forward and lateral movement, the external perimeter of said arcuate surfaces adapted to receive said intermediate portion of said flexible connector in a manner to induce frictional damping thereon and to restrict movement of said coupler in event said coupler becomes accidently disconnected when towing a trailer.

Claim 25

A sway control device adapted for mounting onto the rear portion of a towing vehicle provided with a pivotal hitch connection connectable to a coupler provided for the tongue of a trailer comprising in combination: a curved guiding surface comprising two spaced apart curved arcuate configurations each having a common end in alignment with the other and their other ends curved toward the tongue of the towed trailer, said curved guiding surface adapted to be secured to said towing vehicle adjacent to said pivotal hitch connection, said curved arcuate configurations being laterally positioned an equal distance one on each side of said pivotal hitch connection, a flexible connector comprising first and second ends and an intermediate portion, said first and second ends adaptedly securable to opposite sides of the tongue of the trailer, said intermediate portions adapted to cooperatively engage the external surface of said curved guiding surface in a taut manner to cause frictional damping thereon and limit movement of the coupler from the area of said pivotal hitch connection in the event said coupler accidentally becomes disengaged from its pivotal hitch connection while the trailer is being towed, and means to tighten and loosen the perimeter of said connector encompassing said curved guiding surface.

Claim 26

A sway control device adapted for mounting onto the rear portion of a towing vehicle provided with a pivotal hitch connection connectable to a coupler provided for the tongue of a trailer comprising in combination: a curved guiding surface comprising two spaced apart curved arcuate configurations each having a common end in alignment with the other and their other ends curved toward the tongue of the towed trailer, said curved guiding surface adapted to be secured to said towing vehicle adjacent to said pivotal hitch connection, said curved arcuate configurations being laterally positioned an equal distance one on each side of said pivotal hitch connection, a flexible connector comprising first and second ends and an intermediate portion, said first and second ends adaptedly securable to opposite sides of the tongue of the trailer, said intermediate portions adapted to cooperatively engage the external surface of said curved guiding surface in a taut manner to cause frictional damping thereon and limit movement of the coupler from the area of said pivotal hitch connection in the event said coupler accidentally becomes disengaged from its pivotal hitch connection while the trailer is being towed, and means to tighten and loosen the perimeter of said connector encompassing said curved guiding surface.

Claim 27

The sway control device set forth in claim 21, wherein: said means comprises a toggle release lever.

Claim 28

A dual purpose sway control device adapted to be secured adjacent the hitch ball Of a towing vehicle interconnected to the tongue mounted coupler of a trailer comprising in combination: an arcuate structure comprising an outer portion utilized as a friction guiding surface and an inner portion facing said coupler and partially surrounding the hitch ball and coupler when connected to the towing vehicle, a flexible connector comprising left and right end portions and an intermediate portion, said left and right portions provided with attachment means to corresponding left and right sides of the tongue of the trailer, said intermediate portion adapted to conform to and cooperatively engage said guiding surface in a biasing manner to cause frictional damping thereon, the coupler when connected to the hitch ball providing a first means of connection between the towing vehicle and the trailer, said end portions of said connector when connected to said tongue and said intermediate portion when engaging said guiding surface comprising a second means of connection between the towing vehicle and the trailer, said connector when drawn taut providing frictional damped movement of said connector along the length of said guiding surface and confining movement of said coupler within the area of said inner portion of said structure in event of accidental disengagement of said coupler from said hitch ball while said trailer is being towed, and means to cause tightening and loosening of said connector.

Claim 29

A dual purpose sway control device adapted to be secured adjacent the hitch ball Of a towing vehicle interconnected to the tongue mounted coupler of a trailer comprising in combination: an arcuate structure comprising an outer portion utilized as a friction guiding surface and an inner portion facing said coupler and partially surrounding the hitch ball and coupler when connected to the towing vehicle, a flexible connector comprising left and right end portions and an intermediate portion, said left and right portions provided with attachment means to corresponding left and right sides of the tongue of the trailer, said intermediate portion adapted to conform to and cooperatively engage said guiding surface in a biasing manner to cause frictional damping thereon, the coupler when connected to the hitch ball providing a first means of connection between the towing vehicle and the trailer, said end portions of said connector when connected to said tongue and said intermediate portion when engaging said guiding surface comprising a second means of connection between the towing vehicle and the trailer, said connector when drawn taut providing frictional damped movement of said connector along the length of said guiding surface and confining movement of said coupler within the area of said inner portion of said structure in event of accidental disengagement of said coupler from said hitch ball while said trailer is being towed, and means to cause tightening and loosening of said connector.