US3955831A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compound trailer hitch with gooseneck support
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-04-14
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Granted: 1976-05-11
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Expires: 1995-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A compound trailer hitch which includes a pair of links pivotally interconnecting a pickup truck and a two-wheel type trailer. The links converge symmetrically from spaced apart positions at the leading end of the trailer to the trailing end of the truck. This convergence is such that the forward projectons of the links converge to define a pivot axis which is at the longitudinal axis of the truck and near the rear axle thereof whenever the truck and trailer are in alignment. The front portion of the weight of the trailer and the load upon it is supported upon the truck by an arm similar to a gooseneck hitch. This arm is pivoted at each end, at the truck and at the trailer, and it also slides in a groove at the truck connection to compensate for the drifting of the pivot axis defined by links which occurs whenever the trailer swings to an angle with respect to the truck, as in a turn.
Inventors
- 👤 Woodrow C. Whitchurch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:39
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/01; B60D1/07; B60D1/06; B60D1/065; B60D1/14; B60D1/173; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0807; B62D53/0828; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S280/00; Y10S280/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
301 words
A compound trailer hitch for interconnecting the trailing end of a vehicle having its trailing end spaced rearwardly of the rear axle to the leading end of a two-wheel type trailer having its wheels rearwardly of its center of gravity whereby to normally place part of the trailer weight upon the vehicle, which includes in combination: a. a hitching means comprising: i. a pair of hitch links, each having a swivel connection means at its front end and rear end; ii. a swivel connector at each side of the trailing end of the vehicle, with each swivel connector connecting with the front end swivel connection means of a hitch link and iii. a swivel connector at each side of the leading end of the trailer, with each swivel connector connecting with the rear end swivel connection means of a hitch link; wherein the swivel connectors on the trailer and on the vehicle are arranged such that the spacing between the trailer swivel connectors is greater than the spacing between the vehicle swivel connectors whereby the hitch links are spaced apart and converge forwardly with the forward projections of the converging links meeting at a point near the vehicle axle whenever the vehicle and trailer are in alignment; and b. a load supporting means comprising: i. a cantilever arm outstanding from the leading end of the trailer and extending forwardly of the trailing end of the vehicle; ii. a connective means on the vehicle to engage the cantilever arm to receive loads imposed onto the vehicle from the trailer through the arm and iii. a shifting means associated with the arm and the connective means to effect a continuous flexible engagement of the cantilever arm and the connective means as the relative positions of the vehicle and trailer change, as when turning.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
301 words
A compound trailer hitch for interconnecting the trailing end of a vehicle having its trailing end spaced rearwardly of the rear axle to the leading end of a two-wheel type trailer having its wheels rearwardly of its center of gravity whereby to normally place part of the trailer weight upon the vehicle, which includes in combination: a. a hitching means comprising: i. a pair of hitch links, each having a swivel connection means at its front end and rear end; ii. a swivel connector at each side of the trailing end of the vehicle, with each swivel connector connecting with the front end swivel connection means of a hitch link and iii. a swivel connector at each side of the leading end of the trailer, with each swivel connector connecting with the rear end swivel connection means of a hitch link; wherein the swivel connectors on the trailer and on the vehicle are arranged such that the spacing between the trailer swivel connectors is greater than the spacing between the vehicle swivel connectors whereby the hitch links are spaced apart and converge forwardly with the forward projections of the converging links meeting at a point near the vehicle axle whenever the vehicle and trailer are in alignment; and b. a load supporting means comprising: i. a cantilever arm outstanding from the leading end of the trailer and extending forwardly of the trailing end of the vehicle; ii. a connective means on the vehicle to engage the cantilever arm to receive loads imposed onto the vehicle from the trailer through the arm and iii. a shifting means associated with the arm and the connective means to effect a continuous flexible engagement of the cantilever arm and the connective means as the relative positions of the vehicle and trailer change, as when turning.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
In the combination defined in claim 1, wherein the shifting means includes: a. a vertical-axised pivot on the cantilever arm adjacent to the trailer to permit the arm to swing laterally; and b. a slide means at the connective means on the vehicle to permit the slide means to shift longitudinally with respect to the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination defined in claim 2, wherein: the cantilever arm extends above the rear end of the vehicle as a gooseneck connector and includes a socket at its extended end; and the connective means includes a ball to receive the aforesaid socket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination defined in claim 3, wherein the vehicle includes: a flat bed above the rear axle and the connective means, the ball, is positioned approximately above the rear axle whenever the vehicle and trailer are in alignment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination defined in claim 3, including: a second, vertical-axised pivot on the cantilever arm at a position intermediate to the trailer and vehicle connections whereby to permit the swinging arc of the forward end of the arm to be restrained compared with the swinging arc of the rear end of the arm when the vehicle and trailer are turning.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination defined in claim 3, wherein the vehicle includes: a flat bed; and the connector-slide means is a way mounted longitudinally upon the vehicle to support the aforesaid ball.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination defined in claim 1, wherein: the connective means is a strut means upstanding from the vehicle to engage the cantilever arm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
In the combination defined in claim 6 wherein the strut means includes: a bent in the form of an inverted U having a transverse horizontal arm over the rear portion of the vehicle and vertical arms pivotally connected to the opposite sides of the vehicle to permit the horizontal arm to swing forwardly and rearwardly above the vehicle; and the shifting means includes a pivot-slide connector at the outstanding end of the cantilever arm connecting with the horizontal arm of the bent to permit the same to slide along the horizontal arm and to pivot thereabout as the relative positions of the vehicle and trailer change when turning.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
In the organization defined in claim 6 wherein the shifting means includes: a vertically axised pivot at the base of the cantilever arm, at the trailer, adapted to permit the cantilever arm to swing in a horizontal plane when the trailer is at a horizontal position, and the strut means includes a tube pivoted to the body of the vehicle to telescopically receive the extended end of the cantilever arm and to pivot with respect to the vehicle in conformance with the movements of the cantilever arm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
In the organization defined in claim 6, wherein said strut comprises: a post upstanding from the body of the vehicle connecting with the cantilever arm and the shifting means includes: a ball socket joint at each end of the strut, connecting one end of the strut to the vehicle and the other end to the cantilever arm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination defined in claim 5, wherein: The aforesaid second vertically axised pivot on the cantilever arm is essentially in transverse alignment with the swivel connectors at the trailing end of the vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-05-11 | 1979-11-10 | 1980-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-05-11 | 1983-11-10 | 1984-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-05-11 | 1987-11-10 | 1988-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |