Patent US5110619A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3964767A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3964767A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Anti-sway trailer hitch
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-03-19
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Granted: 1976-06-22
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Expires: 1995-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A composite trailer tow bar has a bifurcated rearward portion terminating in parallel pointed pins which fit into laterally-spaced holes in a vertically-movable adjustable plate attached to an elongated angle bracket secured as by welding to the converging trailer frame side members at the forward end of the trailer frame. Mounted on a support plate secured to the forward end of the trailer frame is a vertical trailer jack which extends downward between the bifurcated portions of the tow bar. Secured to the top and bottom of the latter are gusset plates, the upper one of which carries a rearward coupling ball adapted to receive a coupling socket on the forward end of the trailer frame. The forward portion of the tow bar terminates in a forward coupling socket which is adapted to engage a forward coupling ball, the center of which is in substantially the same horizontal plane as the axis of the rear axle housing of the towing vehicle and is positioned immediately behind the differential housing thereof. The stem of the forward coupling ball is mounted on a cross beam secured at its opposite ends to two bracket plates depending from the opposite frame side members of the towing vehicle. The cross beam and these plates carry cable guide eyes at the top and bottom thereof slidably receiving flexible steel coupling-assist cables connected at their lower ends to the ends of forwardly-diverging safety chains hooked at their rearward ends to an anchorage eye depending from the tow bar. The upper portions of the coupling-assist cables extend rearwardly through rearward guide eyes at the rearward ends of the towing vehicle side members, and then pass perpendicularly in opposite directions therebetween and terminate in hooks detachably connected to the rearward eyes.
Inventors
- 👤 Berdell Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:27
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/24; B60D1/36; B60D1/40; B60D1/58; B60D1/62; B60D1/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
An anti-sway trailer hitch construction adapted to be connected between the forward portion of the frame of a trailer and the rearward portion of the frame of a conventional towing vehicle having a rear axle with a transverse axis or rotation and differential gearing within a differential housing, said construction comprising an elongated tow bar having a forward portion and a rearward portion, means on said rearward portion of said tow bar for attaching said tow bar to the forward portion of the trailer frame, a forward coupling device support structure adapted to be secured to and depend from the rearward portion of the towing vehicle frame and extending downward therefrom into a position immediately behind and adjacent the differential housing, and a forward coupling device having a first coupling element mounted on said support structure immediately behind and adjacent the differential housing and disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane as the axis of rotation of the rear axle, said forward coupling device support structure and said first coupling element being movable unitarily with the rearward portion of the towing vehicle frame but movable independently of the towing vehicle differential housing and rear axle, said forward coupling having a second coupling element mounted on said forward portion of said tow bar and separably engageable with said first coupling element in coupling relationship therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
An anti-sway trailer hitch construction adapted to be connected between the forward portion of the frame of a trailer and the rearward portion of the frame of a conventional towing vehicle having a rear axle with a transverse axis or rotation and differential gearing within a differential housing, said construction comprising an elongated tow bar having a forward portion and a rearward portion, means on said rearward portion of said tow bar for attaching said tow bar to the forward portion of the trailer frame, a forward coupling device support structure adapted to be secured to and depend from the rearward portion of the towing vehicle frame and extending downward therefrom into a position immediately behind and adjacent the differential housing, and a forward coupling device having a first coupling element mounted on said support structure immediately behind and adjacent the differential housing and disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane as the axis of rotation of the rear axle, said forward coupling device support structure and said first coupling element being movable unitarily with the rearward portion of the towing vehicle frame but movable independently of the towing vehicle differential housing and rear axle, said forward coupling having a second coupling element mounted on said forward portion of said tow bar and separably engageable with said first coupling element in coupling relationship therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
An anti-sway trailer hitch construction, according to claim 1, wherein said forward coupling device support structure comprises a pair of vertical support members disposed in laterally-spaced parallel relationship and adapted to be secured at their upper ends to and depend from the rearward portion of the towing vehicle frame and a transverse support member secured to and extending between the lower portions of said vertical support members, said first coupling element being mounted on said transverse support member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An anti-sway trailer hitch construction, according to claim 2, wherein a shield member is mounted on said transverse support member forward of said first coupling element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
An anti-sway trailer hitch construction, according to claim 2, wherein said transverse support member and said vertical support member have multiple guide elements thereon disposed in spaced relationship to one another and wherein elongated flexible tow bar positioning means are connected to said forward portion of said tow bar and extend first laterally and then upwardly therefrom through said multiple guide elements and terminate adjacent the rearward portion of the towing vehicle frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
An anti-sway trailer hitch construction, according to claim 4, wherein said plural guide elements are disposed on opposite sides of said first coupling element on said transverse support member and on said vertical support, and wherein said elongated flexible tow bar positioning means includes a pair of flexible cables connected to said forward portion of said tow bar and extending laterally in opposite directions therefrom and upwardly through said multiple guide elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An anti-sway trailer hitch construction, according to claim 5, wherein trailer safety chains are connected between said forward portion of said tow bar and said cables.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
An anti-sway trailer hitch construction, according to claim 1, wherein said forward portion of said tow bar has an anchorage element secured thereto, wherein said support structure has spaced guide elements mounted thereon in laterally and upwwardly spaced positions relatively to said anchorage element and has elongated flexible tow bar positioning means connected to said anchorage element and disposed in said guide elements for longitudinal motion therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
An anti-sway trailer hitch construction, according to claim 1, wherein said forward portion of said tow bar comprises a single tow bar tongue structure, wherein said rearward portion of said tow bar comprises a pair of laterally-spaced substantially parallel members terminating rearwardly in longitudinally-extending parallel elements, and wherein a laterally-elongated bracket member is adapted to be secured to the forward trailer frame portion and has laterally-spaced apertures aligned with and adjustably slidably receiving said parallel elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
An anti-sway trailer hitch construction, according to claim 8, wherein a rearward coupling device is mounted on said tow bar forwardly of said parallel elements in longitudinally-spaced relationship therewith and is adapted to be secured to the forward trailer frame portion.
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) | 1979-06-22 | 1979-12-22 | 1980-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-22 | 1983-12-22 | 1984-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-22 | 1987-12-22 | 1988-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |