Patent US3986727A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3986727A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hitch for low-bed trailers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-09-17
•
Granted: 1976-10-19
•
Expires: 1995-09-17
Abstract
Abstract To facilitate transporting heavy equipment on forest service roads and the like by means of a low-bed trailer having a gooseneck drawbar, the customary fifth wheel pivotal connection between the towing tractor and trailer is immobilized relative to horizontal or side pivoting and the pivotal connection between the tractor and trailer is placed rearwardly of the tractor adjacent the bottom of the gooseneck. As a result, the tendency for the trailer to "cut the corner" on a sharp curve is substantially eliminated and the trailer will substantially follow the tracks of the tractor around such corners.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest P. Cox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:52
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/06; B62D53/061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
In a haulage vehicle caravan including a tractor and a low-bed trailer having a gooseneck draw bar extending forwardly thereof and over and above the rear wheel assembly of the tractor, the improvement comprising a coupling means interconnecting the forward portion of the gooseneck draw bar with a bed portion of the tractor, said coupling means firmly resisting horizontal pivoting of the gooseneck draw bar relative to the tractor and allowing limited vertical rocking thereof relative to the tractor, and a pivot assembly rearwardly of the tractor and adjacent the base of the gooseneck draw bar and interconnecting said base with the leading end of the trailer, whereby said trailer may pivot horizontally in either direction relative to the tractor and the gooseneck draw bar, said coupling means comprising a fixed bed member on the tractor adjacent the rear wheel assembly of the tractor, a rocker plate above said bed member, a transverse horizontal axis pivot element interconnecting the rocker plate and bed member, the top of the rocker plate having fore and aft space coupling ramps therein, a pair of coacting fore and aft spaced depending coupling pins on the gooseneck draw bar adapted to be received releasably in said ramps.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a haulage vehicle caravan including a tractor and a low-bed trailer having a gooseneck draw bar extending forwardly thereof and over and above the rear wheel assembly of the tractor, the improvement comprising a coupling means interconnecting the forward portion of the gooseneck draw bar with a bed portion of the tractor, said coupling means firmly resisting horizontal pivoting of the gooseneck draw bar relative to the tractor and allowing limited vertical rocking thereof relative to the tractor, and a pivot assembly rearwardly of the tractor and adjacent the base of the gooseneck draw bar and interconnecting said base with the leading end of the trailer, whereby said trailer may pivot horizontally in either direction relative to the tractor and the gooseneck draw bar, said coupling means comprising a fixed bed member on the tractor adjacent the rear wheel assembly of the tractor, a rocker plate above said bed member, a transverse horizontal axis pivot element interconnecting the rocker plate and bed member, the top of the rocker plate having fore and aft space coupling ramps therein, a pair of coacting fore and aft spaced depending coupling pins on the gooseneck draw bar adapted to be received releasably in said ramps.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
208 words
In a haulage vehicle caravan including a tractor and a low-bed trailer having a gooseneck draw bar extending forwardly thereof and over and above the rear wheel assembly of the tractor, the improvement comprising a coupling means interconnecting the forward portion of the gooseneck draw bar with a bed portion of the tractor, said coupling means firmly resisting horizontal pivoting of the gooseneck draw bar relative to the tractor and allowing limited vertical rocking thereof relative to the tractor, and a pivot assembly rearwardly of the tractor and adjacent the base of the gooseneck draw bar and interconnecting said base with the leading end of said trailer, whereby said trailer may pivot horizontally in either direction relative to the tractor and the gooseneck draw bar, said pivot assembly including interfitting relatively movable plates, said pivot assembly including a pair of superposed plates secured to said trailer in vertically spaced relation, a single plate secured to the base of the gooseneck draw bar and being interposed between said pair of plates for relative turning movement horizontally, bearings mounted on said pair of plates centrally, and a vertical axis pivot element keyed to said single plate and projecting above and below the single plate and being engaged within said bearings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
208 words
In a haulage vehicle caravan including a tractor and a low-bed trailer having a gooseneck draw bar extending forwardly thereof and over and above the rear wheel assembly of the tractor, the improvement comprising a coupling means interconnecting the forward portion of the gooseneck draw bar with a bed portion of the tractor, said coupling means firmly resisting horizontal pivoting of the gooseneck draw bar relative to the tractor and allowing limited vertical rocking thereof relative to the tractor, and a pivot assembly rearwardly of the tractor and adjacent the base of the gooseneck draw bar and interconnecting said base with the leading end of said trailer, whereby said trailer may pivot horizontally in either direction relative to the tractor and the gooseneck draw bar, said pivot assembly including interfitting relatively movable plates, said pivot assembly including a pair of superposed plates secured to said trailer in vertically spaced relation, a single plate secured to the base of the gooseneck draw bar and being interposed between said pair of plates for relative turning movement horizontally, bearings mounted on said pair of plates centrally, and a vertical axis pivot element keyed to said single plate and projecting above and below the single plate and being engaged within said bearings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 2, and said bearings comprising vertical axis roller bearings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure of claim 3, and a plurality of spaced vertical brace plates interconnecting said pair of plates with said trailer and projecting substantially across the top and bottom faces of the upper and lower plates in said pair.
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) | 1979-10-19 | 1980-04-19 | 1980-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-19 | 1984-04-19 | 1984-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-19 | 1988-04-19 | 1988-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |