Patent US4088339A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4088339A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer hitch assembly for pickup truck
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1977-02-01
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Granted: 1978-05-09
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Expires: 1997-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A trailer hitch which may be easily installed and removed from the bed of a pickup truck. The trailer hitch assembly includes a pair of retaining brackets which are mounted inside the individual wheel wells of the truck and are also secured to the truck frame. The retaining brackets each have a mounting aperture formed therein which cooperate with a pair of locking pins that are movably disposed at each end of a main support member that extends in use between the outside walls of the wheel wells in the bed of the pickup truck. The locking pins are spring-loaded and may be selectively actuated by a lever so as to render the main support member easily installable and removable from the bed of the truck. Centrally positioned on the main support member is a ball coupler for receiving the ball socket of a gooseneck type trailer hitch. Positioned transversely to the main support member at each end thereof are a pair of braces which conform in shape to the outer periphery of the wheel wells to secure the main support member both transversely and longitudinally in such a fashion that the stress imparted by the trailer will be distributed across the entire frame of the truck.
Inventors
- 👤 Dan Sagebiel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:06
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/48; B60D1/485; B60D1/01; B60D1/06; B60D1/488; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0807; B62D53/0828; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S280/00; Y10S280/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A trailer hitch assembly adapted to be removably mounted within the bed of a pickup truck, said pickuup truck including a pair of oppositely disposed wheel wells each having an outside wall adjacent said bed and an inside wall adjacent a respective rear wheel of said truck, and a frame, said hitch assembly comprising: a main support member having movable pin means at the ends thereof and adapted to be extended in use transversely between the outside walls of said pair of wheel wells in the bed of said pickup truck; means for coupling a gooseneck hitch connected to the approximately midpoint of said main support member; retaining mans positioned on the inside wall of each of said wheel wells for securing said main support member across the bed of said pickup truck in use, said retaining means comprising a plate member positioned on the inside wall of said wheel well and having a pin-receiving aperture formed therein; and means for connecting said plate member to the frame of said pickup truck.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A trailer hitch assembly adapted to be removably mounted within the bed of a pickup truck, said pickuup truck including a pair of oppositely disposed wheel wells each having an outside wall adjacent said bed and an inside wall adjacent a respective rear wheel of said truck, and a frame, said hitch assembly comprising: a main support member having movable pin means at the ends thereof and adapted to be extended in use transversely between the outside walls of said pair of wheel wells in the bed of said pickup truck; means for coupling a gooseneck hitch connected to the approximately midpoint of said main support member; retaining mans positioned on the inside wall of each of said wheel wells for securing said main support member across the bed of said pickup truck in use, said retaining means comprising a plate member positioned on the inside wall of said wheel well and having a pin-receiving aperture formed therein; and means for connecting said plate member to the frame of said pickup truck.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The trailer hitch assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said movable pin means comprises a pair of pins which are horizontally disposed one at each end of said main support member, and means for moving said pins between a lock position and a release position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The trailer hitch assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pin moving means comprise a lever pivotally mounted to said main support member and a pair of connecting rods each of which is pivotally mounted between one end of one of said pins and said lever.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The trailer hitch assembly as set forth in claim 3, further comprising means for biasing said pins into normal locking engagement with said retaining means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The trailer hitch assembly as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a pair of apertured guide plates for each of said pins, said biasing means comprising a spring positioned about said pin between said guide plates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
The trailer hitch assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for connecting said plate member to the frame of said pickup truck comprises a bracket integrally extending from said plate member and having means for bolting same to the frame of said truck, and a pair of brace members extending laterally from each side of said plate member, the distal ends of said brace members being secured to said frame of said truck.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
The trailer hitch assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wheel wells extend into said bed of said truck from the sidewalls thereof, and further comprising a pair of side braces connected one to each end of said main support memer and extending transversely thereof, each of said side braces conforming in shape to that of the outside wall of the respective wheel well for preventing lateral and transverse movement of said main support member once secured in said bed of said pickup truck.
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) | 1981-05-08 | 1981-11-07 | 1982-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-08 | 1985-11-07 | 1986-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-08 | 1989-11-07 | 1990-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |