US4253680A — Hitch facilitating

Claim 1

Independent Claim 334 words

Hitch means for removably connecting a trailer to a vehicle, said trailer having a longitudinal axis and resting upon a supporting surface, said hitch means comprising: (a) first coupling means attached to said trailer; (b) second coupling means attached to said vehicle; (c) attachment means for attaching said first and second coupling means to one another; (d) equalizer bar means for being associated with said first coupling means; (e) electrically controlled winch means for being associated with said equalizer bar means for selectively applying tension to said equalizer bar means; (f) electrically controlled jack means associated with said first coupling means for causing said first coupling means to be raised or lowered with respect to said supporting surface; (g) electric circuit means, said circuit means including a pivot switch means for controlling said jack means, said pivot switch means having a longitudinal axis and being pivotally associated with said trailer for movement with said longitudinal axis of said pivot switch means in a plane parallel to a vertical plane extending along said longitudinal axis said trailer, said pivot switch means activating said jack means whenever electric current is directed to said pivot switch means and said longitudinal axis of said pivot switch means is not horizontal, said pivot switch means having a first position and a second position and a third position, said jack means being activated to raise said first coupling means when said pivot switch means is in said first position, said jack means being activated to lower said first coupling means when said pivot switch means is in said second position, no electrical current passing to said jack means when said pivot switch means is in said third position, said electric circuit means controlling said winch means; and (h) lock means for locking said pivot switch means in any one of an infinite number of positions with said longitudinal axis of said pivot switch means in said plane parallel to said vertical plane extending along said longitudinal axis of said trailer.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 334 words

Hitch means for removably connecting a trailer to a vehicle, said trailer having a longitudinal axis and resting upon a supporting surface, said hitch means comprising: (a) first coupling means attached to said trailer; (b) second coupling means attached to said vehicle; (c) attachment means for attaching said first and second coupling means to one another; (d) equalizer bar means for being associated with said first coupling means; (e) electrically controlled winch means for being associated with said equalizer bar means for selectively applying tension to said equalizer bar means; (f) electrically controlled jack means associated with said first coupling means for causing said first coupling means to be raised or lowered with respect to said supporting surface; (g) electric circuit means, said circuit means including a pivot switch means for controlling said jack means, said pivot switch means having a longitudinal axis and being pivotally associated with said trailer for movement with said longitudinal axis of said pivot switch means in a plane parallel to a vertical plane extending along said longitudinal axis said trailer, said pivot switch means activating said jack means whenever electric current is directed to said pivot switch means and said longitudinal axis of said pivot switch means is not horizontal, said pivot switch means having a first position and a second position and a third position, said jack means being activated to raise said first coupling means when said pivot switch means is in said first position, said jack means being activated to lower said first coupling means when said pivot switch means is in said second position, no electrical current passing to said jack means when said pivot switch means is in said third position, said electric circuit means controlling said winch means; and (h) lock means for locking said pivot switch means in any one of an infinite number of positions with said longitudinal axis of said pivot switch means in said plane parallel to said vertical plane extending along said longitudinal axis of said trailer.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 216 words

The hitch means of claim 1 in which said electric circuit means includes a first switch means and a second switch means; and in which said jack means includes a foot portion; said first switch means having first, second and third positions; said lock means being disengaged when said first switch means is in said first position and being engaged when said first switch means is in said second or third position; said jack means being operable to raise and lower said foot portion; said jack means being activated to lower said foot portion when said first switch means is in said second position; said winch means being activated to release tension on said equalizer bar means when said first switch means is in said second position; said pivot switch means being electrically energized with said first switch means is in said third position; said second switch means having first and second positions; said jack means being activated to lower said foot portion when said second switch means is in said first positions; said winch means being activated to apply tension to said equalizer bar means when said second switch means is in said first position; said jack means being activated to raise said foot portion when said second switch means is in said second position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 65 words

The hitch means of claim 2 in which said circuit means includes a limit switch means, said limit switch means being open only when said foot portion of said jack means is fully lowered, said winch means being activated to release tension on said equalizer bar means when said first switch means is in said second position only when said limit switch means is open.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 63 words

The hitch means of claim 3 in which said attachment means includes solenoid means for attaching said first and second coupling means together and includes a solenoid switch means said solenoid means being activated to release said first and second coupling means from one another only when said first switch means is in said third position and said solenoid switch means is closed.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 94 words

The hitch means of claim 4 in which said first coupling means includes a rod member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said rod member being attached to said trailer, in which said second coupling means has a cavity for receiving said second end of said rod member, said second end of said rod member being tapered, and in which said second coupling means includes an alignment funnel means for coacting with said tapered second end of said rod member to align said rod member with said cavity.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 73 words

The hitch means of claim 5 in which second end of said rod member has a transverse aperture therethrough; in which said second coupling means has a transverse aperture extending into said cavity; and in which said solenoid means of said attachment means includes a pin member for extending into said transverse apertures of said rod member and said second coupling means to attach said first and second coupling means to one another.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-03-02	1984-09-01	1985-03-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-03-02	1988-09-01	1989-03-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-03-02	1992-09-01	1993-03-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hitch facilitating

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