Swivel connection for trailers

Claim 2

Apparatus for connecting a vehicle hitch assembly to a trailer comprising: an elongated bar member extending generally horizontally from the vehicle hitch assembly, the bar member being of inverted U-shaped cross-sectional configuration; a spindle member secured at one end to and in alignment with said bar member and within the U-shaped cross-sectional configuration thereof, the other end portion of the spindle member extending beyond said bar member in the direction away from the vehicle hitch assembly; a bearing assembly formed in a housing and bearings therein received on the other end of said spindle member, the bearing assembly housing being secured to the trailer, the trailer being thereby rotatable relative to said spindle member; an elongated deflectable strap of spring steel affixed at one end to and extending in a horizontal plane of said bearing assembly housing and extending parallel to and below said bar member; and a cross strap affixed to the other end of said deflectable strap and in engagement with said bar member, the cross strap being downwardly deflected as said bearing assembly housing is rotated relative to said bar member, resiliently deflecting said deflatable strap, said deflectable strap tending to maintain said bar member and said bearing assembly housing, and thereby the vehicle and trailer, in stabilized relative rotational orientation while nevertheless permitting rotational disorientation.

Claim 3

A swivel connection device adapted to be secured between a hitch assembly of a small vehicle and a trailer, the device comprising: a box member secured to the hitch assembly and extending in a direction away from the small vehicle; a spindle means rigidly secured to the box member and extending axially outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the hitch assembly; a journal means secured to the trailer for receiving the spindle means therein for free rotation about its own longitudinal axis whereby variations in rotational orientation of the small vehicle are isolated from the trailer; means resiliently extending between said journal means and said box member tending to stabilize the relative rotational orientation of said journal means and said box member while nevertheless permitting rotational disorientation; and wherein said journal means comprises sleeve means rigidly secured to the trailer in substantial axial alignment with the spindle means for receiving the spindle means therein, shoulder means provided on the spindle means for limiting movement of the spindle means in one direction with respect to the sleeve means, locking means cooperating between the spindle means and sleeve means for securing the spindle means against longitudinal movement with respect to the sleeve means, bearing means interposed between the sleeve means and spindle means for facilitatipg free rotation of the spindle means within the sleeve means, and seal means interposed between the sleeve means and spindle means for reduction of contamination.

Claim 4

A swivel connection device adapted to be secured between a hitch assembly of a small vehicle and a trailer, the device comprising: a box member secured to the hitch assembly and extending in a direction away from the small vehicle; a spindle means rigidly secured to the box member and extending axially outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the hitch assembly; a journal means secured to the trailer for receiving the spindle means therein for free rotation about its own longitudinal axis whereby variations in rotational orientation of the small vehicle are isolated from the trailer; means resiliently extending between said journal means and said box member tending to stabilize the relative rotational orientation of said journal means and said box member while nevertheless permitting rotational disorientation; and wherein said journal means comprises sleeve means rigidly secured to the trailer in substantial axial alignment with the spindle means for receiving the spindle means therein, shoulder means provided on the spindle means for limiting movement of the spindle means in one direction with respect to the sleeve means, locking means cooperating between the spindle means and sleeve means for securing the spindle means against longitudinal movement with respect to the sleeve means, bearing means interposed between the sleeve means and spindle means for facilitatipg free rotation of the spindle means within the sleeve means, and seal means interposed between the sleeve means and spindle means for reduction of contamination.