US4606549A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic trailer hitch
Assignee: Williams Innovations LLC
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Filing: 1985-11-25
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Granted: 1986-08-19
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Expires: 2005-11-25
Abstract
Abstract An automatic trailer hitch assembly mounts a shank unit on the trailer and a receiving unit on the towing vehicle. The shank unit provides an elongated shank member which mounts a trailer ball at one end coupled to a conventional trailer hitch ball socket housing secured to the trailer and at the opposite end is formed to slide on funnel-like guide passages into the receiving unit. A leveler assembly is mounted on the trailing end of the shank unit, releasably grasps the ball socket housing utilizing unsupported weight of the shank unit to establishing the grasping force and retains the shank unit properly positioned for coupling. The leveler assembly automatically releases as the shank unit enters or becomes fully coupled to the receiving unit. The receiving unit has a locking pin which can be latched into a position allowing entry of the shank member into the receiving unit and when the shank unit is properly positioned therein is automatically unlatched and moved into a position for locking the shank unit and receiving unit together. The locking pin can also be restored to a latched position which enables the shank unit to be withdrawn from the receiving unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M. Williams, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:49
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/01; B60D1/07; B60D1/075; B60D1/06; B60D1/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
365 words
An automatic trailer hitch assembly for use with a towing vehicle and a towed trailer or other towed vehicle having a metal-formed housing of the type having a forward ledge portion with a ball socket at its towing end, comprising: (a) an elongated shank unit on the towed vehicle, said shank unit extending between leading and trailing ends and including: (i) at the trailing end a ball member supported on a threaded stud secured to said trailing end and releasably coupled in the ball socket of said housing to support said trailing end therefrom; (ii) at the leading end formed surfaces facilitating the guidance of said leading end when in contact with guide surfaces; and (iii) a leveler assembly mounted on said trailing end comprising: (aa) a plate member supported on and releasably secured to said trailing end, said trailing end of said shank unit and said plate member being provided with mating holes in which said ball member threaded stud is received and secured to secure both said ball member and said plate member on said shank structure; and (bb) clamping means including a clamping member pivotally supported on and above said plate member and operative utilizing the weight of said shank unit extending outwardly from said ball member for grasping the forward ledge portion of said housing to support said elongated shank unit appropriately positioned for coupling to a receiving unit; (b) a receiving unit on the towing vehicle having an entry wall portion formed for guiding said shank unit leading end and leading therefrom a tubular portion providing a bore for receiving a predetermined length of said shank unit; and (c) spring-loaded locking means mounted on said receiving unit and having a first cocked position in which said locking means is held latched and sufficiently free of said bore to permit passage of said shank unit therein and an uncocked position in which said locking means is unlatched and freed for releasably locking said shank unit and tubular structure together, said shank unit and locking means being operatively associated such that entry of said shank unit into said bore acts to release said locking means from said cocked to said uncocked position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
365 words
An automatic trailer hitch assembly for use with a towing vehicle and a towed trailer or other towed vehicle having a metal-formed housing of the type having a forward ledge portion with a ball socket at its towing end, comprising: (a) an elongated shank unit on the towed vehicle, said shank unit extending between leading and trailing ends and including: (i) at the trailing end a ball member supported on a threaded stud secured to said trailing end and releasably coupled in the ball socket of said housing to support said trailing end therefrom; (ii) at the leading end formed surfaces facilitating the guidance of said leading end when in contact with guide surfaces; and (iii) a leveler assembly mounted on said trailing end comprising: (aa) a plate member supported on and releasably secured to said trailing end, said trailing end of said shank unit and said plate member being provided with mating holes in which said ball member threaded stud is received and secured to secure both said ball member and said plate member on said shank structure; and (bb) clamping means including a clamping member pivotally supported on and above said plate member and operative utilizing the weight of said shank unit extending outwardly from said ball member for grasping the forward ledge portion of said housing to support said elongated shank unit appropriately positioned for coupling to a receiving unit; (b) a receiving unit on the towing vehicle having an entry wall portion formed for guiding said shank unit leading end and leading therefrom a tubular portion providing a bore for receiving a predetermined length of said shank unit; and (c) spring-loaded locking means mounted on said receiving unit and having a first cocked position in which said locking means is held latched and sufficiently free of said bore to permit passage of said shank unit therein and an uncocked position in which said locking means is unlatched and freed for releasably locking said shank unit and tubular structure together, said shank unit and locking means being operatively associated such that entry of said shank unit into said bore acts to release said locking means from said cocked to said uncocked position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 1 including downwardly extending arm members formed as extension of said plate member for limiting lateral movement of said plate member on said trailing end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A trailer hitch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clamping member is adjustably positioned on said plate member enabling the relative angular relation of said ball socket housing and shank unit to be adjusted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 2 including upwardly extending laterally-spaced shaft support arm members formed as extensions of said plate member and a shaft supported on and extending between said support arms, said clamping member being supported on said shaft for pivoting about the axis thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
A trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said shaft includes an integral lever arm extending therefrom operative as a manual lever for bringing said clamping member into engagement with said ledge for supporting said shank unit therefrom prior to said shank unit entering said receiving unit and for automatically bringing said clamping member out of engagement with said ledge dependent upon said shank unit being supported by and coupled to said receiving unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A trailer hitch as claimed in claim 5 wherein said lever arm is formed to engage said receiving unit upon entry of said shank unit therein to rotate and thereby disengage said clamping member from said ledge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
303 words
An automatic trailer hitch assembly for use with a towing vehicle and a towed trailer or other towed vehicle having a metal-formed housing with a ball socket at its towing end, comprising: (a) an elongated shank unit on the towed vehicle, said shank unit extending between leading and trailing ends and including: (i) at the trailing end a ball member supported on a threaded stud secured to said trailing end and releasably coupled in the ball socket of said housing to support said trailing end therefrom; (ii) at the leading end formed surfaces facilitating the guidance of said leading end when in contact with guide surfaces; and (iii) a leveler assembly mounted on said trailing end including a clamping member pivotally supported on said trailing end forward of said ball member threaded stud and operative utilizing the weight of said shank unit extending outwardly from said ball member for grasping a selected forward portion of said housing to support said elongated shank unit appropriately positioned for coupling to a receiving unit; (b) a receiving unit on the towing vehicle having an entry wall portion formed for guiding said shank unit leading end and leading therefrom a tubular portion providing a bore for receiving a predetermined length of said shank unit; and (c) spring-loaded locking means mounted on said receiving unit and having a first cocked position in which said locking means is held latched and sufficiently free of said bore to permit passage of said shank unit therein and an uncocked position in which said locking means is unlatched and freed for releasably locking said shank unit and tubular structure together, said shank unit and locking means being operatively associated such that entry of said shank unit into said bore acts to release said locking means from said cocked to said uncocked position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
303 words
An automatic trailer hitch assembly for use with a towing vehicle and a towed trailer or other towed vehicle having a metal-formed housing with a ball socket at its towing end, comprising: (a) an elongated shank unit on the towed vehicle, said shank unit extending between leading and trailing ends and including: (i) at the trailing end a ball member supported on a threaded stud secured to said trailing end and releasably coupled in the ball socket of said housing to support said trailing end therefrom; (ii) at the leading end formed surfaces facilitating the guidance of said leading end when in contact with guide surfaces; and (iii) a leveler assembly mounted on said trailing end including a clamping member pivotally supported on said trailing end forward of said ball member threaded stud and operative utilizing the weight of said shank unit extending outwardly from said ball member for grasping a selected forward portion of said housing to support said elongated shank unit appropriately positioned for coupling to a receiving unit; (b) a receiving unit on the towing vehicle having an entry wall portion formed for guiding said shank unit leading end and leading therefrom a tubular portion providing a bore for receiving a predetermined length of said shank unit; and (c) spring-loaded locking means mounted on said receiving unit and having a first cocked position in which said locking means is held latched and sufficiently free of said bore to permit passage of said shank unit therein and an uncocked position in which said locking means is unlatched and freed for releasably locking said shank unit and tubular structure together, said shank unit and locking means being operatively associated such that entry of said shank unit into said bore acts to release said locking means from said cocked to said uncocked position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
An automatic trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said housing is of the type having a forward ledge portion, said ledge portion comprises said selected forward portion and said clamping member is adapted to grasp said forward ledge portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An automatic trailer hitch as claimed in claim 7 wherein said clamping member is adjustably mounted on said trailing end enabling the relative angular relation of said ball socket housing and shank unit to be adjusted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
An automatic trailer hitch as claimed in claim 8 wherein said clamping member is adapted to automatically release its grasp of said selected forward portion upon said shank unit being received and supported by said receiving unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
An automatic trailer hitch as claimed in claim 8 wherein said clamping member is pivotally supported for pivoting around the axis of a shaft which extends across said trailing end, resides in a plane substantially parallel to and below the plane of said ledge and is positioned substantially directly beneath the portion of said ledge engaged by said clamping member.
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) | 1989-08-18 | 1990-02-17 | 1990-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-18 | 1994-02-17 | 1994-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-18 | 1998-02-17 | 1998-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |