US4854604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-centering hitch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-05-19
•
Granted: 1989-08-08
•
Expires: 2008-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A self-centering hitch is set forth for securement of a trailer to an associated tow vehicle. The self-centering hitch includes a conventionally orthogonally oriented ball formed with an arcuate concave centering plate oriented rearwardly and integrally to a support securing said ball. Said centering plate is formed of a convex orientation relative to said ball with a radius of curvature oriented medially of said ball aligned with the center of said ball. The center plate is further formed with a plurality of switches formed integrally to said plate and associated with alarm means for indication of a right or left positioning of a hitch to be secured to said ball to assist in securement of said hitch to said ball.
Inventors
- 👤 Bradley E. Stallsworth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:07
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/24; B60D1/36; B60D1/363
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A self-centering trailer hitch for use in combination with a towing vehicle for coupling a trailer to said towing vehicle comprising, a horizontal outwardly directed tongue rigidly secured to said towing vehicle including a hitching ball integrally secured orthogonally to said tongue, and a concave arcuate guide means for deflecting a trailer socket onto said hitching ball integrally secured to said tongue and extending upwardly of said tongue and extending horizontally of said tongue to form a right concave surface and a left concave surface, and said guide means further including an alarm means comprising a right and left alarm means secured through said right and left concave surface of said guide means for indicating a compression of said alarm means by impact with said trailer socket, and wherein said right and left alarm means each include an outwardly directed pressure pad directed outwardly of said guide means of a forward face oriented toward said hitching ball and including a securement plate secured to said guide means to a rear surface of said guide means between said towing vehicle and said guide means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A self-centering trailer hitch for use in combination with a towing vehicle for coupling a trailer to said towing vehicle comprising, a horizontal outwardly directed tongue rigidly secured to said towing vehicle including a hitching ball integrally secured orthogonally to said tongue, and a concave arcuate guide means for deflecting a trailer socket onto said hitching ball integrally secured to said tongue and extending upwardly of said tongue and extending horizontally of said tongue to form a right concave surface and a left concave surface, and said guide means further including an alarm means comprising a right and left alarm means secured through said right and left concave surface of said guide means for indicating a compression of said alarm means by impact with said trailer socket, and wherein said right and left alarm means each include an outwardly directed pressure pad directed outwardly of said guide means of a forward face oriented toward said hitching ball and including a securement plate secured to said guide means to a rear surface of said guide means between said towing vehicle and said guide means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A self-centering hitch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said securement plate further includes a series of securement posts orthogonally and integrally secured to said securement plate each formed with a "T" shaped head reciprocatingly slidable within recesses formed in said pressure pad including biasing means to bias said pressure pad outwardly of said securement plate and of said forward face of said guide means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A self-centering hitch as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pressure pad includes a movable switch for cooperation with a stationary switch integrally secured to said securement plate for contact of said stationary switch with said movable switch upon compression of said pressure pad.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A self-centering hitch as set forth in claim 3 wherein power for said alarm means is provided by said towing vehicle's storage battery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A self-centering hitch as set forth in claim 4 wherein said alarm means is formed through said guide means and integrally secured thereto.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US827431A
Cited
US2703243A
Cited
US2797406A
Cited
US2820649A
Cited
US2845281A
Cited
US3266818A
Cited
US3891237A
Cited
US4042254A
Cited
US4417748A
Cited
US4466632A
Cited
US4568099A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-07 | 1993-02-06 | 1993-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-07 | 1997-02-06 | 1997-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-07 | 2001-02-06 | 2001-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |