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US5094469A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Trailer hitch device for motor vehicles

Assignee: Subaru Corp
•
Filing: 1990-11-20
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Granted: 1992-03-10
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Expires: 2010-11-20
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Abstract

Abstract In a trailer hitch device for a motor vehicle wherein a trailer hitch is mounted on a member beam, the improvement comprising the fact that the member beam has both its ends respectively fixed to right and left rear bumper stays and is covered with a rear bumper face, and that the trailer hitch is fixed to the member beam and has its coupling bowl portion at its distal end protruded rearward of the vehicle body of the vehicle through an opening provided in the bumper face.

Inventors

  • 👤 Akihito Yamamoto
  • 👤 Michihiro Kawamura
  • 👤 Yasunori Kumagai
  • 👤 Kenichi Sato

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 10:39
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R19/00; B60R19/02; B60R19/48; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/01; B60D1/06; B60D1/48; B60D1/485

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 265 words
A trailer hitch device for a motor vehicle having a member beam connected to a body floor of said motor vehicle by right and left bumper stays and extending laterally behind said body, a pair of right and left brackets connected to each of said right and left bumper stays and extending upwardly and downwardly, an upper bumper beam supported at an upper end of said brackets, a lower bumper beam supported at a lower end of said brackets, and a rear bumper face for covering said member beam and said upper and lower bumper beams, the improvement in the device which comprises: a trailer hitch replaceably mounted on said member beam at a center thereof and protruding rearwardly through said rear bumper face between said upper and lower bumper beams; a boot inserted in a hole provided in said rear bumper face for said trailer hitch to penetrate therethrough; a coupling ball mounted on said trailer hitch at the outwardly extending end thereof; said bumper stay provided with a first groove for supporting said member beam therein by an upper flange and a lower flange; said bracket provided with slot for inserting said upper and lower flanges therein so as to rigidly support said member beam; said trailer hitch being formed with a second groove at the front end thereof for being fixedly supported on said member beam; and said rear bumper face being supported with said upper and lower bumper beams for covering all rear portions of said vehicle except said coupling ball so as to improve the external appearance of said vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 265 words
A trailer hitch device for a motor vehicle having a member beam connected to a body floor of said motor vehicle by right and left bumper stays and extending laterally behind said body, a pair of right and left brackets connected to each of said right and left bumper stays and extending upwardly and downwardly, an upper bumper beam supported at an upper end of said brackets, a lower bumper beam supported at a lower end of said brackets, and a rear bumper face for covering said member beam and said upper and lower bumper beams, the improvement in the device which comprises: a trailer hitch replaceably mounted on said member beam at a center thereof and protruding rearwardly through said rear bumper face between said upper and lower bumper beams; a boot inserted in a hole provided in said rear bumper face for said trailer hitch to penetrate therethrough; a coupling ball mounted on said trailer hitch at the outwardly extending end thereof; said bumper stay provided with a first groove for supporting said member beam therein by an upper flange and a lower flange; said bracket provided with slot for inserting said upper and lower flanges therein so as to rigidly support said member beam; said trailer hitch being formed with a second groove at the front end thereof for being fixedly supported on said member beam; and said rear bumper face being supported with said upper and lower bumper beams for covering all rear portions of said vehicle except said coupling ball so as to improve the external appearance of said vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
The trailer hitch device according to claim 1, wherein said rear bumper comprises an upper bumper beam and a lower bumper beam, and said rear bumper face is supported by said upper and lower bumper beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The trailer hitch device according to claim 1, wherein said rear bumper comprises a U-shaped beam, and said rear bumper face is supported by said U-shaped beam.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB258446A Cited
US2151920A Cited
US3463514A Cited
DE2339637A1 Cited
US4204702A Cited
DE3020997A1 Cited
US4610458A Cited
FR2558774A1 Cited
US4620736A Cited
US4929028A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-03-10 1995-09-09 1996-03-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-03-10 1999-09-09 2000-03-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-03-10 2003-09-09 2004-03-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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