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US5102156A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Universally adjustable trailer hitch

Assignee: Trimas Corp
•
Filing: 1990-08-21
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Granted: 1992-04-07
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Expires: 2010-08-21
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Abstract

Abstract A universally adjustable trailer hitch for attaching to the frames of vehicles of different widths comprising a horizontally disposed tube member with a hitching device centrally attached thereto, the tube member is selectively clamped on each side of the hitching device by a clamping member to a support member to adjustably fix the position of each of the support members with respect to the tube member.

Inventors

  • 👤 Raymond W. Fink
  • 👤 Wayne E. Sousley
  • 👤 Richard L. Fullhart

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 10:35
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/48; B60D1/485; B60D1/24; B60D1/42; B60D1/44

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 228 words
A universally adjustable trailer hitch for attachment to an underside of two spaced apart frame members of a vehicle, said frame members spaced apart varying widths corresponding to various width vehicles, comprising a substantially square and horizontally extending tube member, a hitch box extending rearwardly from a rearward facing side of said tube square member, a pair of support brackets each having two elongated flanges disposed generally perpendicularly to each other and a body portion of the bracket, one of said flanges horizontally disposed and the other of said flanges vertically disposed, each of said flanges provided with a pair of spaced apart apertures extending therethrough, said brackets attached to the underside of said frame members by bolts extending upwardly through said apertures in said horizontally disposed flanges and corresponding apertures in said frame members, a pair of generally U-shaped clamps each having three inwardly disposed surfaces in intimate contact with three corresponding sides of said square tube member, each of said generally U-shaped clamps having a central U-shaped portion with legs terminating in outwardly projecting ears each provided with an aperture therethrough, said ear apertures in registration with the apertures in said vertically disposed flanges, a rearward side of said square tube member clamped against said vertically extending flanges by bolts extending forwardly through said apertures in said ears and corresponding apertures in said vertically extending flanges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 228 words
A universally adjustable trailer hitch for attachment to an underside of two spaced apart frame members of a vehicle, said frame members spaced apart varying widths corresponding to various width vehicles, comprising a substantially square and horizontally extending tube member, a hitch box extending rearwardly from a rearward facing side of said tube square member, a pair of support brackets each having two elongated flanges disposed generally perpendicularly to each other and a body portion of the bracket, one of said flanges horizontally disposed and the other of said flanges vertically disposed, each of said flanges provided with a pair of spaced apart apertures extending therethrough, said brackets attached to the underside of said frame members by bolts extending upwardly through said apertures in said horizontally disposed flanges and corresponding apertures in said frame members, a pair of generally U-shaped clamps each having three inwardly disposed surfaces in intimate contact with three corresponding sides of said square tube member, each of said generally U-shaped clamps having a central U-shaped portion with legs terminating in outwardly projecting ears each provided with an aperture therethrough, said ear apertures in registration with the apertures in said vertically disposed flanges, a rearward side of said square tube member clamped against said vertically extending flanges by bolts extending forwardly through said apertures in said ears and corresponding apertures in said vertically extending flanges.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3294420A Cited
US4032170A Cited
DE2702728A1 Cited
US4405148A Cited
US4648617A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-04-07 1995-10-07 1996-04-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-04-07 1999-10-07 2000-04-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-04-07 2003-10-07 2004-04-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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