US5468007A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Towing hitch
Assignee: SHOP INDUSTRIAL 510851 ONTARIO Ltd
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Filing: 1993-10-22
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Granted: 1995-11-21
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Expires: 2013-10-22
Abstract
Abstract A towing hitch for attaching a towing vehicle to a towed object includes an arcuate guide attached around the back of the towing vehicle. A traveller, which moves freely along the guide, is hinged to a coupling which is, in turn, rotatably attached to the towed object. Steering the towing vehicle in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction causes the traveller to move along the guide in the opposite direction, and the steering of the towing vehicle is facilitated. If the hitch includes a drive to power the traveller along the guide, the hitch alone can steer the towing vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Kanerva
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:30
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D13/00; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/24; B60D1/36; B60D1/42; B60D1/44; B62D12/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A towing hitch for attaching a towing vehicle to a towed object comprising, in combination: an arcuate guide defining a plane and attachable in generally transverse orientation to a towing vehicle such that the guide faces convexly towards the rear of the towing vehicle, the guide comprising a tray attachable in generally transverse orientation to a towing vehicle, and an arcuate plate rigidly mounted generally perpendicularly on the tray; a traveller adapted to travel freely along the guide; a rigid coupling having two ends, a first end attached to the traveller and a second end attachable to the object; a first pivot means providing an axis of rotation for the first end relative to the second end generally parallel to the plane of the guide and generally perpendicular to the axis of the coupling; and a second pivot means providing an axis of rotation for the first end relative to the second end generally parallel to the axis of the coupling; the first pivot means being located substantially adjacent one of the two ends of the coupling, and the second pivot means being located substantially adjacent the other of the two ends of the coupling.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A towing hitch for attaching a towing vehicle to a towed object comprising, in combination: an arcuate guide defining a plane and attachable in generally transverse orientation to a towing vehicle such that the guide faces convexly towards the rear of the towing vehicle, the guide comprising a tray attachable in generally transverse orientation to a towing vehicle, and an arcuate plate rigidly mounted generally perpendicularly on the tray; a traveller adapted to travel freely along the guide; a rigid coupling having two ends, a first end attached to the traveller and a second end attachable to the object; a first pivot means providing an axis of rotation for the first end relative to the second end generally parallel to the plane of the guide and generally perpendicular to the axis of the coupling; and a second pivot means providing an axis of rotation for the first end relative to the second end generally parallel to the axis of the coupling; the first pivot means being located substantially adjacent one of the two ends of the coupling, and the second pivot means being located substantially adjacent the other of the two ends of the coupling.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 1, wherein the arc formed by the guide is generally in the shape of a portion of a circle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 2 wherein the portion of the circle is greater than a semi-circle and less than a full circle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 1, wherein the guide is generally circular.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 1, wherein the guide includes two stops adapted to limit the range of motion of the traveller along the guide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 1, wherein the tray comprises an edge and wherein the arcuate plate is rigidly mounted generally perpendicularly on the edge of the tray.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 6, wherein the traveller includes a plurality of rollers adapted to direct the traveller along the plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 1, wherein the first pivot means is located substantially adjacent the first end of the coupling.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 8, wherein the first pivot means comprises two spaced apart coaxial transverse pins which pass through both the traveller and the coupling so as to allow the coupling to pivot about the traveller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 8, wherein the second pivot means comprises a cylinder rigidly attachable to the object, the axis of the cylinder passing through the first end of the coupling, and a shaft coaxial with and rotatable within the cylinder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
179 words
A towing hitch for attaching a towing vehicle to a towed object comprising, in combination: an arcuate guide defining a plane and attachable in generally transverse orientation to a towing vehicle such that the guide faces convexly towards the rear of the towing vehicle; a traveller adapted to travel along the guide; drive means adapted to drive the traveller along the guide; a rigid coupling having two ends, a first end attached to the traveller and a second end attachable to the object; a first pivot means providing an axis of rotation for the first end relative to the second end generally parallel to the plane of the guide and generally perpendicular to the axis of the coupling; and a second pivot means providing an axis of rotation for the first end relative to the second end generally parallel to the axis of the coupling; the first pivot means being located substantially adjacent one of the two ends of the coupling, and the second pivot means being located substantially adjacent the other of the two ends of the coupling.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
179 words
A towing hitch for attaching a towing vehicle to a towed object comprising, in combination: an arcuate guide defining a plane and attachable in generally transverse orientation to a towing vehicle such that the guide faces convexly towards the rear of the towing vehicle; a traveller adapted to travel along the guide; drive means adapted to drive the traveller along the guide; a rigid coupling having two ends, a first end attached to the traveller and a second end attachable to the object; a first pivot means providing an axis of rotation for the first end relative to the second end generally parallel to the plane of the guide and generally perpendicular to the axis of the coupling; and a second pivot means providing an axis of rotation for the first end relative to the second end generally parallel to the axis of the coupling; the first pivot means being located substantially adjacent one of the two ends of the coupling, and the second pivot means being located substantially adjacent the other of the two ends of the coupling.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 11, wherein the drive means includes a gear which moves the traveller along the guide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 12, wherein the gear is driven by a motor mounted on the traveller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 13, wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 13, wherein the gear includes a transversely oriented sprocket which engages a roller chain mounted on the guide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 11, wherein the arc formed by the guide is generally in the shape of a portion of a circle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 16, wherein the portion of the circle is greater than a semi-circle and less than a full circle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 11, wherein the guide is generally circular.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 11, wherein the guide includes two stops adapted to limit the range of motion of the traveller along the guide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 11, wherein the guide comprises a tray attachable in generally transverse orientation to a towing vehicle, and an arcuate plate rigidly mounted generally perpendicularly on an edge of the tray.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 20, wherein the traveller includes a plurality of rollers adapted to direct the traveller along the plate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 11, wherein the first pivot means is located substantially adjacent the first end of the coupling.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 22, wherein the first pivot means comprises two spaced apart coaxial transverse pins which pass through both the traveller and the coupling so as to allow the coupling to pivot about the traveller.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
A towing hitch as defined in claim 22, wherein the second pivot means comprises a cylinder rigidly attachable to the object, the axis of the cylinder passing through the first end of the coupling, and a shaft coaxial with and rotatable within the cylinder.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-20 | 1999-05-22 | 1999-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-20 | 2003-05-22 | 2003-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-20 | 2007-05-22 | 2007-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |