US5520404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer hitch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-03-13
•
Granted: 1996-05-28
•
Expires: 2015-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A hitch or towing device to connect a trailer having at least two swivelable ground-contacting wheels to an automobile or similar prime mover includes two arms to connect the trailer to the prime mover. The arms are flexible in a vertical direction but rigid in a longitudinal and in a sidewise direction. This permits the automobile to push the trailer backwards and also permits relative motion between the trailer and the automobile in roll and pitch but not in yaw. In a preferred embodiment the arms connecting the trailer to the automobile are leaf springs, and couplings permanently fastened to the automobile engage the front end of the springs in a hinge-like manner, the hinge-pin being easily removable to facilitate connecting and disconnecting of trailer and automobile.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph A. Schulte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:10
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D63/00; B62D63/06; B62D63/062; B62D63/065; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/14; B60D1/173
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A trailer with a towing hitch for pulling behind a vehicle, said hitch including: a pair of leaf-spring arms affixed to said trailer, each of said arms having a coupling bracket at its forward end, a pair of connecting brackets for securement to said vehicle, said connecting brackets having mating portions for operative engagement with said coupling brackets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A trailer with a towing hitch for pulling behind a vehicle, said hitch including: a pair of leaf-spring arms affixed to said trailer, each of said arms having a coupling bracket at its forward end, a pair of connecting brackets for securement to said vehicle, said connecting brackets having mating portions for operative engagement with said coupling brackets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The trailer of claim 1 wherein said arms are flexible in a vertical direction, but rigid in a longitudinal and in a sidewise direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The trailer of claim 1 including connecting pins for separably engaging the coupling brackets of said arms with the mating portions of said connecting brackets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The trailer of claim 1 including a beam which can be separably engaged with said connecting brackets and which includes a single centrally-located ball for a ball and socket connection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The trailer of claim 4 including supplemental connecting brackets having mating portions for engaging said coupling brackets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The trailer of claim 1 wherein said trailer is a two-wheel trailer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The trailer of claim 4 wherein said trailer is a two-wheel trailer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The trailer of claim 6 wherein the wheels of said two-wheel trailer are swivelable caster wheels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
A towing hitch for pulling a trailer having two swivelable wheels behind a vehicle, said hitch including: a pair of leaf-spring arms adapted to be affixed to said trailer, each of said arms having a coupling bracket at its forward end, a pair of connecting brackets for securement to said vehicle, said connecting brackets having mating portions for operative engagement with said coupling brackets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
A towing hitch for pulling a trailer having two swivelable wheels behind a vehicle, said hitch including: a pair of leaf-spring arms adapted to be affixed to said trailer, each of said arms having a coupling bracket at its forward end, a pair of connecting brackets for securement to said vehicle, said connecting brackets having mating portions for operative engagement with said coupling brackets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The hitch of claim 9 wherein said arms are flexible in a vertical direction, but rigid in a longitudinal and in a sidewise direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The hitch of claim 9 including connecting pins for separably engaging the coupling brackets of said arms with the mating portions of said connecting brackets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The hitch of claim 9 including a beam which can be separably engaged with said connecting brackets and which includes a single centrally-located ball for a ball and socket connection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hitch of claim 12 which includes supplemental connecting brackets having mating portions for engaging said coupling brackets.
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) | 1999-05-28 | 1999-11-27 | 2000-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-28 | 2003-11-27 | 2004-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-28 | 2007-11-27 | 2008-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |