US6357778B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hitch and trailer assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2000-03-27
•
Granted: 2002-03-19
•
Expires: 2020-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A hitch and trailer assembly includes a trailer having a mounting member and a hitch receiver mountable to a motor vehicle for receiving the mounting member. The hitch and trailer assembly also include a plurality of rollers for connection to one of the trailer and the motor vehicle and a plurality of bumpers for connection to the other one of the trailer and the motor vehicle to allow the rollers and the bumpers abut each other when the mounting member is disposed in the hitch receiver.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis J. Ross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:01
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/14; B60D1/48; B60D1/50; B60D1/143; B60D1/24; B60D1/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A hitch and trailer assembly comprising: a trailer having a mounting member; a cross member extending laterally and mountable to a motor vehicle; a hitch receiver connected to said cross member for receiving said mounting member therein; and a plurality of rollers for connection to one of said trailer and said cross member on either side of said hitch receiver to be disposed in spaced relation to said mounting member and a plurality of bumpers for connection to the other one of said trailer and said cross member on either side of said hitch receiver to be disposed in spaced relation to said mounting member to allow said rollers and said bumpers to abut each other when said mounting member is disposed within said hitch receiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A hitch and trailer assembly comprising: a trailer having a mounting member; a cross member extending laterally and mountable to a motor vehicle; a hitch receiver connected to said cross member for receiving said mounting member therein; and a plurality of rollers for connection to one of said trailer and said cross member on either side of said hitch receiver to be disposed in spaced relation to said mounting member and a plurality of bumpers for connection to the other one of said trailer and said cross member on either side of said hitch receiver to be disposed in spaced relation to said mounting member to allow said rollers and said bumpers to abut each other when said mounting member is disposed within said hitch receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 1 including means for adjusting said bumpers vertically relative to said rollers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 2 including means for rotating said bumpers between a generally vertical position and a generally horizontal position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said trailer includes a frame, a plurality of wheels and a suspension operatively connecting said wheels to said frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said suspension comprises a leaf spring having a forward spring eye and a rear spring eye.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said suspension further comprises a forward spring support connected to said frame and a rear spring support connected to said frame, said forward spring eye being disposed in said forward spring support and said rear spring eye being disposed in said rear spring support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 6 including means for fixing said forward spring eye to said forward spring support.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 6 including means for allowing said rear spring eye to slide relative to said rear spring support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
A hitch and trailer assembly comprising: a trailer having a mounting member; a hitch receiver mountable to a motor vehicle for receiving said mounting member; a plurality of rollers for connection to one of said trailer and the motor vehicle and a plurality of bumpers for connection to the other one of said trailer and the motor vehicle to allow said rollers and said bumpers abut each other when said mounting member is disposed in said hitch receiver; and a horizontal adapter for adjusting either one of said rollers and said bumpers laterally relative to said hitch receiver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
A hitch and trailer assembly comprising: a trailer having a mounting member; a hitch receiver mountable to a motor vehicle for receiving said mounting member; a plurality of rollers for connection to one of said trailer and the motor vehicle and a plurality of bumpers for connection to the other one of said trailer and the motor vehicle to allow said rollers and said bumpers abut each other when said mounting member is disposed in said hitch receiver; and a horizontal adapter for adjusting either one of said rollers and said bumpers laterally relative to said hitch receiver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
A hitch and trailer assembly comprising: a trailer having a mounting member; a hitch receiver mountable to a motor vehicle for receiving said mounting member; a plurality of rollers for connection to one of said trailer and the motor vehicle and a plurality of bumpers for connection to the other one of said trailer and the motor vehicle to allow said rollers and said bumpers abut each other when said mounting member is disposed in said hitch receiver; and an adapter structure connected to said mounting member having a receiving tube extending generally perpendicular to said mounting member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
A hitch and trailer assembly comprising: a trailer having a mounting member; a hitch receiver mountable to a motor vehicle for receiving said mounting member; a plurality of rollers for connection to one of said trailer and the motor vehicle and a plurality of bumpers for connection to the other one of said trailer and the motor vehicle to allow said rollers and said bumpers abut each other when said mounting member is disposed in said hitch receiver; and an adapter structure connected to said mounting member having a receiving tube extending generally perpendicular to said mounting member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said adapter structure includes a rotatable ring disposed about said receiving tube for allowing a first degree of motion to said trailer when secured by said mounting member to said hitch receiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 11 including a length adjuster connected to said trailer and said rotatable ring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said length adjuster has a first spherical connection to allow a second degree of motion to said trailer when secured by said mounting member to said hitch receiver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said length adjuster has a second spherical connection to allow a third degree of motion to said trailer when secured by said mounting member to said hitch receiver.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said length adjuster includes a male member operatively connected to said rotatable ring and a female member telescopingly disposed about said male member and operatively connected to said trailer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
127 words
A hitch and trailer assembly comprising: a trailer having a mounting member; a hitch receiver mountable to a motor vehicle for receiving said mounting member; an adapter structure connected to said mounting member having a receiving tube extending generally perpendicular to said mounting member and a rotatable ring disposed about said receiving tube for allowing a first degree of motion to said trailer when secured by said mounting member to said hitch receiver; and a plurality of rollers for connection to one of said trailer and the motor vehicle and a plurality of bumpers for connection to the other one of said trailer and the motor vehicle to allow said rollers and said bumpers abut each other when said mounting member is disposed in said hitch receiver.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
127 words
A hitch and trailer assembly comprising: a trailer having a mounting member; a hitch receiver mountable to a motor vehicle for receiving said mounting member; an adapter structure connected to said mounting member having a receiving tube extending generally perpendicular to said mounting member and a rotatable ring disposed about said receiving tube for allowing a first degree of motion to said trailer when secured by said mounting member to said hitch receiver; and a plurality of rollers for connection to one of said trailer and the motor vehicle and a plurality of bumpers for connection to the other one of said trailer and the motor vehicle to allow said rollers and said bumpers abut each other when said mounting member is disposed in said hitch receiver.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 16 including means for adjusting said bumpers vertically relative to said rollers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 16 including means for rotating said bumpers between a generally vertical position and a generally horizontal position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 16 including a horizontal adapter for adjusting either one of said rollers and said bumpers laterally relative to said hitch receiver.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
184 words
A hitch and trailer assembly comprising: a trailer having a frame, a mounting member operatively connected to said frame, a plurality of wheels and a suspension operatively connecting said wheels to said frame; said suspension comprising a leaf spring having a forward spring eye and a rear spring eye, a forward spring support connected to said frame and a rear spring support connected to said frame, said forward spring eye being disposed in said forward spring support and said rear spring eye being disposed in said rear spring support, means for fixing said forward spring eye to said forward spring support, and means for allowing said rear spring eye to slide relative to said rear spring support; a hitch receiver mountable to a motor vehicle for receiving said mounting member; and a plurality of rollers for connection to one of said trailer and the motor vehicle and a plurality of bumpers for connection to the other one of said trailer and the motor vehicle to allow said rollers and said bumpers abut each other when said mounting member is disposed in said hitch receiver.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
184 words
A hitch and trailer assembly comprising: a trailer having a frame, a mounting member operatively connected to said frame, a plurality of wheels and a suspension operatively connecting said wheels to said frame; said suspension comprising a leaf spring having a forward spring eye and a rear spring eye, a forward spring support connected to said frame and a rear spring support connected to said frame, said forward spring eye being disposed in said forward spring support and said rear spring eye being disposed in said rear spring support, means for fixing said forward spring eye to said forward spring support, and means for allowing said rear spring eye to slide relative to said rear spring support; a hitch receiver mountable to a motor vehicle for receiving said mounting member; and a plurality of rollers for connection to one of said trailer and the motor vehicle and a plurality of bumpers for connection to the other one of said trailer and the motor vehicle to allow said rollers and said bumpers abut each other when said mounting member is disposed in said hitch receiver.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
102 words
A hitch and trailer assembly comprising: a trailer having a frame, a mounting member operatively connected to said frame, a plurality of steerable wheels and a suspension operatively connecting said steerable wheels to said frame; a hitch receiver mountable to a motor vehicle for receiving said mounting member; and a plurality of rollers for connection to one of said trailer and the motor vehicle and a plurality of bumpers for connection to the other one of said trailer and the motor vehicle to allow said rollers and said bumpers abut each other when said mounting member is disposed in said hitch receiver.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
102 words
A hitch and trailer assembly comprising: a trailer having a frame, a mounting member operatively connected to said frame, a plurality of steerable wheels and a suspension operatively connecting said steerable wheels to said frame; a hitch receiver mountable to a motor vehicle for receiving said mounting member; and a plurality of rollers for connection to one of said trailer and the motor vehicle and a plurality of bumpers for connection to the other one of said trailer and the motor vehicle to allow said rollers and said bumpers abut each other when said mounting member is disposed in said hitch receiver.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
A hitch and trailer assembly as set forth in claim 21 including means for locking said steerable wheel from pivotal movement when said trailer is in an extended position such that said rollers and said bumpers are not abutting each other.
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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) | 2005-03-18 | 2005-09-17 | 2006-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-03-18 | 2009-09-17 | 2010-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-03-18 | 2013-09-17 | 2014-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |