Trailer hitch
First Claim
1. A trailer hitch for a vehicle comprising:
- attachment means for attaching the hitch to a vehicle;
a base mounted on the attachment means;
a universal pivot connector secured to the base for mating connection to a tongue of a trailer to be connected to the vehicle; and
a pivot plate mounted to pivot about the universal pivot connector with the trailer tongue when the trailer tongue is in mating position with the pivot connector, said pivot plate being mounted with respect to the base to be biased to a preset position with respect to the base and to resist rotation of the pivot plate and trailer tongue away from the preset position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trailer hitch which will resist fishtailing and increase stability of the towing vehicle-trailer combination is mounted at the rear of the towing vehicle. The hitch includes a pivot connector, such as a ball, which receives the mating end of a tongue extending from the trailer to be towed. However, the rotation of the trailer about the pivot connector is resisted, but not prevented, and the trailer tongue is biased to a preset position with respect to the pivot connector. The trailer hitch can provide limited lateral movement of the pivot connector to move the pivot point forwardly of the rear of the towing vehicle. The resistance to pivoting of the trailer with respect to the pivot connector results first in lateral movement of the pivot connector before resisted pivoting about the pivot connector. Lateral movement of the connector can be promoted during certain conditions and resisted during other conditions.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A trailer hitch for a vehicle comprising:
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attachment means for attaching the hitch to a vehicle; a base mounted on the attachment means; a universal pivot connector secured to the base for mating connection to a tongue of a trailer to be connected to the vehicle; and a pivot plate mounted to pivot about the universal pivot connector with the trailer tongue when the trailer tongue is in mating position with the pivot connector, said pivot plate being mounted with respect to the base to be biased to a preset position with respect to the base and to resist rotation of the pivot plate and trailer tongue away from the preset position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A trailer hitch for a vehicle comprising:
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attachment means for attaching the hitch to a vehicle; a universal pivot connector for mating connection to a tongue of a trailer to be connected to the vehicle; and means for resisting rotation of the trailer tongue with respect to the universal pivot connector when the trailer tongue is in mating position with the universal pivot connector and biasing the orientation of the trailer tongue with respect to the universal pivot connector to a preset position.
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26. In a trailer hitch for a vehicle including a connector for connecting the tongue of a trailer to be towed with the connector, the connector mounted for limited lateral movement along a track with respect to the towing vehicle whereby the effective pivot point between the trailer and the towing vehicle is moved forwardly of the rear of the towing vehicle, the improvement comprising:
providing movement affecting means for differently affecting the movement characteristics of the connector along the track under particular different towing conditions. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
Specification