Trailer Hitch
First Claim
1. A trailer hitch for a vehicle comprising:
- a) attachment means for attaching the hitch to a vehicle;
b) a base mounted on the attachment means;
c) a universal pivot connector secured to the base for mating connection to a tongue of a trailer to be connected to the vehicle;
d) a pair of overlapping pivot plates mounted to pivot about the universal pivot connector in coordination with the trailer tongue when the trailer tongue is in a mating position with the pivot connector, each of the pivot plates further comprising;
i) a flange on each of the pair of pivot plates to interact with the trailer tongue when the trailer tongue is in a mating position with the universal pivot connector such that as the trailer tongue pivots about the universal pivot connector the trailer tongue contacts at least one of the flanges to move at least one of the pivot plates with respect to the attachment means; and
ii) a biasing device coupled to each of the pair of overlapping pivot plates to bias each of the pivot plates to a preset position with respect to the base and to resist rotation of the pivot plates and trailer tongue away from the preset position.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A trailer hitch for a vehicle includes an attachment means for attaching the hitch to a vehicle and a base suspended from the attachment means to allow limited lateral movement of the base with respect to the attachment means. A universal pivot connector, such as a hitch ball, is mounted on the base to move with the base for mating connection to a tongue of a trailer to be connected to the vehicle. The trailer tongue is biased against rotational movement with respect to the pivot connector whereby the allowed lateral movement of the suspended base and the pivot connector and the resistance to rotational movement of the trailer tongue with respect to the pivot connector combine to move the effective pivot point of the tongue on the universal pivot connector approximately to the center of the rear axle of the towing vehicle to simulate the towing movement of a fifth wheel trailer hitch.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A trailer hitch for a vehicle comprising:
-
a) attachment means for attaching the hitch to a vehicle; b) a base mounted on the attachment means; c) a universal pivot connector secured to the base for mating connection to a tongue of a trailer to be connected to the vehicle; d) a pair of overlapping pivot plates mounted to pivot about the universal pivot connector in coordination with the trailer tongue when the trailer tongue is in a mating position with the pivot connector, each of the pivot plates further comprising; i) a flange on each of the pair of pivot plates to interact with the trailer tongue when the trailer tongue is in a mating position with the universal pivot connector such that as the trailer tongue pivots about the universal pivot connector the trailer tongue contacts at least one of the flanges to move at least one of the pivot plates with respect to the attachment means; and ii) a biasing device coupled to each of the pair of overlapping pivot plates to bias each of the pivot plates to a preset position with respect to the base and to resist rotation of the pivot plates and trailer tongue away from the preset position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A trailer hitch for a vehicle comprising:
-
a) attachment means for attaching the hitch to a vehicle; b) a base suspended from the attachment means to allow lateral movement of the base with respect to the attachment means; and c) a universal pivot connector extending upward from the base to provide a mating connection for the trailer tongue that moves with the base. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
13. A trailer hitch for a vehicle according to claim 13, further including an adjustment device for adjusting the space between the substantially vertical flanges in which the trailer tongue is received.
-
18. A trailer hitch for a vehicle comprising:
-
a) attachment means for attaching the hitch to a vehicle; b) a base suspended from the attachment means to allow lateral movement of the base with respect to the attachment means; c) a universal pivot connector extending upward from the base to provide a mating connection for the trailer tongue that moves with the base; and d) a pair of overlapping pivot plates mounted to pivot about the universal pivot connector in coordination with the trailer tongue when the trailer tongue is in a mating position with the pivot connector, each of the pivot plates further comprising; i) a flange on each of the pair of pivot plates to interact with the trailer tongue when the trailer tongue is in a mating position with the universal pivot connector such that as the trailer tongue pivots about the universal pivot connector the trailer tongue contacts at least one of the flanges to move at least one of the pivot plates with respect to the attachment means; and ii) a biasing device coupled to each of the pair of overlapping pivot plates to bias each of the pivot plates to a preset position with respect to the base and to resist rotation of the pivot plates and trailer tongue away from the preset position. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification