Trailer stability control apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A trailer stability control apparatus for a vehicle and a trailer comprising:
- a trailer hitch assembly interconnecting a rear end of the vehicle and a front end of the trailer;
at least one controllable damper connected to said trailer hitch assembly;
a controller electrically connected to said at least one controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between the vehicle and the trailer;
said trailer hitch assembly comprising a first hitch member operatively connected to the vehicle and a second hitch member operatively connected to the trailer; and
at least one first bearing of a spherical type operatively supported by said first hitch member and at least one second bearing operatively supported by said second hitch member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trailer stability control apparatus for a vehicle and a trailer includes a trailer hitch assembly interconnecting a rear end of the vehicle and a front end of the trailer. The trailer stability control apparatus also includes at least one controllable damper connected to the trailer hitch assembly. The trailer stability control apparatus further includes a controller electrically connected to the at least one controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between the vehicle and the trailer.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A trailer stability control apparatus for a vehicle and a trailer comprising:
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a trailer hitch assembly interconnecting a rear end of the vehicle and a front end of the trailer; at least one controllable damper connected to said trailer hitch assembly; a controller electrically connected to said at least one controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between the vehicle and the trailer; said trailer hitch assembly comprising a first hitch member operatively connected to the vehicle and a second hitch member operatively connected to the trailer; and at least one first bearing of a spherical type operatively supported by said first hitch member and at least one second bearing operatively supported by said second hitch member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A trailer stability control apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle having a rear end; a trailer having a front end; a trailer hitch assembly interconnecting said rear end of said vehicle and said front end of said trailer; at least one controllable damper connected to said trailer hitch assembly; a controller electrically connected to said at least one controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between said vehicle and said trailer; and at least one first bearing of a spherical type operatively supported by a first hitch member and at least one second bearing operatively supported by a second hitch member. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A trailer stability control apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle having a rear end; a trailer having a front end; a trailer hitch assembly interconnecting said rear end of said vehicle and said front end of said trailer; at least one controllable damper connected to said trailer hitch assembly; a controller electrically connected to said at least one controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between said vehicle and said trailer; at least one first bearing of a spherical type operatively supported by a first hitch member and at least one second bearing operatively supported by a second hitch member; and wherein said at least one controllable damper comprises a single controllable damper interconnecting said at least one first bearing and said at least one second bearing. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A trailer stability control apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle having a rear end; a trailer having a front end; a trailer hitch assembly interconnecting said rear end of said vehicle and said front end of said trailer, at least one controllable damper connected to said trailer hitch assembly; a controller electrically connected to said at least one controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between said vehicle and said trailer; at least one first bearing of a spherical type operatively supported by a first hitch member and at least one second bearing operatively supported by a second hitch member; and wherein said at least one first bearing comprises a pair of first bearings connected to said first hitch member and said at least one second bearing comprises a pair of second bearings connected to said second hitch member. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A trailer stability control apparatus comprising:
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a trailer hitch assembly interconnecting a rear end of a vehicle and a front end of a trailer; at least one controllable damper connected to said trailer hitch assembly; a controller electrically connected to said at least one controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between the vehicle and the trailer; said trailer hitch assembly comprising a first hitch member operatively connected to the vehicle and a second hitch member operatively connected to the trailer; at least one first bearing operatively supported by said first hitch member; and a post to elevate said first bearing above said first hitch member and wherein said at least one first bearing is offset by an angle relative to a vertical axis through said post.
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17. A trailer stability control apparatus comprising:
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a trailer hitch assembly interconnecting a rear end of a vehicle and a front end of a trailer; at least one controllable damper connected to said trailer hitch assembly; a controller electrically connected to said at least one controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between the vehicle and the trailer; said trailer hitch assembly comprising a first hitch member operatively connected to the vehicle and a second hitch member operatively connected to the trailer; at least one first bearing operatively supported by said first hitch member and at least one second bearing operatively supported by said second hitch member; and wherein said at least one first bearing and said at least one second bearing are of a spherical type.
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18. A trailer stability control apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle having a rear end; a trailer having a front end; a trailer hitch assembly interconnecting said rear end of said vehicle and said front end of said trailer; at least one controllable damper connected to said trailer hitch assembly; a controller electrically connected to said at least one controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between said vehicle and said trailer; at least one first bearing operatively supported by said first hitch member; and a post to elevate said first bearing above said first hitch member and wherein said at least one first bearing is offset by an angle relative to a vertical axis through said post.
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19. A trailer stability control apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle having a rear end; a trailer having a front end; a trailer hitch assembly interconnecting said rear end of said vehicle and said front end of said trailer; at least one controllable damper connected to said trailer hitch assembly; a controller electrically connected to said at least one controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between said vehicle and said trailer; at least one first bearing operatively supported by a first hitch member and at least one second bearing operatively supported by a second hitch member; and wherein said at least one first bearing and said at least one second bearing are of a spherical type.
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20. A stability control apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle having a rear end; a trailer having a front end; a first hitch member connected to said rear end of said vehicle and a second hitch member connected to said front end of said trailer; at least one first bearing of a spherical type operatively supported by said first hitch member and at least one second bearing operatively supported by said second hitch member; a single controllable damper interconnecting said at least one first bearing and said at least one second bearing; and a controller electrically connected to said controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between said vehicle and said trailer.
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21. A trailer stability control apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle having a rear end; a trailer having a front end; a first hitch member connected to said rear end of said vehicle and a second hitch member connected to said front end of said trailer; at least one first bearing operatively supported by said first hitch member and at least one second bearing operatively supported by said second hitch member; a single controllable damper interconnecting said at least one first bearing and said at least one second bearing; a controller electrically connected to said controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between said vehicle and said trailer; and a post to elevate said first bearing above said first hitch member and wherein said at least one first bearing is offset by an angle relative to a vertical axis through said post.
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Specification