Articulated hitch coupler

• US 9,844,987 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruno Independent Living Aids, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bruno Independent Living Aids, Inc.
• Inventors: Schwarz, Timothy G., Hooper, Adam C., Dees, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winner, Tony H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARCE, MARLON ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US14/927,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20160046160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/143 characterised by the mounting of the draw-gear on the towed vehicle B60D1/187 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/167 consisting of articulated or rigidly assembled bars or tubes forming a V-, Y-, or U-shaped draw gear B60D1/173 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/173 consisting of at least two bars which are not connected or articulated to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/42 for being adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/46 vertically
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/52 removably mounted B60D1/56 takes precedence

Abstract

An articulated coupler permits vertical displacement of a towed vehicle relative to a towing vehicle while preventing lateral or horizontal displacement of the towed vehicle relative to the towing vehicle. Multiple linkage arms provide coupling for special configuration towed vehicles such as short wheel-mounted lifts that experience torsional forces due to the presence and absence of loads on the lift.

Claims

1. An articulated hitch coupler comprising:

a vehicle channel having an interior and configured to be secured to a towing vehicle hitching structure;

a trailer channel having an interior and configured to be secured to a towed vehicle; and

a plurality of linkage arms pivotably coupling the vehicle channel to the trailer channel, wherein the plurality of linkage arms comprises;

a first upper linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel interior and pivotably connected to the trailer channel interior, and

a first lower linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel interior and pivotably connected to the trailer channel interior;

a second upper linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel interior and pivotably connected to the trailer channel interior, and

a second lower linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel interior and pivotably connected to the trailer channel interior;

wherein the plurality of linkage arms is configured to permit vertical displacement of the trailer channel relative to the vehicle channel while maintaining the towed vehicle in a generally upright orientation relative to the towed vehicle during vertical transitions of the towed vehicle while being towed; and

further wherein the plurality of linkage arms is configured to prevent lateral angular displacement of the trailer channel relative to the vehicle channel while the towed vehicle is being towed.

2. An articulated hitch coupler comprising:

a vehicle channel having an interior and configured to be secured to a towing vehicle hitching structure;

a trailer channel having an interior and configured to be secured to a towed vehicle; and

a plurality of linkage arms pivotably coupling the vehicle channel to the trailer channel, wherein the plurality of linkage arms comprises;

a first upper linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel interior and pivotably connected to the trailer channel interior, and

a first lower linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel interior and pivotably connected to the trailer channel interior;

wherein the plurality of linkage arms is configured to permit vertical displacement of the trailer channel relative to the vehicle channel while maintaining the towed vehicle in a generally upright orientation relative to the towed vehicle during vertical transitions of the towed vehicle while being towed;

further wherein the plurality of linkage arms is configured to prevent lateral angular displacement of the trailer channel relative to the vehicle channel while the towed vehicle is being towed; and

further wherein each linkage arm comprises a mechanical stop configured to limit linkage arm rotation.

3. The articulated hitch coupler of claim 2 wherein the first upper linkage arm is parallel to the first lower linkage arm.

4. The articulated hitch coupler of claim 2 wherein the first upper linkage arm is not parallel to the first lower linkage arm.

5. The articulated hitch coupler of claim 2 wherein the first upper linkage arm comprises a steel bar and further wherein the first lower linkage arm comprises a steel bar.

6. The articulated hitch coupler of claim 2 wherein the vehicle channel is configured to prevent vertical rotation of the vehicle channel relative to the towing vehicle hitching structure when the vehicle channel is secured to the towing vehicle hitching structure, and further wherein the trailer channel is configured to prevent vertical rotation of the towed vehicle relative to the trailer channel when the trailer channel is secured to the towed vehicle.

7. The articulated hitch coupler of claim 2 wherein the towed vehicle comprises pivoting ground-engaging wheels or casters below a cargo platform.

8. The articulated hitch coupler of claim 2 further comprising a biasing element mounted to the coupler and configured to resist vertical displacement of the trailer channel relative to the vehicle channel.

9. An articulated hitch coupler comprising:

a vehicle channel having an interior and configured to be secured to a towing vehicle hitching structure;

a trailer channel having an interior and configured to be secured to a towed vehicle; and

a plurality of linkage arms pivotably coupling the vehicle channel to the trailer channel, wherein the plurality of linkage arms comprises;

a first upper linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel interior and pivotably connected to the trailer channel interior, and

a first lower linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel interior and pivotably connected to the trailer channel interior;

wherein the plurality of linkage arms is configured to permit vertical displacement of the trailer channel relative to the vehicle channel while maintaining the towed vehicle in a generally upright orientation relative to the towed vehicle during vertical transitions of the towed vehicle while being towed;

further wherein the plurality of linkage arms is configured to prevent lateral angular displacement of the trailer channel relative to the vehicle channel while the towed vehicle is being towed; and

further wherein the vehicle channel is configured to be rotated 180°

to provide multiple height and mounting positions of the vehicle channel relative to the trailer channel.

10. An articulated hitch coupler comprising:

a vehicle channel configured to be secured to a towing vehicle hitching structure;

a trailer channel configured to be secured to a towed vehicle; and

a plurality of linkage arms pivotably coupling the vehicle channel to the trailer channel, wherein the plurality of linkage arms comprises;

a first upper linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel and pivotably connected to the trailer channel;

a first lower linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel and pivotably connected to the trailer channel;

a second upper linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel and pivotably connected to the trailer channel, and

a second lower linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel and pivotably connected to the trailer channel;

wherein the first upper linkage arm is not parallel to the first lower linkage arm;

further wherein the first upper linkage arm is parallel to the second upper linkage arm;

further wherein the first lower linkage arm is parallel to the second lower linkage arm;

further wherein the plurality of linkage arms is configured to permit vertical displacement of the trailer channel relative to the vehicle channel while maintaining the towed vehicle in a generally upright orientation; and

further wherein the plurality of linkage arms is configured to prevent lateral angular displacement of the towed vehicle relative to the towing vehicle while the towed vehicle is being towed.

11. An articulated hitch coupler comprising:

a vehicle channel configured to be secured to a towing vehicle hitching structure;

a trailer channel configured to be secured to a towed vehicle; and

a plurality of linkage arms pivotably coupling the vehicle channel to the trailer channel, wherein the plurality of linkage arms comprises;

a first upper linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel and pivotably connected to the trailer channel, and

a first lower linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel and pivotably connected to the trailer channel;

wherein each linkage arm comprises a mechanical stop configured to limit linkage arm rotation;

wherein the plurality of linkage arms is configured to permit vertical displacement of the trailer channel relative to the vehicle channel while maintaining the towed vehicle in a generally upright orientation; and

further wherein the plurality of linkage arms is configured to prevent lateral angular displacement of the towed vehicle relative to the towing vehicle while the towed vehicle is being towed.

12. The articulated hitch coupler of claim 11 wherein the first upper linkage arm is parallel to the first lower linkage arm.

13. The articulated hitch coupler of claim 11 wherein the first upper linkage arm comprises a steel bar and further wherein the first lower linkage arm comprises a steel bar.

14. The articulated hitch coupler of claim 11 wherein the vehicle channel is configured to be rotated 180°

to provide multiple height and mounting positions of the vehicle channel relative to the trailer channel.

15. The articulated hitch coupler of claim 11 wherein the towed vehicle comprises pivoting ground-engaging wheels or casters below a cargo platform.

16. The articulated hitch coupler of claim 11 further comprising a biasing element mounted to the coupler and configured to resist vertical displacement of the trailer channel relative to the vehicle channel.

17. An articulated hitch coupler comprising:

a vehicle channel configured to be secured to a towing vehicle hitching structure and further configured to prevent vertical rotation of the vehicle channel relative to the towing vehicle hitching structure when the vehicle channel is secured to the towing vehicle hitching structure;

a trailer channel configured to be secured to a towed vehicle and further configured to prevent vertical rotation of the towed vehicle relative to the trailer channel when the trailer channel is secured to the towed vehicle; and

a plurality of linkage arms pivotably coupling the vehicle channel to the trailer channel, wherein the plurality of linkage arms comprises;

a first upper linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel and pivotably connected to the trailer channel;

a second upper linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel interior and pivotably connected to the trailer channel interior;

a first lower linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel and pivotably connected to the trailer channel; and

a second lower linkage arm pivotably connected to the vehicle channel interior and pivotably connected to the trailer channel interior;

wherein the plurality of linkage arms is configured to permit vertical displacement of the trailer channel relative to the vehicle channel and is further configured to prevent lateral angular displacement of the towed vehicle relative to the towing vehicle while the towed vehicle is being towed.