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US 10,828,951 B1Granted
Resilient vehicle coupling assemblies
OwnerJustin W. Earnestinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Vehicle coupling assemblies suitable for facilitating a resilient coupling between a rear vehicle and a vehicle wheel on a front vehicle may include a coupling assembly arm. The coupling assembly arm may be resiliently length-variable responsive to application of a longitudinal extension force on the coupling assembly arm. A wheel engagement member may include an engagement member body rotatably carried by the coupling assembly arm. The engagement member body may be suitably sized and configured for engagement with the vehicle wheel on the front vehicle in substantially concentric relationship with respect to the vehicle wheel.
Claims18
A vehicle coupling assembly for facilitating a resilient coupling between a rear vehicle and a vehicle wheel on a front vehicle, comprising:
- a coupling assembly arm;
- a wheel engagement member including an engagement member body rotatably carried by the coupling assembly arm, the engagement member body suitably sized and configured for engagement with the vehicle wheel on the front vehicle in substantially concentric relationship with respect to the vehicle wheel;
- wherein the coupling assembly arm is resiliently length-variable responsive to application of a longitudinal extension force on the coupling assembly arm;
- and
- wherein the coupling assembly arm comprises an arm base, an arm housing extending from the arm base, an arm member telescopically extendable from the arm housing and an arm spring sandwiched between the arm housing and the arm member, the arm spring normally biases the arm member in a retracted position in the arm housing.
2 more elements
A vehicle coupling assembly for facilitating a resilient coupling between a rear vehicle and a rear vehicle wheel having a wheel interior and an outboard interior wheel surface on a front vehicle, comprising:
- a truck hitch configured for coupling to the rear vehicle;
- a coupling assembly arm carried by the truck hitch, the coupling assembly arm is resiliently length-variable responsive to application of a longitudinal extension force on the coupling assembly arm;
- and
- a wheel engagement member including a circular engagement member body rotatably carried by the coupling assembly arm, the engagement member body suitably sized and configured to insert into the wheel interior and simultaneously engage substantially an entire circumference of the outboard interior wheel surface of the rear vehicle wheel on the front vehicle in substantially concentric relationship with respect to the rear vehicle wheel, the wheel engagement member body including:
- an outer engagement member surface;
- an inner engagement member surface;
- and
- a side engagement member surface extending from the outer engagement member surface to the inner engagement member surface, the side engagement member surface having a beveled cross-sectional profile and tapering from the outer engagement member surface to the inner engagement member surface.
5 more elements
A vehicle coupling assembly for facilitating a resilient coupling between a rear vehicle and a rear vehicle wheel having a wheel interior and an outboard interior wheel surface on a front vehicle, comprising:
- a truck hitch configured for coupling to the rear vehicle;
- a coupling assembly arm, the coupling assembly arm is resiliently length-variable responsive to application of a longitudinal extension force on the coupling assembly arm, the coupling assembly arm including:
- an arm base carried by the truck hitch;
- an arm housing extending from the arm base, the arm housing including:
- an outer wall portion;
- an inner wall portion disposed in parallel, spaced-apart relationship to the outer wall portion, the inner wall portion terminating in spaced-apart relationship to the arm base;
- a connecting wall portion extending between the outer wall portion and the inner wall portion;
- a housing interior formed by and within the inner wall portion;
- and
- a spring space formed by and between the outer wall portion and the inner wall portion;
- an arm member telescopically extendable from the arm housing, the arm member including:
- an elongated arm member shaft having a proximal shaft end and a distal shaft end;
- an arm member wall extending from the proximal shaft end in parallel, spaced-apart relationship to the arm member shaft, the arm member wall having a proximal wall end extending from the proximal shaft end of the arm member shaft and a distal wall end terminating opposite the proximal wall end;
- and
- a wall space formed by and between the arm member shaft and the arm member wall, the arm member wall, the arm member wall inserts into the spring space of the arm housing;
- an arm spring disposed in the spring space of the arm housing and sandwiched between the connecting arm portion of the arm housing and the distal wall end on the arm member wall of the arm member, the arm spring normally biases the arm member in a retracted position in the arm housing;
- and
- a wheel engagement member including a circular engagement member body rotatably carried by the arm member shaft of the coupling assembly arm, the engagement member body suitably sized and configured to insert into the wheel interior and simultaneously engage substantially an entire circumference of the outboard interior wheel surface of the rear vehicle wheel on the front vehicle in substantially concentric relationship with respect to the rear vehicle wheel, the wheel engagement member body including:
- an outer engagement member surface;
- an inner engagement member surface;
- and
- a side engagement member surface extending from the outer engagement member surface to the inner engagement member surface, the side engagement member surface having a beveled cross-sectional profile and tapering from the outer engagement member surface to the inner engagement member surface.
19 more elements
A vehicle coupling assembly for facilitating a resilient coupling between a rear vehicle and a vehicle wheel on a front vehicle, comprising:
- a coupling assembly arm;
- a wheel engagement member including an engagement member body rotatably carried by the coupling assembly arm, the engagement member body suitably sized and configured for engagement with the vehicle wheel on the front vehicle in substantially concentric relationship with respect to the vehicle wheel;
- wherein the coupling assembly arm is resiliently length-variable responsive to application of a longitudinal extension force on the coupling assembly arm;
- and
- wherein the coupling assembly arm comprises an arm housing having an outer housing wall, an inner housing wall telescopically extendable from the outer housing wall, an arm cylinder in the arm housing and an arm piston extendable from the arm cylinder and engaging the inner housing wall, the wheel engagement member carried by the inner housing wall.
2 more elements
A vehicle coupling assembly for facilitating a resilient coupling between a rear vehicle and a vehicle wheel on a front vehicle, comprising:
- a coupling assembly arm;
- a wheel engagement member including an engagement member body rotatably carried by the coupling assembly arm, the engagement member body suitably sized and configured for engagement with the vehicle wheel on the front vehicle in substantially concentric relationship with respect to the vehicle wheel;
- wherein the coupling assembly arm is resiliently length-variable responsive to application of a longitudinal extension force on the coupling assembly arm;
- and
- wherein the coupling assembly arm comprises an arm housing having an outer housing wall, an inner housing wall telescopically extendable from the outer housing wall, at least one pair of aligned outer arm pin openings in the outer housing wall, a pair of aligned inner arm pin openings in the inner housing wall, and a frangible arm retainer pin extending through the outer arm pin openings and inner arm pin openings to normally retain the arm housing in an extended position with respect to the arm housing.
2 more elements
A vehicle coupling assembly for facilitating a resilient coupling between a rear vehicle and a vehicle wheel on a front vehicle, comprising:
- a coupling assembly arm;
- a wheel engagement member including an engagement member body rotatably carried by the coupling assembly arm, the engagement member body suitably sized and configured for engagement with the vehicle wheel on the front vehicle in substantially concentric relationship with respect to the vehicle wheel;
- wherein the engagement member body of the wheel engagement member comprises an outer engagement member surface, an inner engagement member surface and a side engagement member surface extending from the outer engagement member surface to the inner engagement member surface;
- and
- wherein the side engagement member surface of the engagement member body has a beveled cross-sectional contour or profile and tapers from the outer engagement member surface to the inner engagement member surface.
2 more elements
A vehicle coupling assembly for facilitating a resilient coupling between a rear vehicle and a vehicle wheel on a front vehicle, comprising:
- a coupling assembly arm;
- a wheel engagement member including an engagement member body rotatably carried by the coupling assembly arm, the engagement member body suitably sized and configured for engagement with the vehicle wheel on the front vehicle in substantially concentric relationship with respect to the vehicle wheel;
- wherein the engagement member body of the wheel engagement member comprises an outer engagement member surface, an inner engagement member surface and a side engagement member surface extending from the outer engagement member surface to the inner engagement member surface;
- and
- a wheel hub cavity in the inner engagement member surface of the engagement member body.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.