Pin box assembly with gooseneck coupler
AssigneeHorizon Global Americas Inc.
InventorsMichael R. Curl, Richard W. McCoy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pin box assembly with gooseneck coupler for coupling a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle is described. The pin box assembly may include a first member capable of being secured to a towed vehicle and a second member pivotally coupled to the first member about an axis of rotation relative to the first member. The pin box assembly may further include a gooseneck ball coupler coupled to the second member, and a suspension system coupled to at least one of the first and second members, the suspension system damping motion between the first and second members.
Claims13
A towing assembly comprising:
- a towed vehicle attachment assembly;
- a gooseneck coupler assembly pivotally coupled to the towed vehicle attachment assembly about an axis of rotation wherein the gooseneck coupler assembly pivots relative to the towed vehicle attachment assembly about the axis of rotation, wherein the gooseneck coupler assembly comprises a gooseneck ball coupler and the axis of rotation is completely forward and upward of the periphery of the gooseneck ball coupler;
- and
- a suspension system damping motion between the towed vehicle attachment assembly and gooseneck coupler assembly, wherein the suspension system is attached between the gooseneck coupler assembly and the towed vehicle attachment assembly.
A towing assembly for coupling a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the towing assembly comprising:
- a towed vehicle attachment assembly configured to be attached to the towed vehicle in a fixed orientation;
- a gooseneck coupler assembly pivotally coupled to the towed vehicle attachment assembly about an axis of rotation;
- a suspension system coupled to the towed vehicle attachment assembly and the gooseneck coupler assembly, wherein the suspension system comprises a shock absorber configured to restrict relative movement between the towed vehicle attachment assembly and the gooseneck coupler assembly;
- and
- a gooseneck ball coupler attached to the gooseneck coupler assembly, the gooseneck ball coupler configured to engage and disengage with a ball portion of a gooseneck ball on the towing vehicle;
- wherein the axis of rotation is completely forward and upward of the periphery of the gooseneck ball coupler.
A towing assembly comprising:
- a towed vehicle attachment assembly configured to be attached to a towed vehicle;
- a gooseneck coupler assembly pivotally secured to the towed vehicle attachment assembly about an axis of rotation;
- a gooseneck ball coupler attached with the gooseneck coupler assembly, the gooseneck ball coupler configured to engage a ball portion of a gooseneck ball;
- wherein the axis of rotation of the gooseneck coupler assembly is completely forward and upward of the periphery of the gooseneck ball coupler;
- and
- a suspension system attached between the towed vehicle attachment assembly and the gooseneck coupler assembly, wherein the suspension system restricts relative motion between the towed vehicle attachment assembly and the gooseneck coupler assembly and is mounted completely upward of the gooseneck ball coupler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.