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US 4,225,149 AGranted
Remotely operable trailer hitch
OwnerRobert J. Koopmaninventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerRobert J. Koopmaninventor
Estimating the term…
A forwardly projecting hitch pole including a coupling member on its free forward end and a rearwardly opening receiver for the coupling member and for mounting on a towing vehicle. The coupling member includes a horizontal forwardly bowed arcuate hitch portion generally cylindrical in cross section and the receiver defines a rearwardly opening horizontally transversely elongated recess in which to receive the hitch portion. The forward portion of the recess defines a horizontal generally arcuate seat curving rearwardly at its opposite ends. A vertically swingable latch is oscillatably supported from the receiver and includes a rear forwardly opening hook portion and the latch is angularly displaceable relative to the receiver between an operative position with the hook portion horizontally registered with the central rear portion of the recess and an inoperative position with the hook portion vertically displaced out of horizontal registry with the recess. The hook portion, when in the operative position and when the hitch portion is seated against the seat, is disposed immediately rearwardly of the hitch portion and prevents its rearward displacement from the recess. Also, the latch is supported from the receiver for limited shifting in the direction in which the hook opens and the latch and receiver include coacting abutment structure engageable with each other to prevent displacement of the latch from the operative position to the inoperative position when the latch is in its rearward limit position.
In combination with a forwardly projecting hitch pole including a coupling member on its free forward end, a rearwardly opening receiver for said coupling member and for mounting on a towing vehicle, the coupling member including a horizontal forwardly bowed arcuate hitch portion generally cylindrical in cross section, said receiver defining a rearwardly opening horizontally elongated and transversely extending recess in which to receive said hitch portion and including an arcuate rearwardly facing forward seat defining extremity curving rearwardly at its opposite ends toward the ends of said recess, a vertically swingable latch oscillatably supported from said receiver, including a rear forwardly opening hook portion and angularly displaceable relative to said receiver between an operative position with said hook portion horizontally registered with the central portion of the open rear of said recess and an inoperative position with said hook portion vertically displaced out of horizontal registry with said recess, said latch hook portion, when said latch is in said operative position and when said hitch portion is seated in said recess, being disposed immediately rearwardly of said hitch portion, said latch being elongated and extending in a front-to-rear direction relative to said receiver, the forward end portion of said latch including an elongated slot therein, said receiver including a horizontal transverse pivot member slidably and rotatably received in said slot whereby said latch, when in said operative position, may be longitudinally shifted between forward and rearward limit positions defined by the rear and front ends of said slot.
In combination with a forwardly projecting hitch pole including a coupling member on its free forward end, a rearwardly opening and forwardly tapering receiver for said coupling member and for mounting on a towing vehicle, the coupling member including a horizontal forwardly bowed arcuate hitch portion generally cylindrical in cross section, the forward extremity of said receiver defining a rearwardly facing seat against which said hitch portion may seat a vertically swingable latch oscillatably supported from said receiver, including a rear forwardly opening hook portion and angularly displaceable relative to said receiver between an operative position with said hook portion horizontally registered with and disposed slightly rearward of said seat and an inoperative position with said hook portion vertically displaced out of horizontal registry with said seat, said latch hook portion, when said latch is in said operative position and when said hitch portion is seated in said seat, being disposed immediately rearwardly of said hitch portion, said latch being elongated and extending in a front-to-rear direction relative to said receiver, the forward end portion of said latch including an elongated slot therein, said receiver including a horizontal transverse pivot member slidably and rotatably received in said slot whereby said latch, when in said operative position, may be longitudinally shifted between forward and rearward limit positions defined by the rear and front ends of said slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.