Trailer hitch assembly

Towing apparatus for connecting a trailer to a towing vehicle comprising:

• a) a trailer frame having a backwardly-extending rear frame portion for mounting the trailer frame to the trailer and a frontwardly-extending frame portion which is adapted to extend in the direction of the towing vehicle, said frontwardly-extending frame portion comprising:
• i) a main frame assembly, and
• ii) a secondary-spring-supporting frame member, said main frame assembly and said secondary-spring-supporting member integral with said trailer frame;
• b) a trailer tongue, having a trailer hitch coupling at one end for attaching the towing apparatus to the towing vehicle, and a pivotal connector at the other end for pivotally mounting the trailer tongue to the trailer frame;
• c) a wheel assembly having a top end and a bottom end, the top end comprising a wheel spindle, and the bottom end connected to a wheel;
• d) a bottom link assembly pivotally mounted to the trailer frame, a front end of the bottom link assembly operatively connected to said retractable wheel assembly, and a lifting mechanism adapted to contact the bottom link assembly for raising and lowering said wheel assembly;
• e) an adjustable main spring depending from said main frame assembly and operatively connected to said bottom link assembly for biasing the bottom link assembly in a downward direction;
• and
• f) an adjustable secondary spring having a top end mounted to said secondary-spring-supporting frame member, and a bottom end of said secondary spring connected to the trailer tongue for urging said trailer tongue in a downward direction.

Towing apparatus for connecting a trailer to a towing vehicle comprising:

• a) a trailer frame having a backwardly-extending rear frame portion for mounting the trailer frame to the trailer and a frontwardly-extending frame portion which is adapted to extend in the direction of the towing vehicle, said frontwardly-extending frame portion comprising:
• i) a main frame assembly, and
• ii) a secondary-spring-supporting frame member, said main frame assembly and said secondary-spring-supporting member integral with said trailer frame;
• b) a wishbone-shaped trailer tongue having spaced-apart first and second tongue legs pivotally mounted to the trailer frame, having a trailer hitch coupling at one tongue end for attaching the towing apparatus to the towing vehicle, and a pivotal connector at the other end for pivotally mounting the trailer tongue to the trailer frame;
• c) a wheel assembly having a top end and a bottom end, the top end comprising a wheel spindle, and the bottom end connected to a wheel;
• d) a bottom link assembly pivotally mounted to the trailer frame, a front end of the bottom link assembly operatively connected to said retractable wheel assembly, and a lifting mechanism adapted to contact the bottom link assembly for raising and lowering said wheel assembly;
• e) an adjustable main spring depending from said main frame assembly and operatively connected to said bottom link assembly for biasing the bottom link assembly in a downward direction;
• and
• f) an adjustable secondary spring having a top end mounted to said secondary-spring-supporting frame member, and a bottom end of said secondary spring connected to the trailer tongue for urging said trailer tongue in a downward direction.

Towing apparatus for connecting a trailer to a towing vehicle comprising:

• a) a trailer frame having a backwardly-extending rear frame portion for mounting the trailer frame to the trailer and a frontwardly-extending frame portion which is adapted to extend in the direction of the towing vehicle, said frontwardly-extending frame portion comprising:
• i) a main frame assembly, and
• ii) a secondary-spring-supporting frame member, said main frame assembly and said secondary-spring-supporting member integral with said trailer frame;
• b) a wishbone-shaped trailer tongue having first and second tongue legs each pivotally connected to the trailer frame, and a trailer hitch coupling for attaching the towing apparatus to the towing vehicle;
• c) a wheel assembly having a top end and a bottom end, the top end comprising a wheel spindle, and the bottom end connected to a wheel;
• d) a bottom link assembly pivotally mounted to the trailer frame, a front end of the bottom link assembly operatively connected to said retractable wheel assembly, and a lifting mechanism adapted to contact the bottom link assembly for raising and lowering said wheel assembly;
• e) an adjustable main spring depending from said main frame assembly and operatively connected to said bottom link assembly for biasing the bottom link assembly in a downward direction;
• and
• f) a pair of adjustable secondary springs, each secondary spring having a top end mounted to said secondary-spring-supporting frame member and a bottom end, the bottom end of one said secondary spring operatively connected to the first tongue leg and the bottom end of the other secondary spring operatively connected to the second tongue for urging said trailer tongue in a downward direction.

In a trailer having load-dampening apparatus for controlling the load of the trailer on a trailer hitch, the improvement comprising:

• a) a wishbone-shaped trailer tongue having spaced-apart first and second tongue legs, each leg pivotally mounted to said trailer, and a front end of the trailer tongue having a coupling for attachment to said trailer hitch;
• b) a centrally-disposed main frame assembly trailer frame extending frontwardly from said trailer;
• c) a pair of secondary-spring-supporting frame members extending frontwardly from said trailer, one on each side of said main frame member, the end of each frame member located above a trailer tongue leg;
• d) first and second secondary springs mount at the end of each frame member, an end of said first spring in operative contact with said first tongue leg, and an end of said second spring in operative contact with said second tongue leg;
• e) a retractable wheel assembly having a top end and a bottom end, the top end comprising a wheel spindle, and the bottom end connected to a wheel;
• f) a bottom link assembly pivotally mounted to the trailer frame, a front end of the bottom link assembly operatively connected to said retractable wheel assembly, and a lifting mechanism adapted to contact the bottom link assembly for raising and lowering said wheel assembly;
• g) an adjustable main spring depending from said main frame assembly and operatively connected to said bottom link assembly for biasing the bottom link assembly in a downward direction;
• and
• h) an adjustable secondary spring having a top end mounted to said secondary-spring-supporting frame member, and a bottom end of said secondary spring connected to the trailer tongue for urging said trailer tongue in a downward direction.