Force responsive trailer hitch
OwnerCharles J. MacKarvichinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trailer hitch apparatus (10) for dampening shocks and surges between a towing vehicle (2) and a trailer (1) is disclosed. The hitch apparatus (10) includes a draw bar (20) for removably coupling to a towing vehicle (2), a hitch ball assembly (16) for coupling to a tongue of a trailer, and a torsional spring apparatus (30) pivotally coupling the draw bar to the hitch ball assembly. The torsional spring apparatus is adapted to resist the pivoting motion of the hitch ball assembly with respect to the draw bar thereby dampening shocks and surges transmitted between the towing vehicle and the trailer. The torsional spring further includes an incremental scale (13) and indicator (12) working in conjunction with the torsional spring apparatus for weighing the tongue weight of a trailer.
Claims38
A trailer hitch apparatus for coupling a tongue of a trailer to a towing vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a draw bar configured for rigid mounting to a towing vehicle;
- at least one load bearing arm having first and second ends,
- a pivotal mounting means pivotally mounting said first end of said load bearing arm to said draw bar at a pivot point;
- a hitch ball mounted to said second end of said load bearing arm;
- yieldable retaining means in contact with said pivotal mounting means, said yieldable retaining means engaging said pivotal mounting means and biasing with a retaining force said second end of said load bearing arm and said hitch ball about said pivot point to a predetermined position horizontally and vertically offset from said pivot point;
- whereby the second end of the at least one load bearing arm is urged against the retaining force of the yieldable retaining means in an arc about the pivot point in response to shocks and surges between the towing vehicle and the trailer.
A trailer hitch apparatus comprising:
- a draw bar having opposed first and second ends, said first end adapted to be received by a receiver tube for rigidly and removably coupling to a towing vehicle;
- a hitch ball assembly including a hitch ball;
- a pivotal connection for pivotally connecting together said draw bar and said hitch ball assembly with said hitch ball movable in an arc about said pivotal connection;
- biasing means disposed generally around said pivotal connecting means, said biasing means engaged between said draw bar and said hitch ball assembly for urging said hitch ball to a position displaced vertically and horizontally from said pivotal connection so that said hitch ball can pivot against the force applied by said biasing means about said pivotal connection;
- whereby said trailer hitch apparatus dampens shocks and surges transmitted between said draw bar and said hitch ball assembly.
A trailer hitch assembly comprising:
- a rigid draw bar having opposed first and second ends, said first end adapted to be received by a receiver tube for removably coupling to a towing vehicle;
- a hitch ball assembly vertically and horizontally offset from said rigid draw bar;
- a torsional spring assembly configured for weighing a tongue of a trailer hitched to said hitch ball assembly, said torsional spring assembly including a pivotal connector connecting said rigid draw bar to said hitch ball assembly, whereby said hitch ball assembly pivots relative to said rigid draw bar in response to a trailer's tongue being hitched to said hitch ball assembly.
A trailer hitch apparatus for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle, the apparatus adapted to be received by a vehicle mounted receiver tube, said apparatus comprising:
- a draw bar having a top wall, and first and second opposed ends, said first end adapted to be removably coupled to a receiver tube;
- a torsional spring apparatus rigidly affixed to said top wall proximal to said second end of said draw bar;
- a hitch ball assembly supported by said torsional spring apparatus, wherein said hitch ball assembly pivots with respect to said draw bar, whereby upon shocks and surges experienced between the trailer and the towing vehicle the hitch ball assembly moves against the force of the torsional spring apparatus in arc about the torsional spring apparatus, whereby said torsional spring apparatus dampens shocks and surges transmitted between said hitch ball assembly and said draw bar.
A trailer hitch assembly adapted to be removably coupled to a vehicle mounted receiver tube, said hitch assembly comprising;
- a draw bar having opposed first and second ends, a topwall, and opposed sidewalls, said opposed sidewalls having said topwall extending therebetween, said first end adapted to be closely received by a receiver tube and removably coupled thereto;
- a torsional spring housing rigidly affixed to said topwall of said draw bar, said torsional spring housing having interior walls and opposed ends, said interior walls defining a hollow interior, and said opposed ends having said hollow interior extending therebetween, wherein said opposed ends extend beyond said sidewalls of said draw bar, and wherein said hollow interior has a center axis extending between said opposed ends;
- a spindle having opposed ends inserted into said hollow interior of said housing extending therethrough;
- a plurality of rubber cords inserted into said hollow interior of said housing around said spindle, wherein said rubber cords press against said spindle and said interior walls of said housing such that said spindle is approximately co-axially aligned with said center axis of said interior of said housing;
- a pair of opposed reclined L-shaped side arms each having an upper portion and a base portion, each upper portion having said base portion extending generally horizontally therefrom and having an aperture formed therethrough, said apertures fitting closely around said opposed ends of said spindle;
- a means for rigidly fastening said pair of reclined L-shaped side arms to said opposed ends of said spindle, whereby said reclined L-shaped side arms and said spindle pivot as one;
- a spacer-bar assembly having opposed ends, said opposed ends abutting said base portions of said side arms, said spacer-bar assembly adapted to receive a hitch ball;
- whereby said spindle having said opposed reclined L-shaped side arms rigidly coupled thereto and said spacer-bar assembly abutting said base portions of said opposed reclined L-shaped side arms pivot as one rigid assembly.
A trailer hitch, said hitch including a rigid draw bar configured for rigid connection to a towing vehicle and a hitch ball assembly, the improvement comprising:
- a torsional spring apparatus pivotally connecting about a pivot point said hitch ball assembly to said rigid draw bar, wherein said torsional spring apparatus surrounds said pivot point and resiliently maintains said hitch ball assembly displaced vertically and horizontally from said torsional spring, whereby upon shocks and surges experienced between the hitch ball assembly and the towing vehicle the hitch ball assembly moves against the force of the torsional spring apparatus in arc about the torsional spring apparatus, whereby said torsional spring apparatus dampens shocks and surges transmitted between the hitch ball assembly and the rigid assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.