Mobile trailer hitching apparatus
OwnerLarry Nelsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trailer loading or hitching device for moving a trailer between a storage position and attachment of a tongue of the trailer to a tow vehicle, comprising a vertical lifting column selectively extendable and retractable by a mover and pivotally connected to a drive wheel chassis by a mount for a steering shaft operatively engaged to the lifting column, the drive wheel chassis having opposing drive wheels selectively operable for moving the chassis.
Claims43
A trailer loading device for moving a trailer between a storage position and attachment of a tongue of a trailer to a tow vehicle, comprising a vertical lifting column selectively extendable and retractable by a mover, said vertical lifting column having a steering shaft at a lower end, said vertical lifting column rotatably connected to a chassis by a mount that receives a portion of the steering shaft, the chassis having opposing drive wheels selectively operable by a first actuator and a second actuator for moving the chassis.
A trailer loading device for attachment to a tongue of a trailer, comprising:
- a pair of plates each having an actuator mount portion and a wheel support portion that define an axle bore therein, the plates interconnected by transverse support members;
- a first and second actuator, each attached to a respective one of the plates in the actuator mount portion;
- a pair of opposing drive wheels, each mounted on an axle extending from the axle bore of the plates and each operatively engaged to a respective one of the actuators;
- a steering shaft having a base portion mounted on a pin extending between the transverse plates and an extending cylindrical coupler;
- a mount block that receives the coupler;
- means for rotating the base portion relative to the mount block;
- a telescopically extendable member having an inner tubular member received in an outer tubular member for relative movement therebetween, the inner tubular member attached at a first end to the mount block;
- a mover operatively engaged to the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the first and second actuators for selective movement of the drive wheels and to the mover for selective extending and retracting of the outer tubular member relative to the inner tubular member.
A trailer loading device providing selective travel of drive wheels and independent vertical movement thereof for attachment to a tongue of a trailer for moving the trailer between a storage place and a trailer moving vehicle, comprising:
- a pair of spaced-apart, angularly offset plates each having an actuator mount portion and a wheel support portion that define an axle bore therein, the plates interconnected by transverse support members;
- a first and second actuator each attached to a respective one of the plates in the actuator mount portion;
- a pair of opposing drive wheels, each mounted on an axle extending from the axle bore of the plates and operatively engaged to a respective actuator;
- a steering shaft having a base mounted on a pin extending between the transverse plates and an extending cylindrical coupler;
- a mount block that receives the coupler within a cylindrical bore for movement of the steering shaft relative to the mount block;
- a telescopically extendable inner member received in an outer member, the inner member attached at a first end to the mount block;
- a mover operatively connected to the inner member and to the outer member;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the first and second actuators for selective movement of the drive wheels and to the mover for selective extending and retracting of the outer tubular member relative to the inner tubular member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.