The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 20, 1988
Filed:
Aug. 13, 1987
Sam H Feld, West Richland, WA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A trailer hitch comprising a housing mountable on the vehicle, a ramp sloping downwardly and rearwardly from the housing away from the vehicle, and two laterally opposed pivotable jaws having recesses which when closed define a socket or pocket in which the ball coupling of the trailer tongue is retained. The ramp slopes downwardly at about 30.degree., and flares from a narrow neck to a wider lip, and has upstanding side curbs. The jaws pivot horizontally about vertical axes through jaw supports outboard of the housing. The jaws automatically close around the ball as it is moved forwardly along the channel into the socket. Aligned holes in interfitting locking arms of the jaws receive and are locked together and to the housing by a locking pin which drops into place when the jaws are completely closed. A load leveler distributes the trailer's weight between the wheels of the towing vehicle using a V-shaped rod detachably connected at its apex to a pivotable link below the housing. The link pivots about the vertical axis through the center of the ball. The ends of the rod are adjustably attached to a cross beam spanning between the side beams of the trailer tongue.