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:
May. 22, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 10, 1998
Hector Lara, El Paso, TX (US);
Hammerblow Corporation, El Paso, TX (US);
Abstract
A device and method for coupling a trailer which has a trailer tongue mount attached to the trailer and a coupler attached to the trailer tongue mount. The coupler has an outer tube assembly, an inner tube assembly slidably received by the outer tube assembly, and a return spring having a first end attached to the outer tube assembly, and a second end attached to the inner tube assembly for drawing the inner tube assembly upwardly toward the first end of the return spring. The inner tube assembly may include an inner tubular member which has a plurality of height adjusting holes, a top end and a bottom end. The inner tube assembly may also include a female coupling member attached to the bottom end of the tubular member. A locking handle assembly may be attached to the inner tube assembly to prevent the coupler from disengaging from the towing vehicle. The outer tube assembly may include an outer tubular member, a reinforcing band attached to the outer tubular member, an adjusting nut attached to the reinforcing band, and an adjusting bolt in communication with the nut to provide a friction force on the inner tube assembly. A plunger pin may engage one of the adjusting holes in the inner tube assembly. A snapper pin may be used to indicate that the plunger pin is properly closed.