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:
Jul. 24, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 04, 2000
George Patrick Gill, Rockford, IL (US);
Rodney Lee Peterson, Rockford, IL (US);
Damon Dirk Shaw, Byron, IL (US);
Atwood Mobile Products, Inc., Rockford, IL (US);
Abstract
A gooseneck trailer coupler is disclosed which secures a first structure such as a towing vehicle to a second structure such as a trailer. The coupler is provided with a mounting element extending from the first structure, a chuck having a top end and a base at a bottom end opposite the top end, with the chuck attached to the mounting element at the top end and adapted to receive a ball mounted to the second structure. A locking assembly is adapted to releasably secure the ball and the chuck, and comprises a ring gear mounted around the chuck and movable from a locking position where the chuck is secured with the ball and an unlocking position where the chuck is unlocked from the ball, wherein the ring gear translates from the base toward the top end of the chuck as the ring gear moves from the locking position to the unlocking position. The locking assembly can also comprise at least one jaw mounted in the chuck for engaging the ball when the ring gear is in the locked position. A novel release lever assembly is also disclosed which moves the ring gear.