Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-27
2001-09-04
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C280S488000, C280S461100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283489
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention, in general relates to trailer hitches and, more particularly, to devices that prevent a trailer from swaying back and forth.
A number of anti-sway devices are currently known. These devices that have certain advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages, which are discussed briefly hereinbelow, preclude their use in certain instances and prevent optimum results in other situations.
For example, certain currently known anti-sway devices will not function with surge type of brakes.
Other anti-sway types of devices will not function with load distributing types of hitches.
Other anti-sway types of devices require that a particular type of a hitch assembly, such as a receiver hitch, be used.
In addition, other types of anti-sway devices employ a limiting type of geometric design that actually permits the trailer to sway in a particular direction without initially presenting a significant opposing force. Rather, the geometry of certain prior types of devices is such that they become more effective as the trailer sways a greater distance away from normal but they are not especially effective at counteracting initial sway tendencies.
In general, prior types of anti-sway devices are also limited in how they can be attached to trailers, especially trailers with a single tongue.
Accordingly there exists today a need for an anti-sway control device for trailers that is versatile in its ability to attach to both the towing vehicle and the trailer, is suitable for use with surge brakes and weight distributing hitches, and possesses a geometry that provides optimum damping characteristics the moment a trailer begins to sway from normal.
Clearly, such a device would be useful and desirable.
2. Description of Prior Art
Sway control devices are, in general, known. For example, the following patents describe various types of these devices:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,273,911 to Waldie, Sep. 20, 1966;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,294,421 to Mathisen, Dec. 27, 1966;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,351 to Gray, Mar. 24, 1970;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,531,139 to Hedgepeth, Sep. 29, 1970;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,077 to Sanders, Jun. 22, 1974;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,288 to Hollnagel, Mar. 12, 1974;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,837,676 to Rendessy, Sep. 24, 1974;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,286 to Goodwin, May 18, 1976;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,734 to Swanson, et al, Dec. 22, 1981; and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,409 to Hensley, Aug. 26, 1997.
While the structural arrangements of the above described devices, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that can attach, in part, to a bumper, frame member, or body of a towing vehicle.
It is also an important object of the invention to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that can attach, in part, to a receiver hitch of a towing vehicle.
Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that can attach, in part, to a modified type of a drawbar that is attached to a receiver hitch of a towing vehicle.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that can attach, in part, to a ball coupler of a trailer.
Still yet another object of the invention is to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that can attach, in part, to a ball coupler of a trailer that includes a surge type of a brake.
Yet another important object of the invention is to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that can attach, in part, to a tongue of a trailer.
Still yet another important object of the invention is to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that provides an improved geometric arrangement for the damper with respect to a longitudinal axis of the trailer.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that includes a hydraulic damper.
It is one further valuable object of the invention to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that includes a friction-type of damper.
It is also an important further object of the invention to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that includes a hydraulic steering type of a damper.
Another further object of the invention is to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that can include a hydraulic damper on each side of a tongue of a trailer.
Still another further object of the invention is to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that can include a pair of hydraulic dampers on either side of a tongue of a trailer.
Still yet another further object of the invention is to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that can include a pair of hydraulic dampers on each side of a tongue of a trailer.
An additional object of the invention is to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that includes a modified drawbar adapted for use with a receiver hitch.
An additional important object of the invention is to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that includes an adapter plate suitable for attachment to an existing ball coupler.
Still yet another additional object of the invention is to provide an anti-sway control device for trailers that includes a modified type of a ball coupler.
Briefly, an anti-sway control apparatus for use with trailers that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention has a first portion that is attached at an offset from a center longitudinal axis of a towing vehicle to the towing vehicle at any of several locations including an end portion of a receiver hitch, a bumper, a frame member, the body, or by the use of a modified type of a drawbar having an offset member. A second portion is attached to a trailer at any of several locations including to a ball coupler by the use of an adapter plate, a modified ball coupler bracket, or directly to a tongue of the trailer. Intermediate the first and second portion a damper is disposed, preferably a hydraulic damper of the type generally used to form an automobile steering damper. The damper preferably includes spherical type bearings at each end thereof to allow for limited articulation about a point. The magnitude and location of the offset by the first portion in combination with the location on the trailer that is selected for the second portion provide a geometric arrangement (i.e., an angle) whereby a sufficient dampening force is experienced the moment the trailer begins to deviate from normal. Alternative embodiments are described that increase the number of the hydraulic dampers that are utilized or the resistance they provide.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3531139 (1970-09-01), Hedgepeth
patent: 3787077 (1974-01-01), Sanders
patent: 3957286 (1976-05-01), Goodwin
patent: 4278267 (1981-07-01), Vasseur
patent: 4306734 (1981-12-01), Swanson et al.
patent: 4582337 (1986-04-01), Hsueh
patent: 5222754 (1993-06-01), Few
patent: 5348331 (1994-09-01), Hawkins
Johnson Brian L.
Lerner Avraham H.
Rinne, Jr. Risto A.
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