Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Patent
1995-10-24
1998-03-10
Hurley, Kevin
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
280508, B60D 106
Patent
active
057252343
ABSTRACT:
A ball-type coupler is disclosed for attaching a trailer to a ball. The coupler includes a housing having an inner wall defining a void formed therein with a generally hemispherical end for receiving a ball. One or more elongate rotatable rods are disposed through the housing so that distal and proximal portions of the rods are disposed at least partially within the housing, and so that a portion of the rotatable rods are disposed so as to intersect and selectively extend into the void. The rotatable rods have a noncylindrical section, typically a curvature formed therein, such that when the rotatable rods are rotated about their central axis of rotation into a first position, the exterior surface of the rods align with the curvatures of the inner wall so as to enable a ball to be slid into the void past the rotatable rods. Once the ball is disposed adjacent the hemispherical end, the rotatable rods are rotated to a second position wherein the exterior surface of the rotatable rod is not aligned with the wall of the housing and extends into the housing at a position adjacent the lower curvature of the ball to prevent withdrawal of the ball from the housing. An actuator mechanism is also taught which moves the arms between the first and second positions. The actuator mechanism ensures that the rods stay in the proper position during use.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2099549 (1937-11-01), Watson
patent: 2824754 (1958-02-01), Bolmes et al.
patent: 3049366 (1962-08-01), Peters
patent: 3446520 (1969-05-01), Gibson et al.
patent: 3831982 (1974-08-01), Bernhardt et al.
patent: 4008906 (1977-02-01), Schafer et al.
patent: 4416466 (1983-11-01), Park
patent: 4699395 (1987-10-01), Hale
patent: 4993739 (1991-02-01), Putnam
patent: 5000474 (1991-03-01), Kristensen
patent: 5080386 (1992-01-01), Lazar
LandOfFree
Ball-type coupler for trailers and the like does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Ball-type coupler for trailers and the like, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ball-type coupler for trailers and the like will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-133197