Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-04
2002-12-24
Zeender, F. (Department: 3627)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C280S511000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06497428
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to trailer hitches and, more particularly, to an arrangement of a plurality of selectable trailer hitches.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
When a trailer is connected to a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle has a trailer hitch for connecting to the trailer. The trailer hitch is generally permanently mounted on the motor vehicle, and once mounted, is difficult to remove or replace. A problem can arise when a specific trailer requires a trailer hitch of a specific size which is not mounted on the motor vehicle. In response to this problem, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to providing a plurality of selectable trailer hitches that are mounted on the motor vehicle. In this respect, the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,044,652, 5,106,114, 5,322,313, and 5,351,982. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,652 discloses an apparatus which has a plurality of trailer hitches, each of which is directly connected to a locking pin which projects from the bottom of a respective trailer hitch. As a result, when a different trailer hitch is to be selected, all of the trailer hitches must be lifted off of a base and rotated to present a different trailer hitch for connection to a trailer. It would be desirable, however, if it were not necessary to lift the trailer hitches off of a base plate to select another trailer hitch.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,114 discloses an arrangement of selectable trailer hitches which also includes a bulky pintle hook supported by the same base plate which supports the trailer hitches. The bulky pintle hook can obstruct rotation of the array of trailer hitches on the base plate. In this respect, it would be desirable if an array of selectable trailer hitches were provided which does not include a bulky object which inhibits rotation of a plate upon which a plurality of selectable trailer hitches are supported. It is further noted that in U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,114 the trailer hitches are not arrayed symmetrically around the axle on which the trailer hitch support plate rotates. However, it would be desirable if the trailer hitches were arrayed symmetrically around the support plate rotation axle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,313 discloses a rotatable hitch-mounting plate that is not in full registration with an underlying base plate. More specifically, a selected trailer hitch extends out from a base plate, and the selected trailer hitch is not directly supported by an underlying portion of the base plate. For greater stability of support for a selected trailer hitch, it would be desirable if a selected trailer hitch were directly supported by an underlying portion of a base plate. It is further noted that U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,900 discloses a trailer hitch that is also not fully supported by an underlying portion of a base plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,982 disclosed a support plate for a plurality of trailer hitches that is supported on a base plate by a wedge relationship between the trailer hitch support plate and the base plate. To avoid the complexities in fashioning a wedge relationship between the trailer hitch support plate and the base plate, it would be desirable if a selectable trailer hitch apparatus were provided which has a flat planar relationship between the trailer hitch support plate and the base plate.
Still other features would be desirable in a selectable trailer hitch apparatus. For example, for a stable and strong attachment between a base plate and a vehicle attachment member, it would be desirable if such an attachment were a welded attachment.
Another observation is made with respect to above-mentioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,044,652, 5,106,114, and 5,322,313. With each of the trailer hitches in these respective patents, a respective vehicle attachment member is substantially horizontal and fits into a respective trailer-hitch supporting bracket on a vehicle. A respective hitch is located on top of a respective vehicle attachment member. As a result, the respective hitch is located in substantially the same plane as the trailer-hitch supporting bracket on the vehicle. Such an arrangement is satisfactory when the height of the portion of the trailer that is connected to the hitch is substantially the same height as the trailer-hitch supporting bracket on the vehicle. However, there are many instances where the portion of the trailer that is connected to the hitch is substantially lower than the trailer-hitch supporting bracket on the vehicle. In this respect, it would be desirable if a selectable trailer hitch apparatus were provided that is suitable for use in a situation where the portion of the trailer that is connected to the hitch is substantially lower than the trailer-hitch supporting bracket on the vehicle.
Different trailers can have different heights with respect to portions of the trailers that are connected to a hitch. In this respect, it would be desirable if a selectable trailer hitch apparatus were provided that is adjustable for different trailers which have different heights with respect to the portions of the trailers that are connected to a hitch.
There are some trailers that have a portion of the trailer that is connected to the hitch that is lower than the trailer-hitch supporting bracket on the vehicle. Conversely, there are other trailers that may have a portion of the trailer that is connected to the hitch that is higher than the trailer-hitch supporting bracket on the vehicle. In this respect, it would be desirable is a selectable trailer hitch apparatus were provided which is adjustable for trailers that have connections to trailer-hitch supporting brackets on vehicles from positions both lower than and higher than the trailer-hitch supporting brackets on the vehicles.
It is noted that U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,982 discloses a selectable trailer hitch apparatus which is supported at a level higher than the trailer-hitch supporting bracket on the vehicle. However, there is no provision for adjusting the height. Moreover, there is not disclosure that the selectable trailer hitch apparatus can be supported at a level lower than the trailer-hitch supporting bracket on the vehicle.
As stated above, it would be desirable if a plurality of trailer hitches are arrayed symmetrically around the support plate rotation axle. Moreover, for ease of use, it would also be desirable if locking pin reception channels are also arrayed symmetrically around the support plate rotation axle.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use a plurality of selectable trailer hitches, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a selectable trailer hitch apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) wherein it is not necessary to lift the trailer hitches off of a base plate to select an alternate trailer hitch; (2) does not include a bulky object which inhibits rotation of a trailer hitch support plate; (3) includes plural trailer hitches arrayed symmetrically around the support plate rotation axle; (4) provides that a selected trailer hitch is directly supported by an underlying portion of a base plate; (5) provides a flat planar relationship between the trailer hitch support plate and the base plate; (6) provides a welded attachment between a base plate and a vehicle attachment member; (7) provides locking pin reception channels arrayed symmetrically around the support plate rotation axle; (8) is suitable for use in a situation where the portion of the trailer that is connected to the hitch is substantially lower than the trailer-hitch supporting bracket on the vehicle; (9) is adjustable for different trailers which have different heights with respect to the portions of the trailers that are connected to a hitch; and (10) is adjustable for trailers that have connections to trailer-hitch supporting brackets on vehicles from positions both lower than and higher than the trailer-hitch supporting brackets on the vehicles. The foregoing desired characteri
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