Traction weights for light trucks and utility vehicles

Details Traction weights for light trucks and utility vehicles Traction weights for light trucks and utility vehicles

1999-04-07

2001-04-03

Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

C280S757000, C280S759000, C414S673000, C414S719000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06209898

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to traction weights and more particularly to traction weights that can be added to the rear of light trucks and utility vehicles or any other vehicle to improve vehicle weight distribution when they are not transporting cargo or pulling trailers. The disclosure incorporates the traction weights for light trucks and utility vehicles and methods disclosed in provisional patent application 60/081,104, filed Apr. 8, 1998, whose priority is claimed for this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Light trucks and other utility vehicles are designed to haul cargo and to pull trailers. When these vehicles are empty they have a substantial portion of their total weight on their front wheels. The relatively small portion of their total weight that is carried on their rear wheels results in reduced rear wheel traction and a relatively rough ride. The reduced traction leads to increased tire wear and reduced fuel mileage. It may also lead to these vehicles having reduced stability or even becoming stalled in snow and ice conditions.
The operators of light trucks and utility vehicles have frequently added weight to cargo areas of these vehicles when operating such vehicles without cargo or a trailer. The addition of weight has been particularly common during the winter months in areas that have snowfall and ice conditions.
The addition of weight to the rear wheels of light trucks and utility vehicles helps keep them from becoming stuck in snow and ice, improves their ride characteristics, reduces tire wear, reduces stopping distance and increases fuel mileage. The addition of weights is not without problems however. The weights that are added may interfere with the transportation of other cargo. It has also been difficult to prevent added weights from moving around in the cargo area. Removal of traction weights, when they are not needed, has generally been somewhat difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide traction weights that are rigidly secured to the vehicle outside the cargo compartment. Another object of the invention is to provide traction weights that are easy to attach to and remove from a vehicle. A further object of the invention is to provide traction weights that lower the center of gravity of the vehicle. A still further object of the invention is to provide traction weights that can be easily adjusted to increase or decrease the weight to accommodate changing weather conditions. A yet still further object of the invention is to provide traction weights that are fully adjustable and adaptable to numerous vehicle makes and models. Another yet still further object of the invention is to provide traction weights that can be used in conjunction with traditional hitching systems while trailering.
The traction weight assembly is attached to a hitch commonly found on the rear of a vehicle. These hitches are attached to the rear frame of a vehicle and include a square tubular receptacle that is just below a standard rear bumper. The square tubular receptacle receives a square bar. The square bar is retained in the tubular receptacle by a retainer pin. A hitch ball of the desired size or a portion of a pintle hook hitch is mounted on the rear portion of the square bar.
The hitch receptacle receives a square weight bar, when employed to mount traction weights. This weight bar can be a solid member or a tubular member. The weight bar has a plurality of bores for a locking or retainer pin to adjust the length of the portion of the square weight bar that projects to the rear of the tubular receptacle. A spacer or plurality of spacers slide over the square weight bar and contact the rear surface of the square tubular receptacle. The spacer is optional, used primarily for adjustment and can be a rigid or resilient member. A plurality of cast iron weights with square apertures are slid onto the weight bar. A retainer plate may have a square boss that is inserted into the square aperture in the rearmost weight. A pair of bolts pass through bores through the retainer plate and screws into the rear of the weight bar or into a bar that passes through a passage through the weight bar. The bolts which can be of a locking variety, or may be used in combination with a locking washer, clamp the weights and spacers together between the retainer plate and the square tubular receptacle while loading the retainer pin. The spacer, which can be a hard rubber, a compression spring, Belleville washers or a rigid member that keeps the weights tight and thereby eliminates rattling and wear. The bolts that retain the weights can have a flat head that is recessed into the retainer plate if desired so the retainer plate provides a flat rear facing surface.
A molded plastic cover may be provided that slides over the weights and covers or encases the weights. This cover can be clamped to the weights by mechanical fasteners or it can be provided with a lid member that snaps into place.
The upper surface of the cover may be a non-skid surface that can serve as a step for climbing into a vehicle cargo compartment or for placing cargo on a rooftop cargo rack. A name or trademark may be applied to the rearward facing surface on the cover or to the retaining plate or weights if the cover is not used. The license plate can also be attached to the rear facing surface of the cover or to the weights if desired.
The number of traction weights can be changed by removing the plastic cover, removing the retainer plate, and removing the locking pin from the tubular receptacle and the square weight bar. The square weight bar is then moved rearwardly to a position in which it can receive and support additional traction weights or it is moved forward to a position in which the number of weights that can be received and supported is decreased. After the length of the weight bar portion extending to the rear of the tubular receptacle is adjusted, the locking pin is reinserted to secure the weight bar in place. The desired number of weights are then mounted on the weight bar, and the retainer plate is secured to the weight bar and tightened. The plastic cover is then put back in place and secured.
A longer square bar may be provided that extends from the square tubular receptacle on the vehicle through the spacers and weights and continues a selected distance rearward of the vehicle. A square tubular retainer slides over the longer square bar in a telescoping manner, compressing the weights and spacers between the square tubular receptacle and the square tubular retainer. A retaining pin passes through holes in both the longer square bar and the square tubular retainer, locking the weights in place. The resilient spacer becomes compressed keeping the weights tight and thereby eliminating rattle and wear. A hitch ball of the desired size or a portion of a pintle hook hitch is mounted on the rear portion of the square tubular retainer. Thus, allowing traction weight use in conjunction with traditional hitching systems while trailering.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3032352 (1962-05-01), Barrett
patent: 3490787 (1970-01-01), Latterman
patent: 3517941 (1970-06-01), Lazzeroni
patent: 3853231 (1974-12-01), Luttrell
patent: 4482169 (1984-11-01), Yim
patent: 4688823 (1987-08-01), Hanses
patent: 5322313 (1994-06-01), Schroeder
patent: 5462309 (1995-10-01), Jeffers et al.
patent: 5690359 (1997-11-01), Teich
patent: 6047791 (2000-04-01), Hoebelheinrich

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