Trailer tongue with vertical lift geometry

Details Trailer tongue with vertical lift geometry Trailer tongue with vertical lift geometry

1998-11-17

2001-01-23

Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3723)

Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force

Vehicle attached jack

Attached to trailer tongue

C254S419000, C254S424000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06176470

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to trailer tongues and more particularly to a trailer tongue that affords a substantially reduced horizontal component of movement of the trailer's hitchball coupler.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A variety of trailer tongues and devices (generically referred to as jacks) for raising and lowering same are known. The design shown in
FIG. 1
is a straight telescoping tubular jack and is very widely known. The telescoping member can be significantly retracted thereby resulting in substantially vertical movement of the trailer's hitchball coupler. However, as shown in
FIG. 2
, even when fully retracted, the telescoping member
2
hangs below the tongue. This design can be modified so that the telescoping member
2
can be rotated to horizontal position when not in use. One drawback associated with these designs is that bending damage can occur if the jack is not fully retracted and/or rotated to the horizontal position before towing. Damage can result when the telescoping tube or the contact foot, hanging below the tongue, strikes an object, such as a curb, or drags over uneven terrain.
In
FIG. 3
, another well known design is shown. In this design, a pivoting support leg
4
is used in combination with a screw jack
6
in an attempt to prevent the possible occurrence of bending damage. The pivoting support leg
4
is angled such that it deflects impacts when less than fully retracted. The fixed pivot pin
8
at the forward end of the pivoting leg
4
allows that the jack
6
itself may be pivotally mounted at each of its ends, with the lower end following the pivoting leg
4
through the arc of its vertical movement. This relieves the jack
6
entirely of all bending loads that may otherwise cause damage as described above.
One particular disadvantage of the pivoting leg
4
is that vertical movement of the hitchball coupler
9
follows an arc (designated A
1
in FIG.
3
), dictated by the length of the pivot leg itself, which includes a significant horizontal component. This is undesirable because of the difficulty it imposes on attachment of the coupler
9
to the towing vehicle hitchball
7
. For example, after care is taken to line up the hitchball of the towing vehicle directly under the raised coupler
9
, the jack
6
handle is rotated, thereby retracting the pivoting leg
4
and lowering the coupler
9
. As it is lowered, due to its arcuate motion, the coupler
9
pitches forward, therefore, often times, requiring additional movement of the towing vehicle or trailer to re-align the hitchball
7
and coupler
9
.
A long felt need exists for a device that is less susceptible to bending damage and substantially reduces the horizontal component of movement of the hitchball coupler when being lowered or raised.
SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trailer tongue that includes a support and a support leg slidingly and pivotally engaged with the support. When the support leg is raised or lowered the trailer tongue moves in a substantially vertical direction.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of lowering a trailer having a support, a support leg, means for extending and retracting the support leg and a hitchball. The method includes the step of retracting the means for extending and retracting the support leg and pivoting and sliding the support leg relative to the support, such that the hitchball coupler is lowered in a substantially vertical direction.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.


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patent: 1359527 (1920-11-01), Reed
patent: 2046918 (1936-07-01), Kruse
patent: 2580545 (1952-10-01), Hill
patent: 3020066 (1962-02-01), Torrey
patent: 3181891 (1965-05-01), Moats
patent: 3281160 (1966-10-01), Vinther et al.
patent: 3314692 (1967-04-01), Karns
patent: 3319977 (1967-05-01), Quandt et al.
patent: 3669409 (1972-06-01), Eranosian
patent: 3791676 (1974-02-01), Spratlen
patent: 3841663 (1974-10-01), Proffit
patent: 4113274 (1978-09-01), Vahrenkamp
patent: 4146250 (1979-03-01), DenHerder
patent: 5011119 (1991-04-01), Harrington

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