Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-22
2001-09-18
Boehler, Ann Marie (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C280S416100, C280S443000, C280S459000, C280S460100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290248
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to vehicle trailers and is particularly directed to improved dolly means for attaching trailers to automobiles, pickup trucks and the like.
PRIOR ART
It is often necessary or desirable to tow trailers behind automobiles, pickup trucks and the like. Unfortunately, these vehicles are not normally equipped for such towing. Some trailers have relatively low attaching tongues which can be attached to ball-type trailer hitches mounted on the rear bumper of the towing vehicle. Other trailers have relatively high attaching tongues and require that a fifth wheel be mounted on the bed of the towing vehicle. Obviously, the latter type of trailers cannot be towed by conventional automobiles, since there is no place to mount the fifth wheel; and, even on pickup trucks, the fifth wheel occupies a significant area within the bed of the pickup which severely limits the load carrying ability of the truck. Also, each of these types of trailer hitch requires that the towing vehicle bear the weight of the trailer, despite the fact that many towing vehicles are not designed for this. Furthermore, no means has been provided heretofore which would enable a vehicle to tow either type of trailer at the driver's option. Moreover, with either of the prior art types of trailer hitches, reversing or backing up with a trailer has been extremely difficult, if not impossible. Trailer dollies have been known to facilitate connecting trailers to tow vehicles. However, many of the prior art trailer dollies have failed to provide means for steering and control of the trailer. Moreover, none of the prior art trailer dollies have given the driver the option of towing either type of trailer. A search in the United States Patent Office has revealed the following:
U.S. PAT. NO.
INVENTOR
ISSUED
5,407,221
D. K. Haire et al
Apr. 18, 1995
3,212,793
D. Petroroia
Oct. 19, 1965
4,345,775
D. V. Merrifield
Aug. 24, 1982
5,067,741
J. Ayme
Nov. 26, 1991
4,033,426
E. J. Williams
Jul. 5, 1977
3,105,704
A. G. Schramm
Oct. 1, 1963
1,503,135
W. H. Sargent
Jul. 29, 1924
4,468,047
J. R. McGhie et al
Aug. 28, 1984
5,364,117
P. G. Keith
Nov. 15, 1994
5,348,331
W. H. Hawkins
Sep. 20, 1994
4,824,135
D. T. McGregor
Apr. 25, 1989
4,451,058
N. R. Curry
May 29, 1984
Each of these references is subject to the disadvantages discussed above. Thus, none of the prior art trailer dollies have been entirely satisfactory.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION
These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with the present invention and an improved trailer dolly is provided which accommodates both high tongue and low tongue trailers without requiring the towing vehicle to bear the weight of the trailer and which provides cure and positive steering and control of the towed vehicle, even when backing up.
These advantages of the present invention are preferably attained by providing an improved trailer dolly having a fifth wheel and also carrying a ball-type trailer hitch to give the driver the option of towing either type of trailer and having steering means built into the dolly to provide sure and positive steering and control of the towed trailer.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved trailer dolly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved trailer dolly which can accommodate either low tongue or high tongue trailers.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved trailer dolly which allows the driver the option of towing either low tongue or high tongue trailers.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved trailer dolly which does not require the towing vehicle to bear the weight of the trailer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved trailer dolly having steering means to facilitate steering and control of the dolly.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved trailer dolly which provides sure and positive steering and control of the towed trailer, even when backing up.
A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved trailer dolly having a fifth wheel and also carrying a ball-type trailer hitch to give the driver the option of towing either type of trailer and having steering means built into the dolly to provide sure and positive steering and control of the towed trailer.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2612385 (1952-09-01), Pilz
patent: 3476405 (1969-11-01), Cunha
patent: 4171825 (1979-10-01), Woodell
patent: 4345775 (1982-08-01), Merrifield
patent: 4451058 (1984-05-01), Curry
patent: 4645226 (1987-02-01), Gustavsson et al.
patent: 4759563 (1988-07-01), Nash
patent: 5788257 (1998-08-01), Meyerhofer
patent: 2342861 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 093 016 909 (1993-09-01), None
Boehler Ann Marie
Sperry Robert M.
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