Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-01
2001-09-11
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C280S513000, C280S491100, C267S138000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286853
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a vehicle hitch, and in particular to a hitch for coupling two vehicles for increased traction between the vehicles and the ground.
While the hitch of the present invention was designed specifically for use with all terrain vehicles (ATV's), it will be appreciated that the hitch can be used to couple other types of vehicles when increased traction is required.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
All terrain vehicles have realized a substantial increase in popularity during the past decade. While such vehicles are mainly intended for recreational purposes, they are also used in many off-road commercial enterprises such as surveying, hydroelectric line repair and trapping. It has been found that in some conditions, e.g. swampy ground or when climbing hills, increased traction is required between the vehicle and the ground. The usual solution to the problem is to connect two vehicles together using a rope. Aside from the fact that rope tends to break when subjected to the forces involved when pulling a heavy vehicle, the use of a rope can lead to vehicle damage when the rope jerks one of the vehicles. Moreover, a rope cannot be used to push a vehicle from behind. Thus, when two or more vehicles are traveling together and the front vehicle becomes stuck, the use of a rope between two vehicles cannot be used to advance the front vehicle, but only to pull the latter rearwardly. The same problem exists when climbing a hill and the lead vehicle cannot get sufficient traction to complete the climb. Accordingly, a need exists for a hitch for use between two all terrain vehicles which can be used in pushing or pulling modes, without jerking.
A large number of vehicle hitches are described in the patent literature. Examples of such hitches, which have features in common with the present invention, are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 2,179,955, issued to W. Rawnsley on Nov. 14, 1939; U.S. Pat. No. 2,189,667, issued to J. Kries on Feb. 6, 1940; U.S. Pat. No. 2,513,932, issued to J. H. Grube on Jul. 4, 1950; U.S. Pat. No. 3,829,131, issued to G. E. Moore, Jr., on Aug. 13, 1974; U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,516, issued to L. G. Holt et al on Jun. 10, 1975; U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,133, issued to R. M. Thorne et al on Dec. 18, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,037, issued to R. L. Robertson on Apr. 26, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No. Re. 35,482, issued to A. Johnson on Mar. 25, 1997.
In general, the patented hitches are intended solely for towing, i.e. cannot be used in pushing situations when both vehicles connected by the hitch are being driven. Moreover, most of the hitches described in the above mentioned patents have a single articulation, the connection between the hitch and the towed vehicle being fixed or rigid. In cases where there is more than one articulation, the structure is unduly complicated or not readily collapsed for carrying or storage.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the above problems in the form of a relatively simple vehicle hitch, which is readily assembled and disassembled, and which can be used to connect two vehicles under power for pushing or pulling one of the vehicles or for combining the traction of the vehicles with the ground.
Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle hitch which is relatively compact when disassembled for packaging, storage or transporting.
Accordingly, the invention relates to a vehicle hitch for connecting a pair of vehicles comprising first and second elongated bars, coupling means on one end of each said first and second bars for joining said first and second bars to separate vehicles; damping means in a second end of said first bar permitting limited longitudinal movement of said first and second bars relative to each other, said damping means including shaft means extending out of said second end of the first bar for connecting said second end of said first bar to a second end of said second bar.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 35482 (1997-03-01), Johnson
patent: 1289141 (1918-12-01), Ferris
patent: 1479182 (1924-01-01), Jeschke
patent: 1510257 (1924-09-01), Gribbins
patent: 2104576 (1938-01-01), Zagelmeyer
patent: 2179955 (1939-11-01), Rawnsley
patent: 2189667 (1940-02-01), Kries
patent: 2237031 (1941-04-01), Gilmore
patent: 2377368 (1945-06-01), Polstra
patent: 2444305 (1948-06-01), Milhizer
patent: 2513932 (1950-07-01), Grube
patent: 3829131 (1974-08-01), Moore, Jr.
patent: 3888516 (1975-06-01), Holt et al.
patent: 4029307 (1977-06-01), Nielson
patent: 4699394 (1987-10-01), Laie
patent: 4978133 (1990-12-01), Thorne et al.
patent: 5306037 (1994-04-01), Robertson
Bisaillon Gerard
Seaby George A.
Swann J. J.
Zeender F.
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