Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Patent
1998-01-22
1999-11-16
Ellis, Christopher P.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
2804061, 280484, B60D 142
Patent
active
059843411
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to the towing field and, more particularly, to a new and improved weight distributing hitch assembly incorporating a novel spring bar and slide block or shoe arrangement for distributing weight and controlling trailer sway.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hitch assemblies for more evenly distributing the tongue weight of a trailer over the front and rear axles of a towing vehicle are well known in the art. A particularly advanced design of weight distributing hitch assembly is disclosed in the assignee's issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,872 to Kass et al. entitled "Weight Distributing Hitch". This hitch assembly includes a hitch bar for receipt in a receiver mounted to the vehicle and a ball mount head for mounting on the hitch bar at a selected tilt angle. A pair of spring bars are mounted at their proximal end to the ball mount head. The distal ends of these spring bars are connected by means of cooperating lift units and chains to the frame of the trailer. Such state of the art lift units are exemplified by Reese Products, Inc. product number 21160 incorporating a body that is mounted to the trailer frame, a chain hook with pivoting locking lever and a safety pin for securing the chain hook and lever in an operative position. As is known in the art, the amount of leveling or load transfer to the front axle of the vehicle is adjusted by the selection of the tilt angle of the ball mount head and the engagement of different links of the chains with the chain hooks of the lift units.
While such an arrangement is effective for its intended purpose, it should also be appreciated that the state of the art lift unit connection between the spring bars and trailer frame provides little or no effective means of resisting or controlling trailer sway: that is, undesirable lateral movement of the trailer relative to the towing vehicle. In fact, such sway may arise as a result of a number of factors often encountered during towing operation including uneven, rough and/or winding road conditions; gusty cross-wind weather conditions, uneven trailer loading conditions; and/or result from inherently incompatible trailer and towing vehicle suspension characteristics. Accordingly, a need is also identified for a weight distributing hitch assembly that provides some inherent control of trailer sway to maximize driver confidence, comfort and control during towing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a weight distributing hitch assembly of an improved design overcoming the above-described limitations and disadvantages of the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved weight distributing hitch assembly incorporating a spring bar and slide block or shoe arrangement which effectively provides both weight distribution and sway control so as to improve towing performance and overall driver comfort.
Additional objects, advantages and other novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, an improved weight distributing hitch assembly is provided for towing a trailer behind a vehicle. The weight distributing hitch assembly includes a hitch bar of a type known in the art for mounting to the towing vehicle. More specifically, the hitch bar includes a mounting post that is received in the receiver box of a hitch receiver that is secured to the frame of the towing vehicle in a known manner.
The weight distributing hitch assembly also includes a ball mount head for mounting on the distal or head-receiving end of a
REFERENCES:
patent: 3294421 (1966-12-01), Mathison
patent: 3542394 (1970-11-01), Palage
patent: 3542395 (1970-11-01), Millikaa
patent: 3600004 (1971-08-01), Newkirk
patent: 3989269 (1976-11-01), Rendessy
patent: 4165885 (1979-08-01), Good et al.
patent: 5628525 (1997-05-01), Kass et al.
patent: 5647603 (1997-07-01), Kass et al.
patent: 5799965 (1998-09-01), Kass et al.
Kass John J.
McCoy Richard W.
Ellis Christopher P.
University of Kentucky Research Foundation
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