Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-17
2002-04-02
DePumpo, Daniel G. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C070S014000, C070S034000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06364339
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hitch device, and more particularly to a trailer hitch and lock assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical carts, golf cars, trailers are required to be attached to or coupled to the vehicle with a hitch assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,959 to Scheef, Jr. discloses a complicated hitch assembly for coupling a trailer to a vehicle and for supporting a wheeled vehicle on the trailer. However, a pin is the only element provided for engaging through the elements from the trailer and the vehicle such that the pin may not be used to solidly lock the trailer to the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,692 to Hayes et al. discloses a towing apparatus for coupling a golf car to a vehicle or for towing the golf car. A number of bolts are required to be provided and engaged through the elements from the trailer and the vehicle. It takes a long time to thread and unthread the bolts and/or nuts. Some locking pins are engaged through the bolts or nuts for solidly securing or for locking the bolts and nuts together. It may further take time to release the nuts from the bolts. The trailer may not be easily and quickly disengaged or released from the vehicle.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional trailer hitch assemblies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a trailer hitch and lock assembly for quickly coupling and locking a car or a cart or a trailer to a vehicle.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a trailer hitch and lock assembly for coupling a trailer to a vehicle, the assembly comprising a first element, such as a tube for attaching to or extended from the vehicle, a second element, such as a beam for attaching to or extended from the trailer and for engaging into the tube of the vehicle, a lock rod engaged through the first element and the second element, and a lock device engaged with the lock rod to secure and to lock the first element and the second element together.
The lock device includes a housing, a latch slidably received in the housing, means for biasing the latch to engage with the lock rod, and means for selectively disengaging the latch from the lock rod. The housing includes a notch formed therein for receiving the latch and for allowing the latch to be disengaged from the lock rod.
The lock device includes a casing secured in the housing and having a channel formed therein for slidably receiving the latch. The latch includes a cavity formed therein, the casing includes a depression formed therein, the biasing means includes a spring received in the cavity of the latch and the depression of the casing and engaged with the latch.
The selectively disengaging means includes a core, and an actuator secured to the core and rotated in concert with the core, for allowing the actuator to be rotated by the core to engage with the latch and to disengage the latch from the lock rod. The core includes a non-circular projection, the actuator includes a non-circular aperture formed therein for receiving the projection and for allowing the actuator to be rotated in concert with and to be rotated by the core. The core may be rotatably received in the casing.
The lock rod includes an inclined peripheral surface formed therein for engaging with the latch and for moving the latch against the biasing means when the lock rod is engaged into the housing. The lock rod includes a groove formed therein for receiving the latch and for locking the lock rod to the housing with the latch.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1783905 (1930-12-01), Copell
patent: 1895655 (1933-01-01), Fraim
patent: 4440005 (1984-04-01), Bulle
patent: 4576021 (1986-03-01), Holden
patent: 4811578 (1989-03-01), Masoncup et al.
patent: 4844498 (1989-07-01), Kerins et al.
patent: 5540065 (1996-07-01), Wyers
patent: 5794959 (1998-08-01), Scheef, Jr.
patent: 5857692 (1999-01-01), Hayes et al.
patent: 6055832 (2000-05-01), Wyers
patent: 284201 (1981-08-01), None
patent: 855168 (1981-08-01), None
Sales Document entitled “Coupler Locks, Jacks”, see fig. entitled Wild Bill Hitch Lock, Jun. 1989.
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