Abstract:
A safety hitch for a trailer or the like which replaces the conventional safety chains of a trailer hitch. A conventional tongue member is adapted to be connected to a trailing vehicle and has a conventional connecting structure on one end thereof such as a hole for reception of a pin or other conventional structure such as that used for ordinary ball-type hitches. An abutment member is spaced upwardly from but is attached to the tongue member. A rigid safety member is pivotally attached to the tongue member through a lever mechanism and horizontally disposed pivotal points. The safety member extends under the abutment member and between the abutment member and the tongue member. The other end of the of the safety member is attached through a vertical pivot, which is located directly above the vertical pivot of the tongue member. Additionally, a horizontal pivot is disposed on the other end of the safety member adjacent the vertical pivot. The safety member and its associated structure does not interfere with the ordinary function of an ordinary trailer hitch apparatus, and it furthermore allows the pulling vehicle to maintain control of the trailing vehicle even if the primary and conventional hitch mechanism becomes unfastened. This structure prevents the tongue member from digging into the ground as is often the case when conventional safety chains are used.
Abstract:
A hitch assembly which connects the tongue of a trailer and one or more safety cables or chains to a towing vehicle, wherein relative rotation of the vehicle and trailer about the hitch axis is permitted without interference. The assembly includes a safety coupling device for the safety chains, such device having a fixed hub coaxial with the hitch axis and a rotatable element supported on the hub for rotation thereon. The element includes a pair of opposed, radially outwardly extending, horizontal arms to which two safety chains are connected that extend from the trailer body. The hub is secured by fasteners directly to the supporting structure of the hitch assembly independently of the hitch ball or other hitch component, so that failure of the primary hitch does not affect the safety coupling. The arrangement is particularly advantageous in roof-mounted hitches where the vehicle and trailer are capable of unlimited relative rotation, in that the arms rotate with the trailer as the latter and the vehicle undergo relative rotation to prevent the safety chains from interfering with the free movement of either the vehicle or the trailer about the hitch axis.
Abstract:
The trailer autoconnect system is an apparatus for bringing into close juxtaposition a trailer and a trailer hitch attached to a tow vehicle. Specifically, an electric or manual winch is attached to the trailer to be attached to the hitch of the towing vehicles. The cable of the winch extends through a guide bracket and through a series of pulleys so that the end of the winch cable is connected to the tow hitch of the tow vehicle. The winch is activated electrically or manually by a crank or lever and the trailer is pulled directly to the tow hitch of the tow vehicle. A laser emitter attached to the coupling mechanism of the trailer emits a beam of light which illuminates the hitch receiver of the towing vehicle enabling the operator to raise or lower the coupling mechanism of the trailer to bring the coupling mechanism of the trailer into proper alignment with the hitch receiver. When the two coupling mechanisms are located in place so that the trailer can be coupled to the tow hitch of the tow vehicle, the trailer is lowered onto the receptacle of the tow hitch of the tow vehicle and the union of the trailer and tow vehicle is made secure.
Abstract:
A winch driven cable guidance system for coupling trailers to tow vehicles. The system comprises of trailer having a trailer hitch coupler, a tow vehicle having a coupling ball joint, and a cable whereby one end of the cable is connected by means of a cable pulley guidance system and secured to a cable drum of a winch. The winch powers the cable drum to reel in the cable and the attached trailer to assist in connecting the trailer to the towing vehicle, thus effecting a universal joint between the trailer and towing vehicle.
Abstract:
A safety chain for securing a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle and which has a safety basket for limiting downward movement of a tongue of the towed vehicle relative to a hitch of the towing vehicle to prevent the tongue from contacting the roadway. The chain is attached to at least one of the vehicles by a latch that has a shackle for engagement with a mount of the vehicle and a catch carried by the shackle that can be spring biased toward its latched position and which is movable to a position disposed from its latched position to unlatch the latch. Preferably, the catch can be retained in the latched position by a retainer that engages the catch and shackle. Preferably, to secure the latch to a vehicle to deter theft of the chain, the retainer can be a lock. To secure the safety chain to the tongue to prevent theft of the tongue and preferably the towed vehicle, a securing chain and a locking chain are wrapped around the tongue to prevent withdrawal of the tongue free of the chains.
Abstract:
An adjustable trailer hitch device that is affixed to the undercarriage of a vehicle so as to be supported by the chassis and bumper mounting brackets thereof without modification, welding, drilling, or bolting. The hitch is adjustable as to width, height, and depth, and includes a retractable tension cord having a hook at the end thereof for hooking onto the chassis. The tension cord is tensioned by winding or reeling, and also by extending the length of a vertically oriented compression member extending fore of the vehicle from the aft section of the hitch so as to apply an increased force to the underside of the chassis of the vehicle. A pair of vertically and horizontally adjustable jaws retractably grip the port and starboard bumper mounting brackets of the vehicle which, with the hook, attach the hitch device to the chassis of the vehicle.