Patent US3602469A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3602469A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Self-aligning,automatic-locking trailer hitch head
Assignee: ACF Industries Inc
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Filing: 1969-10-27
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1989-10-27
Abstract
Abstract A trailer hitch head includes a support structure having a centrally located V-shaped well in which a pair of kingpinengaging jaws are to move downwardly and inwardly to their closed position when a trailer is deposited on the hitch, or lifted by the trailer and then moved upward and away from each other to their open position by shear pads connected between the jaws and the support structure during unloading of the trailer. Spring pressed plungers lock the jaws in their closed position, until manually retracted immediately before unloading the trailer.
Inventors
- 👤 James C Hammonds
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:23
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61D; B61D45/00; B61D45/001; B61D45/004; B61D45/005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/59; Y10T403/599
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A self-aligning and locking trailer hitch head comprising a support structure having an upper face; a pair of complementary jaws having inclined ends resting on similarly inclined plane surfaces of said support structure, said inclined ends and inclined surfaces sloping toward each other downwardly; guide means for constraining said jaws to move on said inclined surfaces, said jaws having substantially semicircular kingpin receiving openings; spring means connected to said jaws for holding them in an elevated spread-apart position on said support above the upper face thereof, said jaws being movable along said inclined surfaces downwardly and toward each other by the weight of a trailer deposited on said jaws until the jaws enclose the trailer kingpin; locking means automatically enabled by the depression of said jaws to lock said jaws in their closed position, said locking means including means for opening the same.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A self-aligning and locking trailer hitch head comprising a support structure having an upper face; a pair of complementary jaws having inclined ends resting on similarly inclined plane surfaces of said support structure, said inclined ends and inclined surfaces sloping toward each other downwardly; guide means for constraining said jaws to move on said inclined surfaces, said jaws having substantially semicircular kingpin receiving openings; spring means connected to said jaws for holding them in an elevated spread-apart position on said support above the upper face thereof, said jaws being movable along said inclined surfaces downwardly and toward each other by the weight of a trailer deposited on said jaws until the jaws enclose the trailer kingpin; locking means automatically enabled by the depression of said jaws to lock said jaws in their closed position, said locking means including means for opening the same.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A hitch head according to claim 1, wherein said jaws have overlapping portions adapted to telescope during closure of the jaws.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A hitch head according to claim 1, wherein said jaws have opposed horizontal overlapping portions defining V-shaped openings flaring outwardly from the kingpin-receiving openings, whereby the kingpin of a trailer in the V-shaped openings is guided to the kingpin-receiving openings during closure of the jaws.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A hitch head according to claim 1, wherein the spring means includes shear pads connection the jaws to the support structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A hitch head according to claim 4, wherein a shear pad connects the support structure to the inclined end of each jaw so as to urge the jaws upwardly and outwardly from each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A hitch head according to claim 1, wherein said locking means is reset from a nonlockable to a lockable position in response to the upward movement of the jaws.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
144 words
A trailer hitch head for a railway car comprising a support structure having an upper face; a pair of front and rear kingpin-engaging jaws having upper horizontal surfaces; inclined linear guide means for mounting said jaws on said support structure for guiding said jaws in straight line translatory movement downwardly and longitudinally toward each other to a closed position or upwardly and outwardly from each other; spring means mounted on said support structure for holding said jaws above the upper surface of the support structure, said jaws having opposed complementary kingpin-receiving openings; means for locking said jaws to the support structure when said jaws are in the closed position, whereby depositing a trailer on said hitch head causes the jaws to move downwardly and close About the trailer kingpin and lifting the trailer causes the jaws to rise and open after they are unlocked.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
144 words
A trailer hitch head for a railway car comprising a support structure having an upper face; a pair of front and rear kingpin-engaging jaws having upper horizontal surfaces; inclined linear guide means for mounting said jaws on said support structure for guiding said jaws in straight line translatory movement downwardly and longitudinally toward each other to a closed position or upwardly and outwardly from each other; spring means mounted on said support structure for holding said jaws above the upper surface of the support structure, said jaws having opposed complementary kingpin-receiving openings; means for locking said jaws to the support structure when said jaws are in the closed position, whereby depositing a trailer on said hitch head causes the jaws to move downwardly and close About the trailer kingpin and lifting the trailer causes the jaws to rise and open after they are unlocked.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A trailer hitch head according to claim 7, wherein said support structure has a well in which said jaws are mounted, said well having downwardly converging front and rear walls on which said front and rear jaws slide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A trailer hitch head according to claim 8, wherein said locking means locks each of said jaws automatically when they reach their closed position, and means for opening said locking means manually.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A trailer hitch head according to claim 8, wherein said jaws have constricted portions in said kingpin-receiving openings adapted to engage the constricted portion of a kingpin, whereby raising a trailer from said hitch head lifts and opens said jaws.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A trailer hitch head according to claim 10, wherein said jaws include overlapping outwardly flared projections providing a large opening which contracts to said complementary kingpin-receiving openings as said jaws move from their upper position to their lowermost position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A trailer hitch head according to claim 8, wherein said means for locking said jaws are actuated to their locking position in response to downward movement of the jaws and said jaws are reset for subsequent locking in response to upward movement of said jaws.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |