In 1608, Dutch eyeglass maker Hans Lipperhey filed the first patent for a working telescope. The patent was denied.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7641214 | Energy-absorbing trailer hitch receiver An energy-absorbing trailer hitch assembly is provided that includes a receiver tube and an insertion tube. The receiver tube is typically fixedly attached to a motor vehicle and has a set of apertures that affords for a pin to pass therethrough. The tube also has a... | 01/05/2010 |
| 7621552 | Children's ride-on vehicle assemblies having trailing vehicle detection systems Children's ride-on vehicle assemblies having leading and trailing vehicles that are removably coupled together by a connection apparatus. The leading vehicle is an independently operable ride-on vehicle having a drive assembly that is selectively configured between ... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7387308 | Single wheel trailer and stabilizing hitch The single wheel trailer and stabilizing hitch assembly includes a hitch which precludes lateral tilt or roll of a trailer about the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and trailer, the trailer having only a single wheel for support. The hitch includes a pair of... | 06/17/2008 |
| 7261312 | Trailer stabilization and weight distribution device A trailer-stabilizing device that stabilizes movement between a fifth-wheel trailer and the towing vehicle during normal trailering operations and that more effectively distributes the weight of the trailer to the towing vehicle is disclosed. The trailer-stabilizing... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7217080 | Mobile interface structure with multiple degrees of freedom A mobile interface system for a work vehicle that affords degrees of freedom for roll as well as conventional pitch and yaw or swing motion control for a mobile interface structure to which a linkage or a work tool is attached. The mobile interface structure for a b... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7207588 | Children's ride-on vehicle assemblies having trailing vehicle detection systems Children's ride-on vehicle assemblies having leading and trailing vehicles that are removably coupled together by a connection apparatus. The leading vehicle is an independently operable ride-on vehicle having a drive assembly that is selectively configured between ... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7204318 | Tracking hitch assembly utilizing tractor lift arms as stabilizers A tracking hitch assembly couples to the drawbar of the tractor in a conventional manner. To prevent the hitch from pivoting with respect to the drawbar, the hitch includes an adjustable hitch stabilizer which engages the lift arms of the tractor. When a pivoting fo... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7192040 | Drive mechanism for vehicle The present invention provides an electric-driven vehicle, which comprises a supporting platform and an upright tube, wherein the supporting platform has first and second ends and a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the first and second ends, the upright tube is fi... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7168531 | Self-contained brake and remote control system for a trailer A self-contained trailer braking system comprises a fifth wheel hitch attached to a trailer frame, where the trailer hitch further comprises a kingpin to engage a fifth wheel of a towing vehicle. A sliding mechanism is attached to the kingpin, where the sliding mech... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7163068 | Hitch assembly A hitch assembly for use between a prime mover having a pair of moveable arms and a trailed vehicle. The hitch assembly includes a transverse member attached by a pivot attachment to each movable arm at spaced locations on the transverse member. Each of the movable ... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7159890 | Trailer hitch for a motor vehicle A trailer hitch for a motor vehicle includes a towbar (2) having an arm (1) and a ball cup (3) provided with an opening and with a ball pivot (6). The ball pivot (6) has a ball head (4) and a pivot (5) and is mounted ... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7143874 | Surge brake actuator A surge brake actuator is disclosed. The actuator includes an actuator housing and a coupler housing movably engaged within the actuator housing. Upper and lower coupler slide channels formed from a plastic material are releasably connected to the coupler housing an... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7131704 | Shiftable conveyor for road milling machine A material collection device for particles received from a processing device on a road processing machine. The material collection device comprises a guide having a material discard opening and an attachment face. A conveyor support is shiftably fixed to the guide a... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7106182 | Simplified truck tractor socket wiring A power distribution unit useful in a truck tractor to apply electrical power to a selected one or more of a plurality of signal terminals of a tractor-mounted connector in a tractor-to-trailer electrical connection. The power distribution unit comprises a power bus... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7100489 | System and method for hitch with backup anti-jack knife and anti-dive For use in landmine clearing, a hitch system providing backup with anti-jack knife and anti-dive, the system includes a hitch assembly and a roller assembly. The hitch assembly has a hinge axis housing containing a hinge shaft and a connector shaft housing containin... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7011328 | Transversely extending pivotal hitch mechanism Apparatus and method for applying temporary raised pavement markers (TRPM) to roadway surfaces comprises a conveyor upon a wheeled vehicle wherein an upstream end portion of the conveyor is able to extend, for example, over the rear bed portion of a roadwork vehicle... | 03/14/2006 |
| 6932182 | Traveling car A traveling carriage equipped with a traveling means to travel on and along a surface of an object. A frame of the traveling carriage is composed of two divided frames to the right and to the left in the forward traveling direction, one frame having an arc-shaped sl... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6926125 | Premature activation stop for towed vehicle cable braking systems A safety stop for preventing activation of brakes of a towed vehicle by a cable braking system connected between a towing vehicle and the towed vehicle until a predetermined load is placed on the cable system such that premature activation of the system is prevented... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6848546 | Surge brake actuator A surge brake actuator is disclosed. The actuator includes an actuator housing and a coupler housing movably engaged within the actuator housing. Upper and lower coupler slide channels formed from a plastic material are releasably connected to the coupler housing an... | 02/01/2005 |
| 6819980 | Method for the avoidance of rollover phenomena in semitrailers In a method for the avoidance of rollover phenomena in semitrailers with the emission of warning signals for the driver of the vehicle when driving inappropriately, the center of gravity of the load of the semitrailer is calculated in an on-board computer. From the ... | 11/16/2004 |
| 6746036 | Sway control conversion bracket A bracket, apparatus and method are provided for adapting a simple draw bar and hitch ball arrangement to allow connection to a sway control device. The bracket includes an aperture for receiving the threaded stem of the hitch ball, a notch for receiving and engagin... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6746035 | Tractor trailer anti-jackknifing assembly An anti-jackknifing apparatus is disclosed for reducing articulation between a tractor having a fifth wheel and a trailer having a king pin. The anti-jackknifing apparatus comprises a rotatable shaft, a lug mounted on the shaft and a rotary actuator operatively enga... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6578641 | Hitch system with synchronized cylinders An implement/vehicle hitch system for coupling implements to a utility vehicle includes two hydraulic cylinders for adjusting the position of the implement. The hydraulic cylinders are connected to a pair of motor/pump units which cause the hydraulic cyli... | 06/17/2003 |
| 6498977 | Device and method for stabilizing a combination of a tractor vehicle and at least one semitrailer or trailer A device and a method for stabilizing a combination of a tractor vehicle and at least one semitrailer or trailer is described, where the trailer or semitrailer is automatically braked if the semitrailer or trailer buckles with respect to the tractor vehic... | 12/24/2002 |
| 6446998 | Device for determining a distance of a motor vehicle from an object A device for determining a distance between the back of a motor vehicle and an object located behind the motor vehicle, including a sensor arrangement for detecting a distance between at least one location on the back of the motor vehicle and a location a... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6273446 | Steering control system for trailers A steerable trailer is provided with a trailer hitch which extends forward to attach to a corresponding hitch on the towing vehicle. The towing vehicle hitch further includes an extending arm, referred to as the position arm, to which the end of the pisto... | 08/14/2001 |
| 6264228 | Hitch assembly for activating a towed vehicle's brakes A hitch ball assembly which includes a housing adapted to be movably mounted within a conventional hitch receiver associated with a towing vehicle wherein a shock absorber is mounted within the housing and which is connected to a pivotable lever having a ... | 07/24/2001 |
| 6257611 | Linkage mechanism for a trailer steering device The present invention relates to a linkage mechanism (10) for operative association between a fifth wheel on a drive vehicle and at least one pair of steerable rear wheels. The linkage mechanism (10) is arranged so as, in the first phase, to convey rotary... | 07/10/2001 |
| 6234508 | Upper link sensing A load sensor is provided on a tractor to sense a load in the upper link of a three point hitch. The load sensor is fixed to the upper link, rather than the tractor to move with the upper link rather than the tractor. This arrangement permits the load sen... | 05/22/2001 |
| 6089588 | Apparatus and method for controlling power to interior trailer functions of a heavy duty vehicle An apparatus and methods are provided for controlling power to interior functions of a trailer of a heavy duty vehicle. The apparatus preferably includes a vehicle trailer adapted to be connected to a heavy duty vehicle and having an interior cargo storag... | 07/18/2000 |
| 5957476 | Anti-jackknife system for tractor-trailers This machine provides back-up steering for a tractor-trailer when the conventional steering fails. The steering will fail due to a lack of interface bonding between the front tires and the road during turning and braking. This machine is constructed aroun... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5715917 | Combination articulated vehicle damping method A combination articulated vehicle damping method for absorbing the kinetic energy of the trail vehicle during a collision that includes crushing a damping material, positioned at a connection of the lead vehicle and the trail vehicle of a combination arti... | 02/10/1998 |
| 5678664 | Trailer break-away device A trailer break away safety mechanism which brings a trailer to a controlled stop after disengagement with a pulling vehicle. The mechanism consists of a cable which remains attached to the trailer after the trailer has disengaged from the pulling vehicle... | 10/21/1997 |
| 5492204 | Trailer breakaway device A trailer breakaway safety mechanism which brings a trailer to a controlled stop after disengagement with a pulling vehicle. The mechanism consists of a cable which remains attached to the trailer after the trailer has disengaged from the pulling vehicle.... | 02/20/1996 |
| 5485900 | Brake lockout device An automatic brake lockout for restricting operation of a trailer hitch surge suppressor as a trailer is being backed by a pulling vehicle. The automatic brake lockout works on a two-part trailer hitch with a first member sliding toward a second member to... | 01/23/1996 |
| 5456483 | Anti-jackknife apparatus for tractor to trailer connections A new and improved anti-jackknife apparatus for tractor to trailer connections includes a fifth wheel assembly connected to a tractor and a pair of locking pin assemblies connected to the fifth wheel assembly. Each of the locking pin assemblies includes a... | 10/10/1995 |
| 5441293 | Draw-bar couplings for vehicles A draw-bar coupling for a vehicle combination incorporates a sensor assembly for sensing the loads acting on the coupling in more than one plane, specifically two or three planes at right angles to each other.... | 08/15/1995 |
| 5407220 | Rotary trailer sway dampener A rotary trailer sway dampener for preventing a trailer from swaying back and forth during towing. The dampener is mounted on a trailer tongue and a cable connects the dampener to the towing vehicle. The cable encircles the dampener and causes the dampene... | 04/18/1995 |
| 5403073 | Method and apparatus for the braking of a vehicle train A process and apparatus for the braking with optimized stability of a vehicle train is disclosed. The vehicle train comprises at least two individual vehicles, one of the individual vehicles supporting the individual vehicle. The process comprises supplyi... | 04/04/1995 |
| 5335856 | Air boom sprayer trailer hitch and suspension A trailer mounted sprayer having an air boom supported from the trailer frame by a four-bar linkage movable by a hydraulic cylinder to adjust the elevation of the boom and with ground-engaging wheels rotatably attached to bell cranks mounted on the frame ... | 08/09/1994 |