Did You Know...
...that power steering was invented by independent inventor Francis W. Davis? As chief engineer in the 1920s of the truck division of the Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company, he saw how hard it was to steer heavy vehicles. So that he would be able to keep the profits from his future invention, Davis left his job, rented a small engineering shop in Waltham, Mass., and developed a hydraulic power steering system that led to power steering.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8016314 | Electronically controlled tow hitch assembly An electronically controlled tow hitch assembly for a vehicle is provided which has a controller for locking and unlocking the assembly. The assembly has a locking unit with a receiving aperture into which a connector attached to a flange for holding a load or trail... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8011685 | Interchangeable hitch ball assembly An interchangeable hitch ball assembly that may be easily interchangeable with the hitch of a towing vehicle and that may prevent a trailer socket from being connected to the hitch ball prior to securing the hitch ball to the hitch bar. The hitch ball assembly may i... | 09/06/2011 |
| 7976054 | Shock dampening hitch ball assembly A hitch ball assembly attenuates the lateral forces experienced by a trailer while being towed by a tractor. A ball assembly has a flange with a neck extending upwardly therefrom and a hitch ball seated atop the neck. A wedge, having a pair of linear points, extends... | 07/12/2011 |
| 7963545 | Interchangeable hitch ball An interchangeable hitch ball assembly is provided having hitch post, a removable hitch ball, and a connector pin. The hitch post defines an annular groove proximate to the top end that is sized to receive spaced-apart prongs of the connector pin along opposing side... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7954840 | Coupler assembly with guided ball clamp A coupler assembly for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle hitch ball has a housing with an interior that defines a coupler socket adapted to receive a hitch ball. A ball clamp is disposed within the interior of the coupler housing and is movable toward and away ... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7918476 | Stowable hitch A hitch assembly comprises housing that includes a generally cylindrical socket with an inner diameter and a slot along an outer periphery of the socket. A hitch ball includes a base that is selectively received within the socket. The base includes a radial groove t... | 04/05/2011 |
| 7784813 | Multi-task trailer hitch assembly The multi-task trailer hitch assembly of the present invention provides receiving tubes for the attachment of one or more trailer hitch-mounted receiver-type accessories while retaining a trailer hitch for pulling a trailer in the single hitch receiver provided on m... | 08/31/2010 |
| 7735850 | Quick disconnect ball mount A trailer quick disconnect ball mount assembly provides a more secure, less cumbersome, more visible and better-fitting connection between the towing vehicle and trailer. The trailer quick disconnect ball mount assembly features a receiver housing with an angled sid... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7661694 | Towing assembly A towing assembly is provided including a hitch ball receiver having a hitch ball mounting aperture and a recess around the aperture, a hitch ball including a base and a mounting shank where the base is sized and shaped to be received in the recess and a fastener en... | 02/16/2010 |
| 7441793 | Tow hitch lunette assembly For use in a vehicular trailer hitch system, a vehicular trailer hitch lunette assembly is provided. The assembly includes at least one “U” shaped outer laminate plate having two legs with a semi-circular region therebetween, and at least one substantially flat ... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7431319 | Hitch locking mechanism The hitch assembly comprises a hitch member, a shank assembly for attachment to the towing vehicle, a tow vehicle mount for attachment to the towed vehicle, and a hitch alarm. The hitch member comprises a drop ball mount, and a drawbar. The drawbar is secured to the... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7425015 | Height adjustment hitch apparatus A apparatus having a height adjustment mechanism to adjust the height of a trailer. The height adjustment mechanism is comprised of, among other elements, an outer tube, a crank assembly having a drive gear, an inner tube having an internally threaded acme nut, and ... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7425016 | Hitch coupler A ball hitch coupler including first and second sidewalls spaced apart and generally parallel. First and second pins extend transversely between the first and second sidewalls spaced apart along a length of the first sidewall and the second sidewall. At least one of... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7419177 | Ball mount A customizable towing hitch ball mount arrangement for a vehicle is provided. The arrangement includes a ball mount and a customizing element. The ball mount includes a proximal end for insertion into an opening in the hitch receiver, an elongated tube portion, a dr... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7416206 | Drawbar hammer strap pin lock A drawbar hammer strap assembly design achieves a low profile, and prevents rotation of the drawbar and of the cross pin. The drawbar hammer strap assembly includes a drawbar, a hammer strap member attached to the drawbar, a drawbar pin mountable to drawbar and hamm... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7413211 | Deactivation arrangement for a vehicle park assist system A deactivation arrangement for a vehicle park assist system is provided. The deactivation arrangement includes a trailer hitch receiver affixed to the vehicle and arranged to receive a trailer hitch. A switch assembly is provided that is associated with the vehicle ... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7413212 | Trailer theft-thwarting coupling dock An improved trailer theft-thwarting coupling dock to prevent unauthorized coupling and hauling of the trailer coupling dock includes a coupling dock body, a upper mechanism, a lower mechanism and a lock assembly. The upper mechanism has a upper handle fastening to t... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7390008 | Trailer coupler A new and improved trailer coupler for connecting a trailer to a ball hitch mounted on a towing vehicle comprising a housing having a recessed socket, a retractable latching plate, a locking mechanism, an access port, a visual indicator, and an alarm system for indi... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7380811 | Shock absorbing trailer hitch Shock-absorbing trailer hitches each include a mounting member mountable on a towing vehicle; a hitch member which includes a coupler and which is mountable on a towed vehicle and pivotally mounted on the mounting member; and a shock absorbing mechanism for reacting... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7378013 | Gooseneck trailer coupler A coupler comprised of a coupler housing having a first opening formed therein. The opening has a concave cavity. A cylindrical socket is formed within the housing. A second opening in the housing communicates with the cylindrical socket. A lock ring is provided, th... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7377536 | Shock absorbing trailer hitch Shock-absorbing trailer hitches each include a mounting member mountable on a towing vehicle; a hitch member which includes a coupler and which is mountable on a towed vehicle and pivotally mounted on the mounting member; and a shock absorbing mechanism for reacting... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7357398 | Cart for welding operations A cart for transporting items used in welding operations includes a platform, wheels, a handle and a connector. The platform is dimensioned such that an associated container of welding consumables can rest on the platform. The wheels connect to the platform to facil... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7350790 | Multi-function, all-terrain dolly for a snowmobile or the like A snowmobile dolly usable with a wide variety of snowmobiles of different sizes and/or designs. The dolly approaches the snowmobile from the front and engages its front bumper. A downward force on the tongue of the dolly raises the snowmobile and positions the front... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7347440 | Trailer hitch having multiple hitch balls A trailer hitch is provided having multiple hitch balls extending from a rotatable plate, which allows a hitch ball of the desired diameter to be selected, locked in place and coupled to a trailer. The rotating plate and multiple hitch balls are part of the ball mou... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7341543 | Apparatus for shifting weight from a runner to a wheeled frame An apparatus for shifting the body weight of a runner from a runner's legs to a wheeled frame for enhancing the runner's performance and minimizing leg strain comprises a loop of elastic rod-shaped material stretchable during standing and during running movement. A ... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7334809 | Trailer hitch assembly A trailer hitch assembly better secures a trailer to a vehicle trailer hitch. By restricting vertical travel of the trailer coupling, a hitch ball on a draw bar is better engaged by the trailer coupling as any vertical dislodgement of the trailer coupling from the h... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7309076 | Towing hitch assembly A hitch assembly to be connected between a tow vehicle and a trailer includes a first shaft adapted to be attached to said tow vehicle, the first shaft being stationary with respect to the tow vehicle, a second shaft for mounting a ball to accept the trailer and bei... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7300068 | Trailer coupler integral keyed lock An integral keyed lock (10) for a trailer trigger-lock coupler for use as an aftermarket kit or to be incorporated by an original equipment manufacturer. The coupler integral keyed lock (10) utilizes an actuating lever (20) that is configured to... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7293786 | Room service table A room service table includes a frame, a tabletop including folding side portions and wheels. A push handle assembly mounts to an underside of the table and includes a handle portion and a hinge body portion. The handle portion includes a grip, a support portion and... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7275754 | Support structure for a hitch ball Support structure (1) for a hitch ball (61) and a depressor (62), wherein a fastening mechanism (2) is provided for securement to a carrier (81) by means of quick-action coupling. ... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7273223 | Trailer hitch ball A trailer hitch ball for use with a trailer hitch, a lock housing, a lock washer and a nut. The trailer hitch ball can be used to secure a trailer to a vehicle. The hitch ball includes a ball portion, a base portion and a threaded portion. The ball portion includes ... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7267355 | Anti-rotational hitch ball A hitch assembly that includes an anti-rotation mechanism. The hitch assembly generally includes a hitch ball, a ball mount, and a fastener. The invention is directed to a mechanism for preventing rotation of either the hitch ball or the fastener relative to the bal... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7264261 | Pintle hitch adaptor for drawbar or DMI bumper A pintle hitch adaptor enables a vehicle equipped with a drawbar or DMI bumper to tow trailers having different towing components. The pintle hitch adaptor comprises a sleeve that fits over arid is held to the drawbar. A pintle hitch is mounted to the sleeve. Aligne... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7234905 | Apparatus for attaching a hitch to a vehicle An apparatus for attaching a hitch to a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a pin rotatably mountable to the hitch and having a handle for rotating the pin. A receptacle formed in the vehicle receives the pin. A locking site defined by a channel is formed in... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7232145 | Trailer hitch alignment mechanism A mechanism for ensuring that a trailer is properly attached to a trailer hitch on the back of a vehicle. The mechanism ensures that the trailer tongue on the trailer is properly and securely mounted on the metal ball on the trailer hitch on the vehicle. ... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7222510 | Systems and methods for manufacturing a drop bar Systems and methods for using an extrusion, forging, casting and/or machining process to provide an aluminum hitch component with increased strength that eliminates encumbrances, such as rusting and fusing, associated with traditional hitch components. Accordingly, ... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7210871 | Swivelling fittings A swiveling fitting for multi-directional movement includes a housing having a bore therethrough to accommodate a button shaft. A ball housing receives at least a portion of the button shaft. The ball housing has at least one ball recess to accommodate at least one ... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7195269 | Hitch A hitch includes a hitch engagement, a hitch tongue and a connecting bridge portion which are forged or otherwise formed as a single, integral, monolithic metal structure. The hitch engagement includes a recess exposed on its bottom side which significantly reduces ... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7192047 | Trailer coupling for a vehicle A trailer coupling (1) for a vehicle, in particular a tractor, has a coupling element (6). This coupling element (6) can grasp a drawbar (4) of a trailer and is displaceable between a coupling position and a release position. The coupling... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7186067 | Fastener with attached pivotable handle The fastener includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end of the shaft includes a threaded portion. A head is connected to the second end of the shaft and a flange extends radially outward from the head. A handle is connected to the head and t... | 03/06/2007 |
