초록 ▼

The apparatus comprises an attachment member for securing the apparatus to a gooseneck trailer. A rectangular housing is secured to the attachment member, and has a front wall, a back wall, and at least one side wall. A cavity is formed by these walls. A ball receiver is pivotably secured internal t

The apparatus comprises an attachment member for securing the apparatus to a gooseneck trailer. A rectangular housing is secured to the attachment member, and has a front wall, a back wall, and at least one side wall. A cavity is formed by these walls. A ball receiver is pivotably secured internal to the housing and has an opening for the passage of a spring rod. A shock absorbing mechanism is provided, which is secured generally perpendicularly to the housing, and includes at least one spring element. When the ball receiving member pivots towards the front wall, it pushes a bushing disposed on the central rod into the spring element, causing the spring element to compress. When the ball receiving member pivots towards the back wall, it pulls a back plate that causes the spring element to compress.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A hitch apparatus for bi-directional attenuation of shock loading of a towed trailer, the apparatus comprising: a connection element for releasably securing the hitch apparatus to a gooseneck trailer;a housing member with a front wall, two side walls and a back wall;a connection member with an up

1. A hitch apparatus for bi-directional attenuation of shock loading of a towed trailer, the apparatus comprising: a connection element for releasably securing the hitch apparatus to a gooseneck trailer;a housing member with a front wall, two side walls and a back wall;a connection member with an upper end and a lower end, a front surface a back surface and two side surfaces, the connection member being pivotally secured internal to the housing member at the two connection member side surfaces, the connection member having an opening passing through the connection member from the front surface to the back surface;a shock attenuating unit secured to and disposed substantially perpendicularly to the housing member, the shock attenuating unit further comprising; a rod element with a first end and a second end, the rod element first end passing through a first plate, the housing member front wall and the opening in the connection member exiting through the back surface of the connection member;a spring element with a first end and a second end that is disposed longitudinally over the rod element wherein the spring element first end abuts but does not pass through the housing member front wall and the spring element second end abuts a second plate, wherein the rod element passes through the second plate and is secured in position by an adjustable locking element;a bushing element slidably disposed on the rod element between the connection member and the housing member front wall and of such a diameter that it contacts the first end of the spring element and may also pass unobstructed through the housing member front wall;a locking element secured to the first end of the rod element preventing movement of the rod element first end past the connection member back surface;at least one bar element slidably connecting the first plate to the second plate and maintaining alignment of the rod element and the spring element;wherein when the connection member pivots toward the housing member back wall the locking element secured to the first end of the rod element applies a tensile loading to the rod element which is transferred to the second plate causing the second plate to slidably reposition toward the housing member causing the spring element to compress, wherein when the connection member pivots toward the housing member front wall the connection member front wall contacts the bushing disposed on the rod element which in turn contacts the spring element causing the spring element to compress. 2. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first cushioning element is secured to the front wall of the housing member, and a second cushioning element is secured to the back wall of the housing member. 3. The hitch apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one bar element comprises a first bar element and a second bar element, the rod element being disposed between the first bar element and the second bar element. 4. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower end of the connection member includes a coupling portion for securing the hitch apparatus to a hitch ball of a towing vehicle. 5. The hitch apparatus of claim 4, wherein the coupling portion includes a retractable lock. 6. The hitch apparatus of claim 5, wherein the spring element has a spring constant between about 1,600 lbf and 2,000 lbf. 7. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a locking pin secured to the housing member. 8. The hitch apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the two side walls of the housing member each have a hole;a cavity extends through the two side surfaces of the connection member;wherein the hole in each of the two side walls of the housing member correspond to the cavity extending through the two side surfaces of the connection member; andwherein the connection member can be locked into position by insertion of the locking pin through the hole in each of the two sidewalls and the cavity. 9. A trailer hitch apparatus comprising: a. an attachment member for securing the apparatus to a gooseneck trailer;b. a housing secured to the attachment member, the housing having a front wall, a back wall, a top wall, a right wall, and a left wall, the front wall having an opening configured for the passage of a central rod therethrough;c. a shock absorbing mechanism secured substantially perpendicularly to the front wall, the shock absorbing mechanism including a front plate, a back plate, a central rod having a first end and a second end, and at least one spring element having a proximal end and a distal end, the at least one spring element disposed between the front plate and the back plate, the proximal end being adjacent the front plate and the distal end being adjacent the back plate, the front plate being adjacent the front wall of the housing;d. a first rod extending between and secured to the right wall and the left wall;e. a ball receiving member, the ball receiving member having an elongated portion and a coupling portion, the elongated portion commencing adjacent the top wall and having an exposed segment extending beyond the front wall, the elongated portion having a cavity extending through the elongated portion and corresponding to the opening, the central rod first end extending through the opening and the cavity and the central rod second end extending through the back plate;f. a bushing slidably disposed on the central rod between the ball receiving member and the housing front wall, the bushing being of such diameter that it contacts the spring element proximal end;wherein the ball receiving member is configured to pivot on the first rod with respect to the front wall and the back wall; andwherein when the ball receiving member pivots towards the front wall, it pushes the bushing into the spring proximal end and causes the spring element to compress, and wherein when the ball receiving member pivots towards the back wall, it pulls the back plate towards the housing and causes the spring element to compress. 10. The trailer hitch apparatus of claim 9, wherein the coupling portion includes a retractable lock. 11. The trailer hitch apparatus of claim 10, wherein the shock absorbing mechanism further comprises a first external rod and a second external rod, the central rod being disposed therebetween. 12. The trailer hitch apparatus of claim 11, wherein a first cushioning element is secured to the housing front wall and a second cushioning element is secured to the housing back wall. 13. The trailer hitch apparatus of claim 12, wherein the elongated portion is generally cylindrical. 14. The trailer hitch apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a locking pin secured to the housing. 15. The trailer hitch apparatus of claim 14, wherein: the right wall has a first hole, the left wall has a second hole, and a first cavity extends through the elongated portion, the first and the second holes corresponding to the first cavity and configured for insertion of the locking pin therethrough;wherein insertion of the locking pin through the first and the second holes and the cavity locks the ball receiving member in position and prevents it from pivoting. 16. The trailer hitch apparatus of claim 15, wherein the locking pin is configured for the insertion of a cotter pin. 17. A hitch apparatus for bi-directional attenuation of shock loading of a towed trailer, the apparatus comprising: an attachment member for releasably securing the hitch apparatus to a trailer;a housing with a front wall, two side walls and a back wall;a ball receiving member with an upper end and a lower end, a front surface a back surface and two side surfaces, the connection member being pivotally secured internal to the housing at the two connection member side surfaces, the connection member having an opening passing through the connection member from the front surface to the back surface;a shock absorbing mechanism secured to and disposed substantially perpendicularly to the housing, the shock absorbing mechanism further comprising; a rod element with a first end and a second end, the rod element first end passing through a first plate, the housing front wall and the opening in the connection member exiting through the back surface of the connection member, a locking element secured to the first end of the rod element preventing movement of the rod element first end past the connection member back surface;a spring element with a first end and a second end that is disposed longitudinally over the rod element wherein the spring element first end abuts but does not pass through the housing front wall and the spring element second end abuts a second plate, wherein the rod element passes through the second plate and is secured in position by an adjustable locking element;a bushing element slidably disposed on the rod element between the connection member and the housing front wall and of such a diameter that it contacts the first end of the spring element and may also pass unobstructed through the housing front wall;wherein when the connection member pivots toward the housing back wall the locking element secured to the first end of the rod element applies a tensile loading to the rod element which is transferred to the second plate causing the second plate to slidably reposition toward the housing causing the spring element to compress, wherein when the connection member pivots toward the housing front wall the connection member front wall contacts the bushing disposed on the rod element which in turn contacts the spring element causing the spring element to compress. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the trailer is a gooseneck trailer.