Hi -
I?m looking to find a patent or patents I know have to exist:
To answer my question you should provide a link or file to any
patent(s) for metal covers for tow hitch crossbars.
The crossbar, sometime called a torsion tube, is the horizontal bar
which the tow hitch ball itself is mounted on. Try a google images
search for ?class III trailer hitch? ? the first image ? (70609.jpg)
is one example of the kind of hitch crossbar I?m talking about.
Sometimes aftermarket car companies or dealers will attach shaped
metal plates to the full or partial length of the square tubing of the
hitch that face up and out. The purpose of which can be:
*Purely decorative
*To add a company/car logo
*To add a functional step on the rear of the vehicle.
To answer my question, you need to find, or help me find (I have
online university library access if that helps) a patent or patents
that covers any of these elements. Examples could be:
*Plates attached to the top side of the bar only that provides a step.
*Plates that attaches to the back side only that add a logo or message.
I?ll be thrilled with anything you find, and will tip generously.
So far I?ve found 2 that are close, but not quite what I need ? though
they might give you a good starting place:
US Patent Number 6,145,861 ?Trailer Hitch Step? (attaches to the
tongue and not crossbar)
US Patent Number 6,095,546 ?Trailer Hitch Cover and Accessory
Components (This is good, but not specifically metal)
I found these by using esp@cenet ? http://gb.espacenet.com
Country and date are both unimportant.
Good Luck, and Many Thanks in Advance! |
Clarification of Question by
chachachikanov-ga
on
18 Aug 2006 06:05 PDT
I've now found a suitable patent - US Patent Number Des 349,083 -
This patent covers only the rear facing side, so I'm still willing to
accept other patents that cover the top and rear and or provide a
step.
Let me know.
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Clarification of Question by
chachachikanov-ga
on
18 Aug 2006 07:11 PDT
Also - I'd be very interest to know why US patent D349,083 does show
up in esp@cenet's databases. Anyone?
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Clarification of Question by
chachachikanov-ga
on
19 Aug 2006 09:21 PDT
To clarify, I'm still looking to find a patent, any patent that:
*Provides a step by attachting a metal plate to the top side of the hitch crossbar
OR
*Simply covers both the back and top sides of the hitch crossbar - also metal.
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
19 Aug 2006 14:34 PDT
I'm having a little trouble fulling visualizing what you're after, but
how does this look:
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220060082100%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20060082100&RS=DN/20060082100
Also, esp@cenet's databases offer very broad (almost worldwide)
coverage, so it's no surprise to find US patents included therein. Is
that what you were asking...?
Let me know what you think,
pafalafa-ga
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Clarification of Question by
chachachikanov-ga
on
21 Aug 2006 03:09 PDT
pafalafa-ga -
First of all, thanks for working on this with me.
No, the Goose neck trailer you found is a trailer, I'm looking for a
cover that attaches the hitch on the car or truck.
Have a look at US Patent Number Des 349,083:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%%2FPTO%%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2FD349083
If you haven't already installed the extension alternatiff -
http://www.alternatiff.com/
you need to do so to view images on this site.
This is one part of exactly what I'm looking for. This invention
however covers only the back face of the hitch crossbar, and does not
explicitly state that it is made from metal, though it seems quite
clear from the drawing that it is.
Right now we need to find any simular patent (again, country of origin
unimportant) that:
covers the top, or top and back sides of the cross bar
OR
provide a step(s) by attaching a rough surface (maybe diamond plate
stainless) to the top of the crossbar.
If you're still not sure what I'm looking for try a google images
search for ?class III trailer hitch? ? the first image that comes up?
(70609.jpg) should make thing quite clear.
If you can provide a way to send you an image or post an image
somewhere on the internet, I can provide an image showing specifically
what I need.
Good luck!
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Request for Question Clarification by
rainbow-ga
on
21 Aug 2006 04:12 PDT
Not sure if I understand exactly what you are looking for, however,
please take a look at these patents and let me know if I'm on the
right track:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,176,506.PN.&OS=PN/6,176,506&RS=PN/6,176,506
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,481,734.PN.&OS=PN/6,481,734&RS=PN/6,481,734
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,719,318.PN.&OS=PN/6,719,318&RS=PN/6,719,318
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,945,551.PN.&OS=PN/6,945,551&RS=PN/6,945,551
Best regards,
Rainbow
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Clarification of Question by
chachachikanov-ga
on
21 Aug 2006 07:02 PDT
Rainbow -
Please have a look at:
D349,083:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%%2FPTO%%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2FD349083
The cover has got to attach to the crossbar/torsion tube as it does in this patent.
I would say that looking in the US database at this point is probably
not going to give anyone anything new.
I would imagine that someone with foreign language skills might have
luck looking into other, non-Engish language patent databases.
Impressive research will be rewarded with tips.
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