Patents by Inventor Chris J. Fudala

Chris J. Fudala has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20110109063
    Abstract: A cross-member assembly for use with a hitch for a vehicle, said cross-member assembly can include an elongate cross-member having a first distal end and a second distal end, and at least one notch disposed on at least one of the first distal end and the second distal end. The notch is configured to be matingly engaged with at least one protuberance disposed on a mounting member when one of the first and the second distal ends of the cross-member is received by the mounting member. The mounting member can have an aperture configured to receive one of the first and second distal ends, and the protuberance can be formed on the aperture. The assembly can also have a slotted cross-member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Chris J. Fudala, Robert W. Ruby
  • Publication number: 20090072619
    Abstract: A connector assembly for supplying power and transmitting signals from a vehicle to a towed trailer or other towed equipment. The connector assembly comprises a trailer hitch having a cross tube extending horizontally behind the vehicle. The cross tube has a wall separating an inside cavity from an outside surface of the cross tube. A first connector attached to the outside surface or mounted in a first opening in the wall of the cross tube has a connecting portion outwardly of the outside surface. Likewise, a second connector mounted at the outside surface or in a second opening in the wall of the cross tube has a connecting portion outwardly of the outside surface of the trailer hitch. One or more conduits extend across the inside cavity between the first and second connectors for interconnecting the vehicle to the towed trailer for supplying power and transmitting signals between them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Chris J. Fudala, Robert W. Ruby, Michael James McCann
  • Patent number: 7455524
    Abstract: A connector assembly for supplying power and transmitting signals from a vehicle to a towed trailer or other towed equipment. The connector assembly comprises a trailer hitch having a cross tube extending horizontally behind the vehicle. The cross tube has a wall separating an inside cavity from an outside surface of the cross tube. A first connector attached to the outside surface or mounted in a first opening in the wall of the cross tube has a connecting portion outwardly of the outside surface. Likewise, a second connector mounted at the outside surface or in a second opening in the wall of the cross tube has a connecting portion outwardly of the outside surface of the trailer hitch. One or more conduits extend across the inside cavity between the first and second connectors for interconnecting the vehicle to the towed trailer for supplying power and transmitting signals between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Thule Towing Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Chris J. Fudala, Robert W. Ruby, Michael James McCann
  • Publication number: 20080280460
    Abstract: A connector assembly for supplying power and transmitting signals from a vehicle to a towed trailer or other towed equipment. The connector assembly comprises a trailer hitch having a cross tube extending horizontally behind the vehicle. The cross tube has a wall separating an inside cavity from an outside surface of the cross tube. A first connector attached to the outside surface or mounted in a first opening in the wall of the cross tube has a connecting portion outwardly of the outside surface. Likewise, a second connector mounted at the outside surface or in a second opening in the wall of the cross tube has a connecting portion outwardly of the outside surface of the trailer hitch. One or more conduits extend across the inside cavity between the first and second connectors for interconnecting the vehicle to the towed trailer for supplying power and transmitting signals between them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Chris J. Fudala, Robert W. Ruby, Michael James McCann