Patents by Inventor Donald Peter Sahlem

Donald Peter Sahlem 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).

  • Patent number: 7938430
    Abstract: An anti-sway device for conventional trailers, which essentially takes the place of the shank member of a conventional trailer hitch, is described. The shank assembly is comprised of an elongate square member coupled to a conventional hitch receiver of a tow vehicle. Attached to the rearward end of the square member is a pivot member with rearward diverging links connecting it to another somewhat wider pivot member to which a conventional ball mount is attached. The ball mount is further linked to the towed trailer such that the tongue of the trailer is fixed to the ball mount about a vertical axis. This arrangement results in the trailer pivoting about the resulting center of rotation of the converging links, which is substantially forward of the ball of the trailer hitch. Moving the pivot point forward, such as that found on a fifth wheel trailer, reduces sway and enhances the stability of the coupled trailer and tow vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventor: Donald Peter Sahlem
  • Patent number: 7549666
    Abstract: A device for automatically repositioning the pivot point between a fifth wheel trailer and truck. The hitch is composed of a base with integral first pivot member, two forward converging links, a second pivot member to which a spindle is attached. Pivotally attached to the spindle is a fifth wheel mount, which is pivotally attached to a fifth wheel. A pin adapter, which is attached to the hitch box of a fifth wheel trailer, eliminates rotation between the hitch box and fifth wheel assembly when hitched. This arrangement results in the trailer pivoting about the resulting center of rotation of the converging links, which is substantially forward of the pin of the trailer when in a straight-line orientation. The shifting of the pivot point distributes lateral forces from the trailer to all four wheels of the truck, thereby improving stability. During a turn, the subsequent articulation of the links results in a rearward repositioning of the pivot point, allowing sharp turns with a short bed truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Inventor: Donald Peter Sahlem
  • Patent number: 6948628
    Abstract: A clothes hanger retaining device is described. The retaining device is comprised of an inverted trough shaped cover that is positioned over a clothes pole and clothes hangers and secured to the clothes pole by a strap moved about the clothes pole and then secured back to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Inventor: Donald Peter Sahlem