Patents by Inventor Vito J. Abate

Vito J. Abate 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: 7581746
    Abstract: A trailer hitch coupling unit has a hitch pin assembly mounted on a trailer and a hitch receiver assembly mounted on a vehicle. The hitch pin assembly has a mounting plate and a platform forming a ball and socket joint therebetween, rotatably coupling the platform to the mounting plate. A bull nose, having a groove, projects from the bed plate. A first electrical connector is mounted in an axially extending bore in the bull nose. The hitch receiver assembly has a bed plate configured to be mounted on a bed of the vehicle above a rear axle thereof. The bed plate has a first opening configured to receive the bull nose. A locking plate is mounted on the bed plate for axial movement between a hitch pin receiving position adjacent the bed plate, and a hitch locking position spaced from the bed plate. The locking plate has a second opening configured to receive the bull nose. An actuator is operably connected to the locking plate for effecting the axial movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Vito J. Abate, Grzegorz M. Kardasz, Raymond J. Minato, Peter Bradley
  • Patent number: D574813
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Magna Aftermarket Inc.
    Inventors: Vito J. Abate, Myron Samila, Fabio Venier