Patents by Inventor Wayne E. Sousley

Wayne E. Sousley 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: 5375867
    Abstract: A weight distributing hitch for towing a trailer behind a vehicle includes a hitch bar for mounting to the vehicle and a ball mount head for mounting on the hitch bar at a selected tilt angle. A pair of spring bars are mounted to the ball mount head. These spring bars distribute the weight of the trailer relative to the vehicle. Each spring bar is substantially L-shaped and includes a turned groove at a proximal end received in a cooperating aperture in the ball mount head. A retainer of spring steel engages in the grooves to hold the spring bars in position. The relative tilt angle of the ball mount head is adjusted by means of an eccentric angle adjusting element in the form of a washer. This washer is fixed to one of the ball mount head or hitch bar and includes a cam surface for engaging the other of the two elements. A method of adjusting the tilt angle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Reese Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Kass, Philip K. Hoopes, Wayne E. Sousley
  • Patent number: 5193837
    Abstract: A universally adjustable trailer hitch for attaching to the frames of vehicles of different widths comprising a horizontally disposed tube member with a hitching device centrally attached thereto, the tube member is selectively clamped on each side of the hitching device by a clamping member to a support member to adjustably fix the position of each of the support members with respect to the tube member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Trimas Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond W. Fink, Wayne E. Sousley, Richard L. Fullhart
  • Patent number: 5102156
    Abstract: A universally adjustable trailer hitch for attaching to the frames of vehicles of different widths comprising a horizontally disposed tube member with a hitching device centrally attached thereto, the tube member is selectively clamped on each side of the hitching device by a clamping member to a support member to adjustably fix the position of each of the support members with respect to the tube member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: TriMas Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond W. Fink, Wayne E. Sousley, Richard L. Fullhart