WO1989002235A1 - Hitch device for interconnecting mobile apparatus in tandem - Google Patents

Abstract

A hitch device for the in-tandem interconnecting of a pair of wheeled pieces of apparatus, the hitch (10) being characterized by a resiliently deformable intermediate body (16) which in response to its resilient deformation, as in a turn, strongly urges the pulled piece of apparatus to cause it to properly return to a fore-and-aft tracking position, minimizing skidding and minimizing the effort required by the user.

Description

Hitch Device for Interconnecting Mopile Apparatus in Tandem

Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to the tandem hitching of wheeled apparatus pieces, and particularly as desired for the movement of wheeled apparatus in a hospital, where there are particular needs. for example, a particular need is an improved tandem hitching which permits a single attendant to maneuver two pieces of wheeled apparatus, the two pieces being moved concurrently either simply for economy or so that the pulled apparatus may provide continuing service to a patient being transported on the pulling vehicle, which may be a wheeled stretcher, or cart, or wheel-chair.

Particularly, of course, in large hospitals, a single patient-transport or apparatus-transport trip may be quite lengthy, perhaps requiring several turns, passage over bumpy sills such as elevators, etc.

Moreover, certain pieces of mobile apparatus, such as an intravenous infusion pole, are somewhat awkward, top-heavy, or otherwise pose difficulties in being moved along rapidly in tandem fashion.

Breakage, spillage, etc., also adds to the problem of rapid transport down hallways of a large hospital. Quick return to atraight-to-the rear tracking of the pulled apparatus is especially desired, to avoid bumping into personnel or visitors in the hallway, or into other patients being transported along the hallway, as well as to provide ease of the effort required by a single attendant pushing or sometimes pulling the pulling piece of apparatus.

further, hospital needs and services require a great many pieces of apparatus which have no motive power of their own, and are often needed to be moved to another hospital area, yet are not considered to deserve the expense of being moved as a single piece of apparatus.

Patient comfort against unnecessary joggling during transport, and guarding against interruption of service to the patient from the pulled apparatus, are significant considerations.

Undersize or other defects of casters add to the problem.

These and other problems and factors have posed many recognized difficulties of a hitch connection of reliable equipment connected ia a tandem arrangement, particularly in consideration of the realistic factors of hospital transportation use; and they are so significant, especially in the tandem connection of wheeled apparatus for hospital use, that even small inadequacies of other hitches cannot be and have not been tolerated or accepted willingly; and yet, prior to the present invention, the entire and lucrative art of hospital equipment devices has not conceived of a hitch device comparable to that of the present invention. The Prior Art has tried different solutions to the problem of tandem hitches and other connectors of various mobile apparatus;

Of course hitch devices of various types have been known and used for scores of years; and hitch devices have been also long known which are useful in interconnecting vehicles or other wheeled devices for tandem-pulling, including hitch devices for wagons, trailers, etc., and even mobile hospital equipment such as a particularly desirable use of the present invention.

Furthermore, devices which give so-called "universal joint" connection of associated members have also been long known, including specifically devices which have a flexibility and a resiliency, as described further herein, including specifically connector body members which can be utilized in devices of the present invention.

However, the existence of such articles of the prior art is not only conceded, it is emphasized; for it is with similarities to long-known components and concepts that the present inventive concepts build, accomplishing a device of a construction and an operativity significantly different than just the components and operativities of those long-known articles of the prior art, and thus the inventive significance of the present concepts is emphasized, and the nature of the concepts and their results can perhaps be easier understood. Even further as indicating the inventive nature of the present concepts is the result of a Preliminary Patentability Search made in the Search files of the U. S. Patent Office, after this invention was made, and during the course of considering

the desire and likelihood of patent protection.

The Search produced the following, and a sixth one is also identified, as found as a commercially available item:

Great Britain patent 1,414,401 (Nov. 19, 1975) Germany 0,235,201 (Aus. 6/3/11)

West Germany (Offenlegungsschrift) 2,425,936

4,029,333 Christensen 6/14/77 4,511,158 Varga et al 4/16/85 3,224,224 Kudriavetz 12/21/65

Of those references, however, diverse as they may be, none show the particular concepts of the features of the combination and operativity of the present invention, as now shown.

As to the most recent, i.e., Varga 4,511,158, it seems to have no resilient flexibility; at least none seems asserted for the "rod member" 40. Thus, although it is expressly for a tandem-connection of a pair of wheeled apparatus for hospital use of apparatus mentioned in the patent text as "extremely unwiedy," specifically an intravenous infusion de ice to a wheeled patient transport device, so that hopefully only a single attendant will be required, its distinction from the present invention is particularly significant.

As to Christensen 4,029,333, it has two sets of "resilient washers" 25, and 50/51; but in the drawings they appear too thin to permit much flexure, and they are in a vertical plane not permitting much resilient pivoting of the pulled vehicle, as to any supposed achievement of a "memory" resiliency. Thus, even viewing this device in hindsight from the present invention, the Christensen device cannot fairly be asserted to suggest the present combination.

As to the British patent of Bredberg 1,414,401, it shows a pair of coil springs 6, but their horizontal and transverse mounting seems to limit the resilient pivoting to merely accepting bumps, rather than accommodate turns; and thus this British device also fails to suggest the present concepts.

As to the German patent of Setzinger 2,425,936, the English language digest paragraph indicates a resiliency by a "clamping pad" 12, but it is not in a series of tension components of a hitch; and thus it too fails to suggest the present invention.

As to the old German patent of Kahlert 235,201, this one seems to give the nearest functional operativity comparison to the present invention. That is, its spring seems likely to provide a resilient acceptability of a turn, and that resilient spring-deformation would seem to provide a sort of memory effect to urge a return of the pulled vehicle to a proper tracking position. However, this device seems quite inferior to the present invention, in that its tracking-urge would seem to be substantial only at a wide pivot angle, and (at least in the absence of substantial pre-loading which would likely limit sufficient pivoting for easy turning maneuvers) would be substantially zero even for a significant angle away from exact-behind position. Moreover, in spite of the limited extent of functional resemblance noted, the long existence of the Kahlert patent helps realistically to show the non-obviousness of the present invention differences from it; and the absence of modifications of this old prior art reference likewise indicates an unreality of that reference suggesting the substantial changes which

would be required from that reference to achieve the particulars of the present invention.

As to Kudriavetz 3,224,224, it is not only a patent but is a commercially-available item; and thus its long existence in a state and use quite different from that of the present invention is particularly significant in realizing the non- obviousness of it giving even a hindsight suggestion of the present invention. Moreover, it expressly asserts its use as solely for the purpose of a sort of universal joint for joining shafts for the transmission of rotational power, particularly of shaft-sections which are somewhat misaligned, in ail of its several embodiments. Conversely, the patent's text gives nc suggestion whatever as to any sort of use as a connector for bodies for a tandem pulling relationship, of wheeled vehicles, with the flexibility of the connector body giving desired operational characteristics, i.e., permitting the pulled vehicle to easily be maneuvered around corners yet quickly be pulled back to its tandem position, accommodate surface irregularities, etc.

The Invention, in summary form, shows departure from prior art hitches :

According to the present invention, it provides a novel hitch device for the in-tandem interconnecting of a pair of wheeled pieces of apparatus, the hitch being characterized by an intermediate body of specialized nature. That is, it is resiliently deformable in response to a turning maneuver of the pulling apparatus, and in response to its resilient deformation, it strongly urges the pulled piece of apparatus to cause it to promptly return to a tracking position, minimizing skidding of the pulled piece of apparatus without extra effort by the user; moreover, its deformability is substantial, permitting substantial non-skid swinging yet prompt return to a tracking position.

Even more particularly in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the intermediate body is a flexible coupling ror mis-aligned rotational shafts, generally as shown in Fig. 2 of U. S. Patent No. 3, 224, 224; however, in contrast to the heretofore-intended use of that coupling for rotational shaft use, here it is used to provide a lineal force-transmission of a hitch, and the overall hitch is provided with other components by which that flexible coupling, as the intermediate body of the hitch, is connectable to the pulling and pulled pieces of apparatus to achieve a hitch device of desired characteristics of both good swingability and good tracking, all as further set forth herein.

The invention' s components and concepts are similar to components available in the prior art , except for the present concents in particular;

In a hindsight consideration of the present invention to determine its inventive and novel nature , it is not only conceded but emphasized that τhe prior art had details usable in this invention if the prior art had had the guidance of the present concepts.

That is, it is emphasized that the prior art had several particulars: a. The prior art had various types of connector hitches; b. The prior art realized that some relative movability was desired in the hitch connection of wheeled articles for accommodating turns without undue wheel-skidding, and to let the pulled article or vehicle to track properly behind the pulling vehicle; c . The prior art knew that a hitch had to properly sustain some compression as well as tension, at least to accommodate a backward pushing on occasions; d. The prior art had "universal joints" for the coupling of rotational shafts which are axially misaligned; e. The prior art realized that the tandem-hitch connection of wheeled articles for hospital use posed particular problems of necessary turns, limited hallway space, some irregularity of the floors and floor-junctions, need for special care and protection against tipping or overturning of awkward-shaped articles, desire to minimize labor cost and personnel use during movement of the wheeled articles, etc.; f. Connectors as shown by the specific other devices mentioned herein.

Accordingly, various concepts and components are conceded and emphasized to have been widely known in the prior art in hitch or connector products, and devices even of tandem-pull type useful in hospital article-transport tasks; nevertheless, the prior art not having had such concepts as here presented and as shown as different from the prior art, even only a fair amount of realistic humility, to avoid consideration of this invention improperly by hindsight, requires the concepts here to be realistically viewed as inventive in their nature. Brief description of the Drawings:

The above description of the novel and advantageous connector-hitch device of the present invention is of somewhat introductory and generalized form. More particular details, concepts, and features are set forth in the following and more detailed description of an illustrative embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are of somewhat schematic and diagrammatic nature, for showing the inventive concepts of the present invention as are illustrated in this embodiment.

In the drawings:

fig. 1 is an overall pictorial view, of a pulling vehicle shown here as a hospital's patient stretcher cart, provided with a connector hitch means of the present invention connected to a pulled vehicle, here a mobile unit known as an intravenous infusion pole, the two pieces being connected in tandem for manipulation by a single attendant, and providing that during the transport the patient on the cart may be provided service from the pulled apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental or plan detail view of the adjacent portions of the assembly of fig. 1, in larger scale, illustrating the connector hitch's central body member in a state of resilient deformation as the travel maneuver has caused a relative swinging of the pulled vehicle in a certain direc tiυn relative to the path then being taken by the pulling vehicle;

Pig. 3 is a view similar to Pig. 2, but of with the pulled apparatus having swung in an opposite direction, resiliently deforming the body member of the connector hitch in an opposite mannnr; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevation view of a connector hitch of the present invention, of an embodiment in which the portion thereof connected to the front of the resiliently deformable body, that portion swivelling on a horizontal axis, is to be affixed to a longitudinal frame member of the cart; and the clamp body in the rear of that deformable body is rotatably connected to a transverse front rail bar of the pulled vehicle;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4, and with a portion of the pulling vehicle's frame member included;

Fig. 6 is an elevation view of the components shown in Figs. 4 and 5, but with the rear clamp body disconnected from the pulled vehicle, and the rear clamp body and the deformable body having swivelled downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4, illustrating that swivelling as would occur in coordination with swivelling of the rear clamp body about the transverse frame of the pulled body, as the pair of vehicles, in tandem, would traverse an uneven floor or the like; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged rear elevation view of the clamp body shown in all the other Figures.

Detailed description of preferred embodiment;

As shown in the drawings, the present inventive concepts provide and achieve a novel and advantageous hitch device 10, for the interconnecting, in tandem, of whatever are the pair of wheeled pieces of apparatus to be coupled for joint movement, as an effort of pushing (or pulling) and steering one of them is to achieve a pulling of the other.

For reference here, the forward one is called the pulling piece of apparatus 12 and the other or rearward one is called a pulled piece of apparatus 14; and, as emphasized herein, the invention is particularly considered desirable for hospital use, with the pulling piece of apparatus 12 here being shown as a patient cart 12, and the pulled piece of apparatus 14 here being shown as an intravenous infusion pole 14 (often called an "I. V. Pole"). Both are shown with swivel type wheels or casters 15.

The hitch device 10 has, as what might be considered as its basic and most distinctive component, an intermediate body 16; and in force-transmitting relation to it, the intermediate body 16 has connected to it, forwardly of it, a forward connection body means 18 for connection of the body 16 to the pulling piece of apparatus 12, and, rearwardly of the body 16, a rearward connection body means 20 for connection of the body 16 to the pulled piece of apparatus 14.

The intermediate body 16 is shown as supportingly connected to both the forward connection body means 18 and the rearward connection body means 20 by small collars 22, which are respectively held by locking or set screws 24 to an adjacent end 18a and 20a, respectively, of the two body means 18/20 as those body means 18/20 extend into the body 16 by passing inwardly of the front and rear walls 26 and 28, respectively, of the intermediate body 16 through holes (not shown) in those walls 26/28.

The intermediate body has special characteristics, as to its nature or operational characteristics, as detailed herein. That is, as especially diagrammed in Figs. 2 and 3, it is resiliently deformable for accommodating turning maneuvers of the tandem-connected apparatus 12 and 14, such as to permit the pulled apparatus 14 to swing from a tracking position 30 through a considerably wide angle, as is schematically shown by swing-angles 32 and 34 in Figs. 2 and 3 respectively, to swing positions 36 and 38. Then, in response to that resilient

deformation, the intermediate body 16 acts to strongly urge the rearward connection body means 20 to act upon the pulled piece of apparatus 14 to cause it to promptly return to the proper tracking position 30 with respect to the pulling piece of apparatus 12; and this strong tracking-return urge acts onto the pulled apparatus 14 to thereby minimize skidding of the pulled piece of apparatus 14, without extra effort needing to be applied by the user, i.e., to either of the pieces 12/14 of apparatus, whenever the resilient deformation of the intermediate body 16 has been caused.

This prompt return to tracking position 30, fore-and-aft with respect to the pulling apparatus 12, is achieved by the resiliency of the body 16 regardless of what nature of movement (turn, bump, uneveness of the floor, etc.) has caused a travel maneuver of the pulling piece of apparatus 12 to have caused the pulled piece of apparatus 14 to have swung away from that proper tracking position 30.

Moreover, as to the resilient intermediate body 16, its deformability is substantial, permitting a relatively easy effort by a single attendant to cause movement of the in-tandem apparatus 12/14, the body 16 permitting a substantial non-skid swinging (32,34) of the pulled piece of apparatus 14 when the pulling piece of apparatus 12 is making a sharp turn of even quite low radius of curvature, yet causing a prompt return of the pulled apparatus 14 to its proper tracking position 30.

Further as to the intermediate body 16, its nature is such that it accepts and transmits a lineal force both of tension and compression, thus providing for both pull and push maneuvers of the pulled piece of apparatus 14 by whatever external force is applied merely to the pulling p piece of apparatus 12. (Such external force is generally likely to be manual effort, although the hitch-operativity is not limited to that type effort.)

Adaptation of the resilient body 16, to a hitch for the lineal force-transmission and the tandem-hitched operability, is aided by providing the rearward connection body means 20 with means for its rotatable connection to the pulled piece of apparatus 14 about a generally horizontal and transverse axis of the pulled apparatus 14; and this rotatability is shown particularly in Fig. 4 by low-friction jaw pieces 40 in the jaws 42 of a quick-action clamp 44, as the jaw pieces 40 rotatably embrace the horizontal frame piece 46 of the pulled apparatus 14.

The clamp-operativity is by a knob 48 twisting a bolt 50 (Fig. 7) to actuate the jaw-plates 52 of the clamp 44, causing them to relatively pivot about pivot pin 54, with jaw-open position being urged by a compression spring 56.

The rearward connection body means 20 also is shown as rotatable about its own lineal axis, as by a loose passage of the extending portion 20a_^ (Fig. 4) through the hole (not shown) in the rear wall 28, or by the rear portion 58 of that extending body 20a being swivelly-connected to the clamp 44.

Further adaptation of the intermediate body 16 as basic component of a lineal-force hitch member is achieved by the provisions of the forward connection body means 18. That is, the forward connection body means 18 is provided to be of at least two relatively movable portions 60 and 62, respectively relatively rearward and relatively forward of one another, pivoted at 64; and this provides that if the relatively forward portion 62 is connected immovably to the pulling piece of apparatus 12 (Fig. 1) but it happens to be an occasion (Fig. 6) in which there is no pulled piece of apparatus 14 to be moved with the pulling piece of apparatus 12, the relatively rearward portions 60 of the forward connecting body means 18 and the intermediate body 16 and the rearward connecting body means 20 may reside in a retracted position, here simply a vertically-hanging position (Fig. 6), in which they do not protrude significantly rearwardly of the pulling piece of apparatus 12.

The connection of the forward connection body means 18 is shown (Fig. 1) as by bands 66 which strap the body means 18 to a longitudinal frame member 68 of the pulling piece of apparatus 12; and the bands 66 may be permanently affixed due to the unobtrusive hang-down or retractability just mentioned and as indicated in Fig. 6. The connector portion 62 is shown as having a series of grooves 69 accommodating the straps 66 desirably to locate the forward connection body means 18 as far forwardly and unobtrusively as possible on the longitudinal frame member 68, such that the hitch's intermediate member 16 is sufficiently to the rear enough to permit free swinging of the pulled apparatus 14 in spite of whatever frame-portion 69a of the pulling apparatus is rearwardly of its longitudinal frame piece 68.

A device which is quite desirably and preferably used for the intermediate body 16 as adapted by the several other components to provide the overall hitch 10 is a coupler for rotational shafts sold commercially as a "Flexible Coupling," as marketed as one of Models No. 5803 and 5804 by Stock Drive Products, 55 S. Denton Avenue, New Hyde Park, N.Y. 11040. They are the subject of U.S. Patent No. 3,224,224. In that patent, its Fig. 2 shows the type here found quite desirable for use in a hitch for the tandem-pulling operativity herein described, even though they are built and intended for the significantly-different purpose of a coupling for mis-aligned rotational shafts.

The resilient body member of that device, as used here in the new use of a hitch for lineal pull/push operativity, is shown in a condition as already formed, i.e., in its formation as used in a hitch. Basically, its formation, as noted in that patent, is from a flexible coupling formed from a cross-shaped sheet of elastomeric material, such as material or synthetic rubber, leather, impregnated cloth, or plastic. The body used from such a sheet has four arms 70 which are spaced substantially ninety degrees apart, around an integrally formed central body 72 having curved edges between the adjacent arms 70; and, from the flat stock of that shape, an opposite pair of the arms 70 are bent over and brought together at their ends on one side of the central body portion 72, and the other opposite pair of the arms 70 are bent and brought together at their ends on the opposite side of the central body portion 72, this formation providing a pair of flexible loops 74 each of ring-like shape on axes spaced substantially ninety degrees from one another.

So far, the present inventor has found Model No. 5804 quite desirable for its combination with the adaptation components to achieve this lineal force hitch 10. The other one, i.e., Model 5803 was tried, with general success, but was considered somewhat less desirable than Model 5804 because Model 5803, being less stiff, did not achieve as fast a return of the pulled vehicle 14 to proper (fore-and-aft) tracking position. If, however, the use would be likely to require much back-up maneuvers in tight quarters such as in an elevator, it may be preferred to use the Model 5803 due to its greater flexibility.

The aforesaid patent also shows a coupler formed from a six-arm body (Fig. 5 and 6 of that patent); but this has ot been found or tested. As another consideration, it is to be noted that the body member 16 has two portions, i.e., as here shown two loops 74, and the loops or portions 74 provide different natures of resilient deformation with respect to each of two axes spaced substantially ninety degrees apart; and, as best indicated in Fig. 1, the connection of the intermediate body 16 respectively to the forward connection body means 18 and to the rearward connection body means 20, and the connection of the forward connection body means 18 and the rearward connection body means 20 respectively connected to the pulling piece of apparatus and the pulled piece of apparatus, are such that those two axes are substantially midway between horizontal and vertical.

In addition to the primary roles of lineal force-transmission and resilient deformation as to swinging as provided by the intermediate member 16, the hitch 10 and its components herein shown accommodate nicely most all hallway-travel sitations likely to be encountered as to tandem-coupled apparatus, particularly in their use in hospitals.

Conclusion;

It is thus seen that a hitch device, constructed and used according to the inventive concepts herein set forth, provides novel concepts of a desirable and advantageous device, yielding the advantages of a hitch which provides special and particular advantages when used as a connector for tandem- hitched hospital apparatus, as a particular setting of use.

In summary as to the nature of these advantageous concepts, their inventiveness is shown by novel features of concept and construction shown herein, and by the novel concepts hereof not only being different from all the prior art known, but because the achievement is not what is or has been suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art, especially realistically considering this as comprising components which individually are similar in nature to what is well known to most persons, surely including most of the many makers and users of mobile hospital apparatus for many years, the entire world over. No prior art has suggested the modifications of any prior art to achieve the novel concepts here achieved, with the tracking effects which the hitch provides, even for awkward-shape apparatus necessary to be moved as connected units along long hospital hallways, etc.

The differences of concept and construction are specified herein, yielding advantges especially in such hospital apparatus transport use, even though many and different type hitches or vehicle-connectors of various other natures have been known for years; and quite certainly no particular combination of prior art as here presented has been suggested by the prior art, this achievement being a substantial and advantageous departure from prior art, even though the prior art shows attempts at improvement for many years. And particularly is the overall difference from the prior art significant when the non-obviousness is viewed by a consideration of the subject matter as a whole, as integrally incorporating the features different from the prior art, in contrast to merely those details of novelty

themselves, and further in view of the nature of prior art teaching away from the concepts of this Invention.

Accordingly, it will thus be seen from the foregoing description of the invention according to this illustrative embodiment, considered with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides new and useful concepts of a novel and advantageous connector hitch having and yielding desired advantages and characteristics in formation and use, and accomplishing the intended objects, including those herein before pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

Modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the invention; accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, or form or arrangement of parts herein described or shown.

For example, the word "wheeled" refers to any nature of rolling support, whether wheeled or casters; "tracking position" means a fore-and aft alignment so that there is substantially no skidding or the pulled apparatus, nor need of significant transverse force to be applied to the pulling vehicle; "external effort" means whatever is the nature of effort applied to cause the pulling apparatus to move; and "apparatus" is not limited to any particular type of rollable equipment or for any particular purpose.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A hitch device for interconnecting, in tandem, a pair of wheeled pieces of apparatus, each having at least three wheels and fully stable regardless of whether or not in motion one being a pulling piece of apparatus and one being a pulled piece of apparatus, the hitch device comprising, in combination:

an intermediate body,

a forward connection body means for connection to the

pulling piece of apparatus,

a rearward connection body means for connection to the pulled piece of apparatus,

the Intermediate body- being supportingly connected

to both the forward connection body means and the rearward

connection body means, characterized by the intermediate body being a single body meanswhich has operational characteristics including all the following:

(a) it is resiliently deformable, having and providing the nature and operativity characteristics specified below, by movement of the pulling piece of apparatus in any direction other than axial as to its supporting connections respectively in the forward connection body means and the rearward connection body means.

(b) in response to its resilient deformation, its internal stress due to that deformation strongly urges the rearward connection body means to act upon

the pulled piece of apparatus to cause it to promptly return to a

tracking position with respect to the pulling piece of apparatus,

and thereby minimize skidding of the pulled piece ol apparatus without extra effort needing to be applied τo either of the pieces of

apparatus, whenever tne resilient deformation of the body means

has been caused by a travel maneuver of the pulling piece of

apparatus which has caused the pulled piece of apparatus to have swung away from that tracking position, and thus the body means has been imposed with a force non-axial as to its said supporting connections,

(c) its deformabllity is substantial, when imposed with such a non-axial force, permitting substantial non-skid swinging of the pulled piece of apparatus when the pulling piece of apparatus is making a turn of quite low radius of curvature, yet its resilient deformabllity causing a prompt return to a tracking position to be achieved as stated above, and

(d) it accepts and transmits a lineal force both of

tension and compression, for providing both pull and push maneuvers of the pulled piece of apparatus by external force applied merely

to the pulling piece of apparatus.

2. Ihe invention as set forth in Claim 1, in a combination

in which the rearward connection body means is rotatably connectable to the pulled piece of apparatus about a generally horizontal axis, which, when the pulled piece of apparatus is connected to the pulling piece of apparatus, is generally transverse of the general direction

of pulling effort exerted by the pulling piece of apparatus.

3. The invention as set forth in Claim 1, in a combination

in which the forward connection body means is provided to be of

at least two relatively movable portions, one relatively forward

and one relatively rearward, providing that if the relatively

forward portion is connected immovably to the pulling piece

of apparatus but it happens to be an occasion in which there is

no pulled piece of apparatus to be moved with the pulling piece of

apparatus, the relatively rearward portion of tne forward connecting

body means and the intermediate body and the rearward connecting

body means may reside in a retracted position in which they do

not protrude significantly rearwardly of the pulling piece of

apparatus.

4. The invention as set forth in Claim 2, in a combination

in which the forward connection body means is provided to be of

at least two relatively movable portions, one relatively forward

and one relatively rearward, providing that if the relatively forward portion is connected immovably to the pulling piece

of apparatus but it happens to be an occasion in which there is

no pulled piece of apparatus to be moved with the pulling piece of

apparatus, the relatively rearward portion of the forward connecting

body means and the intermediate body and the rearward connecting

body means may reside in a retracted position in which they do

not protrude significantly rearwardly of the pulling piece of

apparatus.

5. The invention as set forth in Claim 1, in a combination

in which the rearward connection body means includes a releasable

clamp means.

6. The invention as set forth in Claim 1, in a combination

in which the intermediate body is a flexible coupling formed

from a cross-shaped sheet of eleatomeric material having four

arms spaced substantially ninety degrees apart around an integrally

formed central body having curved edges between adjacent arms, an opposite pair of the arms being bent over and brought together at their ends one side of the central body portion, and the other opposite pair of the arms being bent and brought together at their ends on the opposite side of the central body portion, providing flexible loops each of ring-like shape on axes spaced substantially ninety degrees from one another.

7. The invention as set forth in Claim 1, in a combination

in which the intermediate body is a body member having two portions, the portions providing different natures of resilient deformation with respect to each of two axes spaced substantially ninety degrees apart; and the connection of the intermediate body respectively

to the forward connection body means and rearward connection body

means, and the forward connection body means and the rearward connection body means are respectively connected to the pulling

piece of apparatus and the pulled piece of apparatus, such that

the said axes are substantially midway between horizontal and

vertical.

8. The invention as set forth in Claim 6, in a combination

in which the intermediate body is a body member having two portions, the portions providing different natures of resilient deformation

with respect to each of two ares spaced substantially ninety

degrees apart; and the connection of the intermediate body

respectively to the forward connection body means and rearward

connection body means, and the forward connection body means and

the rearward connection body means are respectively connected to

the pulling pieces of apparatus and the pulled piece of apparatus,

such that the said axes are substantially midway between horizontal

and vertical.

9. The invention as set forth in Claim 6, in a combination

in which the intermediate body is a flexible coupling generally

as shown in Pig. 2 of the U.S. Patent No. 3,224,224.

10. The invention as set forth in Claim 7, in a combination

in which the intermediate body Is a flexible coupling generally

as shown in fig. 2 of the U.S. Patent Ho. 3,224,224.

11. The invention as set forth in Claim 1, in a combination in

which the intermediate body is a coupler for rotational shafts selected from Models No. 5803 and 5804, called "Flexible Coupling," marketed by Stock Drive Products, 55 S. Denton Avenue, New Hyde Park,

N. Y. 11040.

12. The invention as set forth in Claim 6, in a combination in

which the intermediate body is a coupler for rotational shafts

selected from Models No. 5803 and 5804, called "Flexible Coupling," marketed by Stock Drive Products, 55 S. Denton Avenue, New Hyde Park,

N. Y. 11040.