GB2176759A - Covers for towing arrangements for vehicles - Google Patents

Covers for towing arrangements for vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2176759A
GB2176759A GB08515933A GB8515933A GB2176759A GB 2176759 A GB2176759 A GB 2176759A GB 08515933 A GB08515933 A GB 08515933A GB 8515933 A GB8515933 A GB 8515933A GB 2176759 A GB2176759 A GB 2176759A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
cover
reflector
hitch
ball
covers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08515933A
Other versions
GB8515933D0 (en
GB2176759B (en
Inventor
Barry Vincent Mills
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Plascoat Systems Ltd
Original Assignee
Plascoat UK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Plascoat UK Ltd filed Critical Plascoat UK Ltd
Priority to GB8515933A priority Critical patent/GB2176759B/en
Publication of GB8515933D0 publication Critical patent/GB8515933D0/en
Publication of GB2176759A publication Critical patent/GB2176759A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2176759B publication Critical patent/GB2176759B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
    • B60D1/60—Covers, caps or guards, e.g. comprising anti-theft devices
    • B60D1/605—Protection caps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
    • B60D1/60—Covers, caps or guards, e.g. comprising anti-theft devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic

Abstract

A moulded plastics cover for a vehicle tow ball incorporates a rear reflector (4). The reflector is mounted in a rearwardly directed hollow boss (1) formed integrally with the cover. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in covers for towing arrangements or the like for vehicles The present invention relates to covers for towing arrangements or the like for vehicles, and more particularly to a removable cover for a tow hitch or coupling, such as a ball hitch, which is attached to the rear of a road vehicle such as a car, etc.
According to the present invention, the cover is provided with a reflector. When the tow hitch is not coupled to a trailer, and is fitted with the cover, the reflector faces generally rearwardly of the towing vehicle and supplements the existing rear reflectors of the vehicle.
The invention is particularly applicable to a cover of the type comprising a flexible sheath or boot moulded from a synthetic plastics material, and configured to enclose the tow ball, and its associated fixing plate or mounting bracket. The cover may be moulded integrally with a reflector mount or housing in which the reflector is mounted. Alternatively, the reflector may be mechanically and/or chemically secured to a rear surface of the cover.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1, 2 and 3 are, respectively, side, plan and rear views of one embodiment of a ball hitch cover; Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on the line B-B of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a section through a second embodiment of ball hitch cover on a line corresponding to the line A-A of Figure 3.
In both embodiments, the ball hitch cover is moulded, for example dip moulded, from a synthetic plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride. The cover forms a flexible sheath or boot configured and dimensioned to fit over a ball hitch so as to enclose the tow ball, the mounting plate or flange by which the hitch is bolted to the towing vehicle, the stem or bracket connecting the ball to the mounting plate, and also covers the nuts or heads of the mounting bolts.
In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, a generally cylindrical boss 1 is moulded integrally with a generally rearwardly directed face 2 of the cover. The boss 1 has an internal annular recess or channel 3 in which a conventional red, disc-like, multi-facetted reflector 4 is mounted. The reflector is fitted to the boss by flexing the latter, and in particular by flexing the internal rim or flange 5 bounding the channel 3.
In the embodiment of Figure 5, the reflector 4, or an associated mount or surround, is provided with an integral peg or spiggot 6 which locates in an aperture 7 in the rear face 2 of the cover. The reflector 4 may be secured in place by mechanical means, such as the press fit between the peg 6 and aperture 7, and/or by a circlip, nut or fastener (not shown) attached to the peg, and/or by chemical means, for example by bonding or adhesively securing the reflector or its mount to the rear face of the cover.
There is usually mounted on the towing vehicle, adjacent the mounting plate of the hitch, an electrical connector for coupling the vehicle lighting system to the trailer lighting harness. The cover may be configured to envelope the connector, or alternatively, the connector may be provided with a separate removable cover. In addition to, or instead of, providing the hitch cover with a reflector as illustrated, the connector cover portion, or cover, may be provided with its own reflector.
The invention may be applied to a wide range of tow hitch covers, irrespective of their shape, size or configuration, and irrespective of whether they are intended to fit over balltype hitches, or other types of hitches, such as pin or jaw-type couplings or hitches, or combinations of different types of hitches.
The covers may be made from flexible materials such as synthetic plastics materials, or may be made from rigid plastics or metal. The covers may be totally removable from the hitches, or may be attached, for example hingedly connected to, the hitch or towing vehicle.
The covers may be intended to cover effectively the entire hitch, as illustrated, or merely part of the hitch such as the ball.
The reflector may be non-circular, for example rectangular, instead of circular. The optically facetted or prismatic type of reflector illustrated may be replaced or supplemented by other reflective, fluorescent or light-enhancing elements, strips, self-adhesive tapes, etc.
1. A vehicle tow hitch cover provided with a reflector.
2. A cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a flexible sheath or boot moulded from a synthetic plastics material.
3. A cover as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reflector is located in a reflector mount moulded integrally with the sheath or boot.
4. A cover as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mount comprises a hollow boss projecting from the sheath or boot, and having an internal channel in which the reflector is located and resiliently retained.
5. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim which comprises a ball hitch cover, the cover being configured to fit over and cover at least the ball of the hitch.
6. A cover as claimed in claim 5, including a portion intended to fit over and cover a mounting bracket or flange of a hitch by which the hitch is attached or intended to be
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in covers for towing arrangements or the like for vehicles The present invention relates to covers for towing arrangements or the like for vehicles, and more particularly to a removable cover for a tow hitch or coupling, such as a ball hitch, which is attached to the rear of a road vehicle such as a car, etc. According to the present invention, the cover is provided with a reflector. When the tow hitch is not coupled to a trailer, and is fitted with the cover, the reflector faces generally rearwardly of the towing vehicle and supplements the existing rear reflectors of the vehicle. The invention is particularly applicable to a cover of the type comprising a flexible sheath or boot moulded from a synthetic plastics material, and configured to enclose the tow ball, and its associated fixing plate or mounting bracket. The cover may be moulded integrally with a reflector mount or housing in which the reflector is mounted. Alternatively, the reflector may be mechanically and/or chemically secured to a rear surface of the cover. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1, 2 and 3 are, respectively, side, plan and rear views of one embodiment of a ball hitch cover; Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on the line B-B of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a section through a second embodiment of ball hitch cover on a line corresponding to the line A-A of Figure 3. In both embodiments, the ball hitch cover is moulded, for example dip moulded, from a synthetic plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride. The cover forms a flexible sheath or boot configured and dimensioned to fit over a ball hitch so as to enclose the tow ball, the mounting plate or flange by which the hitch is bolted to the towing vehicle, the stem or bracket connecting the ball to the mounting plate, and also covers the nuts or heads of the mounting bolts. In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, a generally cylindrical boss 1 is moulded integrally with a generally rearwardly directed face 2 of the cover. The boss 1 has an internal annular recess or channel 3 in which a conventional red, disc-like, multi-facetted reflector 4 is mounted. The reflector is fitted to the boss by flexing the latter, and in particular by flexing the internal rim or flange 5 bounding the channel 3. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the reflector 4, or an associated mount or surround, is provided with an integral peg or spiggot 6 which locates in an aperture 7 in the rear face 2 of the cover. The reflector 4 may be secured in place by mechanical means, such as the press fit between the peg 6 and aperture 7, and/or by a circlip, nut or fastener (not shown) attached to the peg, and/or by chemical means, for example by bonding or adhesively securing the reflector or its mount to the rear face of the cover. There is usually mounted on the towing vehicle, adjacent the mounting plate of the hitch, an electrical connector for coupling the vehicle lighting system to the trailer lighting harness. The cover may be configured to envelope the connector, or alternatively, the connector may be provided with a separate removable cover. In addition to, or instead of, providing the hitch cover with a reflector as illustrated, the connector cover portion, or cover, may be provided with its own reflector. The invention may be applied to a wide range of tow hitch covers, irrespective of their shape, size or configuration, and irrespective of whether they are intended to fit over balltype hitches, or other types of hitches, such as pin or jaw-type couplings or hitches, or combinations of different types of hitches. The covers may be made from flexible materials such as synthetic plastics materials, or may be made from rigid plastics or metal. The covers may be totally removable from the hitches, or may be attached, for example hingedly connected to, the hitch or towing vehicle. The covers may be intended to cover effectively the entire hitch, as illustrated, or merely part of the hitch such as the ball. The reflector may be non-circular, for example rectangular, instead of circular. The optically facetted or prismatic type of reflector illustrated may be replaced or supplemented by other reflective, fluorescent or light-enhancing elements, strips, self-adhesive tapes, etc. CLAIMS
1. A vehicle tow hitch cover provided with a reflector.
2. A cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a flexible sheath or boot moulded from a synthetic plastics material.
3. A cover as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reflector is located in a reflector mount moulded integrally with the sheath or boot.
4. A cover as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mount comprises a hollow boss projecting from the sheath or boot, and having an internal channel in which the reflector is located and resiliently retained.
5. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim which comprises a ball hitch cover, the cover being configured to fit over and cover at least the ball of the hitch.
6. A cover as claimed in claim 5, including a portion intended to fit over and cover a mounting bracket or flange of a hitch by which the hitch is attached or intended to be attached to a towing vehicle.
7. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reflector is generally rectangular.
8. A cover as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reflector is generally circular.
9. A vehicle ball hitch cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
10. A vehicle ball hitch cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
GB8515933A 1985-06-24 1985-06-24 Improvements in covers for towing arrangements for vehicles Expired GB2176759B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8515933A GB2176759B (en) 1985-06-24 1985-06-24 Improvements in covers for towing arrangements for vehicles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8515933A GB2176759B (en) 1985-06-24 1985-06-24 Improvements in covers for towing arrangements for vehicles

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8515933D0 GB8515933D0 (en) 1985-07-24
GB2176759A true GB2176759A (en) 1987-01-07
GB2176759B GB2176759B (en) 1989-07-12

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8515933A Expired GB2176759B (en) 1985-06-24 1985-06-24 Improvements in covers for towing arrangements for vehicles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2176759B (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4852902A (en) * 1988-05-19 1989-08-01 The Fisher Group, Inc. Towing hitch cover
DE19536911A1 (en) * 1995-10-04 1997-04-10 Walter Pfirschke Elastic cover for vehicle trailer-ball coupling
US5658004A (en) * 1995-09-28 1997-08-19 Flanik; Michael Trailer hitch ball coupler cover having a vehicle connected tether
US6019386A (en) * 1997-05-01 2000-02-01 Morelock; Garrett Protective cover for a trailer hitch
US6322094B1 (en) * 2000-08-08 2001-11-27 Edgar A. Poe Trailer hitch safety cover
GB2420540A (en) * 2004-11-30 2006-05-31 Nigel Jon Ireland Tow ball cover

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB415230A (en) * 1933-06-02 1934-08-23 William Charles Farrow Improvements in covers for cycle saddles
GB709651A (en) * 1951-10-09 1954-06-02 Bluemel Brothers Ltd Improvements in or relating to visual rear warning devices for cycles
GB715551A (en) * 1952-06-07 1954-09-15 Bluemel Brothers Ltd Improvements in or relating to reflectors for vehicles
US3679234A (en) * 1969-09-17 1972-07-25 Frank Colliau Reflective plastic coated trailer hitch ball
GB1312264A (en) * 1969-10-31 1973-04-04 Lucas Industries Ltd Covers for road vehicle towing hitches
GB1330435A (en) * 1971-06-16 1973-09-19 Bradley H S Covers for the ball members carried by towing vehicles
US3993016A (en) * 1975-08-04 1976-11-23 Pulaski Eugene A Protective enclosure and position warning device for outdrive engines
US4509770A (en) * 1982-07-09 1985-04-09 Draw-Tite, Inc. Drawbar cover

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB415230A (en) * 1933-06-02 1934-08-23 William Charles Farrow Improvements in covers for cycle saddles
GB709651A (en) * 1951-10-09 1954-06-02 Bluemel Brothers Ltd Improvements in or relating to visual rear warning devices for cycles
GB715551A (en) * 1952-06-07 1954-09-15 Bluemel Brothers Ltd Improvements in or relating to reflectors for vehicles
US3679234A (en) * 1969-09-17 1972-07-25 Frank Colliau Reflective plastic coated trailer hitch ball
GB1312264A (en) * 1969-10-31 1973-04-04 Lucas Industries Ltd Covers for road vehicle towing hitches
GB1330435A (en) * 1971-06-16 1973-09-19 Bradley H S Covers for the ball members carried by towing vehicles
US3993016A (en) * 1975-08-04 1976-11-23 Pulaski Eugene A Protective enclosure and position warning device for outdrive engines
US4509770A (en) * 1982-07-09 1985-04-09 Draw-Tite, Inc. Drawbar cover

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4852902A (en) * 1988-05-19 1989-08-01 The Fisher Group, Inc. Towing hitch cover
US5658004A (en) * 1995-09-28 1997-08-19 Flanik; Michael Trailer hitch ball coupler cover having a vehicle connected tether
DE19536911A1 (en) * 1995-10-04 1997-04-10 Walter Pfirschke Elastic cover for vehicle trailer-ball coupling
US6019386A (en) * 1997-05-01 2000-02-01 Morelock; Garrett Protective cover for a trailer hitch
US6322094B1 (en) * 2000-08-08 2001-11-27 Edgar A. Poe Trailer hitch safety cover
GB2420540A (en) * 2004-11-30 2006-05-31 Nigel Jon Ireland Tow ball cover

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8515933D0 (en) 1985-07-24
GB2176759B (en) 1989-07-12

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Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20010624