US20090039619A1 - Tow hitch - Google Patents

Tow hitch Download PDF

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Publication number
US20090039619A1
US20090039619A1 US12/186,788 US18678808A US2009039619A1 US 20090039619 A1 US20090039619 A1 US 20090039619A1 US 18678808 A US18678808 A US 18678808A US 2009039619 A1 US2009039619 A1 US 2009039619A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
ball
tow
side wall
shank
mount
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/186,788
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Thomas A. Gries
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.)
Buyers Products Co Inc
Original Assignee
Buyers Products Co Inc
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 Buyers Products Co Inc filed Critical Buyers Products Co Inc
Priority to US12/186,788 priority Critical patent/US20090039619A1/en
Assigned to BUYERS PRODUCTS CO. reassignment BUYERS PRODUCTS CO. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: GRIES, THOMAS A
Publication of US20090039619A1 publication Critical patent/US20090039619A1/en
Priority to US13/080,122 priority patent/US8684389B2/en
Abandoned 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
    • B60D1/01—Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
    • B60D1/06—Ball-and-socket hitches, e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/01—Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
    • B60D1/02—Bolt or shackle-type couplings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/01—Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
    • B60D1/06—Ball-and-socket hitches, e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
    • B60D1/065—Ball-and-socket hitches, e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle characterised by the hitch mechanism
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/01—Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
    • B60D1/07—Multi-hitch devices, i.e. comprising several hitches of the same or of a different type; Hitch-adaptors, i.e. for converting hitches from one type to another
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/48—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by the mounting
    • B60D1/52—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by the mounting removably mounted
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
    • B60D1/583—Holding down means, e.g. holding down retainers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to devices and methods for towing a trailer behind a vehicle, and more particularly to tow hitches.
  • Tow hitches are commonly used for towing one vehicle behind another.
  • Such an assembly generally comprises a tow ball that is secured to the rear of a towing vehicle and a coupler or receiver for the tow ball that is attached to the trailer or vehicle to be towed.
  • Multi-ball tow hitches are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,922,006, 4,280,713, 4,248,450 and 5,839,744, and in U.S. Design Patent No. 356,764. These tow hitches employ a four-sided tubular ball mount and multiple tow balls of different sizes that are welded to a side wall of the ball mount or attached by a threaded shank and nut.
  • the inventor of the present invention recognized that significant weight reduction could be achieved by using a hollow tubular ball mount, but tests proved that known designs could not satisfy higher capacity requirements, such as a ball and/or pintle capacity of at least 10,000 pounds.
  • the side wall of the tubular mount to which the pintle ball was attached was found to crumple when subjected to the higher loads. While the thickness of the side wall could be increased, this would lead to increased weight and thus suffer from the same problem arising from use of the solid shank.
  • the present inventor discovered that higher capacity could be obtained with a tubular ball mount if the pintle or largest ball of the tow hitch was provided with a mounting shank that extended through a hole in the immediately adjacent side wall of the tubular ball mount and also through a hole in the opposite side wall of the tubular ball mount. Preferably the holes receive the shank with a close fit.
  • the ball may be secured in place by welding of the ball base and/or distal end of the shank to the respective side wall of the tubular mount.
  • the tubular mount preferably is formed by one end of a single piece tubular shank sized to fit within a receiver tube on the towing vehicle.
  • the present invention provides a tow hitch comprising an elongated tubular mount of rectangular cross-section, the mount having four side walls; and at least one tow ball mounted to an adjacent side wall of the mount, the tow ball having a mounting shank extending from a base of the tow ball through a first hole in the adjacent side wall and a second hole in a side wall opposite the adjacent side wall.
  • the first and second holes receive the ball shank with a close fit.
  • the tow ball may be secured in place by welding of the ball base and/or distal end of the ball shank to the respective side wall of the tubular mount, or by a nut threaded onto a threaded distal end of the ball shank.
  • the tubular mount may be formed unitary with a shank configured at an end opposite the ball for receipt in a tow hitch receiver.
  • the tow hitch may include a spacer interposed between the adjacent side wall and the side wall opposite the adjacent side wall.
  • the spacer preferably has a length corresponding to the distance between opposed inner surfaces of the adjacent side wall and the side wall opposite the adjacent side wall.
  • the spacer preferably is tubular and surrounds an intermediate portion of the ball shank.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a prior art tow hitch employing a solid shank
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a hitch assembly including the tow hitch of FIG. 1 and a receiver, partly broken away in section;
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of the hitch assembly of FIG. 2 , partly broken away in section;
  • FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 , but showing a locking jaw in an open position;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary tow hitch employing a hollow tubular shank in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the tow hitch of FIG. 5 ;
  • FIG. 7 is an end view of the tow hitch of FIG. 5 ;
  • FIG. 8 is an end view similar to FIG. 7 , with the tow hitch provided with an optional tubular spacer and with the end of the shank having a chamfer to facilitate welding; and
  • FIG. 9 is an end view similar to FIG. 8 , but showing an alternative means for attaching the larger ball to the tubular mount.
  • FIG. 1 shows the tow hitch of U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,494, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
  • the tow hitch 10 includes an elongated shank 12 having a first end 14 and a second end 16 .
  • the shank 12 has a rectangular cross-section and has a first side surface 12 a , a second side surface 12 b , a third side surface 12 c , and a fourth side surface 12 d.
  • the first end 14 of shank 12 is dimensioned to be received within a receiving mount (receiver) 22 , best seen in FIG. 2 , that may be attached to a towing vehicle (not shown).
  • the receiver 22 typically is a tubular structure having an opening 24 of rectangular cross-section extending therethrough.
  • the receiver 22 is formed as part of a towing vehicle, or is secured to a towing vehicle in a conventionally known fashion.
  • the first end 14 of the shank 12 is dimensioned to be slidably received within opening 24 in receiving mount 22 , as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
  • a first bore 32 extends laterally through the shank 12 .
  • the first bore 32 extends from the first side surface 12 a to the third side surface 12 c .
  • a second bore 34 extends through the shank 12 .
  • the second bore 34 is offset from first bore 32 along the length of shank 12 .
  • the second bore 34 extends from the second side surface 12 b to the fourth side surface 12 d .
  • the bores 32 and 34 are positioned through shank 12 to be alignable with openings in the receiver 22 depending upon the orientation of shank 12 .
  • a locking pin may be inserted through the aligned openings to secure the shank in the receiver.
  • first tow ball 52 a is coupled to the first side face 12 a
  • the second tow ball 52 b is coupled to the second side face 12 b
  • the third tow ball 52 c is coupled to the third side face 12 c on shank 12 .
  • Each tow ball 52 a , 52 b , 52 c includes a spherical portion and a base portion.
  • Each tow ball 52 a , 52 b , 52 c is fixedly secured to the shank 12 preferably by welding.
  • a locking jaw 72 is pivotally mounted to shank 12 .
  • the jaw 72 is dimensioned to engage a tow ball, and to form a ring-retaining space between the shank 12 and the jaw 72 .
  • the jaw 72 is generally “L” shaped and has a generally planar body portion 74 and two spaced-apart leg portions 76 that extend to one side of the body portion 74 .
  • each leg portion 76 is essentially a mirror image of the other.
  • Each leg portion 76 has a mounting hole 78 formed therethrough.
  • the mounting opening in one leg portion 76 is axially aligned with the mounting hole in the other leg portion 76 .
  • Each leg portion 76 also includes a first locking hole 82 and a second locking hole 84 .
  • the first and second locking holes 82 and 84 on one leg portion 76 are aligned respectively with first and second locking holes 82 and 84 on the other leg portion 76 .
  • the jaw 72 has a free end 92 that is formed to have a surface 94 to matingly engage one of tow balls 52 , 52 b , 52 c .
  • surface 94 is a spherical surface and is dimensioned to matingly engage the spherical portion of tow ball 52 b which typically will be the largest diameter ball.
  • the jaw 72 is dimensioned to be mounted to the shank 12 with leg portions 76 straddling shank 12 .
  • the jaw 72 is mounted to shank 12 by means of a hex-head bolt 112 extending through mounting openings 78 in leg portions 76 , and through a mounting bore 122 in the shank 12 .
  • the bore 122 extends from first side surface 12 a to third side surface 12 c .
  • a hex nut 114 maintains hex-head bolt 112 in place.
  • the locking jaw 72 is movable between a first, ball-engaging position, seen in FIG. 2 , and a second, opened position, seen in FIG. 4 .
  • a locking pin 132 is provided for the locking jaw 72 .
  • the jaw 72 is locked in the first position by locking pin 132 extending through first locking holes 82 in jaw 72 .
  • the locking pin 132 has a first bent end 132 a and a second end 132 b with a hole 134 therethrough.
  • the hole 134 in second end 132 b of locking pin 132 is dimensioned to receive a conventional cotter pin 136 , as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
  • the locking pin 132 prevents clockwise rotation of the jaw 72 by engaging the side surface 12 b of the shank 12 . Engagement between the tow ball 52 b and the surface 94 of the jaw 72 prevents counterclockwise rotation of jaw 72 .
  • the locking pin 132 extends through the second locking holes 84 in the jaw 72 .
  • Rotation of jaw 72 in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of the bolt 112 is prevented by the locking pin 132 engaging the side surface 12 d of the shank 12 .
  • Rotation of the jaw 72 in a clockwise direction is prevented by contact of the body portion 74 with the surface 12 b of the shank 12 .
  • the tow hitch 10 is capable of towing different trailer vehicles that may require different tow balls or a towing vehicle that is equipped with a towing ring or like arrangement.
  • the tow hitch 10 is used by inserting the shank 12 into the opening 24 of receiving mount 22 . If one of the tow balls 52 a , 52 b or 52 c is to be used, the shank 12 is oriented within the receiver 22 to position the desired tow ball in a vertical position. If tow ball 52 a or 52 c is in use, the jaw 72 is preferably locked in the first position engaging the tow ball 52 b . If tow ball 52 b is to be used for coupling to a tow ball connector (shown in phantom and designated 152 in FIG. 4 ), the jaw 72 is moved and locked into the second, opened position by inserting the locking pin 132 through the second locking holes 84 in the leg portions 76 such that the locking pin 132 is disposed beneath the side surface 12 d.
  • a tow ball connector shown in
  • a Lunette eye or ring coupler (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and designated 162 ) is to be attached to the tow hitch 10 , the jaw 72 is moved to a second position to allow the ring to be inserted over the second tow ball 52 b , as illustrated in FIG. 4 .
  • the jaw 72 is then pivoted to where surface 94 abuts the spherical portion of the tow ball 52 b .
  • the jaw 72 is locked in this position by inserting the locking pin 132 through the first locking holes 82 of the leg portions 76 and inserting a cotter pin 136 into hole 134 of the locking pin 132 to thereby prevent removal of the locking pin 132 .
  • the tow ball 52 b acts as a pintle for the ring or Lunette eye.
  • an exemplary tow hitch is designated generally by reference numeral 160 .
  • the tow hitch 160 comprises a tubular shank 162 to which one or more balls are secured.
  • three different size tow balls 164 a , 164 b and 164 c are secured to respective side walls 166 a , 166 b and 156 c of the tubular shank.
  • the shank which preferably is square in cross-section, has a further side wall 166 d opposite side wall 166 b.
  • the shank at its end opposite the balls is provided with lock pin holes 170 a , 170 b , 170 c and 170 d in respective side walls 166 a , 166 b , 166 c and 166 d .
  • the holes 170 a and 170 c are aligned, as are the holes 170 b and 170 d .
  • such an arrangement of holes enable the hitch to be secured in a receiver in one of several relatively rotated positions respectively positioning the balls at the top of the tow hitch.
  • the holes reside in the same transverse plane, but respective pairs could be offset as shown above in FIGS. 1-4 . Accordingly, any one of the three balls can be selected for use.
  • the tow hitch may be configured with a jaw and other features of the tow hitch shown in FIGS. 1-4 , as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
  • the jaw would usually be used in relation to the largest diameter ball 170 b for use with a Lunette eye or ring coupler as above described.
  • the mount 176 for the balls is tubular, and the ball 170 b is secured to the mount in a unique manner.
  • the tubular mount 176 may be formed by the end of the shank 162 which is preferably tubular along its entire length for reducing the weight of the tow hitch 160 .
  • the tow balls 164 a and 164 c may be fastened to the tubular mount in a conventional manner, such as by welding the base 178 a and 178 c of each ball to a respective side wall 166 a and 166 c of the mount.
  • the other tow ball 164 b is uniquely fastened to the tubular mount by means of a ball shank 180 that extends through a hole in the adjacent side wall engaged by the base 178 b of the tow ball and also through an aligned hole in the opposite side wall 178 d .
  • the holes receive the ball shank with a close fit.
  • the tow ball 164 b may be secured in place by welding of the ball base 178 b and/or distal end of the ball shank to the respective side wall of the tubular mount.
  • the ball shank 180 may be unitary with the tow ball 164 b , as by being formed from the same forging or casting, or it may be assembled to the tow ball.
  • the distal end of the ball shank 180 may be provided with a chamfer 184 to facilitate welding.
  • an intermediate portion of the ball shank 180 may be surrounded by a tubular spacer 186 positioned between the side walls through which the shank extends.
  • the spacer preferably has an axial length corresponding to the spacing between the inner surfaces of the side wall to provide a close fit that serves to further rigidify the tubular mount and provide further resistance to collapse of the tubular mount under high loads.
  • the ball shank 180 may have a threaded portion 188 extending beyond the opposite side wall and a nut 190 threaded thereon and tightened against the opposite side wall to hold the tow ball to the tubular mount.
  • the ball shank 180 may be surrounded by a tubular spacer 186 positioned between the side walls through which the shank extends.
  • the spacer preferably has an axial length corresponding to the spacing between the inner surfaces of the side wall to provide a close fit that serves to further rigidify the tubular mount and provide further resistance to collapse of the tubular mount under high loads. The spacer also resists crushing of the tubular mount if a high torque is applied to the nut 190 .
  • a lock nut 192 may be threaded on the threaded end of the shank.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Mutual Connection Of Rods And Tubes (AREA)
  • Pens And Brushes (AREA)
US12/186,788 2007-08-06 2008-08-06 Tow hitch Abandoned US20090039619A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/186,788 US20090039619A1 (en) 2007-08-06 2008-08-06 Tow hitch
US13/080,122 US8684389B2 (en) 2007-08-06 2011-04-05 Tow hitch

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US95421707P 2007-08-06 2007-08-06
US12/186,788 US20090039619A1 (en) 2007-08-06 2008-08-06 Tow hitch

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/080,122 Continuation US8684389B2 (en) 2007-08-06 2011-04-05 Tow hitch

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20090039619A1 true US20090039619A1 (en) 2009-02-12

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US12/186,788 Abandoned US20090039619A1 (en) 2007-08-06 2008-08-06 Tow hitch
US13/080,122 Active US8684389B2 (en) 2007-08-06 2011-04-05 Tow hitch

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/080,122 Active US8684389B2 (en) 2007-08-06 2011-04-05 Tow hitch

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CA (1) CA2638463C (fr)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110221167A1 (en) * 2010-03-13 2011-09-15 Merten David J Hitch
ITMO20110134A1 (it) * 2011-05-26 2012-11-27 Cbm Spa Dispositivo perfezionato di traino, particolarmente per rimorchi, attrezzi e macchine in genere.
US8366133B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2013-02-05 Terry Brinkley Switch hitch
EP2556974A1 (fr) * 2011-08-10 2013-02-13 Pommier Agencement d'attelage pour véhicule tracteur, comprenant un corps de crochet de réception d'un organe d'attelage d'un véhicule mené
US9308789B2 (en) 2011-10-11 2016-04-12 Cequent Consumer Products Hitch ball mount and method of forming the hitch ball mount
US9796229B2 (en) * 2013-11-01 2017-10-24 Guoji Yuan Single armed trailer coupler locking device
USD834464S1 (en) * 2017-09-21 2018-11-27 Joshua Cincunegui Hitch with selective tow ball
USD856859S1 (en) * 2017-08-21 2019-08-20 Horizon Global Americas Inc. Hitch pin
USD867228S1 (en) 2012-06-22 2019-11-19 Horizon Global Americas Inc. Hitch ball mount
USD934642S1 (en) * 2020-02-29 2021-11-02 Joseph John Dombrowski Caulk plug
USD967740S1 (en) * 2020-09-22 2022-10-25 Winston Products Llc Coupler lock

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2685712A1 (fr) * 2008-11-10 2010-05-10 Cequent Towing Products Ensemble de boule d'attache
US9637362B2 (en) * 2013-06-26 2017-05-02 Larin Corporation Jack for lifting small utility vehicles
US9457631B1 (en) 2015-08-20 2016-10-04 Tractor Supply Company Multi-use adjustable trailer hitch
US10391825B2 (en) 2016-09-21 2019-08-27 Joshua Cincunegui Hitch with selective tow ball
US20190275850A1 (en) * 2018-03-09 2019-09-12 Erick Pucheu Towing kit having a multi-hitch
US20230264528A1 (en) * 2022-02-23 2023-08-24 James Nagy Trailer hitch

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US3473826A (en) * 1967-11-07 1969-10-21 Big Boy Products Inc Drawbar and ball assembly
US3679234A (en) * 1969-09-17 1972-07-25 Frank Colliau Reflective plastic coated trailer hitch ball
US3801134A (en) * 1972-07-26 1974-04-02 D Dees Multi-hitch element tow hitch construction
US3922006A (en) * 1974-10-15 1975-11-25 Alfred Richard Borges Selectable and height adjustable hitch
US3963264A (en) * 1974-01-23 1976-06-15 Dennis Llewellyn Richard Down Dual purpose trailer towing attachment
US4060331A (en) * 1975-05-28 1977-11-29 Societe Paulstra Spherical couplings for vehicle towing or kindred purposes
US4232877A (en) * 1979-04-11 1980-11-11 Milton Russell E Dual ball towing hitch
US4248450A (en) * 1979-03-05 1981-02-03 Mcwethy Wesley I Vehicle towing hitch having readily selectable tow balls
US4280713A (en) * 1979-03-15 1981-07-28 Lbf Properties, Inc. Trailer hitch
US4697818A (en) * 1984-06-22 1987-10-06 Moore Gary W Quick change towing hitch
USD356764S (en) * 1993-07-12 1995-03-28 Thixton Jr William F Trailer coupler
US5725229A (en) * 1996-08-29 1998-03-10 Mcwethy; Wesley I. Tow hitch apparatus
US5839744A (en) * 1996-06-07 1998-11-24 Marks; Thomas V. Vehicle towing hitch
US6956468B2 (en) * 2003-05-09 2005-10-18 General Motors Corporation Sensing mechanism for hitch articulation angle
US7044494B1 (en) * 2005-02-22 2006-05-16 Buyers Products Company Tow-hitch apparatus
US7156412B2 (en) * 2002-11-27 2007-01-02 Andersen Manufacturing, Inc. Systems and methods for providing an aluminum bar for towing
US7347440B2 (en) * 2005-06-25 2008-03-25 Glenn Russell Shannon Trailer hitch having multiple hitch balls
US7478821B2 (en) * 2005-03-15 2009-01-20 Dean Konsela Pintle hitch adaptor for drawbar or DMI bumper
US7637525B2 (en) * 2007-06-21 2009-12-29 Cbr Design And Machine, Llc Drawbar hitch accessory
US7661694B2 (en) * 2003-08-18 2010-02-16 Cequent Towing Products, Inc. Towing assembly

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US356764A (en) * 1887-02-01 Machines

Patent Citations (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3473826A (en) * 1967-11-07 1969-10-21 Big Boy Products Inc Drawbar and ball assembly
US3679234A (en) * 1969-09-17 1972-07-25 Frank Colliau Reflective plastic coated trailer hitch ball
US3801134A (en) * 1972-07-26 1974-04-02 D Dees Multi-hitch element tow hitch construction
US3963264A (en) * 1974-01-23 1976-06-15 Dennis Llewellyn Richard Down Dual purpose trailer towing attachment
US3922006A (en) * 1974-10-15 1975-11-25 Alfred Richard Borges Selectable and height adjustable hitch
US4060331A (en) * 1975-05-28 1977-11-29 Societe Paulstra Spherical couplings for vehicle towing or kindred purposes
US4248450A (en) * 1979-03-05 1981-02-03 Mcwethy Wesley I Vehicle towing hitch having readily selectable tow balls
US4280713A (en) * 1979-03-15 1981-07-28 Lbf Properties, Inc. Trailer hitch
US4232877A (en) * 1979-04-11 1980-11-11 Milton Russell E Dual ball towing hitch
US4697818A (en) * 1984-06-22 1987-10-06 Moore Gary W Quick change towing hitch
USD356764S (en) * 1993-07-12 1995-03-28 Thixton Jr William F Trailer coupler
US5839744A (en) * 1996-06-07 1998-11-24 Marks; Thomas V. Vehicle towing hitch
US5725229A (en) * 1996-08-29 1998-03-10 Mcwethy; Wesley I. Tow hitch apparatus
US7156412B2 (en) * 2002-11-27 2007-01-02 Andersen Manufacturing, Inc. Systems and methods for providing an aluminum bar for towing
US6956468B2 (en) * 2003-05-09 2005-10-18 General Motors Corporation Sensing mechanism for hitch articulation angle
US7661694B2 (en) * 2003-08-18 2010-02-16 Cequent Towing Products, Inc. Towing assembly
US7044494B1 (en) * 2005-02-22 2006-05-16 Buyers Products Company Tow-hitch apparatus
US7478821B2 (en) * 2005-03-15 2009-01-20 Dean Konsela Pintle hitch adaptor for drawbar or DMI bumper
US7347440B2 (en) * 2005-06-25 2008-03-25 Glenn Russell Shannon Trailer hitch having multiple hitch balls
US7637525B2 (en) * 2007-06-21 2009-12-29 Cbr Design And Machine, Llc Drawbar hitch accessory

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110221167A1 (en) * 2010-03-13 2011-09-15 Merten David J Hitch
US8636297B2 (en) * 2010-03-13 2014-01-28 M Group, Inc. Hitch
US8366133B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2013-02-05 Terry Brinkley Switch hitch
EP2527168A1 (fr) * 2011-05-26 2012-11-28 Cbm - S.P.A. Dispositif de remorquage en particulier pour des remorques, équipement et machines en général
ITMO20110134A1 (it) * 2011-05-26 2012-11-27 Cbm Spa Dispositivo perfezionato di traino, particolarmente per rimorchi, attrezzi e macchine in genere.
EP2556974A1 (fr) * 2011-08-10 2013-02-13 Pommier Agencement d'attelage pour véhicule tracteur, comprenant un corps de crochet de réception d'un organe d'attelage d'un véhicule mené
FR2978940A1 (fr) * 2011-08-10 2013-02-15 Pommier Agencement d'attelage pour vehicule tracteur, comprenant un corps de crochet de reception d'un organe d'attelage d'un vehicule mene
US9308789B2 (en) 2011-10-11 2016-04-12 Cequent Consumer Products Hitch ball mount and method of forming the hitch ball mount
US10106001B2 (en) 2011-10-11 2018-10-23 Horizon Global Americas Inc. Hitch ball mount and method of forming the hitch ball mount
USD867228S1 (en) 2012-06-22 2019-11-19 Horizon Global Americas Inc. Hitch ball mount
US9796229B2 (en) * 2013-11-01 2017-10-24 Guoji Yuan Single armed trailer coupler locking device
USD856859S1 (en) * 2017-08-21 2019-08-20 Horizon Global Americas Inc. Hitch pin
USD834464S1 (en) * 2017-09-21 2018-11-27 Joshua Cincunegui Hitch with selective tow ball
USD934642S1 (en) * 2020-02-29 2021-11-02 Joseph John Dombrowski Caulk plug
USD967740S1 (en) * 2020-09-22 2022-10-25 Winston Products Llc Coupler lock

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20110181022A1 (en) 2011-07-28
US8684389B2 (en) 2014-04-01
CA2638463A1 (fr) 2009-02-06
CA2638463C (fr) 2015-11-24

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Owner name: BUYERS PRODUCTS CO., OHIO

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:GRIES, THOMAS A;REEL/FRAME:021793/0445

Effective date: 20080805

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

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