Hitch Apparatus for Vehicles

• US 20110221166A1
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teleswivel, LLC
• Original Assignee: Teleswivel, LLC
• Inventors: Williams, Thomas M. JR., Kheradpir, Kamyar, Hopper, Gregory S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,905,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/482
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/01 Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/36 for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers , visual guide means, signalling aids B60D1/465 takes precedence; vehicle signalling in general B60Q; optical arrangements specially adapted for viewing trailer-hitches B60R1/003

Abstract

A hitch apparatus includes a housing and a tow bar movably disposed within the housing. The housing includes spaced-apart first and second sections. At least one of the sections includes an elongated slot. The tow bar includes a guide member that extends outwardly from the tow bar at the proximal end thereof and that is operably engaged with the slot. The housing may include a pair of tow bar guide doors pivotally secured between the first and second sections that limit the extent which the tow bar pivots and that guide the tow bar as it is retracted. The housing may include a pair of guide posts extending between the first and second sections and the tow bar may include a pair of guide wings that contact the guide posts to limit the extent to which the tow bar can pivot and guide the tow bar as it is retracted.

Claims

1. A hitch apparatus, comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to a vehicle, wherein the housing comprises spaced-apart first and second sections that define a cavity, wherein the first section has an elongated slot formed therethrough; and

a tow bar movably disposed within the housing cavity, wherein the tow bar is movable relative to the housing between retracted and extended positions, and is pivotable relative to the housing when in an extended position, wherein a guide member extends outwardly from a proximal end of the tow bar and is operably engaged with the slot in the first section.

2. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide member comprises a roller configured to rotate as the tow bar is extended and retracted.

3. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a pair of tow bar guide doors pivotally secured between the first and second sections that are movable between closed and open positions, wherein the tow bar guide doors are configured to limit the extent to which the tow bar can pivot and allow the tow bar to pivot in a fully retracted position.

4. The hitch apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tow bar guide doors allow the extent to which the tow bar can pivot.

5. The hitch apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a biasing element configured to urge each tow bar guide door to a closed position.

6. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a pair of guide posts extending between the first and second sections to form a restricted opening through which the tow bar extends, wherein the tow bar comprises a pair of tow bar guide wings, each extending outwardly from an opposite side portion of the tow bar, wherein each tow bar guide wing is configured to engage a respective post such that an extent to which the tow bar can pivot relative to the housing progressively increases as the tow bar is progressively extended.

7. The towing apparatus of claim 6, wherein each tow bar guide wing comprises an outwardly diverging curvilinear edge portion that cooperates with a respective guide post when the tow bar is pivoted.

8. The towing apparatus of claim 6, wherein each guide post comprises a bearing surface that engages a respective tow bar guide wing edge portion.

9. The towing apparatus of claim 6, wherein each guide post comprises a bearing that engages a respective tow bar guide wing edge portion.

10. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second sections are plate members.

11. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bearing member attached to an interior side of the first section in face-to-face contacting relationship therewith, wherein the bearing member has an elongated slot formed therethrough that is aligned with the first section elongated slot.

12. The hitch apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tow bar is in contacting relationship with the bearing member as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

13. The hitch apparatus of claim 11, wherein the bearing member comprises material having a coefficient of friction less than about 0.5.

14. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a coating of bearing material applied to an interior side of the first section, and wherein the tow bar is in contacting relationship with the bearing material as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

15. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bearing member attached to the tow bar, wherein the bearing member is in contacting relationship with one of the first and second housing sections as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

16. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tow bar comprises a coating of bearing material, wherein the bearing material is in contacting relationship with one of the first and second housing sections as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

17. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the tow bar is encased within a sleeve of bearing material, wherein the sleeve of bearing material is in contacting relationship with the first and second housing sections as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

18. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the tow bar is configured to removably receive a coupling apparatus.

19. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the tow bar comprises a coupling apparatus integrally formed therewith.

20. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism operably secured to the housing that releasably engages the tow bar to maintain the tow bar in a retracted position.

21. The hitch apparatus of claim 20, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking member configured to block movement of the guide member when the tow bar is in a fully retracted position.

22. The hitch apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a biasing member configured to urge the tow bar to an extended position when the locking mechanism is disengaged from the tow bar.

23. The hitch apparatus of claim 20, wherein the housing comprises opposite front and rear portions, and wherein the locking mechanism is operably secured to the housing rear portion.

24. The hitch apparatus of claim 23, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:

a latching member rotatably mounted to the housing, the latching member including a recess open to receive a rod secured to the tow bar adjacent the proximal end thereof, wherein the latching member rotates from an open rod receiving position to a closed rod retaining position holding the tow bar in the retracted position; and

a handle operably connected to the latching member, wherein the handle, in response to user activation thereof, rotates the latching member to the open position and releases the rod.

25. The hitch apparatus of claim 24, wherein the guide member is secured to a distal end of the rod.

26. A hitch apparatus, comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to a vehicle, wherein the housing comprises spaced-apart first and second sections that define a cavity, wherein the first and second sections each have an elongated slot formed therethrough; and

a tow bar movably disposed within the housing cavity, wherein the tow bar is movable relative to the housing between retracted and extended positions, and is pivotable relative to the housing when in an extended position, wherein a pair of guide members extend outwardly from respective opposite sides of the tow bar at a proximal end of the tow bar, wherein each guide member is operably engaged with the slot in a respective one of the first and second sections.

27. The hitch apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first and second guide members comprise rollers configured to rotate as the tow bar is extended and retracted.

28. The hitch apparatus of claim 26, wherein the housing includes a pair of tow bar guide doors pivotally secured between the first and second sections that are movable between closed and open positions, wherein the tow bar guide doors are configured to limit the extent to which the tow bar can pivot.

29. The hitch apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a biasing element configured to urge each tow bar guide door to a closed position.

30. The hitch apparatus of claim 26, wherein the housing comprises a pair of guide posts extending between the first and second sections to form a restricted opening through which the tow bar extends, wherein the tow bar comprises a pair of tow bar guide wings, each extending outwardly from an opposite side portion of the tow bar, wherein each tow bar guide wing is configured to engage a respective post such that an extent to which the tow bar can pivot relative to the housing progressively increases as the tow bar is progressively extended.

31. The towing apparatus of claim 30, wherein each tow bar guide wing comprises an outwardly diverging curvilinear edge portion that cooperates with a respective guide post when the tow bar is pivoted.

32. The towing apparatus of claim 30, wherein each guide post comprises a bearing surface that engages a respective tow bar guide wing edge portion.

33. The towing apparatus of claim 30, wherein each guide post comprises a bearing that engages a respective tow bar guide wing edge portion.

34. The hitch apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first and second sections are plate members.

35. The hitch apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a first bearing member attached to an interior side of the first section, and a second bearing member attached to an interior side of the second section, wherein each bearing member has an elongated slot formed therethrough that is aligned with a respective elongated slot in one of the first and second sections.

36. The hitch apparatus of claim 35, wherein the tow bar is in contacting relationship with the first and second bearing members as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

37. The hitch apparatus of claim 35, wherein each bearing member comprises material having a coefficient of friction less than about 0.5.

38. The hitch apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a coating of bearing material applied to an interior side of the first section, and wherein the tow bar is in contacting relationship with the bearing material as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

39. The hitch apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a bearing member attached to the tow bar, wherein the bearing member is in contacting relationship with one of the first and second housing sections as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

40. The hitch apparatus of claim 26, wherein the tow bar comprises a coating of bearing material, wherein the bearing material is in contacting relationship with one of the first and second housing sections as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

41. The hitch apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least a portion of the tow bar is encased within a sleeve of bearing material, wherein the sleeve of bearing material is in contacting relationship with the first and second housing sections as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

42. The hitch apparatus of claim 26, wherein a distal end of the tow bar is configured to removably receive a coupling apparatus.

43. The hitch apparatus of claim 26, wherein a distal end of the tow bar comprises a coupling apparatus integrally formed therewith.

44. The hitch apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a locking mechanism operably secured to the housing that releasably engages the tow bar to maintain the tow bar in a retracted position.

45. The hitch apparatus of claim 44, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking member configured to block movement of one of the guide members when the tow bar is in a fully retracted position.

46. The hitch apparatus of claim 44, further comprising a biasing member configured to urge the tow bar to an extended position when the locking mechanism is disengaged from the tow bar.

47. The hitch apparatus of claim 44, wherein the housing comprises opposite front and rear portions, and wherein the locking mechanism is operably secured to the housing rear portion.

48. The hitch apparatus of claim 47, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:

a latching member rotatably mounted to the housing, the latching member including a recess open to receive a rod secured to the tow bar adjacent the proximal end thereof, wherein the latching member rotates from an open rod receiving position to a closed rod retaining position holding the tow bar in the retracted position; and

a handle operably connected to the latching member, wherein the handle, in response to user activation thereof, rotates the latching member to the open position and releases the rod.

49. The hitch apparatus of claim 48, wherein each guide member is secured to a respective end portion of the rod.

50. The hitch apparatus of claim 44, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to urge the tow bar to an extended position when the locking member is disengaged from the tow bar.

51. A hitch apparatus, comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to a vehicle, wherein the housing comprises spaced-apart first and second sections that define a cavity, and a pair of side walls sandwiched between the first and second sections in spaced-apart relationship, wherein each side wall has an elongated slot formed therethrough; and

a tow bar movably disposed within the housing cavity, wherein the tow bar is movable relative to the housing between retracted and extended positions, and is pivotable relative to the housing, wherein a guide member extends outwardly from a proximal end of the tow bar and is operably engaged with the slots in the side walls to limit an extent to which the tow bar can be extended.