TOW HITCH ACCESSORY

• US 20110285104A1
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Couplemate Trailer Parts Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Couplemate Trailer Parts Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wotherspoon, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,393,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/164.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/007 Removable steps or ladders, e.g. foldable as access means for vehicle tops B60R3/005

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for attachment to a tow hitch comprising a step including a platform and at least one step connecting portion, a base including at least one base connecting portion and a mounting portion, the mounting portion which may be removably secured to the tow hitch, wherein the step connecting portion is removably attached to the base connecting portion.

Claims

1. A device for attachment to a tow hitch comprising:

a step including a platform and at least one step connecting portion;

a base including at least one base connecting portion and a mounting portion;

wherein the step connecting portion is removably attachable to the base connecting portion.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a base aperture is located in the mounting portion to allow passage of a tow ball screw depending from a tow ball.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the step connecting portion is a tongue extending from the platform and the base connecting portion is a slot for receiving the tongue.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein struts extend from the mounting portion and two or more crosspieces extend between the struts to form the slot for receiving the tongue.

5. The device according to claim 4, further comprising one or more stabilizing tongues extending from the platform.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein each step connecting portion is a step spigot and each base connecting portion is a base socket for receiving the step spigot.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein each base connecting portion is a base spigot and each step connecting portion is a step socket for receiving the base spigot.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the step further comprises a resilient buffer located to prevent the platform from contacting a tow ball mounted on the tow hitch.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a base locking aperture located through the base connecting portion, a step locking aperture located through the step connecting portion, and a locking pin which is removably mounted through both the base locking aperture and the step locking aperture.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion may be removably secured between the tow hitch and a tow ball.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion may be removably secured such that the tow hitch is located between the mounting portion and a tow ball.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the platform has a generally semi-circular shape.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the platform has a multiplicity of projections and/or depressions in order to provide a non-slip surface.

14. A method of providing a step over a tow hitch including the steps of:

attaching a base to the tow hitch by using a tow ball screw depending from a tow ball; and

mounting the step onto the base;

wherein the base comprises at least one base connecting portion and a mounting portion, the step comprises a platform and at least one step connecting portion, and the step connecting portion is removably attachable to the base connecting portion.

15. The method according to claim 14, further including the step of inserting a locking pin into both a base locking aperture in the base connecting portion and a step locking aperture in the step connecting portion.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step further comprises a resilient buffer located to prevent the platform from contacting a tow ball attached to the base and the tow hitch.