Ball-exchange trailer hitch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A trailer towing device comprising:
- a post configured for attachment to a vehicle, the post including an integral flange for rigidly supporting the trailer towing device when secured to a vehicle, and the post having a first and a second locking region; and
a unitary ball having a post aperture for receiving the post, the ball including a spherical portion for receiving a socket on a trailer, a neck portion, and a base portion, the ball having a first and a second locking mechanism;
wherein the first locking mechanism is spring biased inward to selectively interact with the first locking region and the second locking mechanism is positioned to selectively interact with the second locking region to secure the ball to the post when the post is received by the post aperture of the ball.
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Abstract
A ball-exchange trailer hitch system having a post for receiving a ball where the ball is removable from the post for exchangeability with different size balls. The system includes at least a double locking feature between the ball and post. The double lock consists of a side pin lock and a ball and cage lock. The system may also include a third lock which includes threads on the post and the ball.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A trailer towing device comprising:
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a post configured for attachment to a vehicle, the post including an integral flange for rigidly supporting the trailer towing device when secured to a vehicle, and the post having a first and a second locking region; and a unitary ball having a post aperture for receiving the post, the ball including a spherical portion for receiving a socket on a trailer, a neck portion, and a base portion, the ball having a first and a second locking mechanism; wherein the first locking mechanism is spring biased inward to selectively interact with the first locking region and the second locking mechanism is positioned to selectively interact with the second locking region to secure the ball to the post when the post is received by the post aperture of the ball. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A trailer towing device comprising:
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a post configured for attachment to a vehicle, the post having a ball attachment shaft and a vehicle attachment shaft axially aligned, the ball attachment shaft including an inwardly extending radial notch and a threaded surface, and the post further having a flange extending transversely outward between the ball attachment shaft and the vehicle attachment shaft, wherein the flange is integral with the post and includes at least one surface for rigidly supporting the trailer towing device when secured to a vehicle; a unitary ball having a substantially spherical portion, a neck portion, and a base portion including a pin aperture extending from an outer surface of the ball to a post-receiving aperture extending into the ball from the base portion and for receiving the ball attachment shaft, the post-receiving aperture including a threaded surface for cooperative mating with the post threaded surface for securing the ball to the ball attachment shaft when the ball is threaded onto the post; and
,a locking pin slidable within the pin aperture and biased inward into selective engagement with the notch when the notch and pin aperture are aligned for selectively securing the ball to the ball attachment shaft. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A trailer towing device consisting of:
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a post configured for attachment to a vehicle, the post having an elongated shaft divided in the mid-section by a flange extending transversely outward from the shaft; a unitary ball having a substantially spherical portion, a neck portion, and a base portion including a post-receiving aperture extending into the ball from the base portion for receiving the post; a first lock restricting removal of the ball from the post along a central axis of the post; and
,a second lock restricting removal of the ball from the post along the central axis of the post. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification