Ball-exchange trailer hitch

• US 5,741,022 A
• Filed: 05/28/1996
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kurt L. Drewelow, Lloyd G. Wass, Michael Nelson
• Original Assignee: Kurt L. Drewelow, Lloyd G. Wass, Michael Nelson
• Inventors: Nelson, Michael, Wass, Lloyd G., Drewelow, Kurt L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boehler, Anne Marie
• Application Number:
  US08/654,011
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 280/511, 280/507, 280/504, 280/416.1, 403/131, 403/328, 411/348, 411/910, 411/237, 285/271
• US Class Current: 280/507
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/06 Ball-and-socket hitches , e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/07 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/52 removably mounted B60D1/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32704 Stud extends into ball
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/598 Transversely sliding pin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/604 Radially sliding catch

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.

Claims

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.

2. The trailer towing device of claim 1 wherein one of the locking mechanisms includes a locking pin slidable within a pin aperture through the ball, where the locking pin is movable from a first pin position where a corresponding one of the locking regions is engaged to a second pin position where the locking pin is disengaged from the corresponding locking region.

3. The trailer towing device of claim 2 wherein the corresponding locking region includes a notch that the locking pin engages for preventing removal of the post from the post aperture of the ball when the locking pin is in a first pin position and the post is in a first post position, while when in a second pin position the locking pin is removed from the notch for allowing removal of the post from the post aperture in the ball resulting in the post moving to a second post position.

4. The trailer towing device in claim 3 wherein the locking pin is spring-loaded for biasing the locking pin to the first pin position.

5. The trailer towing device in claim 1 wherein one of the locking mechanisms includes a quick connect cage and a quick connect housing, where the quick connect housing defines a housing bore and the quick connect cage is inserted at least in part into the housing bore, and wherein the one of the locking mechanisms includes a spring positioned in between a cage shoulder on the quick connect cage and a housing shoulder on the quick connect housing for biasing the one of the locking mechanisms into a first lock position where the quick connect cage is biased away from the quick connect housing.

6. The trailer towing device of claim 5 wherein the post aperture of the ball includes a groove and the one of the locking mechanisms includes a snap ring for insertion into the groove for securing the quick connect cage and quick connect housing in the post aperture in between a ball shoulder and the snap ring.

7. The trailer towing device in claim 6 wherein the quick connect cage includes a plurality of ball bearing apertures extending through the quick connect cage, with each ball bearing aperture having a ball bearing therein, and the quick connect housing including a race in the housing bore, wherein the quick connect housing is movable from the first lock position where each of the plurality of ball bearings is extendable out of its respective ball bearing aperture into a post bore to a second lock position where all of the plurality of ball bearings remain completely within its respective ball bearings aperture and the race for allowing the post to be removed from the post aperture.

8. The trailer towing device of claim 7 wherein one of the locking regions on the post includes a locking flange.

9. The trailer towing device of claim 1 wherein one of the locking mechanisms includes a threaded section in the post aperture of the ball while one of the locking regions includes a threaded post section on the post.

10. The trailer towing device in claim 1 wherein the ball further comprises a third locking mechanism including a threaded section in the post aperture of the ball while the post further comprises a second locking region including a threaded post section on the post.

11. A trailer towing device comprising:

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.

12. The trailer towing device of claim 11 wherein the locking pin is a spring-loaded locking pin.

13. The trailer towing device of claim 11 wherein the pin aperture further comprises an annular shoulder against which the locking pin is biased, and wherein the pin further comprises an annular shoulder against which the spring is compressible.

14. The trailer towing device of claim 13 further comprising a snap ring, and wherein the pin aperture includes an annular snap ring groove in which the snap ring is seated for slidably retaining at least a part of the pin therein.

15. The trailer towing device of claim 11 wherein the post-receiving aperture extends axially through the ball from the base portion to the spherical portion, and further comprises a cage lock in the post-receiving aperture for engaging the post.

16. The trailer towing device of claim 15 wherein the cage lock comprises a hollow annular sleeve and a hollow cap wherein a cage spring biases the hollow cap away from the hollow annular sleeve, the hollow annular sleeve having a plurality of radial bores wherein a plurality of ball bearings are slidably seated in the plurality of bores, and the hollow cap having an annular race therein for selectively receiving the plurality of ball bearings, and wherein the cap is operable to fit over the sleeve.

17. A trailer towing device consisting of:

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.

18. The trailer towing device in claim 17 wherein the base portion includes a pin aperture extending from an outer surface of the ball to the post-receiving aperture extending into the ball.

19. The trailer towing device in claim 18 wherein the first lock includes a locking pin slidable within the pin aperture.

20. The trailer towing device in claim 19 wherein the post includes a notch for selectively receiving the locking pin which when received prevents removal of the ball from the post.

21. The trailer towing device in claim 20 wherein the locking pin is spring-loaded for biasing the locking pin towards the notch.

22. The trailer towing device in claim 20 wherein the second lock includes a threaded outer surface on the elongated shaft, and wherein the post-receiving aperture is threaded for cooperative mating with the threaded outer surface of the elongated shaft.

23. The trailer towing device in claim 17 wherein the second lock includes a threaded outer surface on the elongated shaft.

24. The trailer towing device in claim 23 wherein the post-receiving aperture is threaded for cooperative mating with the threaded outer surface of the elongated shaft.

25. The trailer towing device in claim 17 further comprising a third lock for restricting removal of the ball from the post along the central axis of the post.

26. The trailer towing device in claim 25 wherein the third lock includes a plurality of ball bearings within a race where each of the ball bearings selectively restricts removal of the post from the post-receiving aperture within the ball.

27. The trailer towing device in claim 26 wherein the third lock includes a release button for selectively releasing the ball bearings from engagement with the post where the ball bearings are biased into said engagement.