Weight distributing hitch assembly

• US 6,860,501 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Horizon Global Americas Inc. (Horizon Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Coquent Towing Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Weipert, Neal, Schmidt, Kenneth R., Mida, Lynn, Hoelscher, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUBY, MATTHEW D
• Application Number:
  US10/222,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20020190498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 280/455.1, 280/432, 280/405.1, 280/406.2
• US Class Current: 280/455.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/065 characterised by the hitch mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/247 for improving weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/345 the springs being of the bar or leaf type torsion bars per se F16F1/14, leaf springs per se F16F1/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/50 resiliently mounted B60D1/30 takes precedence ;B60D1/182 takes precedence; springs or dampers per se F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/665 comprising supporting wheels, e.g. dollies

Abstract

A weight distributing hitch assembly includes a shank, hitch head, spring bar and lift assembly. The lift assembly is preferably removably mountable to the frame members of a trailer frame while the spring bar extends below the frame members relative to the ground. The lift assembly mounts a hanger assembly which engages a cantilevered segment of the spring bar to drive the spring bar from a free state to a loaded state to distribute the hitch load to a towing vehicle as well as to the trailer. A lever assembly mounts the hanger assembly to the lift assembly and supplies mechanical advantage to assist a user during tensioning of the spring bar. By moving the lever assembly, the cam rotates about a pivot. As the hanger assembly is engaged with the cam, the hanger assembly is driven from a disengaged position to an engaged position which moves the spring bar from its free state to its loaded state with a minimum of user effort.

Claims

1. A weight distributing trailer hitch assembly comprising:

a hitch head capable of interconnecting a vehicle hitch and a trailer frame;

not more than one spring bar connected at its proximal end to said hitch head and extending rearwardly therefrom wherein said spring bar defines a jack accessible area whereby said spring bar does not interfere with a trailer jack connected to said trailer frame; and

a lift assembly supported by said trailer frame and capable of supporting said spring bar during engagement.

2. The weight distributing trailer hitch assembly of claim 1 wherein said jack accessible area is defined by at least a portion of said spring bar extending laterally from a preceding portion of said spring bar.

3. The weight distributing trailer hitch assembly of claim 2 wherein the laterally extending portion of said spring bar extends at an angle from the preceding portion of said spring bar.

4. The weight distributing trailer hitch assembly of claim 3 wherein the angle between the laterally extending portion of said spring bar and the preceding portion of said spring bar is obtuse.

5. A weight distributing trailer hitch assembly comprising:

a shank for connection with a vehicle hitch;

a hitch head connected to said shank, said hitch head including means for connecting to a trailer frame;

not more than one spring bar connected at its proximal end to said hitch head and extending

rearwardly therefrom wherein said spring bar defines a jack accessible area so that said spring bar does not interfere with a trailer jack connected to said trailer frame; and

a lift assembly connected to said trailer frame and capable of supporting said spring bar during engagement.

6. The hitch assembly of claim 5 wherein said hitch head is connected to said shank in a vertically adjustable manner.

7. The hitch assembly of claim 6 wherein said spring bar is removably connected to said hitch head.

8. The hitch assembly of claim 7 wherein said trailer frame comprises an A-frame having a first and a second trailer frame member.

9. The hitch assembly of claim 8 wherein a base member spans said first and second trailer frame members and said lift assembly is mounted thereon.

10. The hitch assembly of claim 9 wherein said base member is removably connected to said first frame member.

11. Not more than one spring bar for use in a weight-distributing trailer hitch assembly interconnecting a trailer frame and a trailer hitch, said not more than one spring bar comprising:

an end segment for connection to said weight-distributing trailer hitch assembly; and

a cantilever segment extending rearwardly from said end segment wherein a portion of said cantilever segment defines a jack accessible area whereby said cantilever segment does not interfere with a trailer jack connected to said trailer frame.

12. The spring bar of claim 11 wherein said jack accessible area is defined by at least a portion of said cantilever segment extending laterally from a preceding portion of said cantilever segment.

13. The spring bar of claim 12 wherein the laterally extending portion of said cantilever segment extends at an angle from the preceding portion of said cantilever segment.

14. The spring bar of claim 13 wherein the angle between the laterally extending portion of said cantilever segment and the preceding portion of said cantilever segment is obtuse.