Universal hitch and receiver assembly

• US 6,874,804 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TB&B Partners
• Original Assignee: TB&B Partners
• Inventors: Reed, Robert R., Reese, Timothy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/219,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 280/511, 280/415.1, 280/416.1, 280/491.2, 280/491.5, 280/163, 280/164.1, 224/519, 224/520, 224/521
• US Class Current: 280/477
• 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 1/363 Hitch guiding or catching elements, e.g. V-shaped plates partially surrounding a coupling member for guiding the other coupling member
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/52 removably mounted B60D1/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/58 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/06 at vehicle front or rear rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041

Abstract

According to the present invention, a hitch and receiver system provides at least an additional vertical box receiver when a conventional box receiver of the vehicle hitch is in use to provide draw bar support for the hitch ball. In a second embodiment, an additional horizontal box receiver is also provided for the hitch and receiver system. The additional box receivers are used to hold and support various accessory devices. In some cases the hitch ball can be used to tow a trailer without removal of the accessory device. The unique accessory device of this invention includes one of a hitch guide accessory device, an access platform and step accessory device, and a cargo cage accessory device. The combination of a hitch and receiver “system” and an accessory device provides the “assembly” of this invention.

Claims

1. A combination hitch and receiver system and assembly connected to a box receiver of a vehicle hitch for towing a trailer with a hitch ball, said hitch and receiver system comprising:

a main horizontal tongue member having a size and shape to be placed into and held by the box receiver of the vehicle hitch;

an elongated vertical box receiver, affixed to said main tongue member, having a tubular shape, a center aperture and multiple spaced apart transverse aperture pairs;

a ball support member affixed to said elongated vertical box receiver for receiving and supporting the hitch ball for towing the trailer, wherein said main horizontal tongue member, said vertical box receiver and said ball support member are made as a single unit to include the ball hitch; and

an elongated horizontal box receiver affixed below said main tongue member in addition to said elongated vertical box receiver as a unit, said horizontal box receiver also having a tubular shape, a center aperture and transverse aperture pairs so that said vertical and horizontal box receivers are both available at the rear of the vehicle to receive an accessory device without removal of the hitch ball.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said accessory device has an accessory tongue member to be removably placed in said center aperture of one of said elongated vertical box receiver and said elongated horizontal box receiver to provide the assembly, wherein a respective box receiver envelops said accessory tongue member and said accessory tongue member supports and holds said accessory device in a generally stationary position relative to the vehicle hitch at the rear of the vehicle and wherein said accessory device can be removed prior to towing the trailer with the hitch ball.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said accessory device is a hitch guide accessory device having a single vertical tongue member with spaced apart transverse apertures and a pair of guide plates with stop plates for providing alignment assistance in connecting the hitch ball with the trailer.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said accessory device is an access platform and step having a vertical tongue member for placement in said vertical box receiver for supporting said access platform and step to provide assistance in accessing both exterior and interior areas of the vehicle.

5. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said accessory device is a cargo cage device having an elongated horizontal tongue member, for placement in said horizontal box receiver, vertical wall panels and a bottom panel for receiving and transporting cargo from place to place without the need for removing said hitch ball.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said cargo cage device includes a framework supporting wire mesh to form said vertical wall panels.

7. The assembly of claim 6 including a retainer pin and spaced apart apertures in said horizontal tongue of said cargo cage device to be aligned with said transverse aperture pairs of said horizontal box receiver, wherein said retainer pin is placed through both said transverse aperture pairs of said horizontal box receiver and corresponding said aperture of said horizontal tongue to support and hold said cargo cage device attached to said horizontal box receiver so that said cargo cage placement of said retainer pin can be adjusted to gain access to the rear of the vehicle.

8. The assembly of claim 2 wherein one of either said horizontal or said vertical box receiver is used to receive said accessory tongue member of said accessory device and the other one of either said horizontal box receiver or said vertical box receiver is used to receive a stabilizer system for said accessory device.

9. A hitch and receiver assembly for a box receiver of a vehicle hitch to assist in connecting with a coupler of a trailer comprising:

a main horizontal tongue member having a size and shape to be placed into and held by the box receiver of the vehicle;

an elongated box receiver affixed to said main horizontal tongue member having a tubular shape, a center aperture and multiple transverse aperture pairs;

a ball support member affixed to said elongated box receiver for receiving and supporting a hitch ball for towing the trailer;

a hitch guide accessory device including a tongue member removably placed in said center aperture of said at least one elongated box receiver, wherein said tongue member supports and holds said hitch guide accessory device in a generally stationary position relative to the vehicle hitch and wherein said hitch guide accessory device is removed prior to towing the trailer with said hitch ball;

said box receiver is a single vertical box receiver for receiving a single vertical tongue member of said hitch guide accessory device to support and hold said hitch guide accessory device generally above said hitch ball at the rear of the vehicle; and

said hitch guide accessory device includes a pair of guide plates having vertical stop plates on the top edge for providing assistance in connecting with the trailer by directing the coupler of the trailer to be directly above the hitch ball wherein the guide plates form a width to receive the coupler much larger than the width of the coupler.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said pair of guide plates are made as a single bent plate with fiat guide plates on each side of the centrally located bent portion and include a handle attached to the top edge to help transport said hitch guide from place to place.