Hitch assembly

• US 7,857,342 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dane Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dane Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Holtan, Paul D., Wiff, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scharich; Marc A
• Application Number:
  US11/422,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20060273547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 280/416.1, 280/415.1, 280/416.2, 280/416.3, 280/417.1, 280/490.1, 280/491.1, 280/491.2, 280/491.3, 280/492, 280/511, 280/512, 280/515
• US Class Current: 280/416.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/00 Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices devices specially adapted for connection between tractors and agricultural machines or implements A01B59/00; fifth-wheel couplings B62D
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/01 Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
• 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 1/143 characterised by the mounting of the draw-gear on the towed vehicle B60D1/187 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1404 Means for facilitating stowing or transporting of the trolleys; Antitheft arrangements B62B5/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0006 Bumpers; Safety devices

Abstract

The present invention is a hitch assembly for coupling a powered cart mover to a cart, wherein the cart has one of three different types of hitching elements. The hitch assembly comprises a mount and a foot. The mount secures the assembly to the mover and includes a vertically adjustable portion biased in an upward position via a biasing element. The foot is pivotally coupled to the vertically adjustable portion and includes first, second and third attachment features. Each attachment feature is configured to receive one of the three different types of hitching elements.

Claims

1. A hitch assembly for coupling a powered cart mover to a cart, wherein the cart has one of several different types of hitching elements, the assembly comprising:

a mount for securing the assembly to the mover; and

a generally planar foot operably coupled to the mount and including a heel end and a toe end defining a longitudinal axis thereof, the foot having first, second and third attachment features, the first attachment feature including a first hole extending through the foot with a plurality of diverging slots extending therefrom, the second attachment feature including a second hole extending through the foot, and the third attachment feature including a groove extending generally laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the foot, wherein each attachment feature is configured to receive at least one of said different types of hitching elements.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mount includes a vertically adjustable portion biasing the foot in an upward position via a biasing element.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the foot is pivotally coupled to the mount via the vertically adjustable portion.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first hole has a diameter larger than a diameter of the second hole.

5. The assembly of claim 1 or 4, wherein the groove is defined by first and second opposed faces.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the first and second opposed faces are each bars.

7. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the first opposed face is a bar and the second opposed face is a plurality of spaced apart pins positioned along a line that is generally parallel to the bar.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mount includes a receptacle for pivotally receiving a hitch bar.

9. A hitch assembly for coupling a powered cart mover to a cart, wherein the cart has one of a variety of different types of hitch features, the assembly comprising:

a mount for securing the assembly to the mover; and

a foot operably coupled to the mount and including a heel end and a toe end defining a longitudinal axis thereof, the foot further comprising;

a first member positioned on the foot and adapted to receive at least a first type of hitch feature; and

a second member positioned on the foot and adapted to receive at least a second type of hitch feature different from the first type of hitch feature, wherein, the first member includes a first hole extending through the foot with a plurality of diverging slots extending therefrom, the first hole being positioned adjacent the toe end of the foot.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the first type of hitch feature includes a pin extending from a cart.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the first type of hitch feature further includes members radially extending from the pin.

12. The assembly as in any of claim 9, 10 or 11, in which the second type of hitch feature includes an elongated bar coupled to a cart.

13. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a third member adapted to receive a third type of hitch feature.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the second member includes a second hole different from the first hole, and the third member includes first and second opposed faces.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the first and second opposed faces are each bars.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the first opposed face is a bar and the second opposed face is a plurality of spaced apart pins positioned along a line that is generally parallel to the bar.

17. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the second member includes first and second opposed faces.

18. The assembly of claim 17, further comprising a third member positioned on the foot and adapted to receive at least a third type of hitch feature different from the first and second types of hitch features.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the third member includes a second hole.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the first hole has a diameter larger than a diameter of the second hole.

21. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the second member further comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending sidewalls positioned on the foot and the first and second opposed faces define a groove extending generally laterally relative to the longitudinal axis and through the sidewalls, the second member being positioned toward the heel end of the foot relative to the first member.

22. A hitch assembly for coupling a powered cart mover to a cart, wherein the cart has one of a variety of different types of hitch features, the assembly comprising:

a first member adapted to receive a first type of hitch feature; and

a second member adapted to receive a second type of hitch feature different from the first type of hitch feature, wherein;

the second member includes first and second opposed faces; and

the first opposed face is a bar and the second opposed face is a plurality of spaced apart pins positioned along a line that is generally parallel to the bar.