Hitch apparatus for vehicles

• US 8,905,425 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teleswivel, LLC
• Original Assignee: Teleswivel, LLC
• Inventors: Williams, Thomas M. Jr., Hopper, Gregory S., Kheradpir, Kamyar
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US12/970,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20110221166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 280/478.1, 280/479.2, 280/479.3, 280/482, 280/491.1, 280/491.2, 280/499
• US Class Current: 280/479.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/01 Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/36 for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers , visual guide means, signalling aids B60D1/465 takes precedence; vehicle signalling in general B60Q; optical arrangements specially adapted for viewing trailer-hitches B60R1/003

Abstract

A hitch apparatus includes a housing and a tow bar movably disposed within the housing. The housing includes spaced-apart first and second sections. At least one of the sections includes an elongated slot. The tow bar includes a guide member that extends outwardly from the tow bar at the proximal end thereof and that is operably engaged with the slot. The housing may include a pair of tow bar guide doors pivotally secured between the first and second sections that limit the extent which the tow bar pivots and that guide the tow bar as it is retracted. The housing may include a pair of guide posts extending between the first and second sections and the tow bar may include a pair of guide wings that contact the guide posts to limit the extent to which the tow bar can pivot and guide the tow bar as it is retracted.

Claims

1. A hitch apparatus, comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to a vehicle, wherein the housing comprises opposite front and rear portions, wherein the housing comprises spaced-apart first and second sections that define a cavity, wherein the first section has an elongated slot formed therethrough, and wherein the housing comprises a pair of guide posts extending between the first and second sections to form a restricted opening;

a tow bar movably disposed within the housing cavity, wherein the tow bar is a tubular member and comprises a distal end and an open proximal end, wherein the tow bar extends through the restricted opening and is movable relative to the housing between retracted and extended positions, and is pivotable relative to the housing when in an extended position, wherein a rod extends through the tow bar adjacent the tow bar proximal end, wherein a guide member is secured to a distal end of the rod and extends outwardly from the tow bar and is operably engaged with the slot in the first section, and wherein the tow bar comprises a pair of tow bar guide wings at a medial portion thereof, each extending outwardly from an opposite side portion of the tow bar, wherein each tow bar guide wing is configured to engage a respective post such that an extent to which the tow bar can pivot relative to the housing progressively increases as the tow bar is progressively extended; and

a locking mechanism operably secured to the housing rear portion that releasably engages the tow bar to maintain the tow bar in a retracted position, wherein the locking mechanism comprises;

a latching member rotatably mounted to the housing, wherein the latching member is configured to extend into the tow bar open proximal end and rotate from an open rod receiving position to a closed rod retaining position holding the tow bar in the retracted position; and

a handle operably connected to the latching member, wherein the handle, in response to user activation thereof, rotates the latching member to the open rod receiving position and releases the rod.

2. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide member comprises a roller configured to rotate as the tow bar is extended and retracted.

3. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein each guide post comprises an enlarged portion configured to contact a respective tow bar guide wing, wherein the enlarged portion comprises a bearing material.

4. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein each tow bar guide wing comprises an outwardly diverging curvilinear edge portion that cooperates with a respective guide post when the tow bar is pivoted.

5. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein each guide post comprises a bearing surface that engages a respective tow bar guide wing edge portion.

6. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein each guide post comprises a bearing that engages a respective tow bar guide wing edge portion.

7. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second sections are plate members.

8. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bearing member attached to an interior side of the first section in face-to-face contacting relationship therewith, wherein the bearing member has an elongated slot formed therethrough that is aligned with the first section elongated slot.

9. The hitch apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tow bar is in contacting relationship with the bearing member as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

10. The hitch apparatus of claim 8, wherein the bearing member comprises material having a coefficient of friction less than 0.5.

11. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a coating of bearing material applied to an interior side of the first section, and wherein the tow bar is in contacting relationship with the bearing material as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

12. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bearing member attached to the tow bar, wherein the bearing member is in contacting relationship with one of the first and second housing sections as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

13. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tow bar comprises a coating of bearing material, wherein the bearing material is in contacting relationship with one of the first and second housing sections as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

14. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the tow bar is encased within a sleeve of bearing material, wherein the sleeve of bearing material is in contacting relationship with the first and second housing sections as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

15. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the tow bar is configured to removably receive a coupling apparatus.

16. The hitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the tow bar comprises a coupling apparatus integrally formed therewith.

17. A hitch apparatus, comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to a vehicle, wherein the housing comprises opposite front and rear portions, wherein the housing comprises spaced-apart first and second sections that define a cavity, wherein the first and second sections each have an elongated slot formed therethrough, and wherein the housing comprises a pair of guide posts extending between the first and second sections to form a restricted opening;

a tow bar movably disposed within the housing cavity, wherein the tow bar is a tubular member and comprises a distal end and an open proximal end, wherein the tow bar extends through the restricted opening and is movable relative to the housing between retracted and extended positions, and is pivotable relative to the housing when in an extended position, wherein a rod extends through the tow bar adjacent the tow bar proximal end, the rod having opposite ends, wherein a pair of guide members extend outwardly from respective opposite sides of the tow bar, each guide member secured to a respective end of the rod, wherein each guide member is operably engaged with the slot in a respective one of the first and second sections, and wherein the tow bar comprises a pair of tow bar guide wings at a medial portion thereof, each extending outwardly from an opposite side portion of the tow bar, wherein each tow bar guide wing is configured to engage a respective post such that an extent to which the tow bar can pivot relative to the housing progressively increases as the tow bar is progressively extended; and

a locking mechanism operably secured to the housing rear portion that releasably engages the tow bar to maintain the tow bar in a retracted position, wherein the locking mechanism comprises;

a latching member rotatably mounted to the housing, wherein the latching member is configured to extend into the tow bar open proximal end and rotate from an open rod receiving position to a closed rod retaining position holding the tow bar in the retracted position; and

a handle operably connected to the latching member, wherein the handle, in response to user activation thereof, rotates the latching member to the open rod receiving position and releases the rod.

18. The hitch apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first and second guide members comprise rollers configured to rotate as the tow bar is extended and retracted.

19. The hitch apparatus of claim 17, wherein each guide post comprises an enlarged portion configured to contact a respective tow bar guide wing, wherein the enlarged portion comprises a bearing material.

20. The hitch apparatus of claim 17, wherein each tow bar guide wing comprises an outwardly diverging curvilinear edge portion that cooperates with a respective guide post when the tow bar is pivoted.

21. The hitch apparatus of claim 17, wherein each guide post comprises a bearing surface that engages a respective tow bar guide wing edge portion.

22. The hitch apparatus of claim 17, wherein each guide post comprises a bearing that engages a respective tow bar guide wing edge portion.

23. The hitch apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first and second sections are plate members.

24. The hitch apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a first bearing member attached to an interior side of the first section, and a second bearing member attached to an interior side of the second section, wherein each bearing member has an elongated slot formed therethrough that is aligned with a respective elongated slot in one of the first and second sections.

25. The hitch apparatus of claim 24, wherein the tow bar is in contacting relationship with the first and second bearing members as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

26. The hitch apparatus of claim 24, wherein each bearing member comprises material having a coefficient of friction less than 0.5.

27. The hitch apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a coating of bearing material applied to an interior side of the first section, and wherein the tow bar is in contacting relationship with the bearing material as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

28. The hitch apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a bearing member attached to the tow bar, wherein the bearing member is in contacting relationship with one of the first and second housing sections as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

29. The hitch apparatus of claim 17, wherein the tow bar comprises a coating of bearing material, wherein the bearing material is in contacting relationship with one of the first and second housing sections as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

30. The hitch apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the tow bar is encased within a sleeve of bearing material, wherein the sleeve of bearing material is in contacting relationship with the first and second housing sections as the tow bar is moved between retracted and extended positions.

31. The hitch apparatus of claim 17, wherein the distal end of the tow bar is configured to removably receive a coupling apparatus.

32. The hitch apparatus of claim 17, wherein the distal end of the tow bar comprises a coupling apparatus integrally formed therewith.