Receiver pin locking device

• US 9,616,723 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Horizon Global Americas Inc. (Horizon Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cequent Performance Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Okerlund, Kawa-She-Quoen
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Craciun, Gabriela C
• Application Number:
  US14/523,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20160114639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/52 removably mounted B60D1/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/60 Covers, caps or guards , e.g. comprising anti-theft devices

Abstract

A receiver pin lock for insertion into first and second sized opposed engaging apertures of first and second hitch receivers is shown and described. The receiver pin lock may include a stem, a first stepped portion extend from the stem, and a lock member selectively engageable with the stem, the lock member preventing removal of stem from either of the first and second hitch receivers. The receiver pin lock may also include a second stepped portion positioned on the lock member and extending from the stem, where the stem is configured to operatively engage the first sized engaging apertures of the first hitch receiver and the first and second stepped portions are configured to operatively engage the second sized engaging apertures of the second hitch receiver.

Claims

1. A receiver pin lock for insertion into first and second sized opposed engaging apertures of first and second hitch receivers, the receiver pin lock comprising:

a stem having a stem diameter;

a first stepped portion extending from the stem, the first stepped portion having a diameter different from the stem diameter;

a lock member selectively engageable with the stem, the lock member preventing removal of stem from either of the first and second hitch receivers; and

a second stepped portion positioned on the lock member and extending from the stem, wherein the stem operatively engages the first sized engaging apertures of the first hitch receiver and the first and second stepped portions operatively engage the second sized engaging apertures of the second hitch receiver.

2. The receiver pin lock of claim 1, wherein the stem extends a stem distance whereby the stem distance is substantially equivalent a distance between the first opposed engaging apertures of the first hitch receiver.

3. The receiver pin lock of claim 1, wherein the stem and first and second stepped portions extend a stepped distance whereby the stepped distance is substantially equivalent a distance between the second opposed engaging apertures of the second hitch receiver.

4. The receiver pin lock of claim 1, further comprising a stop portion attached with the first stepped portion, wherein the stop portion has a larger diameter than the first stepped portion.

5. The receiver pin lock of claim 4, wherein the lock member and stop portion prevent withdrawal of the stem from either of the first and second hitch receiver.

6. The receiver pin lock of claim 1, wherein the diameters of the first and second stepped portion are substantially equivalent.

7. The receiver pin lock of claim 6, wherein the diameters are about ⅝

of an inch.

8. The receiver pin lock of claim 7, wherein the stem diameter is about ½

of an inch.

9. A receiver pin lock for insertion into first and second sized opposed engaging apertures of first and second hitch receivers, the receiver pin lock comprising:

a stem having a stem diameter and having first and second end portions;

first and second stepped portions extending from the stem, the first and second stepped portions having stepped diameters, wherein the first stepped portion extends from the first end portion and the second stepped portion extends from the second end portion and the stem diameter is less than the stepped diameters; and

wherein the stem is configured to operatively engage the first sized engaging apertures of the first hitch receiver whereby the stem diameter is substantially similar size of the first sized engaging aperture;

wherein the first and second stepped portions are configured to operatively engage the second sized engaging apertures of the second hitch receiver whereby the stepped diameters are substantially similar size of the second sized engaging aperture.

10. The receiver pin lock of claim 9, wherein the stem includes a stem length whereby the stem length is substantially equivalent a first distance between the first opposed engaging apertures.

11. The receiver pin lock of claim 10, wherein the stem and first and second stepped portions extend a stepped distance whereby the stepped distance is substantially equivalent a second distance between the second opposed engaging apertures.

12. The receiver pin lock of claim 11, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

13. The receiver pin lock of claim 9, further comprising a lock member selectively attached with the stem.

14. The receiver pin lock of claim 13, wherein the second stepped portion is positioned on the lock member.

15. A receiver pin lock comprising:

a shank having a first diameter and extending a first length;

first and second stepped portions extending from opposite ends of the shank, the first and second stepped portions having second and third diameters, respectively, the first and second stepped portions extending a second length, the first diameter less than the second and third diameters;

wherein the shank is insertable into and operatively engageable with a first hitch receiver having a pair of apertures spaced apart an aperture length on opposed sides, whereby the first diameter is substantially equivalent a diameter of the pair of apertures and the aperture length is substantially equivalent the first length; and

wherein the first and second stepped portions are insertable into and operatively engageable with a second hitch receiver having a pair of apertures spaced apart a second aperture length on opposed sides, whereby the second and third diameter are substantially equivalent a diameter of the pair of apertures of the second hitch receiver and the second aperture length is substantially equivalent the second length.

16. The receiver pin lock of claim 15, further comprising a lock member selectively attached to the stem, a portion of the lock member preventing withdrawal of the stem from either of the first and second hitch receivers.

17. The receiver pin lock of claim 16, wherein the second stepped portion is included on the lock member.

18. The receiver pin lock of claim 16, further comprising a stop portion attached with the first stepped portion, the stop portion generally preventing withdrawal of the stem from either of the first and second hitch receivers.

19. The receiver pin lock of claim 15, wherein the first diameter is about ½

of an inch.

20. The receiver pin lock of claim 18, wherein the second and third diameters are about ⅝

of an inch.

21. A receiver pin lock for insertion into first and second sized opposed engaging apertures of first and second hitch receivers, the receiver pin lock comprising:

a stem having first and second ends, the stem having a generally consistent diameter its entire length;

a first stepped portion extending from the first end of the stem, the first stepped portion having a diameter different from the stem;

a lock member selectively engageable with the second end of the stem, the lock member preventing removal of stem from either of the first and second hitch receivers; and

a second stepped portion positioned on the lock member and extending from the second end of the stem, the second stepped portion having a diameter generally equivalent the diameter of the first stepped portion, wherein the stem operatively engages the first sized engaging apertures of the first hitch receiver and the first and second stepped portions operatively engage the second sized engaging apertures of the second hitch receiver.