U.S. patent application number 11/161166 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-27 for securing device for receiver hitch assemblies.
This patent application is currently assigned to LET'S GO AERO, INC.. Invention is credited to Williams, Marty.
Application Number | 20050236811 11/161166 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24688818 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050236811 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Williams, Marty |
October 27, 2005 |
SECURING DEVICE FOR RECEIVER HITCH ASSEMBLIES
Abstract
A spring nut assembly is inserted within the internal cavity of
a shank tube until the nut is aligned with opposing side holes in
the side walls of the shank tube. The spring maintains the nut in
alignment with the opposing side walls. A hitch pin including a
threaded portion for engaging the spring nut assembly is inserted
through the side holes of the receiver tube and the shank tube
until the threaded portion of the hitch pin engages the nut mounted
within the shank tube. The hitch pin is then rotated relative to
the nut to clamp the shank tube against the receiver tube. A lock
or clip can be attached to the end of the hitch pin to prevent
accidental or unauthorized removal of the hitch pin from the
receiver assembly. A bushing can also be used over the reduced
diameter portion of the hitch pin after it engages the nut.
Inventors: |
Williams, Marty; (Colorado
Springs, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GLENN L. WEBB
P.O BOX 951
CONIFER
CO
80433
US
|
Assignee: |
LET'S GO AERO, INC.
3880 El Paso St. Suite G
Colorado Springs
CO
|
Family ID: |
24688818 |
Appl. No.: |
11/161166 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11161166 |
Jul 25, 2005 |
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10604893 |
Aug 25, 2003 |
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10604893 |
Aug 25, 2003 |
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09670060 |
Sep 25, 2000 |
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6609725 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
280/507 ;
280/511 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60D 1/52 20130101; B60D
1/06 20130101; B60D 1/167 20130101; B60D 1/60 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/507 ;
280/511 |
International
Class: |
B60D 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hitch pin assembly for use with a receiver hitch assembly
having a receiver tube with opposing side holes for receiving a
hitch pin and a shank tube with opposing side holes for receiving a
hitch pin, said hitch pin comprises: an elongated pin; a head
portion on said elongated pin; a threaded portion on said elongated
pin; and a removable nut having a threaded portion for mating
engagement with said threaded portion on said elongated pin
insertable in the receiver tube for alignment with the opposing
side holes of said shank tube.
2. The hitch pin assembly of claim 1 wherein said hitch pin
assembly further includes: a spring engaging one side of said nut
and an inner side wall of the shank tube.
3. The hitch pin assembly of claim 1 wherein said hitch pin
assembly further includes: an elastomer member engaging one side of
said nut and an inner side wall of the shank tube.
4. The hitch pin assembly of claim 1 wherein said hitch pin
includes: said threaded portion is spaced a distance from said head
portion no greater than the width of the combined sidewalls of the
receiver tube and the shank tube.
5. The hitch pin assembly of claim 1 wherein said hitch pin
assembly includes: a lock assembly on the end of said hitch pin
opposing said head portion.
6. The hitch pin of claim 1 wherein said hitch pin includes: a
groove adjacent the end of said hitch pin opposing said head
portion for receiving a pin.
7. The hitch pin of claim 1 wherein said hitch pin further
includes: a bushing for engaging said hitch pin adjacent said
threaded portion.
8. A hitch pin assembly for use with a receiver hitch assembly
having a receiver tube with opposing side holes for receiving a
hitch pin and a shank tube with opposing side holes for receiving a
hitch pin, said hitch pin comprises: an elongated pin; a head
portion on said elongated pin; a non-threaded portion on said
elongated pin adjacent said head portion extending a pre-determined
distance; a threaded portion on said elongated pin adjacent said
non-threaded portion; and a nut having a threaded portion for
mating engagement with said threaded portion on said elongated pin
insertable in the receiver tube for alignment with the opposing
side holes of said shank tube.
9. The hitch pin assembly of claim 8 wherein said hitch pin
assembly further includes: a spring engaging one side of said nut
and an inner side wall of the shank tube.
10. The hitch pin assembly of claim 8 wherein said hitch pin
assembly further includes: an elastomer member engaging one side of
said nut and an inner side wall of the shank tube.
11. The hitch pin assembly of claim 8 wherein said hitch pin
includes: said predetermined distance extends a distance from said
head portion no greater than the width of the combined sidewalls of
the receiver tube and the shank tube.
12. The hitch pin assembly of claim 8 wherein said hitch pin
assembly includes: a lock assembly on the end of said hitch pin
opposing said head portion.
13. The hitch pin of claim 8 wherein said hitch pin includes: a
groove adjacent the end of said hitch pin opposing said head
portion for receiving a pin.
14. The hitch pin of claim 8 wherein said hitch pin further
includes: a bushing for engaging said hitch pin adjacent said
threaded portion.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/604,893
filed on Aug. 25, 2003, pending which is a continuation of Ser. No.
09/670,060 filed on Sep. 5, 2000 issued as 6,609,725.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to the field of securing devices for
receiver hitch assemblies and particularly to the field of securing
devices that minimize the relative movement between the receiver
and shanks of such assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Many vehicles today are equipped with receiver-type trailer
hitches. These types of trailer hitches typically are a square
tube, normally 11/2 or 2 inches internal height and width, attached
to the undercarriage of the vehicle. A second tube acts as a shank
and includes outer dimensions slightly smaller than the internal
dimensions of the receiver tube is slidable within the receiver
tube. The shank tube is connected to the receiver tube by a pin
inserted through the two tubes and locked or clipped to prevent
relative movement between the two tubes.
[0004] The shank tube may include a standard ball-mount for
engaging with the hitch of a trailer or other wheeled vehicle.
Another popular use for receiver hitches is the use as a coupling
device for installing equipment racks onto the vehicle. Bicycle
carrier racks, ski carriers, storage boxes and other types of
carriers have been designed to use the above-described second tube
to engage within a receiver hitch tube. This provides a universal
system that allows a vehicle user to be able to use various
trailers and carriers with a single coupling system.
[0005] A particular problem with the use of these receiver coupling
systems is the clearance between the internal dimensions of the
receiver tube and the external dimensions of the shank tube. These
tubes by necessity must have sufficient clearance to be able to be
easily telescoped together. However, this clearance between the two
tubes causes relative movement between the two tubes. The shank
tube tends to rattle or chatter within the receiver tube. This
rattle or chatter is at best an annoyance and at worst can distract
the driver or cause damage to the trailer or the carrier.
[0006] There have been a number of attempts to solve this problem
in the past. These attempts all required the use of specially
designed receivers, shanks, or accessories in order to reduce the
rattle between the receiver and shank. Examples of these prior
attempts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,566; U.S. Pat. No.
5,593,172; U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,539; U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,102; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,988,667; U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,049; U.S. Pat. No.
6,010,143; U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,144; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,989.
These prior devices either require specially designed receivers and
shanks or use extraneous mounting devices to minimize the rattle
between the receiver and the shank.
[0007] There presently is a need for a device that will minimize
the rattle between the receiver tube and the shank tube. There is a
further need for a device that can be used with most of the
existing receiver systems presently in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention solves these and other problems by
providing a device for securely clamping a shank tube to a receiver
tube. This securing device minimizes the rattling and relative
movement of the shank tube and the receiver tube due to the
clearance between the shank tube and the receiver tube.
[0009] The present invention, in a preferred embodiment, solves
these problems by providing the securing device for use not only in
original equipment installations but also for use as an "after
market" device that can be installed by a user in most receiver
assemblies.
[0010] The present invention allows users to install the securing
device of the preferred embodiments without the need for special
tools or modification of the receiver assemblies.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
securing device includes a spring nut assembly. The spring nut
assembly is inserted within the internal cavity of the shank tube
until the nut is aligned with opposing side holes in the side walls
of the shank tube. The spring maintains the nut in alignment with
the opposing side walls.
[0012] The securing device also includes a hitch pin assembly as
well. The hitch pin includes a threaded portion that engages the
spring nut assembly. The shank tube is inserted into the receiver
tube until the opposing side holes of the shank tube are aligned
with opposing side holes in the receiver tube. The hitch pin is
then inserted through the side holes of the receiver tube and the
shank tube until the threaded portion of the hitch pin engages the
nut mounted within the shank tube. The hitch pin is then rotated
relative to the nut to clamp the shank tube against the receiver
tube.
[0013] A lock or clip can be attached to the end of the hitch pin
to prevent accidental or unauthorized removal of the hitch pin from
the receiver assembly. A bushing can also be used over the reduced
diameter portion of the hitch pin after it engages the nut.
[0014] Other embodiments of the present invention include using an
elastomer in place of the spring on the spring nut assembly. Also,
the nut may be held in alignment with the opposing side holes by
adhesives, welding or other fastening techniques. One of the side
holes may also be threaded instead of using a nut.
[0015] These and other features will be evident from the ensuing
detailed descriptions of preferred embodiment and from the
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows an exploded assembly view of the embodiment of
FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the pin assembly of the
embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the spring nut assembly
of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembled
embodiment of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. It is to be expressly understood that the
descriptive embodiment is provided herein for explanatory purposes
only and is not meant to unduly limit the claimed inventions. The
preferred embodiment of the present invention is intended for use
with receiver hitch systems including trailer mounts as well as
carriers. The preferred embodiment may be used for original
equipment installations and as an after market item.
[0022] In the preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, receiver hitch
assembly 10 includes receiver tube 20 mounted beneath a bumper of a
vehicle. Receiver tube 20 is mounted to the vehicle by well known
mounting techniques, such as by bolting or welding. In this
preferred embodiment, receiver tube 20 includes either 11/2 inch
square tubing or 2 inch square tubing (internal dimensions). It is
to be expressly understood that other sizes or shapes of tubing can
be used as well.
[0023] Shank tube 30, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, includes a
portion 32 having a shape similar to the shape of the internal
portion 22 of receiver tube 20 and an external diameter slightly
less than the internal diameter of the receiver tube 20. This
enables the shank tube 30 to be inserted within the receiver tube
20 in a telescoping manner. In most typical receiver hitch
assemblies, the difference in the dimensions of the internal
portion 22 of the receiver tube 22 and the external portion 32 of
the shank tube 30 is about {fraction (1/16)} inch (one-sixteenth
inch) to allow the shank tube 30 to be easily inserted within the
receiver tube 20. In the exemplary embodiment described herein,
shank tube 30 is illustrated as having a trailer hitch ball mounted
thereon. It is to be expressly understood that the claimed
inventions also include shank tubes having carriers mounted
thereon, such as bicycle carriers, ski carriers, cargo
compartments, platforms and other types of receiver mounted
devices.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, receiver tube 20 includes opposing side
holes 24, 26. The shank tube also includes opposing side holes 34,
36 that align with the opposing side holes 24, 26 of the receiver
tube 20 as the shank tube 30 is inserted into the receiver tube 20.
Hitch pin assembly 40 is inserted through side holes 24, 26 of the
receiver tube 20 and the side holes 34, 36 of the shank tube to
secure the shank tube 30 to the receiver tube 20.
[0025] In a preferred embodiment, hitch pin assembly 40 includes
pin 42, shown in FIG. 3. Pin 42 includes a head portion 44, an
elongated portion 46, a locking groove 52 and a tapered end 54.
Elongated portion 46 includes a threaded section 48 and a reduced
diameter portion 50. The threaded section 48 of elongated portion
46 is spaced a distance "d" from head portion 44. This distance "d"
preferably equal to or less than the combined thicknesses of the
side walls of the receiver tube 20 and the shank tube 30. In the
preferred embodiment, head portion 44 includes a "star" wheel, but
could also be a wing shape, handle shape, hex head, square head,
alien head or any other shape or configuration.
[0026] Hitch pin assembly 40 also includes spring nut assembly 60.
Spring nut assembly 60 includes a square nut 62 having an internal
threaded portion 64 for mating engagement with threaded section 48
of pin 42. The outer dimension of the square nut 62 is selected to
prevent the nut from rotating within the internal portion of the
shank tube 30 as discussed below. Compression spring 66 is attached
to one side of nut 62. The compression spring 66 is sized so that
it is in a state of compression when the spring nut assembly 60 is
inserted within the shank tube 30 as discussed below.
[0027] Another component of hitch pin assembly 40 is lock 70. Lock
70 engages over the tapered end 54 of pin 42 and locks onto locking
groove 52.
[0028] In use, spring nut assembly 60 is inserted within the
internal cavity of shank tube 30. Spring 66 is compressed so that
spring nut 60 is able to be easily inserted into shank tube 30. The
spring nut is inserted into the shank tube 30 until the internal
threaded portion 64 is aligned with side holes 34, 36 of the shank
tube. Compression spring 66 resiliently presses between the inner
side wall of the shank tube 30 and the nut 62 to maintain the
alignment between the threaded portion 64 and the side holes 34,
36.
[0029] It is to be expressly understood that while compression
spring 66 is discussed in the exemplary embodiment for descriptive
purposes, other resilient mechanism can be used as well to maintain
the alignment between the nut 60 and the side holes 34, 36. For
example, an elastomer body could be used in lieu of the spring 66.
Also, in another embodiment, nut 66 can be affixed either
permanently or temporarily on the interior of the shank tube by
welding, by adhesive or by other known mechanisms. Also, the side
hole 34 could be threaded instead of using a separate nut. In
another embodiment, an alignment member, such as a detent member,
notch, or other member can be incorporated in either the nut or the
shank tube to align the nut with the side holes.
[0030] Shank tube 30 is then ready for insertion into the receiver
tube 20 once the spring nut assembly 60 has been installed within
the shank tube 30. Shank tube 30 is "telescoped" within the
receiver tube 20 until the side holes 34, 36 are aligned with the
side holes 24, 26 of the receiver tube. Pin 42 is then inserted
into the side holes 24, 34 until the threaded portion 48 of the pin
42 engages the threaded portion 64 of the spring nut assembly 60.
Pin 42 is then rotated relative to the nut 62 to tighten the nut 62
against the inner side wall of the shank tube 30. The size of the
nut 62 is selected to ensure that the nut cannot rotate within the
shank tube 30. As the pin 42 continues to be rotated relative to
nut 62, nut 62 exerts pressure against the inner side wall of the
shank tube 30 which in turns clamps against the inner side wall of
the receiver tube 20. The star wheel 44 of pin 42 or the use of a
wrench allows the nut 62 to be sufficiently tightened against the
side wall of the shank tube 30 so that relative movement between
the shank tube 30 and the receiver tube 20 is minimized or even
eliminated. Thus the rattling of the shank tube and associated
trailer or carrier mounts is minimized. Wear between the shank tube
and receiver tube is also minimized as well.
[0031] It is to be understood that the threaded portion on the pin
42 could be formed on the pin 42 at a location spaced closer to the
opposing end 54 of the pin 42. The spring nut 62 could have a
"left-handed" threaded internal portion and be reversed within the
shank tube 30. The rotational engagement between the threaded
portion of the pin 42 and the spring nut assembly would press the
nut against the inner side wall of the shank tube causing the shank
tube 30 to be clamped against the inner side wall of the receiver
tube in much the same manner as discussed above.
[0032] Lock 70 can then be secured and locked onto the end 54 of
the pin assembly 40 to prevent unauthorized removal of the pin
assembly 40 and the shank tube 30. In another preferred embodiment,
pin 42 includes a groove 72 to allow a clip pin to prevent the pin
from loosening or being removed. Other types of securing mechanisms
can be used as well to prevent the removal of pin 42 from the shank
tube 30 and receiver tube 20.
[0033] In another alternative embodiment, bushing 80 can be
provided to go over the elongated portion 46 of pin 42. Bushing 80
butts up against the shoulder of threaded portion 48 of the pin to
ensure that the pin 42 fits tightly within the side holes 26 of the
receiver tube and 36 of the shank tube. Also, the lock 70 will
engage the bushing as well to ensure a tight fit between the
components.
[0034] It is to be expressly understood that these exemplary
embodiments are provided for descriptive purposes only and not
meant to unduly limit the scope of the claimed inventions. Other
embodiments are also considered to be within the scope of the
present inventions.
* * * * *