U.S. patent application number 10/872534 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-22 for trailer hitch assembly and method.
Invention is credited to Eberle, Ralph.
Application Number | 20050280245 10/872534 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35479859 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050280245 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eberle, Ralph |
December 22, 2005 |
TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLY AND METHOD
Abstract
A trailer hitch or hitch bar adapter that simultaneously holds
two balls in an upright, usable position. The hitch or hitch bar
adapter holds one ball at a first height and a second ball at a
second height different from the first. The two balls can be the
same or different size to accommodate various sized trailers.
Inventors: |
Eberle, Ralph; (Elcho,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ralph Eberle
W. 9722 County U
Elcho
WI
54428
US
|
Family ID: |
35479859 |
Appl. No.: |
10/872534 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/416.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60D 1/06 20130101; B60D
1/07 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/416.1 |
International
Class: |
B60F 001/00 |
Claims
1. A multi-ball hitch bar adapter connectable with a hitch bar, the
multi-ball hitch bar adapter comprising: a first plate having a
front end, a rear end, and opposite sides, the first plate having
an aperture adapted to receive a first trailer hitch ball, the
first trailer hitch ball connecting the first plate to the hitch
bar by extending through the first plate and the hitch bar; two
side connector plates extending downward from the sides of the
first plate; and a second plate coupled to the side connector
plates and having an aperture adapted to receive a second trailer
hitch ball, the second plate being vertically offset from and
substantially parallel to the first plate and the aperture of the
second plate being positioned rearward relative to the aperture of
the first plate.
2. The multi-ball hitch bar adapter of claim 1, further comprising
a end connector plate coupled to the rear end of the first plate to
a front end of the second plate.
3. The multi-ball hitch bar adapter of claim 2, wherein the end
connector plate is coupled to the two side connector plates.
4. The multi-ball hitch bar adapter of claim 1, wherein the
aperture in the second plate is a first aperture and the second
plate further comprises a second aperture that is substantially
aligned with the aperture in the first plate.
5. A multi-ball hitch bar adapter connectable with vehicle via a
hitch bar coupled to the vehicle, the multi-ball hitch bar adapter
comprising: a first plate having a front end, a rear end, and
opposite sides, the first plate also having an aperture adapted to
receive a first trailer hitch ball; a first and second tab
extending from opposite sides of the first plate, the first and
second tabs being substantially perpendicular to the first plate
and separated from each other by a distance substantially equal to
the width of a hitch bar the hitch bar received between the first
and second tab to connect the hitch bar adapter to the vehicle; a
connector plate coupled to the rear end of the first plate; a
second plate coupled to the connector plate and having an aperture
adapted to receive a second trailer hitch ball, the second plate
being vertically offset from and substantially parallel to the
first plate and the aperture of the second plate being positioned
rearward relative to the aperture of the first plate.
6. The multi-ball hitch bar adapter of claim 5, wherein the tabs
extend along substantially the entire length of the opposite
sides.
7. The multi-ball hitch bar adapter of claim 6, wherein the tabs
also connect to the connector plate.
8. A method of connecting a multi-ball adapter to a hitch bar,
comprising: aligning an aperture in a first plate with an aperture
on the hitch bar; placing the first plate on top of the hitch bar;
extending a tab on the first plate along at least a portion of
either side of the hitch bar to prevent rotation of the adapter
with respect to the hitch bar; inserting a stem of a ball in the
aperture of the first plate and the aperture of the hitch bar; and
connecting a fastener to the ball stem to secure the first plate to
the hitch bar.
9. A multi-ball hitch bar adapter connectable with a hitch bar, the
multi-bar hitch bar adapter comprising: a first plate having a
front end, a rear end, and opposite sides, the first plate also
having an aperture adapted to receive a first trailer hitch ball,
the first trailer hitch ball extending through the first plate and
the hitch bar to couple the first plate to the hitch bar, a
connector plate coupled to the rear end of the first plate; a
second plate coupled to the connector plate and having an aperture
adapted to receive a second trailer hitch ball, the second plate
being vertically offset from and substantially parallel to the
first plate and the aperture of the second plate being positioned
rearward relative to the aperture of the first plate.
10. The multi-ball hitch bar adapter of claim 1, wherein each of
the two side connector plates are positioned adjacent opposite
sides of the hitch bar to prevent rotation of the hitch bar adapter
relative to the hitch bar.
11. The multi-ball hitch bar adapter of claim 5, wherein the first
trailer hitch ball extends through the first plate and the hitch
bar to connect the hitch bar adapter to the hitch bar.
12. The multi-ball hitch bar adapter of claim 9, further comprising
a pair of tabs extending from the first plate, the tabs positioned
to extend adjacent to sides of the hitch bar to prevent rotational
movement of the hitch bar adapter relative to the hitch bar when
the hitch bar adapter is mounted on the hitch bar.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] It has long been known to construct trailer hitches that are
mounted to vehicles in order to allow the towing of trailers or the
like. In recent years, such trailer hitches have been designed to
include a central frame member or crossbar carrying mounting
brackets at each end thereof for mounting the trailer hitch to the
frame of the towing vehicle. The trailer hitches also include a
receiver box having a rearward directed opening or cavity for the
receipt of a hitch or draw bar that carries a hitch ball or other
means allowing connection to a trailer.
[0002] Different trailers can utilize different sized balls. As
such, vehicle owners have had to carry a couple of different sized
balls with them. Either the balls could be swapped on the hitch
bar, or the owner could keep several hitch bars in their vehicle
wherein each hitch bar has a different sized ball. Recently,
however, many manufactures have been developing hitch bars that
have two different sized balls attached. Typically one ball is
inverted with respect to the other. Thus, one still has to flip the
hitch bar over to accommodate trailers having different sized
balls.
[0003] In most situations, it is desirable to have the tongue of a
trailer positioned substantially parallel to the ground. However,
trailers that utilize larger balls typically need to be coupled to
the vehicle at a greater height than a trailer that utilizes a
smaller ball to keep the tongue parallel. Thus, manufactures have
developed many different types of hitch bars to accommodate this.
For example, some hitch bars position the ball mounting location
substantially level with the receiver box, while other hitch bars
position the ball mounting location in one or more positions below
the receiver box. Again, vehicle owners needed to have more than
one hitch bar to accommodate more than one type of trailer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Some embodiment of the present invention are directed to a
multi-ball hitch bar adapter connectable with a hitch bar. The
multi-ball hitch bar adapter includes a first plate having a front
end, a rear end, and opposite sides, the first plate having an
aperture adapted to receive a first trailer hitch ball. The first
trailer hitch ball can connect the first plate to the hitch bar.
Two side connector plates extend downward from the sides of the
first plate. A second plate is coupled to the side connector plates
and has an aperture adapted to receive a second trailer hitch ball.
The second plate is vertically offset from and substantially
parallel to the first plate and the aperture of the second plate is
positioned rearward relative to the aperture of the first
plate.
[0005] Other embodiments are directed to a multi-ball hitch bar
adapter having a first plate having a front end, a rear end,
opposite sides, and an aperture adapted to receive a first trailer
hitch ball. First and second tabs extend from opposite sides of the
first plate. The first and second tabs are substantially
perpendicular to the first plate. A connector plate is coupled to
the rear end of the first plate. A second plate is coupled to the
connector plate and has an aperture adapted to receive a second
trailer hitch ball. The second plate is vertically offset from and
substantially parallel to the first plate and the aperture of the
second plate is positioned rearward relative to the aperture of the
first plate.
[0006] Yet other embodiments are directed to a method of connecting
a multi-ball adapter to a hitch bar. The method including aligning
an aperture in a first plate with an aperture on the hitch bar;
placing the first plate on top of the hitch bar; extending a tab on
the first along at least a portion of either side of the hitch bar
to prevent rotation of the adapter with respect to the hitch bar;
inserting a stem of a ball in the aperture of the first plate and
the aperture of the hitch bar; and connecting a fastener to the
ball stem to secure the first plate to the hitch bar.
[0007] Further embodiments are directed to a multi-ball hitch bar.
The multi-ball hitch bar including a first plate having a front
end, a rear end, and opposite sides, the first plate also having an
aperture adapted to receive a first trailer hitch ball; a connector
plate coupled to the rear end of the first plate; and a second
plate coupled to the connector plate and having an aperture adapted
to receive a second trailer hitch ball, the second plate being
vertically offset from and substantially parallel to the first
plate and the aperture of the second plate being positioned
rearward relative to the aperture of the first plate.
[0008] These and other aspects of the present invention, together
with the organization and operation thereof, will become apparent
from the following detailed description of the invention when taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a hitch bar adapter positioned on a
hitch bar and embodying aspects of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a top view of the hitch bar adapter shown in FIG.
1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is an end view of the hitch bar adapter shown in FIG.
1.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of a hitch bar adapter embodying
aspects of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a top view of the hitch bar adapter shown in FIG.
4.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the hitch bar adapter shown in
FIG. 4.
[0015] FIG. 7 is an end view of the hitch bar adapter shown in FIG.
1.
[0016] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of components set forth in the following description or illustrated
in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in
various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and
should not be regarded as limited. The use of "including,"
"comprising" or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to
encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as
well as additional items. The terms "mounted," "connected" and
"coupled" are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect
mounting, connecting and coupling. Further, "connected" and
"coupled" are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections
or couplings, and can include electrical connections or couplings,
whether direct or indirect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate one embodiment a multi-ball hitch bar
adapter 10 of the present invention. The multi-ball hitch bar
adapter 10 of this embodiment has an upper ball plate 12, a lower
ball plate 14 and one or more connector plates 16 located between
the upper ball plate 12 and the lower ball plate 14.
[0018] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper ball plate of the
multi-ball hitch bar adapter 10 has an aperture 18 that is
substantially the same diameter as an aperture in the hitch bar 20.
Thus, the upper ball plate 12 can be positioned on top of the hitch
bar with the apertures aligned to connect the multi-ball hitch bar
adapter 10 to the hitch bar. Furthermore, the stem of the upper
ball 22 can be inserted through both apertures and fastened in a
conventional manner to secure the multi-ball hitch bar adapter 10
to the hitch bar 20.
[0019] A tab 24 extends downward from the upper ball plate 12 on
both sides of the hitch bar. These tabs 24 help prevent the
multi-ball hitch bar adapter 10 from swiveling relative to the
hitch bar 20 when a torque is applied to the lower ball plate 14.
Although the tabs 24 illustrated in this embodiment extend along
the entire side edge of the upper ball plate 12, in other
embodiments the tabs 24 extend along only a portion of this
edge.
[0020] The tabs 24 extend along the entire side edge of upper plate
in this embodiment because they are also part of the connector
plates 16. As mentioned above, the connector plates 16 connect the
upper plate 12 to the lower plate 14. In this embodiment, a
connector plate is located on both sides of the upper plate as well
as the rear of the upper plate. In other embodiments, however, one
or more of these connector plates 16 can be omitted. The connector
plates 16 not only connect the upper and lower plates, but they can
also provide strength to prevent the multi-ball hitch bar adapter
10 from substantially deforming. For example, the side connector
plates (which are integral with the tabs 24) help maintain the
orientation between the upper plate, the lower plate, and the end
connector plate 26. As illustrated, the end connector plate is
substantially perpendicular to both the upper and lower plate.
Without the side connector plates, a substantial load could cause
plastic deformation in the orientation between these plates.
Although it is not illustrated, in some embodiments, side connector
plates can also extend between the end connector plate and at least
portions of the lower ball plate 14 for added strength.
[0021] The lower plate 14 is connected to the end connector plate.
The lower plate 14 also has an aperture sized to receive a ball.
The ball can be connected to the lower plate in a conventional
manner. As illustrated, the lower plate 14 is substantially
parallel to the upper plate 12. However, the two plates 12, 14 are
located in different planes. Preferably, the lower plate 14 is
located a sufficient distance below the upper plate so that the
tongue of a trailer does not hit the lower ball when connected to
the upper ball.
[0022] As illustrated, the multi-ball hitch bar adapter 10 allows
two different sized balls to be attached to the hitch bar. However,
the same size ball can be positioned on both plates in some
embodiments. Furthermore, unlike conventional hitch bars that have
more than one ball, the present invention allows use of both balls
without having to flip or rotate the hitch bar. Also, the
multi-ball hitch bar adapter 10 of the present invention also
provides two different ball-mounting heights on one hitch bar. In
some embodiments, a smaller ball can be coupled to the lower ball
plate and a larger ball can be coupled to the upper ball plate. As
discussed above, this may prove to be quite convenient since
trailers that utilize smaller balls tend to also need a dropped
hitch to keep the tongue parallel while trailers that utilize
larger balls can tend to connect at a non-dropped hitch.
[0023] The multi-ball hitch bar adapter 10 can be constructed
several ways. For example, it can be cast, molded, and/or formed
through bending, stamping, and/or welding. Each plate can be
individually cut from stock and welded together along common edges.
Additionally, one or more plates can be bent from stock and other
plates can be welded. Also, one or more plates can be formed from
channel stock and other plates can be welded. These and other
variations known to those in the art fall within the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
[0024] Another embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 5-7. Like the
previous embodiment, this embodiment has an upper ball plate, a
lower ball plate, and one or more connector plates between the
upper ball plate and the lower ball plate. However, unlike the
previous embodiment, this embodiment does not have an end connector
plate. Rather, it only has the two side connector plates. Since the
end connector plate is omitted, the side connector plates connect
directly to the lower ball plate 14. The lower ball plate 14
extends further in this embodiment to accommodate this.
Specifically, the illustrated lowers ball plate extends under
substantially the entire upper plate. Note that the two plate 12,
14 are spaced apart vertically. Since the connector plates and the
lower ball plate reduce access to the ball fastener, an aperture is
provided in the front portion of the lower ball plate to allow
access for a socket, screwdriver, allen wrench, or other tool.
[0025] Note that upper plate in FIG. 5 has a bushing in the
aperture. This bushing is removable to accommodate different sized
balls. The stem of some larger balls can tend to be greater than
others. If a larger stemmed ball is used, the bushing is
removed.
[0026] In some embodiments, a hitch bar can be designed to have the
two offset balls as discussed above. In such a design, the side
tabs or side connector plates may not be necessary.
[0027] The embodiments described above and illustrated in the
figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended
as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present
invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary
skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their
configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from
the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, various
alternatives to the certain features and elements of the present
invention are described with reference to specific embodiments of
the present invention. With the exception of features, elements,
and manners of operation that are mutually exclusive of or are
inconsistent with each embodiment described above, it should be
noted that the alternative features, elements, and manners of
operation described with reference to one particular embodiment are
applicable to the other embodiments.
[0028] Various features of the invention are set forth in the
following claims.
* * * * *