U.S. patent application number 16/173195 was filed with the patent office on 2019-02-28 for towing assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.. Invention is credited to Jacob S. Belinky, Charles W. Krespach, Robert A. Schmidt, Richard J. Stanley.
Application Number | 20190061447 16/173195 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34193367 |
Filed Date | 2019-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190061447 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Krespach; Charles W. ; et
al. |
February 28, 2019 |
TOWING ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A towing assembly is provided including a hitch ball receiver
having a hitch ball mounting aperture and a recess around the
aperture, a hitch ball including a base and a mounting shank where
the base is sized and shaped to be received in the recess and a
fastener engaging the shank and securing the hitch ball to the
hitch ball receiver.
Inventors: |
Krespach; Charles W.; (Fort
Myers, FL) ; Schmidt; Robert A.; (Painesville,
OH) ; Belinky; Jacob S.; (Carleton, MI) ;
Stanley; Richard J.; (Howell, MI) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC. |
Plymouth |
MI |
US |
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|
Family ID: |
34193367 |
Appl. No.: |
16/173195 |
Filed: |
October 29, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13397412 |
Feb 15, 2012 |
RE47102 |
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16173195 |
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10690412 |
Oct 21, 2003 |
7661694 |
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13397412 |
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60496095 |
Aug 18, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60D 1/06 20130101; B60D
1/52 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60D 1/06 20060101
B60D001/06; B60D 1/52 20060101 B60D001/52 |
Claims
1. A towing assembly comprising: a hitch ball receiver comprising:
a body capable of selectively engaging a trailer hitch in at least
first and second positions; a tongue connected with the body,
wherein the tongue includes a first face axially below the body
when the body is in the first position and a second face positioned
axially above the body when the body is in the second position; a
first acircular recess having a sidewall positioned on the first
face; and a second recess positioned on the second face; a hitch
ball; and a base integrally formed with the hitch ball, the base
having a perimeter, wherein a substantial portion of the perimeter
of the base is engageable with the sidewall of the first recess to
prevent rotation of the hitch ball during installation.
2. The towing assembly of claim 2, wherein the perimeter of the
base is engageable with the second recess to prevent rotation of
the hitch ball during installation.
3. The towing assembly of claim 2 further comprising a through-hole
on the tongue and extending between the first and second faces.
4. The towing assembly of claim 3, wherein the hitch ball further
includes a threaded member extending below the base, the threaded
member extending through the through-hole when attached to the
hitch ball receiver.
5. The towing assembly of claim 4 further comprising a threaded nut
capable of threadingly engaging the threaded member, wherein
engagement of the substantial portion of the perimeter of the base
with the first or second recess prevents rotation of the hitch ball
during threading of the nut onto the threaded member.
6. The towing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a lock washer
and wherein the lock washer fits within either of the first and
second recesses.
7. The towing assembly of claim 1, wherein the substantial portion
of the perimeter is a majority portion.
8. The towing assembly of claim 1, wherein said first acircular
recess and said second recess having a substantially oval shape
with two parallel flats thereon.
9. The towing assembly of claim 1, wherein said first acircular
recess is a channel.
10. The towing assembly of claim 1, wherein said hitch ball
receiver is a hitch bar.
11. A towing assembly, comprising: a hitch ball receiver having
first and second faces, wherein the first face includes at least
one acircular recess having a sidewall and the second face includes
a second recess; a hitch ball; a base integrally formed with the
hitch ball, the base having a perimeter, wherein a substantial
portion of the perimeter of the base is engageable with the
sidewall of the first recess; a threaded member extending below the
base; a lock washer attached with the threaded member and capable
of fitting within either of the first and second recesses; and a
nut capable of engaging the threaded member, wherein the
substantial portion of the perimeter of the base engaging the
sidewall of the first recess prevents rotation of the hitch ball
during engagement of the nut with the threaded member.
12. The towing assembly of claim 11, wherein engagement of the
perimeter of the base with the second recess prevents rotation of
the hitch ball during engagement of the nut with the threaded
member.
13. The towing assembly of claim 11, wherein the perimeter of the
base is generally acircular.
14. The towing assembly of claim 13, wherein the generally
acircular perimeter of the base is of a generally mating shape as
the first acircular recess.
15. The towing assembly of claim 11, wherein the second recess is
an acircular recess of a shape different than the first acircular
recess.
16. The towing assembly of claim 11 wherein the perimeter of the
base corresponds in length to a perimeter of the sidewall.
17. A towing assembly, comprising: a hitch ball receiver having a
first face and a second face; an axial through-hole in the hitch
ball receiver extending between the first and second faces of the
hitch ball receiver; a first acircular recess positioned on the
first face, the first acircular recess having a sidewall; a second
acircular recess positioned on the second face; a hitch ball
comprising: a ball portion; a base portion having a perimeter; and
a threaded member extending from the base; a lock washer attached
with the threaded member and capable of fitting within either of
the first and second recesses; and a nut engageable with the
threaded member, wherein a substantial portion of the perimeter of
the base is engageable with the sidewall of the first recess to
prevent rotation of the hitch ball during engagement of the nut
with the threaded member.
18. The towing assembly of claim 17, wherein the first acircular
recess is a closed perimeter recess.
19. The towing assembly of claim 17, wherein the first acircular
recess is positioned axially relative to the through-hole with the
through-hold being within the closed perimeter.
20. The towing assembly of claim 19, wherein the hitch ball
receiver is capable of selectively engaging a trailer hitch in at
least first and second positions whereby the first face is
positioned axially below the hitch ball receiver when the hitch
ball receiver is in the first position and the second face is
positioned axially above the hitch ball receiver when the hitch
ball receiver is in the second position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 13/397,412 filed Feb. 15, 2012 which is a reissue of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/690,412 filed on Oct. 21, 2003 which claims
the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
60/496,095 filed on Aug. 18, 2003.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the towing field
and, more particularly, to a towing assembly including a hitch ball
that is locked in position on a hitch ball receiver such as a hitch
bar, draw bar and ball mount head so as to prevent relative
rotation of the hitch ball during installation and connection with
a hitch ball fastener.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Trailer hitches including a hitch ball for connecting a
towing vehicle to a trailer have long been known in the art.
Examples of such are disclosed in a number of patents including,
for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,482,856 to Reese, U.S. Pat. No.
3,694,006 to Goode et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,837 to Reese, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,033,601 to Lindahl et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,867 to
Kass et al.
[0004] Most hitch balls are either directly mounted to (1) a draw
bar or (2) a ball mount head carried on a hitch bar by means of a
threaded mounting shank and cooperating locking nut or nut and lock
washer. More specifically, the threaded mounting shank extends
through an aperture in the draw bar/ball mount head and the locking
nut or nut and locking washer combination are snugly tightened
against the draw bar/ball mount head to secure the trailer hitch
ball in position. While this provides a very adequate connection,
many individuals are frustrated when the hitch ball rotates in the
hitch ball receiver when attempting to tighten the securing nut.
When this occurs, it is not possible to complete the tightening
operation unless tools are employed to hold the hitch ball and
prevent its rotation.
[0005] A need is therefore identified for an improved structural
arrangement whereby a hitch ball may be secured against rotation
relative to the hitch ball receiver during installation and
connection of the fastener to the stem of the hitch ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as
described herein, a new and improved towing assembly is provided.
That towing assembly includes (a) a hitch ball receiver including a
hitch ball mounting aperture and a recess around that aperture; (b)
a hitch ball including a base and a mounting shank wherein the base
is sized and shaped to be received in the recess; and (c) a
fastener engaging the shank and securing the hitch ball to the
hitch ball receiver. The hitch ball receiver may take a number of
forms including but not limited to a. ball mount head such as
utilized on a weight distributing trailer hitch assembly and a
hitch bar, draw bar or the like which may or may not include a
tongue.
[0007] More specifically describing the invention, the recess is
acircular in shape. Thus, for example, the recess may assume an
oval, polygonal, square, rectangular, hexagonal or star shape. If
desired, the recess may take the form of a channel. The recess also
includes a sidewall engaging the base of the hitch ball. More
specifically describing the invention, the hitch ball receiver
includes a first face and a second face with the recess being
provided in the first face. Still further, the towing assembly
includes a second recess. This second recess is provided in the
second face. Still further, a spacer is provided. The spacer is
sized and shaped to be received in either of the first or second
recesses.
[0008] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
invention, a method is provided for securing a hitch ball to a
hitch ball receiver. The method includes the steps of (a) engaging
a base of the hitch ball in an acircular recess in the hitch ball
receiver and (b) securing a fastener for the hitch ball while
engagement between the base and a sidewall of the recess prevents
the hitch ball from rotating.
[0009] Advantageously, the engagement of the base of the hitch ball
with the sidewall of the acircular recess prevents the hitch ball
from rotating relative to the hitch ball receiver as the fastener
is connected to the mounting shank of the hitch ball. Where the
mounting shank is threaded and the fastener is a nut, this means
that only a single wrench is required to secure the hitch ball to
the hitch ball receiver. This allows far more convenient connection
of the hitch ball to the hitch ball receiver as the user is only
required to manipulate one tool to complete the connection
process.
[0010] Additionally, it must be appreciated that the spacer allows
the hitch ball receiver to be adapted to accept and receive a
standard hitch ball: that is, one not incorporating a base
specifically sized and shaped to be received in the recess. Thus,
the hitch ball receiver is sufficiently versatile to receive and
hold virtually any size and shape of hitch ball one might be
expected to find in the marketplace.
[0011] In the following description there is shown and described
several embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration
of some of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it
will be realized, the invention is capable of other different
embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in
various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention.
Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as
illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part
of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present
invention, and together with the description serve to explain
certain principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first
embodiment of the towing assembly of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing the fully assembled
towing assembly in a first operative position;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but
showing the towing assembly fully assembled in a second operating
position;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3
showing the hitch ball receiver of the towing assembly holding a
standard hitch ball with a circular base;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top plan view showing an alternative embodiment
of the hitch ball receiver incorporating a channel cut recess;
[0018] FIGS. 6a-6d are four top plan views illustrating additional
alternative embodiments; that is, recesses of square, rectangular,
star and hexagonal shape; and
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of yet another alternative
embodiment of the present invention wherein the hitch ball receiver
is a ball mount head.
[0020] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Reference is now made to FIG. 1 illustrating the first
embodiment of the towing assembly 10 of the present invention. As
illustrated the towing assembly 10 includes a hitch ball receiver
12 in the form of a hitch bar or draw bar. The hitch ball receiver
12 includes a body 14 formed from tubular steel such as a torque
tube and a substantially L-shaped tongue 16 of plate steel attached
to one end of the body. Aligned apertures 18 are provided in
opposing sidewalls at one end of the body 14. These apertures 18
receive a connecting pin to secure the hitch ball receiver 12 in a
trailer hitch receiver assembly of a type well known in the art
that is mounted securely to the frame of a towing vehicle.
[0022] A hitch ball mounting aperture 20 is provided in the tongue
16 of the hitch ball receiver 12. A recess 22 is provided around
the aperture 20 in a first face 24 of the tongue 16. A second
recess 26 is provided around the mounting aperture 20 in a second
face 28 of the tongue 16 (see also FIGS. 2-4). Stated another way,
the hitch ball mounting aperture 20 is actually provided in the two
recesses 22, 26. The recesses 22, 26 are acircular in shape.
Accordingly, the recesses 22, 26 may assume, for example, an oval,
polygonal, square, rectangular, hexagonal and star shape (see also
FIGS. 6a-6d).
[0023] The towing assembly 10 also includes a hitch ball 30
including a base 32 and threaded mounting shank 34. In accordance
with an important aspect of the present invention, the base 32 is
correspondingly sized and shaped to be received and held in either
of the recesses 22, 26. Thus, the base 32 just fits in and
completely fills the recess. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the base
30 assumes a substantially oval shape with two flat sides.
[0024] The towing assembly 10 also includes a fastener 36 for
engaging the shank 34 and securing the hitch ball 30 to the hitch
ball receiver 12. As illustrated, the fastener 36 assumes the form
of a nut 38 and a lock washer 40. Alternatively, a self-locking nut
could be utilized.
[0025] The hitch ball 30 may be easily and conveniently connected
to the hitch ball receiver 12. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the
mounting shank 34 of the hitch ball 30 is aligned with and pushed
through the hitch ball mounting aperture 20 in the hitch ball
receiver 12. As this is done the base 32 of the hitch ball 30 is
seated in the recess 22. Once fully seated, the sidewall 42 of the
recess 22 engages a side or sides of the base 32 so as to
effectively prevent the hitch ball 30 from rotating relative to the
hitch ball receiver 12. The lock washer 40 is placed over the
mounting shank 34 and the nut 38 is then tightened on that mounting
shank 34 to complete the connection. During the tightening process,
the engagement of the base 32 of the hitch ball 30 with the
sidewall 42 of the recess 22 prevents rotation of the hitch ball in
the hitch ball receiver 12 and therefore allows connection with a
single tool.
[0026] As should be appreciated, the hitch ball receiver 12 may be
utilized with the tongue directed downward as illustrated in FIG. 2
or upward as illustrated in FIG. 3. Since the tongue 16 includes a
recess 22 and 26 on each of the faces 24, 28, the base 32 of a
hitch ball 30 is received in one recess or the other when the hitch
ball receiver 12 is placed in either operating position.
Accordingly, the hitch ball 30 is prevented from rotation in either
operating position to allow simple and convenient connection.
[0027] As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the hitch receiver 12 also
accommodates a standard hitch ball incorporating, for example, a
circular base that is not sized and shaped to be received in the
recess 22 or 26. More specifically, the towing assembly 10 also
incorporates a spacer 44 sized and shaped to be received in the
recess 22 or 26 so as to fully fill the recess. Before connecting
the standard hitch ball 46 to the hitch ball receiver 12, the
spacer 44 is placed in the recess 22. The mounting shank 48 of the
standard hitch ball 46 is then positioned so as to be received in
the aperture in the spacer 44 and the hitch ball mounting aperture
20 of the hitch receiver 12. The lock washer 50 is then placed over
the shank 48 and the fastening nut 52 is tightened on the shank
using any necessary tools in order to complete the connection.
[0028] When not in use in connecting a standard hitch ball 46, the
spacer 44 may be stored in the recess 22 or 26 on the underside of
the tongue 16 opposite the hitch ball 30 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Since
the spacer 44 fills that recess 22 or 26, a flat continuous surface
is provided for engagement with the lock washer 40 and nut 38.
Further, this allows the extra recess to be used as a storage
position preventing one from inadvertently losing the spacer
44.
[0029] The recesses 22, 26 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and recess 22b,
22c, 22d and 22e in FIGS. 6a-6d all have a continuous sidewall. It
should be appreciated, however, that the recesses 22a, 26 may also
be formed as a channel cut recess such as illustrated in FIG. 5.
This three-sided channel recess 22a, 26 may be relatively easily
and economically machined in the tongue 16 of the hitch receiver
12.
[0030] In FIG. 6d, a six sided or hexagonal recess 22e is
illustrated. Where this recess 22e measures more than about 2.4
inches across, the recess is large enough to accommodate
substantially any standard hitch ball base: that is, the standard
hitch ball base is received in the recess and seats flat against
the bottom wall of the recess. In this situation, there is no need
for any form of spacer in order to accommodate a standard hitch
ball. As such, in this particular embodiment, no separate spacer is
necessary.
[0031] Yet another alternative embodiment of the invention is
illustrated in FIG. 7. In the FIG. 7 embodiment of the towing
assembly 60, the hitch ball receiver 12 is a ball mount head of a
type typically utilized on a weight distributing trailer hitch
receiver assembly. Such assemblies, in the absence of a recess 22f
to lock a hitch ball in position against rotation, are relatively
well-known in the art.
[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 7 the hitch ball 30 is positioned on
the ball mount head 12 by aligning and projecting the mounting
shank 34 thereof through the mounting aperture 20 in the hitch ball
receiver. As noted above, the hitch ball 30 is fully seated when
the base 32 thereof is received in the recess 22f and the sidewalls
of the recess 42 engage the base. The lock washer 40 may then be
positioned over the mounting shank 34 and the fastener or nut 38
tightened thereto in order to complete the connection.
[0033] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or
variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The
embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best
illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical
application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to
utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All
such modifications and variations are within the scope of the
invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in
accordance with the breadth, to which they are fairly, legally and
equitably entitled. The drawings and preferred embodiment do not
and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims
and their fair and broad interpretation in any way.
* * * * *