Hitch stinger with flat surface wedges
AssigneeThule Sweden AB
InventorMark Viklund
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hitch-mounted load carrier includes a connecting member configured to be inserted into a hitch receiver and a locking mechanism coupled to the connecting member and configured to secure the connecting member inside the hitch receiver. The locking mechanism includes a first actuator disposed in an interior of the connecting member, a second actuator opposite the first actuator disposed in the interior of the connecting member and coupled to the first actuator by a shaft, and a first wedge disposed at least partially in the interior of the connecting member. A first surface of the first wedge contacts the first actuator and a second surface of the first wedge contacts the second actuator. The first and second actuators are configured to radially translate the first wedge.
Claims25
A hitch-mounted load carrier, comprising:
- a connecting member configured to be inserted into a hitch receiver;
- and
- a locking mechanism coupled to the connecting member and configured to secure the connecting member inside the hitch receiver, the locking mechanism comprising:
- a first actuator disposed in an interior of the connecting member;
- a second actuator opposite the first actuator disposed in the interior of the connecting member and coupled to the first actuator by a shaft;
- and
- a first wedge disposed at least partially in the interior of the connecting member,
- wherein a first surface of the first wedge contacts the first actuator and a second surface of the first wedge contacts the second actuator, and
- wherein the first and second actuators are configured to radially translate the first wedge.
A locking mechanism for a hitch-mounted load carrier, comprising:
- an actuation assembly comprising a shaft;
- a first wedge comprising a first surface contacting the actuation assembly and a second surface contacting the actuation assembly;
- and
- a second wedge comprising a first surface contacting the actuation assembly and a second surface contacting the actuation assembly,
- wherein the actuation assembly is configured to radially translate the first and second wedges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.