Anti-rattle device for trailer hitch
AssigneeHorizon Global Americas Inc.
InventorJonathan Edwards
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An anti-rattle hitch device is described. A rotating barrel pin is positioned proximate to the normal accessory port of receiving hitch housing. The pin cooperates with resilient bushings that are engineered to compress in overload situations, while urging the accessory drawbar flush against the upper, inner facing of the housing when the device is engaged under normal conditions. The resulting apparatus prevents unwanted rattling and play of the hitch and accessory without the need for loose or removable parts.
Claims16
An anti-rattle hitch device comprising:
- a hollow, tubular housing oriented along a longitudinal axis and defined by a receiving aperture at one end, a pair of opposing, transverse side wall sections and a pair of opposing top and bottom wall sections;
- a locking barrel pin port formed within one of the top, bottom, or side walls and extending through to the opposing top, bottom, or side wall;
- at least one compressible bushing lining an interior portion the locking barrel pin port;
- a locking barrel pin having a longitudinal length and at least one section of longitudinal length in which a diameter of the pin varies;
- and
- wherein the locking barrel pin, when inserted in the locking barrel pin port, does not bisect or obstruct a body inserted into the receiving aperture.
An anti-rattle hitch comprising:
- a hollow, tubular housing having an accessory aperture at one end;
- a locking barrel pin port formed within one of a top, bottom, or side walls and extending through to the opposing top, bottom, or side wall of the housing;
- a locking barrel pin having a longitudinal length and at least one section of longitudinal length in which a diameter of the pin varies, wherein the locking barrel pin, when inserted in the locking barrel pin port, does not bisect or obstruct a body inserted into the receiving aperture.
An anti-rattle hitch system comprising:
- a receiving member defined by a plurality of sidewalls surrounding an opening into which a towing accessory may be inserted;
- a pair of retaining apertures formed within opposing sidewalls of the receiving member into which a retaining pin is configured to be inserted, wherein when a towing accessory is inserted in the member, the retaining pin passes through the towing accessory to secure it within the receiving member;
- a channel formed in one of the sidewalls;
- a locking barrel pin positioned within the channel wherein at least one section of longitudinal length in which a diameter of the locking barrel pin varies;
- and
- wherein the locking barrel pin may be selectively repositioned within the channel so that, when a towing accessory is inserted in the receiving member, the locking barrel pin urges the towing accessory into secured contact with at least one of the plurality of sidewalls not having the channel and the locking barrel pin, when inserted in the channel does not bisect or obstruct a body inserted into the receiving aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.