Monobar hitch system
AssigneeLippert Components Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorJeffrey P. Few
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hitch system for distributing weight from a trailer to the wheels of a towing vehicle. The system has a hitch head that is pivotally connected to a hitch bar and is pivotable about a hitch head axis with respect to the hitch bar. A hitch pin is rotatably fixed to the hitch head and the hitch pin is rotatable with respect to the hitch head about a hitch pin axis. The hitch pin axis is transverse to the hitch head axis. A single spring is pivotally connected to the hitch head and is pivotable with respect to the hitch head about a spring axis. A distal end of the spring spaced from the spring axis is connectable to the trailer when the trailer is connected to the hitch pin and the spring can provide a biasing force when the distal end of the spring is moved nearer the trailer.
Claims15
A system for distributing force of a trailer to a vehicle comprising:
- a hitch bar for mounting to said vehicle, said hitch bar having a hitch bar axis;
- a hitch head pivotally connected to said hitch bar being pivotal about a hitch head axis that is substantially parallel to said hitch bar axis;
- a hitch pin rotatably fixed to said hitch head and rotatable with respect to said hitch head about a hitch pin axis that is transverse to said hitch head axis and intersects said hitch head axis, said hitch pin having an aperture extending therethrough transverse to said hitch pin axis;
- only one spring having a first end including a shaft and a second end for connecting to said trailer, said shaft extending into a socket within said hitch head and said only one spring pivotable about said shaft, wherein said only one spring pivots about an axis coaxial with said hitch pin axis.
A system for distributing force of a trailer to a vehicle comprising:
- a hitch bar for mounting to said vehicle;
- a hitch head pivotally connected to said hitch bar being pivotal about a hitch head axis;
- a hitch pin rotatably fixed to said hitch head and rotatable with respect to said hitch head about a hitch pin axis that is transverse to said hitch head axis;
- only one spring pivotally connected to said hitch head near a first end of said only one spring and said only one spring being pivotable with respect to said hitch head about a spring axis that is coaxial with said hitch pin axis, said only one spring being connectable to said trailer near a second end of said only one spring when said trailer is connected to said hitch pin and said only one spring for providing a biasing force when moved from a first position relative to said trailer into a second position nearer to said trailer.
A system for distributing force of a trailer to a vehicle, the trailer including a tongue and a clevis at a distal end of the tongue, the system comprising:
- a hitch head pivotally connected to a hitch bar and being pivotal about a hitch head axis and configured to be engaged by the clevis;
- a hitch pin rotatably fixed to said hitch head and rotatable with respect to said hitch head about a hitch pin axis that is transverse to said hitch head axis;
- only one spring pivotally connected to said hitch head and pivotable with respect to said hitch head about a spring axis, said only one spring being connectable to said trailer when said trailer is connected to said hitch pin and said only one spring configured for providing a biasing force when a distal end of said only one spring spaced from said spring axis is moved from a first position relative to said trailer into a second position nearer to said trailer, wherein said only one spring is vertically aligned with the tongue of the trailer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.