Methods and apparatus for a three-point attachment trailer hitch
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsPatrick McDonald, Steven Paul Sic, Zane Butterfield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for a three-point attachment trailer hitch. An example hitch includes a crossbar including a first end and a second end, the first end or the second end including at least one tab protruding from an edge of the first end or the second end, and a first endplate positioned on the first end or the second end of the crossbar using the at least one tab, the endplate including a first threaded hole and a second threaded hole, a diameter of the second threaded hole larger than a diameter of the first threaded hole.
Claims20
A hitch comprising:
- a crossbar including a first end and a second end, the first end or the second end including at least one tab protruding from an edge of the first end or the second end;
- and
- a first endplate positioned on the first end or the second end of the crossbar using the at least one tab, the endplate including a first threaded hole and a second threaded hole, a diameter of the second threaded hole larger than a diameter of the first threaded hole.
An apparatus comprising:
- a hitch including:
- a crossbar having a first end and a second end, the first end or the second end including at least one tab protruding from an edge of the first end or the second end;
- a first endplate positioned on the first end of the crossbar using the at least one tab, the endplate including a threaded hole;
- a first tow ball attached to the threaded hole of the endplate, the first tow ball including a processor;
- and
- a load manager to determine a load condition based on data received from the processor of the first tow ball.
A method, comprising:
- receiving input data from a first tow ball attached to a first endplate, the first endplate positioned on a first end of a hitch crossbar, the crossbar including at least one tab protruding from an edge of the first end of the crossbar to receive the first endplate;
- and
- determining a load condition based on the input data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.