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US 11,993,111 B2Granted
Locking gooseballs
AssigneeHorizon Global Americas Inc.
InventorsBrad Larsh, Will Venis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided are gooseballs with various integrated locking mechanisms. The gooseballs are capable of being utilized in gooseneck hitches and other hitch assemblies or coupling devices that use a hitch ball. The integrated locking mechanisms of the gooseballs may allow for ease in selectively engaging and disengaging the gooseball from the gooseneck hitch by a user while ensuring secure attachment of the gooseball to the gooseball hitch to facilitate towing of a load attached to the gooseneck hitch by the gooseball.
Claims4
A gooseball comprising:
- a rounded head configured to selectively engage with a coupler;
- a base configured to selectively insert into a hitch mount, the base including a retention projection that selectively extends outside of the base in a locked position and retracts into the base in an unlocked position;
- a locking mechanism to selectively transition the retention projection between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a handle disposed perpendicularly to an axis defined by a length of the base, an internal shuttle that attaches to the handle and is transverse to the base;
- and
- an actuator directly attached to the handle.
2 more elements
A gooseball comprising:
- a rounded head configured to selectively engage with a coupler;
- a base configured to selectively insert into a hitch mount, the base including at least one extendable and retractable bearing that is configured to lock the base into the hitch mount when in an extended position;
- a locking mechanism to selectively lock the bearing in the extended position, wherein the locking mechanism includes at least one rotational handle, and
- an actuator directly attached to the handle.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.