# US 12,005,864 B2 · Hitch apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,864 B2 - Document ID: US12005864B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/669,326 - Filed: 2022-02-10 - Published: 2023-08-10 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-10 - Assignees: Youngun's Weld ng Service LLC - Applicants: Youngun's Welding Service LLC - Inventors: Cody Taylor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005864B2 ## CPC - B60R 9/06: at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)} - B60D 1/06: Ball-and-socket hitches - B60D 1/07: Multi-hitch devices, i.e. comprising several hitches of the same or of a different type; Hitch-adaptors, i.e. for converting hitches from one type to another - B60D 1/58: Auxiliary devices - B60D 1/54: collapsible or retractable when not in use, e.g. hide-away hitches - B60D 2001/544: {One pivot axis} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS ## Abstract A hitch apparatus is provided including a support assembly having an upper horizontal support member and a lower horizontal support member. The upper and lower support members may be spaced apart from and generally parallel to one another. The upper and lower horizontal support members are connected by a vertical support member that is secured to the upper support member and extends downwardly through the lower support member. The lower support member is adapted for rotatable movement relative to the upper support member between first and second positions. The upper support member is releasably engageable with a standard hitch receiver on the rear of a vehicle. The lower support may be connected to a cargo tray or other component, which may be releasably connected to the vertical support member and adapted for movement between a first position behind the vehicle and a second position beneath the rear of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a support assembly having an upper elongated support member, a lower elongated support member, and a vertical support member, the upper and lower elongated support members being spaced apart from one another, the lower elongated support member having a first socket opening at a first end of the lower elongated support member and a second socket opening at a second end of the lower elongated support member, an upper end of the vertical support member being secured to the upper elongated support member and extending downwardly away therefrom, and a lower end of the vertical support member supporting the lower elongated support member, the lower elongated support member being adapted for rotatable movement relative to the vertical support member and the upper elongated support member, the lower elongated support member being adapted for releasable engagement with the vertical support member, the lower elongated support member being moveable between a first position and a second position, the first and second positions between opposite one another, the upper and lower elongated support members being disposed in generally parallel relationship to one another when the lower elongated support member is in its first position and when it is in its second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further including a first attachment and a second attachment, the first attachment being releasably attachable within the first socket opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first attachment is a cargo tray, the upper elongated support member being engaged with a receiver on a vehicle, the cargo tray being positioned away from the vehicle when the lower elongated support member is in its first position, and the cargo tray being positioned beneath the vehicle when the lower elongated support member is in its second position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower end of the vertical support member extends through the lower elongated support member and includes a bearing surface that supports the lower elongated support member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower end of the vertical support member includes a first transverse bore, and the lower elongated support member includes a second transverse bore, the first and second transverse bores being adapted for alignment to receive a removable pin to prevent rotation of the lower elongated support member relative to the vertical support member when the lower elongated support member is in its first position and when the lower elongated support member is in its second position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower elongated support member includes a vertical bore therethrough, and the vertical support member is disposed within the vertical bore for rotational movement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, a vertical sleeve that is aligned with the vertical bore and that extends above the lower elongated support member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the vertical bore is defined by a vertical sleeve that extends below the lower elongated support member, a lower end of the vertical support member extends below a lower end of the vertical sleeve, and a bearing is disposed between the lower end of the vertical sleeve and a bearing surface on the lower end of the vertical support member. ### Claim 9 An apparatus comprising: a support assembly having an upper elongated support member, a lower elongated support member, and a vertical support member, the upper and lower elongated support members being spaced apart from one another, the lower elongated support member having a first socket opening at a first end of the lower elongated support member and a second socket opening at a second end of the lower elongated support member, an upper end of the vertical support member being secured to the upper elongated support member and extending downwardly away therefrom, a lower end of the vertical support member supporting the lower elongated support member, the lower elongated support member being adapted for rotatable movement relative to the vertical support member and the upper elongated support member, the lower elongated support member being adapted for releasable engagement with the vertical support member, the lower elongated support member being moveable between a first position and a second position, the first and second positions between opposite one another, the upper and lower elongated support members being disposed in generally parallel relationship to one another when the lower elongated support member is in its first position and when it is in its second position, and the lower end of the vertical support member extending through the lower elongated support member and including a bearing surface that supports the lower elongated support member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, further including a first attachment and a second attachment, the first attachment being releasably attachable within the first socket opening, and the second attachment being releasably attachable within the second socket opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first attachment is a cargo tray, and the second attachment is a hitch ball, the upper elongated support member being engaged with a receiver on a vehicle, the cargo tray being positioned away from the vehicle and the hitch ball being positioned beneath the vehicle when the lower elongated support member is in its first position, and the cargo tray being positioned beneath the vehicle and the hitch ball being positioned away from the vehicle when the lower elongated support member is in its second position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lower end of the vertical support member includes a first transverse bore, and the lower elongated support member includes a second transverse bore, the first and second transverse bores being adapted for alignment to receive a removable pin to prevent rotation of the lower elongated support member relative to the vertical support member when the lower elongated support member is in its first position and when the lower elongated support member is in its second position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lower elongated support member includes a vertical bore therethrough, and the vertical support member is disposed within the vertical bore for rotational movement. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, a vertical sleeve that is aligned with the vertical bore and that extends above the lower elongated support member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the vertical bore is defined by a vertical sleeve that extends below the lower elongated support member, a lower end of the vertical support member extends below a lower end of the vertical sleeve, and a bearing is disposed between the lower end of the vertical sleeve and a bearing surface on the lower end of the vertical support member. ### Claim 16 An apparatus comprising: a support assembly having an upper elongated support member, a lower elongated support member, and a vertical support member, the upper and lower elongated support members being spaced apart from one another, the lower elongated support member having a first socket opening at a first end of the lower elongated support member and a second socket opening at a second end of the lower elongated support member, an upper end of the vertical support member being secured to the upper elongated support member and extending downwardly away therefrom, a lower end of the vertical support member supporting the lower elongated support member, the lower elongated support member being adapted for rotatable movement relative to the vertical support member and the upper elongated support member, the lower elongated support member being adapted for releasable engagement with the vertical support member, the lower elongated support member being moveable between a first position and a second position, the first and second positions between opposite one another, the upper and lower elongated support members being disposed in generally parallel relationship to one another when the lower elongated support member is in its first position and when it is in its second position, the lower end of the vertical support member extending through the lower elongated support member and including a bearing surface that supports the lower elongated support member, and the lower elongated support member including a vertical bore therethrough defined by a vertical sleeve, and the vertical support member being disposed within the vertical bore for rotational movement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, further including a first attachment and a second attachment, the first attachment being releasably attachable within the first socket opening, and the second attachment being releasably attachable within the second socket opening. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first attachment is a cargo tray, and the second attachment is a hitch ball, the upper elongated support member being engaged with a receiver on a vehicle, the cargo tray being positioned away from the vehicle and the hitch ball being positioned beneath the vehicle when the lower elongated support member is in its first position, and the cargo tray being positioned beneath the vehicle and the hitch ball being positioned away from the vehicle when the lower elongated support member is in its second position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the lower end of the vertical support member includes a first transverse bore, and the lower elongated support member includes a second transverse bore, the first and second transverse bores being adapted for alignment to receive a removable pin to prevent rotation of the lower elongated support member relative to the vertical support member when the lower elongated support member is in its first position and when the lower elongated support member is in its second position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a lower end of the vertical support member extends below a lower end of the vertical sleeve, and a bearing is disposed between the lower end of the vertical sleeve and a bearing surface on the lower end of the vertical support member.