Trailer hitch and method for producing same
AssigneeWestfalia-Automotive GmbH
InventorsKai Angermann, Martin Wyrwich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A trailer hitch for a motor vehicle comprises a coupling arm, on one end region of which a coupling body, in particular a coupling ball, is arranged for hitching a trailer or coupling a load carrier to the motor vehicle. At least one support element forming at least part of an outer surface of the coupling body and/or of the coupling arm is provided on the coupling body and/or on the coupling arm, said support element having a greater strength and/or hardness than an in particular metal basic material of a main body of the coupling body or coupling arm on which the support element is arranged or which bears the support element.
Claims34
A trailer hitch for a motor vehicle, wherein the trailer hitch has a coupling arm, on an end region of which a coupling body is arranged for hitching a trailer or coupling a load carrier to the motor vehicle, wherein at least one support element forming at least one part of a respective outer surface of the coupling body and/or of the coupling arm is provided on the coupling body and/or on the coupling arm, said at least one support element having a greater strength and/or hardness than a basic material of a main body of the coupling body or coupling arm on which the support element is arranged or which bears the support element;
- and
- wherein the at least one support element has a flat shape and provides at least 10% of a region of the outer surface of the coupling body, in contact with the load carrier or trailer when the trailer hitch is in use.
Method for producing a trailer hitch for a motor vehicle, wherein:
- the trailer hitch has a coupling arm, on an end region of which a coupling body is arranged for hitching a trailer or coupling a load carrier to the motor vehicle, wherein by producing at least one support element forming at least one part of a respective outer surface of the coupling body and/or the coupling arm on the coupling body and/or the coupling arm, wherein the support element has a greater strength and/or hardness than a basic material of a main body of the coupling body or coupling arm on which the support element is arranged or which bears the support element;
- the at least one support element has a flat shape and provides at least 10% of a region of the outer surface of the coupling body, in contact with the load carrier or trailer when the trailer hitch is in use.
A trailer hitch for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a coupling arm;
- a coupling body on an end region of the coupling arm;
- at least one first support element forming part of an outer surface of the coupling arm, the first support element having a greater strength and/or hardness than a basic material of the coupling arm;
- at least one second support element forming part of an outer surface of the coupling body, the second support element having a greater strength and/or hardness than a basic material of the coupling body;
- and
- a first partial surfaces of a region of the outer surface of the coupling body, in contact with the load carrier or trailer when the trailer hitch is in use, is formed by the basic material of the main body of the coupling body, and a second partial surfaces of the region of the outer surface of the coupling body, in contact with the load carrier or trailer when the trailer hitch is in use, is formed by the at least one support element or an arrangement of a plurality of support elements comprising at least one support element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.