US 12,240,281 B2Granted

Aligning hitch pin assembly

AssigneeEtrailer Corporation

InventorsDaniel Anthony Perotti, Craig Michael Obermark

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A hitch pin assembly includes a hitch pin, housing and shoulder bushing. The housing removably connects to the bushing when the bushing is seated in the aperture of a receiver tube. When the housing is so connected a plunger of the housing extends through the bushing and projects into the receiver tube. When the shank is inserted into the receiver tube the plunger tip catches the aperture of the shank, holding the shank in a position in which the pin-receiving apertures on the receiver tube and shank are aligned. The hitch pin is then inserted from one side of the receiver tube and into the bushing. A plunger in the housing translates along a projection in a track of the plunger to reveal the projection to the hitch pin tip and place it into position for engagement with the inserted hitch pin. The engagement holds the shank and eliminates rattling.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A hitch pin assembly for use with a receiver tube, the receiver tube having an interior cavity and a receiver tube opening to the interior cavity of the receiver tube, the interior cavity being sized and shaped to telescopically receive a shank of an accessory device, the receiver tube having a first aperture and the shank having a second aperture, the first and second apertures being configured to align when the receiver tube telescopically receives the shank, the hitch pin assembly comprising:

a bushing, the bushing having a body that is cylindrical and has a center axis, the body is insertable from the interior cavity of the receiver tube through the first aperture to extend the body to an exterior of the receiver tube;
a housing, the housing being attachable to the body of the bushing when the bushing is inserted through the first aperture of the receiver tube to secure the housing and the bushing to the receiver tube, the housing having a cylindrical configuration with a center axis that is coaxial with the center axis of the body of the bushing when the housing and the bushing are secured to the receiver tube, the housing and the bushing being rotatable on the receiver tube when the housing and the bushing are secured to the receiver tube;
and
a plunger in the housing, the plunger having a tip positioned in the interior cavity of the receiver tube when the housing and the bushing are secured to the receiver tube, the plunger being movable in reciprocating, axial movements in the housing and in the bushing.

1 more element

A hitch assembly for use with a receiver tube, the receiver tube having an interior cavity and a receiver tube opening to the interior cavity, the interior cavity being sized and shaped to receive a shank of an accessory device, the receiver tube having a first aperture and the shank having a second aperture, the first and second apertures being positionable in an aligned configuration when the receiver tube receives the shank, the hitch assembly comprising;

a bushing, the bushing having a body that is cylindrical with a center axis, the bushing extends from the interior cavity of the receiver tube through the first aperture of the receiver tube to an exterior of the receiver tube;
a housing, the housing having a cylindrical configuration with a center axis that is coaxial with the center axis of the body of the bushing, the housing being secured to the body of the bushing securing the housing and the bushing to the receiver tube for rotation of the housing and the bushing together on the receiver tube;
and
a plunger in the housing and in the bushing, the plunger having a tip positioned in the interior cavity of the receiver tube, the plunger being movable in reciprocating, axial movements in the housing and in the bushing.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/481,452Filed 22 Sep 2021 · continuation in part
Priority: 29 Apr 2020
Published: US 2022/0001709 A16 Jan 2022
Granted: 4 Mar 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60D 1/241
Characterised by arrangements for particular functions: for suppressing noise generation
B60D 1/025
Bolt or shackle-type couplings: comprising release or locking lever pins
B60D 1/52
Characterised by the mounting: removably mounted
B60D 1/60
Auxiliary devices: covers, caps or guards , e.g. comprising anti-theft devices

Family

Application16/862,092Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Apr 2020
US 2022/0001709 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Jan 2022
US 11,712,934 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2021/0339586 A1Published application
US 12,240,281 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.