Weight distribution hitch
AssigneeGen-Y Creations, LLC
InventorCarl J. Borkholder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A weight distribution hitch has a portion that is affixed to a trailer and a vehicle portion that is affixed adjacent to a hitch ball on a towing vehicle. A cable with a spring element extends between the trailer portion and vehicle portion, with the ends of the cable being attached to the trailer portion. The cable passes through the vehicle portion at a point below the hitch ball. A tensioner is connected to the cable to add or adjust the level of tension in the cable. When the cable is tensioned, a rotational force is generated about the hitch ball between the trailer and towing vehicle that distributes tongue weight away from the hitch ball and socket connection.
Claims20
A weight distribution hitch for use with a towing vehicle and a trailer coupled to a rear of said towing vehicle, said weight distribution hitch comprising:
- a vehicle attachment portion connectable to said vehicle, said vehicle attachment portion having a sheave rotatable about a rotational axis;
- a first trailer attachment connectable to said trailer;
- a second trailer attachment connectable to said trailer;
- a cable extending from said first trailer attachment and through said vehicle attachment portion to said second trailer attachment, said cable slidable through said vehicle attachment portion
- a tensioner, said tensioner connected to said cable for applying said tension, said tensioner has a rotatable take-up drum, said tensioner is affixed to said first trailer attachment, one end of said cable is affixed to said take-up drum, a second end of said cable is affixed to said second trailer attachment, rotation of said take-up drum changes said tension in said cable;
- and
- when said vehicle attachment portion is connected to said vehicle and said first and second trailer attachment portions are connected to said trailer, tension in said cable imparts a rotational force between said vehicle and said trailer.
A weight distribution hitch for attachment to a towing vehicle and a trailer coupled to said towing vehicle through a ball-and-socket connection, when said trailer and towing vehicle are coupled, said trailer is generally pivotable with respect to said vehicle about said ball-and-socket connection in a yaw, pitch, and/or roll direction, said weight distribution hitch comprising:
- a shank affixable to said towing vehicle, a hitch ball fixed with respect to said shank, a pulley portion pivotable about a pivot axis, said pivot axis fixed with respect to said shank and spaced from said hitch ball;
- a cable extending through said pulley portion, said cable having a first end and a second end, said cable slidable through said pulley portion between said first and second ends;
- a trailer frame attachment for attaching said first end of said cable with respect to said trailer;
- an adjustable tensioner for attaching said second end of said cable with respect to said trailer;
- when said trailer is coupled to said hitch ball, said trailer frame attachment is attached to said trailer, and said adjustable tensioner is attached to said trailer, tension in said cable imparts a rotational force on said shank in said pitch direction;
- and
- when said trailer pivots with respect to said vehicle in said yaw direction, said cable slides through said pulley portion.
A weight distribution hitch for use with a trailer connected to a towing vehicle at a coupler, said weight distribution hitch comprising:
- a vehicle attachment portion for being fixed with respect to said vehicle;
- a trailer attachment portion for being fixed with respect to said trailer;
- a cable having a first end and a second end, said cable extending between said vehicle attachment portion and said trailer attachment portion, said first and second ends affixed to one of said vehicle attachment portion or said trailer attachment portion, said cable passing through the other of said vehicle attachment portion or said trailer attachment portion;
- a sheave where said cable passes through other of said vehicle attachment portion or said trailer attachment portion, said sheave is rotatable about a rotational axis;
- and
- wherein tension in said cable creates a rotational force about said vehicle attachment portion.
A weight distribution hitch for use with a towing vehicle and a trailer coupled to a rear of said towing vehicle, said weight distribution hitch comprising:
- a vehicle attachment portion connectable to said vehicle, said vehicle attachment portion having a sheave rotatable about a rotational axis, said vehicle attachment portion having a fixed portion and a pivoting portion, said sheave located on said pivoting portion, said pivoting portion pivotable about a pivot axis perpendicular to said rotational axis;
- a first trailer attachment connectable to said trailer;
- a second trailer attachment connectable to said trailer;
- a cable extending from said first trailer attachment and through said vehicle attachment portion to said second trailer attachment, said cable slidable through said vehicle attachment portion;
- and
- when said vehicle attachment portion is connected to said vehicle and said first and second trailer attachment portions are connected to said trailer, tension in said cable imparts a rotational force between said vehicle and said trailer.
A weight distribution hitch for use with a towing vehicle and a trailer coupled to a rear of said towing vehicle, said weight distribution hitch comprising:
- a vehicle attachment portion connectable to said vehicle, said vehicle attachment portion having a sheave rotatable about a rotational axis;
- a first trailer attachment connectable to said trailer;
- a second trailer attachment connectable to said trailer;
- a cable extending from said first trailer attachment and through said vehicle attachment portion to said second trailer attachment, said cable slidable through said vehicle attachment portion;
- when said vehicle attachment portion is connected to said vehicle and said first and second trailer attachment portions are connected to said trailer, tension in said cable imparts a rotational force between said vehicle and said trailer;
- and
- a stacked receiver having a plurality of vertically arranged receivers, a hitch ball affixed to one of said vertically arranged receivers, said vehicle attachment portion affixed to another of said vertically arranged receivers and spaced from said hitch ball.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.