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US 12,558,933 B1Granted
Pivotal cover for ball hitch
OwnerMichael Anthony Cordrayinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for covering a trailer ball in a ball hitch mount provides a pivotal cover coupled to the ball hitch mount and configured to pivot between a closed position as for covering trailer ball and an opened position for uncovering trailer ball. Vertical slots are provided in the cover for attachment to a pivot pin installed to the ball hitch mount, wherein the vertical slots enable pivotal as well as translational motion on the pivot pin.
Claims10
A system for covering a trailer ball of a ball hitch mount, the system comprising:
- a pivotal cover providing a shell enclosure for housing the trailer ball, the shell enclosure having a top enclosure section, opposing side enclosure sections extending downwards from opposing sides of the top enclosure section, and a front enclosure section, extending downwards from the top enclosure section and between the opposing side enclosure sections,
- wherein a pair of opposing vertical slots are formed within the side enclosure sections, a first vertical slot in the pair of vertical slots being formed in a first side enclosure section of the opposing side enclosure sections and a second vertical slot in the pair of vertical slots being formed in a second side enclosure section of the opposing side enclosure sections,
- wherein the pair of opposing vertical slots are configured to receive a pivot pin coupled to the ball hitch mount,
- wherein the pivotal cover is configured to connect to the ball hitch mount via engagement of the pivot pin through the pair of opposing vertical slots, such that the pivot pin passes through both slots and is in perpendicular alignment to a long axis of the slots,
- whereby the pivotal cover is configured to both pivot and slide vertically on the pivot pin when connected to the ball hitch mount via said engagement of the pivot pin through the pair of opposing vertical slots, such the cover may be moved between a closed position for covering the trailer ball, and an opened position for uncovering trailer ball,
- wherein the pivot pin is installed at an underside of the trailer ball mount, and
- wherein the pivot pin is installed to a pivot washer coupled to the underside of the trailer ball mount, the pivot washer including a pin sleave through which the pivot pin is engaged.
4 more elements
A method for covering a trailer ball of a ball hitch mount, the method comprising:
- rotating a pivotal cover between a closed position for covering the trailer ball, and an opened position for uncovering trailer ball, the pivotal cover being installed to the ball hitch mount and comprising:
- a shell enclosure for housing the trailer ball, the shell enclosure having a top enclosure section, opposing side enclosure sections extending downwards from opposing sides of the top enclosure section, and a front enclosure section, extending downwards from the top enclosure section and between the opposing side enclosure sections,
- wherein a pair of opposing vertical slots are formed within the side enclosure sections, a first vertical slot in the pair of vertical slots being formed in a first side enclosure section of the opposing side enclosure sections and a second vertical slot in the pair of vertical slots being formed in a second side enclosure section of the opposing side enclosure sections,
- wherein the pair of opposing vertical slots are configured to receive a pivot pin coupled to the ball hitch mount, such that the pivot pin is passed through both slots in the pair of opposing slots, and is in perpendicular alignment to a long axis of the slots,
- wherein the pivotal cover is configured to pivot as well as slide vertically on the pivot pin, said pivot pin being connected to the ball hitch mount via said engagement of the pivot pin through the pair of opposing vertical slots for enabling the cover to be moved between said closed position and said opened position,
- wherein the pivot pin is installed at an underside of the trailer ball mount, and
- wherein the pivot pin is installed to a pivot washer coupled to the underside of the trailer ball mount, the pivot washer including a pin sleave through which the pivot pin is engaged.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.