# US 12,759,355 B2 · Swivel hitch device

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- Number: US 12,759,355 B2
- Document ID: US12759355B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/591,050
- Filed: 2024-02-29
- Published: 2025-05-22
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2023-11-21
- Applicants: M. Wane Blankenship
- Inventors: M. Wane Blankenship
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759355B2

## CPC

- B60D 1/44: horizontally
- B60D 1/02: Bolt or shackle-type couplings
- B60D 1/06: Ball-and-socket hitches
- B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS

## Abstract

A swivel hitch device is disclosed for viewing an item being towed in the rearview mirror of the towing vehicle. The swivel hitch device comprises a body component that includes a flat bar secured to the vehicle's hitch and having a through-hole. A channel is configured in a semi-circular shape with a plurality of through-holes spaced equi-distance apart. The channel is secured to a receiver tube and engages the flat bar, such that as the flat bar is swiveled side-to-side, the through-holes in the channel and the flat bar align. A removable, vertical pin is then inserted into a through-hole of the flat bar and the aligned through-hole of the channel, to secure the device in a desired position. Thus, the device essentially realigns a towed object to be off-centered, to be visible by the operator of the vehicle in any rearview mirror.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A swivel hitch device that provides a user with a means for offsetting a towed object, such that the towed object can be viewed in a rearview mirror, the swivel hitch device comprising:
a body component;
wherein the body component includes a flat bar secured to a vehicle's tow hitch and a receiver tube;
wherein the body component includes a channel secured to the receiver tube and which engages the flat bar;
wherein the flat bar swivels side-to-side and is secured in a desired position;
wherein the flat bar can be secured to a ball hitch or a pin hitch;
wherein the flat bar comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and opposing first and second ends;
wherein the flat bar is configured in different lengths, such as 8, 16, or 24″ from the vehicle's tow hitch;
wherein the first end of the flat bar is secured to the vehicle's tow hitch during use;
wherein the second opposing end of the flat bar comprise at least one through-hole for accepting a removable pin;
wherein the removable pin comprises a removable T-shaped handle;
wherein the receiver tube comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and opposing first and second ends;
wherein a middle section of the flat bar is secured to the first end of the receiver tube, which comprises a through-hole;
wherein the flat bar is secured to the receiver tube via a fixed pin and nylon washer, which allows the flat bar to swivel side-to-side against the receiver tube, as needed;
wherein the channel is configured in a semi-circular shape with a plurality of through-holes spaced equi-distance apart; and
further wherein the flat bar realigns the towed object to be off-centered, and thus, visible by a vehicle operator in the rearview mirror.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The swivel hitch device of claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing first and second ends, a back wall, and an open front creating a C-shaped cross-section.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The swivel hitch device of claim 2, wherein a bottom surface of the channel is secured to a top surface of the receiver tube via welding.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The swivel hitch device of claim 3, wherein the flat bar engages the channel, such that as the flat bar is swiveled side-to-side, the through-holes in the channel and the flat bar align and a removable pin is then inserted into a through-hole of the flat bar and the aligned through-hole of the channel, to secure the swivel hitch device in a desired off-set position.