Self-Locking Hitch Pin
OwnerMax M. Smootinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a self-locking hitch pin for joining a hitch device to a receiver hitch in a quick and easy manner using a single, self-contained mechanism. The hitch pin is comprised of shaft with a locking member on one end and a handle and weight on the other end and a spring and retainers to keep the hitch pin in place. The self-locking hitch pin allows for single-handed installation and securing of a hitch device to a receiver hitch with no pin or locking mechanism to be lost or dropped. The self-locking hitch pin can be inserted into the hitch orifice, have pressure applied to the spring, rotate the hitch pin allowing gravity to engage the locking member and then release pressure on the spring coupling both devices together.
Claims13
A method of securing a hitch device to a receiver hitch comprising the steps:
- providing a self-locking hitch pin comprising a locking member with a distal cylindrical portion connected to a proximal plate that is pivotally connected to a shaft within a channel, said locking member that engages with said shaft in a coaxial orientation to form a substantially cylindrical rod when an axis of said shaft is rotated in a first position, and said locking member that may freely pivot to a perpendicular orientation to said shaft when said axis of said shaft is rotated in a second position;
- inserting said locking member and then said shaft of said self-locking hitch pin, while oriented in said first position, through a first side of a receiver orifice and hitch orifice to a sufficient distance such that said locking member may freely pivot on an opposite side of said receiver orifice from said first side;
- rotating said shaft to said second position thereby allowing said locking member to pivot to said perpendicular orientation on said opposite side of said receiver orifice thereby preventing extraction of said shaft from said receiver orifice and said hitch orifice;
- and,
- retaining said shaft on said first side of said receiver orifice with a retainer compressively held in place with a compressive mechanism with respect to said shaft.
A self-locking hitch pin comprising:
- a locking member comprising a distal cylindrical portion connected to a proximal locking member plate;
- a shaft with a channel pivotally connected to said locking member plate;
- a shaft abutment surface on a distal end of said shaft that engages with a mating surface on said locking member such that said shaft and said locking member are fixed in a coaxial orientation when said axis of said shaft is rotated to a first position, and said locking member that may freely pivot to a perpendicular orientation to said shaft when said axis of said shaft is rotated to a second position;
- and,
- a retainer compressively held in place with respect to said shaft on said proximal side of said shaft with a compressive mechanism.
A self-locking hitch pin for securing a hitch device to a receiver hitch:
- a means for providing a self-locking hitch pin comprising a locking member with a distal cylindrical portion connected to a proximal plate that is pivotally connected to a shaft within a channel, said locking member that engages with said shaft in a coaxial orientation to form a substantially cylindrical rod when an axis of said shaft is rotated in a first position, and said locking member that may freely pivot to a perpendicular orientation to said shaft when said axis of said shaft is rotated in a second position;
- a means for inserting said locking member and then said shaft of said self-locking hitch pin while oriented in said first position through a first side of a receiver orifice and hitch orifice to a sufficient distance such that said locking member may freely pivot on an opposite side of said receiver orifice from said first side;
- a means for rotating said shaft to said second position thereby allowing said locking member to pivot to said perpendicular orientation on said opposite side of said receiver orifice thereby preventing extraction of said shaft from said receiver orifice and said hitch orifice;
- and,
- a means for retaining said shaft on said first side of said receiver orifice with a retainer compressively held in place with a compressive mechanism with respect to said shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.