# US 2014/0197618 A1 · Gooseneck hitch assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197618 A1 - Document ID: US20140197618A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/151,243 - Filed: 2014-01-09 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: Midway Products Group, Inc. - Applicants: Midway Products Group, Inc. - Inventors: RANDALL T. SCHOTT; DARYL ADAMS; JOHNNY H. ALLISON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197618A1 ## CPC - B60D 1/065: {characterised by the hitch mechanism} - B60D 1/06: Ball-and-socket hitches - B60D 1/488: {mounted directly to the chassis of the towing vehicle} - B60D 1/54: collapsible or retractable when not in use, e.g. hide-away hitches - B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS ## Abstract A hitch assembly having a ball stud assembly and a sleeve with an open end dimensioned to receive the ball stud assembly. The ball stud assembly including a ball portion and a locking assembly. The ball stud assembly is movable between an extended position in which the ball portion extends out of the sleeve and a retracted position in which the ball portion is fully received within the sleeve. The locking assembly is configured to selectively lock the ball stud assembly with respect to the sleeve in either the extended position or the retracted position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hitch assembly comprising: a ball stud assembly comprising a stud portion extending from a ball portion, wherein the ball stud assembly includes a locking assembly; a sleeve with an open end dimensioned to receive the ball stud assembly; wherein the ball stud assembly is movable between an extended position in which the ball portion extends out of the sleeve and a retracted position in which the ball portion is fully received within the sleeve; and wherein the locking assembly is configured to selectively lock the ball stud assembly with respect to the sleeve in either the extended position or the retracted position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes a first interior groove and a second interior groove, wherein the locking assembly engages the first interior groove to lock the ball stud assembly in the extended position and engages the second interior groove to lock the ball stud assembly in the retracted position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the locking assembly includes a one or more bearings movable between an unlocked position within the stud portion and a locked position extending through one or more openings defined in the stud portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the bearings extend into the first interior groove when the ball stud assembly is locked in the extended position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein the bearings extend into the second interior groove when the ball stud assembly is locked in the retracted position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the locking assembly includes a release assembly configured to release the ball stud assembly with respect to the sleeve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the release assembly includes an elongated rod extending through at least a portion of the ball stud assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the elongated rod has a first end with a release button and a second end with a plunger. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the plunger includes a collar portion with an arcuate cross-section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the collar portion has a profile configured to receive the bearings in the unlocked position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the collar portion terminates at a rim portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the rim portion is configured to extend the bearings to the locked position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the plunger is urged toward the ball portion by a biasing member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the release button extends through an opening defined in the ball portion of the ball stud assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein the release button includes a surface that forms a generally continuous and uninterrupted surface with an exterior surface of the ball portion. ### Claim 16 A hitch assembly comprising: a ball stud assembly including a stud portion extending from a ball portion; a sleeve with an open end dimensioned to receive the ball stud assembly; wherein the ball stud assembly is movable between an extended position in which the ball portion extends out of the sleeve and a retracted position in which the ball portion is fully received within the sleeve; and wherein the ball stud assembly includes a locking assembly that is movable to a locked position in which the ball stud assembly is locked with respect to the sleeve and an unlocked position in which the ball stud assembly is freely movable with respect to the sleeve, wherein the locking assembly is actuated by a release button that extends from the ball portion to move the locking assembly between the locked and unlocked positions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein the release button extends through an opening defined in the ball portion of the ball stud assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein the release button includes a surface that forms a generally continuous and uninterrupted surface with an exterior surface of the ball portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein the sleeve has a generally cylindrical shape with an interior surface defining a first circumferential slot and a second circumferential slot. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The hitch assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the stud portion has a generally cylindrical shape defining one or more openings through which one or more respective bearings of the locking assembly are movable therethrough into registry with either the first circumferential slot or the second circumferential slot.