# US 2021/0170818 A1 · Weight measuring hitch ball assembly for measuring weight of a trailer supported by a tow vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0170818 A1 - Document ID: US20210170818A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/090,751 - Filed: 2020-11-05 - Published: 2021-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2019-11-05 - Assignees: Weigh Safe, LLC - Applicants: Weigh Safe, LLC - Inventors: Bryce Doman; Brandon Doman; Morgan McAllister - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210170818A1 ## CPC - B60D 1/248: {for measuring, indicating or displaying the weight} - B60D 1/06: Ball-and-socket hitches - B60D 1/62: involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like - G01G 5/04: with means for measuring the pressure imposed by the load on a liquid (pressure gauges per se G01L) - G01G 19/10: having fluid weight-sensitive devices - B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) ## Abstract A weight measuring hitch ball assembly is described. The assembly can include a hitch ball having a ball and a lower portion. The assembly can also include a body portion defining a hitch ball opening that slidably receives the lower portion of the hitch ball. The assembly can further include a load measurement device operably associated with the body portion and the hitch ball to determine a magnitude of a force acting on the hitch ball. Additionally, the assembly can include a hitch mount interface configured to interface with an attachment structure that facilitates coupling the weight measuring hitch ball assembly to a tow vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A weight measuring hitch ball assembly, comprising: a hitch ball having a ball and a lower portion; a body portion defining a hitch ball opening that slidably receives the lower portion of the hitch ball; a load measurement device operably associated with the body portion and the hitch ball to determine a magnitude of a force acting on the hitch ball; and a hitch mount interface configured to interface with an attachment structure that facilitates coupling the weight measuring hitch ball assembly to a tow vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 1, wherein the hitch mount interface is at least partially defined by the body portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 2, wherein the hitch mount interface is located at an upper end of the body portion, a lower end of the body portion, or both. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 1, wherein the hitch mount interface comprises a coupling feature operable to facilitate securing the weight measuring hitch ball assembly to the attachment structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 4, wherein the coupling feature is associated with the body portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 5, wherein the coupling feature is at least partially defined by the body portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 5, wherein the coupling feature extends downward from the body portion below the hitch ball. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 4, wherein the coupling feature comprises a threaded coupling feature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 4, wherein the coupling feature comprises an opening operable to receive a pin or a rod. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 4, wherein the coupling feature comprises a movable ball operable to extend into a groove in the attachment feature to secure the weight measuring hitch ball assembly to the attachment feature and to retract from the groove to facilitate removal of the weight measuring hitch ball assembly from the attachment feature. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hitch portion extending from the body portion, wherein the hitch mount interface is at least partially defined by the hitch portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 11, wherein the hitch portion extends downward from the body portion below the hitch ball. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 11, wherein the hitch portion extends laterally from the body portion on a lateral side of the hitch ball. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 1, wherein the hitch mount interface comprises at least one of a planar interface surface or a curved interface surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 14, wherein the planar interface surface at least partially defines a rectangular profile. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 14, wherein the curved interface surface at least partially defines a circular profile. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A weight measuring hitch ball system, comprising: the weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 1; and the attachment structure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the hitch mount interface is at least partially defined by the body portion, and the attachment structure is an above-bed attachment structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the hitch mount interface is located at an upper end of the body portion, a lower end of the body portion, or both. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the hitch mount interface comprises a coupling feature operable to facilitate securing the weight measuring hitch ball assembly to the tow vehicle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the coupling feature is associated with the body portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the coupling feature is at least partially defined by the body portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the coupling feature comprises a threaded coupling feature that extends downward from the body portion below the hitch ball, and the attachment structure comprises a draw bar. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the coupling feature comprises a threaded coupling feature. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the coupling feature comprises an opening operable to receive a pin or a rod. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the coupling feature comprises a movable ball operable to extend into a groove in the attachment feature to secure the weight measuring hitch ball assembly to the attachment feature and to retract from the groove to facilitate removal of the weight measuring hitch ball assembly from the attachment feature. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, further comprising a hitch portion extending from the body portion, wherein the hitch mount interface is at least partially defined by the hitch portion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The system of claim 27, wherein the hitch portion extends downward from the body portion below the hitch ball, and the attachment structure comprises a goose ball receiver socket. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The system of claim 27, wherein the hitch portion extends laterally from the body portion on a lateral side of the hitch ball, and the attachment structure comprises a hitch receiver. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the hitch mount interface comprises at least one of a planar interface surface or a cylindrical interface surface. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) A method of measuring weight of a trailer supported by a tow vehicle, comprising: engaging a coupling device of a trailer with the weight measuring hitch ball assembly of claim 1, the weight measuring hitch ball assembly being operably coupled to the tow vehicle.