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US 2026/0084764 A1Published application
Stowable wheel trailer hitch
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMichael John Harmon, Hussain Z. Tajmahal, Matthew Craddock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method comprise selectively moving a trailer hitch between a towing position where the trailer hitch is located in a cargo area above a vehicle bed floor and a stowed position where the trailer hitch is located underneath the bed floor and hidden from view.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a bed floor including a hitch opening;
- a platform mounted to cover the hitch opening, the platform having a first bed surface and a second bed surface facing opposite the first bed surface;
- and
- a hitch supported on the first bed surface of the platform, wherein the platform and the hitch are selectively movable as a unit between a towing position where the hitch is located in a cargo area above the bed floor and a stowed position where the hitch is located underneath the bed floor.
1 more element
A system, comprising:
- a bed floor defining a cargo area and including a hitch opening;
- a receptacle supported by a vehicle frame underneath the bed floor and having an open end aligned with the hitch opening;
- a platform mounted to cover the open end of the receptacle, the platform having a first bed surface and a second bed surface facing opposite the first bed surface;
- and
- a hitch supported on the first bed surface of the platform, wherein the platform and the hitch are selectively movable as a unit between a towing position where the hitch is located in the cargo area and a stowed position where the hitch is received within the receptacle and the second bed surface faces the cargo area.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- selectively moving a trailer hitch between a towing position where the trailer hitch is located in a cargo area above a vehicle bed floor and a stowed position where the trailer hitch is located underneath the vehicle bed floor and hidden from view.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.