US 4,204,702 AGranted

Universal quick detach accessory mount for vehicles or the like

OwnerVictor C. Oltroggeinventor

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Abstract

Multiple attachment points for receiving universal adapters are retained by a relatively rigid structure in a generally rectangular orientation. The structure is rigidly attached to a structurally sturdy member such as the underframe of a vehicle. One arrangement of the attachment points employs four slots which are oriented at the effective corners of a rectangle and parallel to the anticipated direction of main tension loading. These slots are arranged to receive extension arms of a bracket-like adapter to which any of a wide variety of accessories can be mounted. For a vehicle, the slot-retaining frame can be rigidly secured to the underframe between the vehicle body and the protective bumper, attached to or included within a surface of the bumper or even mounted upon the flat bed surface of the vehicle body. In yet another arrangement of the mounting points, an arrangement of bars is rigidly secured to a box-like structure which is in turn secured to the vehicle body. A pivotal and slidable clamping arrangement permits engaging of the bars so as to secure the adapter to the vehicle frame.

Claims12

Dependent claims

Hitch apparatus adapted for removable mounting an article to be towed to the underframe of a vehicle and the like, comprising:

a male adapter affixed to said article, said male adapter including a plurality of interconnected arms projecting in a common direction in spaced substantially parallel relation to one another and each arm terminating in a solid flat tongue portion at its outer free end, said arms being connected at the other end in rigid relation to one another and at least two of said arms being in substantially vertical orientation to one another;
a pair of rigid brackets mounted to said underframe and projecting outwardly thereform in spaced-apart relation to one another;
female interconnecting means mounted on said rigid brackets for interconnecting said male adapter to said underframe, said female interconnecting means having upper and lower substantially horizontal slotted passageways aligned for simultaneously receiving the tongue portions of said arms in mating relation to one another, each of said slotted passageways having upper and lower walls spaced apart a distance for close-fitting insertion of its respective tongue portion and elongated in the direction of insertion of said tongue portion thereinto, said female interconnecting means having a pair of elongated parallel spaced-apart wall portions attached to said brackets and each said wall portion defining one of said upper and lower walls of each said slotted passageway;
and
releasable attachment means for positively coupling said arms within said slotted passageways, said releasable attachment means extending through slotted passageways in a direction transversely of the direction of extension of said arms into said slotted passageways and extending through openings in said arms so as to be operative when attached to transfer the load forces between said adapter and said female interconnecting means to said underframe.

2 more elements

In a hitch apparatus adapted for removable mounting an adapter to the underframe of a vehicle wherein said adapter includes a plurality of elongated arms terminating in relatively flat, wide connecting solid end portions extending in a common direction away from a common interconnecting frame, said arms projecting in spaced substantially parallel relation to one another in over-and-under configuration, the combination therewith comprising:

a support frame assembly being rigidly attached to said underframe, said frame assembly having first and second elongated flat brace members and provided with at least two pairs of upper and lower female interconnecting means extending in a common direction through said frame assembly from an exterior surface thereof in facing relation to said arms, said female interconnecting means including slots aligned for insertion of the connecting end portions of said arms with said female interconnecting means being rigidly attached to the underframe, said slots forming a plurality of internal passageways each having upper and lower walls dimensioned for close fitting reception of a respective one of said solid end portions therebetween, one of said upper and lower walls of each said internal passageway being defined by one of said first and second brace members;
and
releasable attachment means for positively coupling said arms within said slots, said releasable attachment means extending through holes in said slots and said solid end portions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/935,990Filed 23 Aug 1978 · continuation
Priority: 2 Feb 1976
Granted: 27 May 1980
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B60D 1/488
Characterised by the mounting: mounted directly to the chassis of the towing vehicle
B60D 1/075
Multi-hitch devices, i.e. comprising several hitches of the same or of a different type; Hitch-adaptors, i.e. for converting hitches from one…
B60D 1/52
Characterised by the mounting: removably mounted
B60D 1/56
Characterised by the mounting: securing to the vehicle bumper