Swing away hitch assembly for a trailer and method of manufacturing same

A method of manufacturing a trailer hitch, comprising the steps of:

• securing first support plates to a front end of a base member, said base member having a rear end adapted to be secured to a trailer;
• providing at least two holes within a pivoting arm, proximate its rear end, said pivoting arm having a front end adapted to be secured to a hitch;
• providing an equal number of holes in said first support plates and in second support plates;
• aligning said second support plates with respect to said pivoting arm such that corresponding holes in said second support plate and said pivoting arm align with one another;
• inserting sleeves through said holes in said second support plates and said holes in said pivoting arm;
• flaring outer ends of said sleeves to affix said second support plates to said pivoting arm;
• aligning said first and second plates;
• and
• inserting a pivot pin into a corresponding one of said holes.

A swing away hitch assembly comprising:

• a base member having a rear end adapted to be secured to a trailer and a front end projecting forward with respect to said trailer,
• a pivoting arm having a front end adapted to be secured to a hitch;
• top and bottom outer support plates affixed to one of said base member and said pivot arm;
• top and bottom inner support plates affixed to an opposite one of said base member and said pivot arm, said opposite one of said base member and said pivoting arm and said inner and outer support plates having at least front and back holes therethrough aligned with another;
• said inner support plates being received between said outer support plates and slidable engaging one another along an arcuate path having a center at said back hole;
• securing means, extending through said holes in said inner plates and through a center of said opposite one of said base member and said pivoting arm, for securing said second support means to said opposite one of said base member and said pivoting arm;
• and
• pivoting means for pivotally securing said base member to said pivoting arm;
• and
• positioning means for fastening said pivoting arm in a towing position and a storage position.

A trailer hitch comprising:

• a base member, having a rear end adapted to be secured to a trailer and a front end projecting forward with respect to said trailer;
• a pivoting arm, having a front end adapted to be secured to a hitch and having holes therethrough;
• first and second support means for supporting said pivoting arm relative to said base member, each of said first and second support means having corresponding holes therethrough aligned with said holes through said pivoting arm, said first and second support means slidably engaging one another along an arcuate path about a center of one of said holes, said first and second support means including front and 14 back holes having centers aligned along a longitudinal axis thereof;
• securing means, extending through said holes in said pivoting arm and said second support means, for securing said 18 second support means to said pivoting arm;
• and
• means for pivotally securing said base member to said pivoting arm to enable said pivoting arm to rotate between a towing position and a storage position and for affixing said pivoting arm in said towing and storage positions.

A trailer hitch comprising:

• a base member adapted to be secured to a trailer;
• a pivoting arm adapted to be secured to a hitch;
• at least one inner support plate and at least one outer support plate, mounted to said pivoting arm and said base member, for supporting said pivoting arm relative to said base member, said inner support plate and said pivoting arm each having at least one hole extending therethrough and aligned with one another;
• means, within said at least one hole in said pivoting arm and said at least one hole in said inner support plate, for securing said inner support plate to said pivoting arm;
• means for pivotally securing said base member to said pivoting arm;
• and
• means for fastening said pivoting arm in one of a towing position and a storage position.

A method of manufacturing a hitch, comprising the steps of:

• forming a pivoting arm with at least one hole therethrough, said pivoting arm adapted to be secured to a hitch;
• aligning at least one support place, having at least one hole therein, with said pivoting arm such that corresponding holes in said support plate and said pivoting arm align with one another;
• inserting a sleeve into said aligned holes in said support plate and said pivoting arm;
• rigidly affixing said support plate to said pivoting arm with the sleeve;
• and
• pivotally attaching said support plate to a base.