Shock absorbing trailer hitch

A shock absorbing hitch for connecting a trailer to a towing vehicle which reduces shocks that can be transmitted between the trailer and the towing vehicle particularly during starting and stopping, wherein the towing vehicle can pull the trailer in a generally forward direction and push the trailer in a generally rearward direction, and wherein the trailer is provided with hitch attachment means at a forward portion of the trailer for releasable operable connection to the shock absorbing hitch, the shock absorbing hitch comprising:

• a mounting base at a rearward section of the towing vehicle for fixing the shock absorbing hitch to the towing vehicle
• a plate having hitching means for releasable operable connection with the hitch attachment means;
• and
• swing means operably connected between said plate and said mounting base to allow said plate to move forward and rearward with respect to the mounting base, said swing means connected to said plate such that said hitching means remains at a constant angular orientation relative to the mounting base as said plate swings forward and rearward, and said swing means connected to said plate such that said plate has a central position wherein said plate is at a lowest level, and wherein as said plate moves forward or rearward from said central position said plate moves to a higher level than said lowest level.

A shock absorbing hitch for connecting a trailer to a towing vehicle which reduces shocks that can be transmitted between the trailer and the towing vehicle, particularly during starting and stopping, wherein the towing vehicle can pull the trailer in a generally forward direction and can push the trailer in a generally rearward direction, and wherein the trailer is provided with hitch attachment means at a forward portion of the trailer for releasable operable connection with the shock absorbing hitch, the shock absorbing hitch comprising:

• a mounting base fixed to a rearward section of the towing vehicle, said mounting base having a first and a second vertically extending sidewalls, each of said sidewalls having an inside surface facing said other sidewall's inside surface;
• a pair of forward links, one of said forward links pivotally attached to said inside surface of said first vertically extending sidewall and the other forward link pivotally attached to said inside surface of said second sidewall;
• a forward axle rotatably received by said forward links between said sidewalls, said forward axle connecting said forward links such that they swing forward and rearward as a unit;
• a pair of rearward links, one of said rearward links pivotally attached to said inside surface of said first vertically extending sidewall and the other rearward link pivotally attached to said inside surface of said second sidewall;
• a rearward axle rotatably received by said rearward links between said sidewalls, said rearward axle connecting said rearward links such that they swing forward and rearward as a unit;
• and
• a swing plate having a hitching ball extending from an upper surface thereof, said swing plate being supported by said forward and rearward axles such that said swing plate swings forward and rearward with respect to said mounting base as said links swing forward and rearward, said swing plate having a central position wherein said swing plate is at a lowest level, as said swing plate swings forward or rearward from said central position said swing plate remains at a constant angular orientation relative to said mounting base, as said swing plate swing forward or rearward from said central position said swing plate moves to a higher level than said lowest level, and gravity urges said swing plate toward said central position whenever said swing plate is displaced from said central position.

A shock absorbing hitch in combination with a towing vehicle for use in towing a trailer having hitch attachment means at a forward portion of the trailer for releasable operable connection to the shock absorbing hitch, said combination comprising:

• a towing vehicle having a rearward portion;
• a mounting base attached to said rearward portion of said towing vehicle, said mounting base comprising two substantially vertical sidewalls;
• swing means pivotally connected to said sidewalls such that said swing means can swing forward and rearward;
• and
• hitching means suspended on said swing means such that said hitching means swing forward and rearward in conjunction with said swing means and such that said hitching means remains at a constant angular orientation relative to said mounting base as said hitching means swings forward and rearward.