Anti-rattle device for receiver-style hitch

A system for preventing rattling in a hitch, comprising:

• a mount having a shank portion;
• a receiver tube shaped to receive the shank portion of said mount;
• a collar having
• a front wall,
• a center wall extending orthogonally from an edge of the front wall, the front wall having an opening to receive the shank portion of said mount therethrough, the center
• wall having a threaded throughbore, and
• two side walls, each side wall extending orthogonally from opposite edges of the front wall;
• an adjustment bolt extending through the throughbore in the center wall to contact said receiver tube, said adjustment bolt being movable within the throughbore to move the center wall of said collar away from said receiver tube to draw the opening in the front wall against the shank portion of said mount and force the shank portion of said mount against an inner wall of said receiver tube;
• and
• mounting means coupled with said adjustment bolt to maintain the position of said collar on said receiver tube.

A method for preventing rattle in a receiver-style hitch having a receiver tube and a mount, the method comprising:

• placing a collar having a front wall and a center wall extending orthogonally from an edge of the front wall and at least one side wall orthogonal to the front wall and the center wall over an end of the receiver tube;
• inserting a shank portion of the mount through an opening in the front wall of the collar into the receiver tube;
• threading an adjustment bolt through a threaded throughbore in the center wall of the collar to contact the receiver tube and move the center wall of said collar away from the receiver tube to draw the opening in the front wall against the shank portion of the mount and force the shank portion of the mount against an inner wall of the receiver tube;
• and
• tightening a mounting means coupled with said adjustment bolt to maintain the position of the collar on the receiver tube.

A system for preventing rattling in a hitch, comprising:

• a mount having a shank portion;
• a receiver tube having an opening to receive the shank portion of said mount and a reinforced lip disposed around the opening;
• a collar having
• a front wall,
• a center wall extending orthogonally from an edge of the front wall, the front wall having an opening to receive the shank portion of said mount therethrough, the center
• wall having a threaded throughbore, and
• two side walls, each side wall extending orthogonally from opposite edges of the front wall and extending over a portion of the reinforcing lip on said receiver tube;
• an adjustment bolt extending through the throughbore in the center wall to contact said receiver tube behind the reinforcing lip, said adjustment bolt being movable within the throughbore to move the center wall of said collar away from said receiver tube to draw the opening in the front wall against the shank portion of said mount and force the shank portion of said mount against an inner wall of said receiver tube;
• a lock nut positioned in between a head of said adjustment bolt and the center wall of said collar;
• and
• a second nut positioned in between said center wall and a wall of said receiver tube, wherein said adjustment bolt is threaded through said lock nut and through the throughbore in the center wall into said second nut and wherein said lock nut is tightened against said center wall to maintain the position of the shank inside the receiver tube.

An anti-rattle device for use with a receiver-style hitch having a receiver tube and a mount, the device comprising:

• a collar having a front wall and a center wall extending orthogonally from an edge of the front wall, and two side walls, each extending orthogonally from opposite edges of the front wall, the front wall having an opening to receive the mount therethrough, the center wall having a threaded throughbore;
• an adjustment bolt extending through the throughbore in the center wall to contact the receiver tube, said adjustment bolt being movable within the throughbore to move the center wall of said collar away from the receiver tube to draw the opening in the front wall against a shank portion of the mount and force the shank portion of the mount against an inner wall of the receiver tube;
• and
• mounting means coupled with said adjustment bolt to maintain the position of said collar on the receiver tube.

An anti-rattle device for use with a receiver-style hitch having a receiver tube and a mount, the device comprising:

• a collar having a front wall and a center wall extending orthogonally from an edge of the front wall, and at least one side wall orthogonal to the front wall and the center wall, the front wall having an opening to receive the mount therethrough, the center wall having a threaded throughbore;
• an adjustment bolt extending through the throughbore in the center wall to contact the receiver tube, said adjustment bolt being movable within the throughbore to move the center wall of said collar away from the receiver tube to draw the opening in the front wall against a shank portion of the mount and force the shank portion of the mount against an inner wall of the receiver tube;
• and
• mounting means coupled with said adjustment bolt to maintain the position of said collar on the receiver tube, wherein said mounting means includes a lock nut, wherein said adjustment bolt is threaded through said lock nut and through the throughbore in the center wall and wherein said lock nut is tightened against said center wall to maintain the position of the collar on the receiver tube.