Adjustable, weight distributing trailer hitch apparatus with spring dampening assembly
OwnerFrank T. Sargentinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A weight distributing hitch apparatus includes a drawbar assembly, which is interconnected to a tow vehicle and includes an elongate bar and a component that is pivotally interconnected and angularly adjustable relative to the bar. A hitch head assembly includes a ball component attached to a ball coupler on the trailer. A drawbar extension is suspended from the ball component and a height adjustment channel is pivotally interconnected to the drawbar extension. A horn is slidably received by the channel. The horn and the angularly adjustable drawbar component are selectively coupled to interconnect the trailer to the tow vehicle. A dual action, pre-loaded spring interconnects the trailer and the drawbar extension to provide improved dampening and bounce control.
Claims16
An adjustable, weight distributing hitch for innerconnecting a trailer to a tow vehicle, said hitch comprising:
- a drawbar assembly including a bar that is selectively attachable to the tow vehicle and a first coupling component interconnected to said bar;
- a hitch head that is releasably attachable to and suspendable from the trailer, said hitch head including a ball element that is releasably and pivotally engagable with a standard ball coupler mounted on the trailer, said hitch head further including a a drawbar assembly including a bar that is selectively attachable to the tow vehicle and a first coupling component interconnected to said bar;
- a hitch head that is releasably attachable to and suspendable from the trailer, said drawbar assembly and said hitch head including complementary coupling components that are interengagable to couple said drawbar and said hitch head together;
- a drawbar extension that is connectable to said hitch head such that said clevis attached to and depending from said ball element, said drawbar assembly and said hitch head including complementary coupling components that are interengagable to couple said drawbar and said hitch head together;
- a drawbar extension that is connectable to said hitch head such that said drawbar extension extends rearwardly therefrom relative to the trailer, said drawbar extension being connected to and extending rearwardly from said clevis;
- an X-axis coupling carried by said drawbar extension proximate a distal end thereof;
- a first connector attachable to the trailer;
- a second connector attached to said X-axis coupling;
- and
- dual action spring means, interconnecting said first and second connectors, for dampening movement of said X-axis coupling both upwardly and downwardly relative to the trailer.
An adjustable, weight distributing hitch for innerconnecting a trailer to a tow vehicle, said hitch comprising:
- a drawbar assembly including a bar that is selectively attachable to the tow vehicle and a first coupling component interconnected to said bar;
- a hitch head that is releasably attachable to and suspendable from the trailer, said drawbar assembly and said hitch head including complementary coupling components that are interengagable to couple said drawbar and said hitch head together;
- a drawbar extension that is connectable to said hitch head such that said drawbar extension extends rearwardly therefrom relative to the trailer;
- an X-axis coupling carried by said drawbar extension proximate a distal end thereof;
- a first connector attachable to the trailer;
- a second connector attached to said X-axis coupling;
- and
- dual action spring means, interconnecting said first and second connectors, for dampening movement of said X-axis coupling both upwardly and downwardly relative to the trailer, one of said coupling components including a hitch pin that extends transversely to a longitudinal axis of the trailer, the other said coupling component including a ramp having a recess formed proximate an upper end of said ramp, said hitch pin and said ramp being supported at relative heights such that directing the tow vehicle toward the trailer causes said hitch pin to interengage said ramp and travel along said ramp and drop into said recess to couple said coupling components and interconnect the trailer and the tow vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.