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US 6,270,107 B1Granted
Spring biased trailer hitch system
OwnerClifford J. Stoughtoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring biased trailer hitch system for providing a secure connection between a hitch receiver and a trailer hitch while permitting some spring biased cushioning to the connection to reduce stress on the connection. The spring biased trailer hitch system includes a slotted hitch receiver, a ball hitch having a longitudinal bore, a connection member extending through the bore in the ball hitch, a spring assembly for biasing the connection member, and a connection securement device for coupling the hitch receiver to the ball hitch such that the spring assembly biases the hitch receiver towards the ball hitch.
Claims8
A trailer hitch system for connecting a towing vehicle to a trailer, the system comprising:
- a hitch member having a bore extending through said hitch member, said hitch member being adapted for coupling to a hitch mounting arm of the towing vehicle;
- an elongate rod having a first end and a second end, the first end being opposite the second end, said first end having a threaded portion, said rod being slidably passable through said bore of said hitch member;
- a hitch receiver having a receiving portion for receiving a portion of said hitch member, said receiving portion being structured to have a slot extending therethrough, said slot being structured for receiving said first end of said rod therethrough;
- a hitch nut for securing to said threaded portion of said first end of said rod;
- a spring assembly couplable to said second end of said rod whereby said hitch receiver is coupled between said hitch nut and said hitch member, said spring assembly being for biasing said first end of said rod towards said hitch member;
- said hitch member having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion of said hitch member being threaded, said lower portion of said hitch member being adapted for coupling to the trailer hitch mounting arm of a vehicle such that a lower extent of the lower portion extends below the trailer hitch mounting arm;
- and
- a rod retainer being coupled to the lower extend of the hitch member, the rod retainer having a support portion positionable beneath said second end of said rod.
5 more elements
A trailer hitch system for connecting a towing vehicle to a trailer, the system comprising:
- a hitch member having a bore extending through said hitch member, said hitch member being adapted for coupling to a hitch mounting arm of the towing vehicle;
- an elongate rod having a first end and a second end, the first end being opposite the second end, said first end having a threaded portion, said rod being slidably passable through said bore of said hitch member;
- a hitch receiver having a receiving portion for receiving a portion of said hitch member, said receiving portion being structured to have a slot extending therethrough, said slot being structured for receiving said first end of said rod therethrough;
- a hitch nut for securing to said threaded portion of said first end of said rod;
- a spring assembly couplable to said second end of said rod whereby said hitch receiver is coupled between said hitch nut and said hitch member, said spring assembly being for biasing said first end of said rod towards said hitch member;
- said hitch member having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion of said hitch member being threaded, said lower portion of said hitch member being adapted for coupling to the trailer hitch mounting arm of a vehicle such that a lower extent of the lower portion extends below the trailer hitch mounting arm;
- a rod retainer being coupled to the lower extent of the hitch member, the rod retainer having a support portion positionable beneath said second end of said rod;
- said rod retainer having a substantially annular top portion, said lower extent of said hitch member passing through said annular top portion of said rod retainer;
- a rod retainer nut coupled to said lower extent of said hitch member such that said annular top portion of said rod retainer is positioned between said rod retainer nut and said upper portion of said hitch member whereby said rod retainer is coupled to said hitch member;
- said hitch member having a longtitudinal axis, said bore extending along said longitudinal axis of said hitch member;
- said slot extending from a top of said hitch receiver towards a distal end of said hitch receiver, said slot being adapted to extend along a direction of travel of the vehicle such that said rod slides along a length of said slot when a front of the vehicle tilts downwardly relative to the hitch receiver;
- said spring assembly having a spring retainer nut and a cylindrical spring member, said spring retainer nut being coupled to said second end of said rod, said rod passing through said spring member, said spring member being positioned between said spring retainer nut and said hitch member;
- a first washer and a second washer, said rod passing through said first washer, said first washer being positioned between said spring retainer nut and said spring member;
- said rod passing through said second washer, said second washer being positioned between said hitch member and said spring member;
- said hitch nut being a wing nut;
- said first end of said rod having an aperature extending through said rod perpendicular to a longtitudinal axis of said rod;
- and
- a cotter pin, said cotter pin being extendable through said aperture in said rod whereby said wing nut is prevented from coming loose from said first end of said rod while said cotter pin is inserted through said aperture.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.