Hitch

An apparatus for removably coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• a mounting assembly mounted on the towing vehicle;
• a carriage mounted on said assembly, said carriage further comprising first and second ends;
• a cradle pivotally coupled with and disposed between said first and second ends, said cradle being pivotable about an axis extending generally in the direction of travel of the vehicle;
• a hitch fixedly mounted to said cradle, said hitch adapted to couple to the trailer;
• said mounting assembly comprising at least one rail having first and second ends, said first end being pivotally coupled with the towing vehicle;
• and
• said apparatus further comprising at least one shock absorber having first and second ends, said shock absorber pivotally coupled with the towing vehicle at said first end of said shock absorber, said shock absorber pivotally coupled with said carriage at said second end of said shock absorber, said carriage mounted for pivotal upward and downward movement with the at least one rail during towing and for movement fore and aft relative to the at least one rail during towing, said shock absorber adapted to impart shock absorption to said carriage in directions fore, aft and vertical relative to the towing vehicle.

An apparatus for removably coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• first and second rails each having first and second ends, said first ends of said first and second rails pivotally coupled with the towing vehicle;
• a carriage comprising first and second rail guides slidably received on said first and second rails to allow sliding movement of the carriage fore and aft on the rails during towing, said rails extending and said carriage being slidable in directions fore and aft relative to the towing vehicle;
• a shock absorber having first and second ends, said shock absorber pivotally coupled with the towing vehicle at its first end, said shock absorber pivotally coupled with said carriage at its second end, said shock absorber situated to absorb forces applied in directions fore, aft and vertical relative to the towing vehicle;
• and
• a hitch mounted to said carriage, said hitch adapted to receive the trailer.

An apparatus for removably coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• first and second rails each having first and second ends, said first ends of said rails being adapted to be pivotally coupled with one of the towing vehicle and the trailer;
• a carriage comprising first and second rail guides carrying a member for connection to a hitch, said first and second rail guides adapted to slidably receive a corresponding one of said first and second rails, said carriage being slidable during towing along said rails in directions fore and aft relative to the towing vehicle and trailer;
• at least one shock absorber comprising first and second ends, said shock absorber adapted to be pivotally coupled with a point fixed with respect to said one of the towing vehicle and trailer at said first end, said shock absorber pivotally coupled with said carriage at said second end, said shock absorber adapted to absorb forces applied in fore and aft directions between the towing vehicle and the trailer;
• an air bag fixedly adapted for mounting between said one of the towing vehicle and trailer and said rails in cushioning relation to the rails;
• means for limiting the pivotal movement of the second rail ends away from said one of the towing vehicle and trailer;
• and
• means for limiting fore and aft sliding of the carriage.