Releasable ball hitch system
AssigneeDraw-Tite, Inc.
InventorJacob S. Belinky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A removable ball goose hitch system. The ball member includes a ball portion and a body portion. A plurality of locking ball bearings in the body portion are engaged by an internal plunger that is actuated by a screw that protrudes from the top of the ball portion. The locking ball bearings are adapted to be engaged with a receiver in the hitch mechanism on the vehicle. When the screw is unthreaded, the ball bearings are allowed to retract and the hitch ball can be removed. All moving parts of the mechanism are located in the ball member and improper hookups are prevented.
Claims11
A ball member for a trailer hitching system, the ball member comprising:
- a ball portion;
- a body portion;
- a longitudinal passageway in the ball member;
- a screw member threadedly positioned in said passageway;
- a plunger member positioned in said passageway and actuated by said screw member as said screw member is rotated in said passageway and travels longitudinally therein;
- and
- at least one locking member actuated by said plunger member;
- wherein when said locking member is actuated, the ball member is secured in position in the trailer hitching system.
A ball member for a trailer hitching system, the ball member comprising:
- a ball portion;
- a body portion;
- a longitudinal passageway in the ball member;
- a screw member positioned in said passageway;
- a plunger member positioned in said passageway and actuated by said screw member;
- and
- at least one locking member actuated by said plunger member;
- said screw member being threadedly rotatable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position, and wherein in said first position, said screw member is completely hidden inside the ball member and wherein in said second position, said screw member protrudes from the ball member,
- wherein when said locking member is actuated, the ball member is secured in position in the trailer hitching system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.