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US 6,769,704 B2Granted
Trailer hitch step
AssigneeElegant USA, LLC
InventorJames Cipolla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A step for mounting in a trailer hitch which is adjustable in the vertical and horizontal positions. A joining member has displaced connecting ends sized to fit both a standard trailer hitch and a mounting bracket on the step. One or more fastening points in at least one of the connecting ends of the joining-member enables adjustment of the position of the joining member to the trailer hitch. Rotation and reversal of the joining member provides for a variety of adjustments in the vertical and horizontal position of the step with relation to the trailer.
Claims10
A step assembly for mounting to a trailer hitch of a vehicle comprising:
- a step comprising:
- a tubular member having:
- a flattened surface formed on the cylindrical section of the tubular member;
- an antiskid surface formed on the flattened surface;
- a bracket member connected to the central section of the tubular member having:
- a front panel;
- arms extending from the front panel;
- an aperture in each arm of the arms extending from the front panel
- the arms of the bracket having arcuate shaped cut out portions in the portion adjacent the cylindrical section to conform to the shape of the cylindrical section for connecting the arms of the bracket member to the cylindrical section of the tubular member;
- an L-shaped joining member comprising:
- a vertical leg;
- at least one aperture passing through the vertical leg of the joining member;
- an end of the vertical leg of the L-shaped joining member;
- a horizontal leg;
- an end on the horizontal leg,
- at least one hole in the horizontal leg of the joining member;
- one of said vertical and said horizontal legs being longer than the other;
- the cross sections of both of said vertical and horizontal legs sized to fit the arms of said bracket member and a trailer hitch for reversible connection between said joining member and the arms of said bracket member and said trailer hitch;
- connecting means comprising:
- a threaded bolt, nut, and washers, operatively coacting with the apertures in the arms of the mounting bracket and the apertures vertical leg of the joining member;
- connecting means for connecting the joining member to the trailer hitch comprising:
- pin means and clip means for operatively coacting with an aperture in the horizontal leg of the joining member and a hole in a trailer hitch in registration with the apertures in the horizontal leg;
- and
- an antivibration member on said horizontal leg of said joining means having
- a collar,
- bracing members extending from said collar having contacting ends adapted to coact with the horizontal leg of the joining member, and an external surface of a trailer hitch to suppress the vibration of the joining member in the trailer hitch;
- and
- threaded means disposed in the collar of the antivibration member for tightening the contacting ends of the antivibration member against a trailer hitch and the horizontal leg of the joining member;
- and
- the vertical leg of the joining member disposed between the arms of the bracket member to position the step with relation to the horizontal leg of the joining member, and the horizontal leg of the joining member disposed in a trailer hitch to position the step with relation to the horizontal position of a trailer hitch.
27 more elements
A step assembly for mounting a trailer hitch
- comprising:
- a step,
- a bracket member extending from the step and fixed thereto and,
- at least one arm extending from the bracket member and,
- an aperture in each arm of the bracket member;
- a joining member having
- a vertical leg, and
- a horizontal leg;
- one of said vertical and said horizontal legs being longer than the other;
- the cross sections of both of said vertical and horizontal legs sized to fit the arms of said bracket member and a trailer hitch for reversible connection between said joining member and the arms of said bracket member and said trailer hitch;
- first fastening means connecting the joining member to the bracket member;
- the vertical leg of the joining member adapted to coact with the fastening means and bracket member extending from the step joined to the bracket member to position the step with relation to the joining member;
- and
- the horizontal leg of the joining member adapted to fit in a standard trailer hitch;
- so that the horizontal leg of the joining member can be positioned to enable the vertical leg of the joining member to be above the horizontal joining leg and to be below the horizontal joining leg to thereby adjust the vertical height of the step;
- a second fastening means adapted to connect the horizontal leg to a trailer hitch with relation to the joining member and a trailer hitch into which a joining member would be positioned.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.