Interchangeable hitch ball having plunger with J-shaped channel
AssigneeCequent Towing Products, Inc.
InventorsRichard W. McCoy, Thomas W. Lindenman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hitch ball assembly includes a towing ball having a mounting aperture and an annular race in communication with the mounting aperture. A post includes a base, an axial bore and a plurality of openings in communication with the axial bore. A ball bearing is received in each of these openings. A plunger is axially displaceable in the post between a first position allowing the towing ball to be removed from or attached to the post and a second position for securing the towing ball to the post while allowing the towing ball to turn on the post. A spring, received in the axial bore, engages an end of the plunger and biases the plunger to the first position.
Claims20
A hitch ball assembly, comprising:
- a towing ball including a mounting aperture and an annular race in communication with said mounting aperture;
- a post including a base, an axial bore and at least one opening in communication with said axial bore;
- at least one ball bearing received in said at least one opening;
- a plunger including at least one J-shaped channel engaging and receiving said at least one ball bearing;
- and
- a spring received in said axial bore and engaging an end of said plunger, said spring biasing said plunger into a first position.
A hitch ball assembly, comprising:
- a towing ball including a mounting aperture and an annular race in communication with said mounting aperture;
- a post including a base, an axial bore, and a first opening and a second opening in communication with said axial bore;
- a first ball bearing received and held in said first opening;
- a second ball bearing received and held in said second opening;
- a plunger including a first J-shaped channel for engaging and receiving said first ball bearing and a second J-shaped channel for engaging and receiving said second ball bearing;
- and
- a spring received in said axial bore and engaging an end of said plunger, said spring biasing said plunger into a first position.
A hitch ball assembly, comprising:
- a post;
- a towing ball carried on said post;
- at least one locking element carried on said post and displaceable between a first position free of securing engagement with said towing ball and a second position in securing engagement with said towing ball;
- and
- a plunger carried on said post, said plunger including at least one channel for engaging and receiving said at least one displaceable element in both the first and second positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.