Hitch assembly

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a hitch assembly for coupling a trailer to a tow vehicle and for allowing significant fore and aft, spring controlled and shock dampened movement.

#2. Background Art

#FIG. 1 is somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view of the hitch assembly of the present invention shown in combination with a tow vehicle and a trailer.

#FIG. 2 is top plan view of the hitch assembly of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view of the hitch assembly of the present invention shown in a neutral position.

#The preferred embodiment of the hitch assembly of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1–6, and identified by the numeral 11. The hitch assembly 11 is used to couple a trailer T to a tow vehicle V in a manner that allows significant fore and aft, spring controlled and shock dampened movement between the trailer T and tow vehicle V.

#The hitch assembly 11 includes a frame 13 for being attached to the tow vehicle V. The frame 13 preferably consists of an open structure including a front crosspiece 15, a rear crosspiece 17, a right side construct 19 extending between the right ends of the front and rear crosspieces 15, 17, and a left side construct 21 extending between the left ends of the front and rear crosspieces 15, 17. Each side construct 19, 21 preferably includes an outer rail 23 and an inner rail 25 extending parallel to and spaced apart from one another, and joined together at opposite ends with end crosspieces 27. Lugs 29 are provided along the crosspieces 17, 19, 27, etc., to allow the frame 13 to be fixed solidly and immovably to the tow vehicle V, e.g., to the chassis of the tow vehicle V, by bolts or the like (not shown). The frame 13 may be constructed in various sizes and out of various materials as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, for example, the various pieces of the frame 13 may be constructed out of standard steel structural members, cut or otherwise formed to the desired shape, and welded, bolted, or otherwise joined together to form a strong framework as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

#The hitch assembly 11 includes a cradle assembly 31 pivotally attached to the frame 13. The cradle assembly 31 includes a right side cradle leg or cradle leg construct 35 pivotally attaching the right side of the cradle assembly 31 to the right side of the frame 13, and a left side cradle leg or cradle leg construct 37 pivotally attaching the left side of the cradle assembly 31 to the left side of the frame 13. Preferably each cradle leg 35, 37 includes an outer leg 39 and an inner leg 41 extending parallel to and spaced apart from one another, and pivotally attached at the lower ends thereof to the outer and inner rails 23, 25 of the respective right and left side constructs 19, 21 of the frame 13 by way of respective right and left pivot bolts 43 or the like. Each cradle leg 35, 37 may have a U-shaped member 45 attached to and joining the upper ends of each respective sets of outer and inner legs 39, 41. The components of each cradle leg 35, 37 are preferably joined together by bolts or the like to allow cradle height adjustment between, for example, the legs 39, 41 and the U-shaped member 45 as clearly illustrated in FIG. 6 and as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. The cradle assembly 31 preferably includes a transverse body member or bar 47 extending between and joining the U-shaped member 45, etc., of the cradle legs 35, 37. The bar 47 thus permanently joins together the right and left side cradle leg constructs or segments 35, 37 of the cradle 31. The cradle assembly 31 may be constructed in various sizes and out of various materials as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, for example, the various pieces of the cradle assembly 31 may be constructed separately out of standard steel structural members, cut or otherwise formed to the desired shape, and welded, bolted, or otherwise joined together to form a strong construct. Alternatively, all or part of the cradle assembly 31 may be constructed as an integral one-piece unit (thus, for example, the U-shaped members 45 and the bar 47 may be constructed as a one-piece unit as shown in FIG. 6), as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.