Wedge tightening devices for hitch assemblies
AssigneeAllsop, Inc.
InventorsJames D. Allsop, Eivind Clausen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Several embodiments of hitch receiver attachment structures are provided, which are adapted for interconnection with a conventional vehicle hitch receiver. The hitch receiver attachment structures include mechanisms that reduce or eliminate undesirable play or movement between the hitch receiver attachment structure and the hitch receiver during use.
Claims22
A hitch receiver attachment assembly for use in a hitch assembly, comprising:
- a hitch receiver attachment structure having a generally rectangular cross-section, the hitch receiver attachment structure including one truncated corner that defines a planar contact surface that is slanted with respect an adjacent side wall surface;
- and
- a wedge member having an outwardly facing engagement surface configured to be cooperatively received within one corner of a hitch receiver tube and an inwardly facing planar guide surface adapted to contact the slanted contact surface of the hitch receiver attachment structure during use.
A hitch assembly, comprising:
- a hitch receiver tube defining a generally rectangular socket;
- a hitch receiver slide structure having a generally rectangular cross-section of suitable dimensions to loosely translate within the hitch receiver tube socket, the hitch receiver slide structure including one truncated corner that defines a planar contact surface that is slanted with respect an adjacent side wall surface;
- a wedge member having an outwardly facing engagement surface configured to be cooperatively received within one corner of the hitch receiver tube socket and an inwardly facing planar guide surface adapted to contact the slanted contact surface of the hitch receiver slide structure during use;
- and
- a coupling assembly that selectively couples the hitch receiver slide structure to the hitch receiver tube in a secure manner, the coupling assembly capable of clamping the hitch receiver slide structure between the wedge member and one of the hitch receiver tube side walls.
A method for reducing or eliminating undesirable play or movement between a hitch receiver slide structure and a hitch receiver tube of a hitch assembly, the method comprising:
- proving a hitch receiver tube defining a generally rectangular socket;
- providing a hitch receiver slide structure having a generally rectangular cross-section of suitable dimensions to loosely translate within the socket of the hitch receiver tube, the hitch receiver slide structure including one truncated corner that defines a planar contact surface;
- providing a wedge member having an outwardly facing engagement surface configured to be cooperatively received within one corner of the hitch receiver tube socket and an inwardly facing planar guide surface adapted to contact the contact surface of the hitch receiver slide structure during use;
- inserting the hitch receiver slide structure and the wedge member into the socket of the hitch receiver tube;
- and
- selectively coupling the hitch receiver slide structure to the hitch receiver tube in a secure manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.