US 7,029,022 B2 · Pivoting, underslung, stowaway, receiver hitch

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting a hitch to a vehicle. The apparatus may include a base connected to the vehicle. A mount, having a fastening portion and a main portion, may also be included. The fastening portion may receive a plurality of hitches thereon. The main portion may pivotably engage the base to provide a pivoting motion of the mount with respect to the base between a stowed position and a towing position distinct from the stowed position. A pivot may connect the main portion to the fastening portion to provide rotation therebetween. The apparatus may also include a hitch system having a first ball hitch monolithically formed to have a shank. A second hitch may be monolithically formed to have an aperture therein. The aperture of the second ball hitch may be shaped to axially receive and engage the shank of the first ball hitch.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for mounting a hitch to a vehicle comprising:

a base configured for coupling with a vehicle and having a concealing surface;
a mount associated with the base and selectively positionable relative to the base between a first mount position and at least a second mount position, wherein a fastening portion of the mount is substantially concealed by the concealing surface when the mount is in the at least a second mount position along a line of sight from a location confronting the concealing surface and wherein the fastening portion is placed in a stowed condition upon positioning of the mount in the at least second mount position such that the fastening portion is rendered inaccessible to an intended trailing vehicle;
and
a hitch receiving structure associated with the fastening portion of the mount and selectively positionable relative to the mount between a first position and at least a second position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/746,570Filed 23 Dec 2003 · continuation

Priority

29 Oct 1999

Published

US 2004/0135346 A115 Jul 2004

Granted

18 Apr 2006

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60D 1/583
Auxiliary devices: holding-down means, e.g. holding-down retainers
B60D 1/06
Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type: ball-and-socket hitches
B60D 1/07
Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type: multi-hitch devices, i.e. comprising several hitches of the same or of a different…
B60D 1/54
Characterised by the mounting: collapsible or retractable when not in use, e.g. hide-away hitches

Family

Application60/162,259Us provisional application · filed 29 Oct 1999

Application09/559,603Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Apr 2000

Application60/204,365Us provisional application · filed 15 May 2000

Application60/230,385Us provisional application · filed 6 Sep 2000

Application09/699,279Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Oct 2000

US 6,460,870 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Oct 2002

US 6,712,381 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Mar 2004

US 2004/0135346 A1Pre-grant publication · published 15 Jul 2004

Application09/699,279Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 2002/0047247 A1Published application

US 7,029,022 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Pivoting, underslung, stowaway, receiver hitch

Life of this patent

Pivoting, underslung, stowaway, receiver hitch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20