US 8,011,685 B2 · Interchangeable hitch ball assembly

Abstract

An interchangeable hitch ball assembly that may be easily interchangeable with the hitch of a towing vehicle and that may prevent a trailer socket from being connected to the hitch ball prior to securing the hitch ball to the hitch bar. The hitch ball assembly may include a ball member, a body, a passageway, at least one locking member, an elongated member located within the passageway and biased toward the at least one locking member, and a plunger capable of being moved by the elongated member between a locked position and an unlocked or release position. The plunger may be moved toward the locking member to force at least a portion of the locking member outside of the body to lock the assembly. The plunger may be moved away from the locking member to allow the locking member to retreat into the body and unlock the assembly.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A hitch ball assembly comprising:

a ball member;
a body connected to said ball member;
a passageway;
at least one locking member in communication with said passageway;
a biasing member in communication with said passageway;
an elongated member located within said passageway and biased toward said at least one locking member by said biasing member;
and
a plunger capable of being moved by said elongated member between a locked position wherein said plunger is moved toward said at least one locking member to force at least a portion of said at least one locking member outside of said body, and a release position wherein said plunger is moved away from said at least one locking member to allow said at least one locking member to retreat into said body.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interchangeable hitch ball assembly

Life of this patent

Interchangeable hitch ball assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20