Hitch ball mount and method of forming the hitch ball mount
AssigneeCequent Consumer Products, Inc.
InventorsFrancis Bernart, Thomas DePietro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hitch ball mount is shown and described. The hitch ball mount may include a generally tubular body having first and second end portions, the first end portion engageable with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, and a drop portion monolithic with the tubular body and formed between the first and second end portions of the tubular member. The hitch ball mount may further include a hitch ball mounting portion monolithic with the drop portion and tubular body, the hitch ball mounting portion formed at the second end portion of the tubular member and extending from the drop portion, where a hitch ball is selectively attachable to the hitch ball mounting portion.
Claims44
A hitch ball mount comprising:
- a generally tubular body having first and second end portions, the first end portion engageable with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the tubular body including a pair of transverse apertures;
- a drop portion monolithic with the tubular body and formed between the first and second end portions of the tubular member;
- a hitch ball mounting portion monolithic with the drop portion and tubular body, the hitch ball mounting portion formed at the second end portion of the tubular member and extending from the drop portion, wherein a hitch ball is selectively attachable to the hitch ball mounting portion and;
- a seam located in at least a portion of the hitch ball mounting portion.
A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the hitch ball mount comprising:
- a generally tubular body having first and second end portions and a cavity therebetween, the first end portion being engageable with the hitch receiver;
- a drop portion monolithic with the tubular body and formed between the first and second end portions of the tubular member;
- a hitch ball mounting portion monolithic with the drop portion and tubular body, the hitch ball mounting formed at the second end portion of the tubular member and extending from the drop portion, wherein hitch ball mounting portion is generally free of the cavity;
- the hitch ball mounting portion includes a tongue having an axial through-hole extending through the tongue and a recess wherein the recess is positioned axially relative to the through-hole with the through-hole being within the recess;
- and
- a seam located in at least a portion of the hitch ball mounting portion.
A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver, the hitch ball mount comprising:
- a generally tubular body having first and second end portions, the first end portion engageable with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the tubular body including at least one aperture to receive a pin therein and operatively attach to the hitch receiver;
- a drop portion monolithic with the tubular body and formed between the first and second end portions of the tubular member;
- a hitch ball mounting portion formed with and adjacent to the drop portion free of welding between the hitch ball mounting portion and the drop portion;
- and
- a seam located in at least a portion of the hitch ball mounting portion.
A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver, the hitch ball mount comprising:
- a monolithic tubular member comprising
- a first section having a cavity extending a longitudinal length, the first section including a pair of transverse apertures;
- a second section extending from the first section;
- and
- a third section extending from the second section, the third section being generally flattened such that an interior top portion of the tubular member and an interior bottom portion of the tubular member are in proximity to one another and the third section being generally free of the cavity, wherein the hitch ball is capable of being secured to the third section.
A hitch ball mount comprising:
- a tubular member having first and second end portions, the tubular member including a pair of transverse apertures;
- a drop formed by stamping the tubular member between the first and second end portions;
- and
- a hitch ball mounting portion formed by stamping the tubular member at the second end portion, the hitch ball mounting portion including a seam, wherein a hitch ball is selectively attachable to the hitch ball mounting portion.
A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver, the hitch ball mount comprising:
- a hitch receiver portion capable of being selectively secured to the hitch receiver, the hitch receiver portion including an open end portion insertable into the hitch receiver, the hitch receiver portion including a pair of transverse apertures;
- a drop portion adjacent to the hitch receiver portion;
- a ball mounting portion adjacent to the drop portion, the ball mounting portion including a seam formed therein;
- and
- wherein the hitch receiver portion, drop portion and ball mounting portions are monolithically formed.
A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver, the hitch ball mount comprising:
- a hitch receiver portion capable of being selectively secured to the hitch receiver, the hitch receiver portion having an internal cavity extending a longitudinal length, the hitch receiver including a pair of transverse apertures;
- a drop portion adjacent to the hitch receiver portion;
- a ball mounting portion adjacent to the drop portion, wherein the ball mounting portion is cavity free and includes a seam formed therein;
- and
- wherein the hitch receiver portion, drop and ball mounting portions are formed from a monolithic member.
A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver, the hitch ball mount comprising:
- a hitch receiver portion capable of being selectively secured to the hitch receiver, the hitch receiver portion having an internal cavity extending a longitudinal length, the hitch receiver including a pair of transverse apertures;
- a ball mounting portion adjacent to the hitch receiver portion, wherein the ball mounting portion is cavity free and includes a seam formed therein;
- and
- wherein the hitch receiver portion and ball mounting portions are generally free of any welding.
A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the hitch ball mount comprising:
- a generally tubular body having first and second end portions, the first end portion engageable with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the generally tubular body including a pair of transverse apertures;
- a drop portion monolithically formed from the tubular body between the first and second end portions of the tubular member;
- a hitch ball mounting portion monolithically formed from the second end portion of the tubular member, wherein the hitch ball is selectively attachable to the hitch ball mounting portion;
- and
- a seam located in at least a portion of the hitch ball mounting portion.
A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the hitch ball mount comprising:
- a generally tubular body having first and second end portions, the first end portion engageable with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle;
- a drop portion monolithically formed from the tubular body between the first and second end portions of the tubular member;
- a hitch ball mounting portion monolithically formed from the second end portion of the tubular member, wherein the hitch ball is selectively attachable to the hitch ball mounting portion;
- and
- a seam located in at least a portion of the hitch ball mounting portion, wherein the seam includes a generally protective layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.