# US 9,437,095 B1 · Safety system for vehicle ball hitch

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- Number: US 9,437,095 B1
- Document ID: US9437095B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/735,467
- Filed: 2015-06-10
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-01-12
- Assignees: Weston Hudspeth
- Applicants: Weston Hudspeth
- Inventors: Weston Hudspeth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437095B1

## CPC

- B60D 1/06: Ball-and-socket hitches
- B60D 1/605: {Protection caps}
- B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS

## Abstract

A safety system for a trailer hitch device having a hitch member and a hitch ball. The safety system includes a body configured to peripherally surround the hitch member and the hitch ball and a fastening device attached to the body and configured to secure the body to the hitch member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A safety system for a trailer hitch device having a hitch member and a hitch ball, the safety system comprising:
a pliable cylindrical body configured to peripherally surround the hitch member and the hitch ball;
a strap attached to a partial section of an outer perimeter surface of the pliable cylindrical body and configured to reduce a diameter of a portion of the pliable cylindrical body such that an inner surface of the pliable cylindrical body comes into contact with an outer surface of the hitch member, which in turn secures the body to the hitch member; and
a warning system disposed within a thickness of the pliable cylindrical body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The safety system of claim 1, wherein the body is composed of a cushion material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The safety system of claim 1, the warning system, comprising:
a control system and a light;
wherein the light is configured to provide visual warning.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The safety system of claim 1, the warning system, comprising:
a control system and an audible device;
wherein the audible device is configured to provide audible warning.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The safety system of claim 1, the warning system, comprising:
a control system and a motion detector;
wherein the motion detector activates the control system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method to reduce harm to a person coming into contact with a trailer hitch device having a hitch member and a hitch ball extending from a vehicle, the method comprising:
providing the system of claim 1;
peripherally surrounding the pliable cylindrical body around the hitch member and the hitch ball; and
securing the pliable cylindrical body to the hitch member via the strap.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the feature of securing the pliable cylindrical body to the hitch member includes the step of wrapping and tightening the strap around a cylindrical body of the pliable cylindrical body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
warning the person with a warning device secured to the pliable cylindrical body.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the feature of warning the person includes using a warning light that provides visual presence of the trailer hitch device.