Patent ID: 9321316
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: B60D,B60R

Claim Text:
1. A trailer hitch storage apparatus comprising: a rectangular base plate having a front surface, a rear surface, a top edge, and a bottom edge; a hollow rectangular male member having a first right side, a first left side, an open first rear end, and a first front end welded to the rear surface of the base plate adjacent to the top edge; wherein the male member is configured to be removably disposed within a trailer hitch receiver which receives the first rear end; wherein a length of the male member substantially conforms to a length of the trailer hitch receiver; a hollow rectangular female member having a second right side, a second left side, an open second rear end, and a second front end welded to the rear surface of the base plate adjacent to the bottom edge; wherein a ball mount is configured to be removably disposed within the female member through the second rear end; a first pair of apertures, wherein a first aperture of the first pair of apertures is disposed through the first left side of the male member proximal the first front end, and a second aperture of the first pair of apertures is disposed through the first right side of the male member proximal the first front end, wherein the first aperture of the first pair of apertures is collinearly disposed with the second aperture of the first pair of apertures; a first pair of openings, wherein a first opening of the first pair of openings is disposed through the second left side of the female member proximal the second rear end, and a second opening of the first pair of openings is disposed through the second right side of the female member proximal the second rear end, wherein the first opening of the first pair of openings is collinearly disposed with the second opening of the first pair of openings; wherein the first pair of apertures are configured to be collinearly disposed with a second pair of apertures disposed through the trailer hitch receiver when the male member is disposed within the trailer hitch receiver; wherein the first pair of openings are configured to be collinearly disposed with a second pair of openings disposed through the ball mount when the ball mount is disposed within the female member; wherein a circumference of each of the first pair of apertures is equal to a circumference of each of the second pair of apertures; wherein a circumference of each of the first pair of openings is equal to a circumference of each of the second pair of openings; wherein the circumference of each of the first pair of apertures is equal to the circumference of each of the first pair of openings; a U-shaped pin having a linear rear portion, a linear right portion perpendicularly disposed relative to the rear portion, and a linear left portion perpendicularly disposed relative to the rear portion, wherein the right portion of the pin is configured to be slidably and continuously disposed through the first pair of openings and the second pair of openings when the ball mount is disposed within the female member, wherein the left portion of the pin is configured to be slidably and continuously disposed through the first pair of apertures and the second pair of apertures when the male member is disposed within the trailer hitch receiver; and a pair of hitch pin clips, wherein a first hitch pin clip of the pair of hitch pin clips is configured to be releasably securable around the right portion of the pin when the right portion of the pin is disposed through the first pair of openings and the second pair of openings, and wherein a second hitch pin clip of the pair of hitch pin clips is configured to be releasably securable around the left portion of the pin when the left portion is disposed through the first pair of apertures and the second pair of apertures.