Patent ID: 8833792
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: B60D

Abstract:
1. A hitch tongue apparatus comprising: a tongue member defining an insert hole extending substantially vertically therethrough, the insert hole having a spherical inner surface segment between top and bottom surfaces of the tongue member that has a shape of a segment of a sphere; first and second slots, the slots extending along opposite edges of the insert hole from one of the top and bottom surfaces of the tongue member to a mid point of the spherical inner surface segment; a solid ball insert member defining a drawpin hole therethrough, and having a spherical outer surface configured to correspond to the spherical inner surface segment of the insert hole; wherein the ball insert member is removably installed in the insert hole by orienting the ball insert member such that top and bottom surfaces of the ball insert member are within the first and second slots, moving the ball insert member along the slots until a mid point of the ball insert member is substantially at the midpoint of the spherical inner surface segment of the insert hole, and then by rotating the ball insert member about 90 degrees such that the drawpin hole is substantially vertical when installed; wherein a tongue center line is located equidistant from top and bottom surfaces of the tongue member, and wherein a center of the sphere corresponding to the spherical inner surface segment of the insert hole is offset from the tongue center line in an offset direction toward one of the top and bottom surfaces; wherein the ball insert member is configured such that when inserted, an offset end thereof is farther from the center of the sphere than an opposite end surface of the ball insert member, and wherein the ball insert member and the spherical inner surface segment of the insert hole are configured such that the offset end of the ball insert member extends outward from one of the top and bottom surfaces, and such that the ball insert member rotates in the spherical inner surface segment of the insert hole.