Patent ID: 7168727
Filing Date: 2007-01-30
Classification: B60D,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A gooseneck trailer hitch mechanism comprising: a frame; a housing coupled with the frame, the housing having a generally cylindrical opening therein; a hitch member having a generally cylindrical portion thereof which is selectively slidably received within the opening in the housing in an upright position and an inverted position, and wherein the portion of the hitch member includes an annular groove which entirely circumscribes the portion; a means for retaining the hitch member in the housing in the upright position, wherein the means for retaining the hitch member in the housing in the upright position permits at least a portion of the hitch member to rotate with respect to the housing: wherein the housing includes a bore therein that communicates with the opening, wherein the means for retaining the hitch member in the housing includes a pin, and wherein the pin is selectively movable between an extended position, where the pin extends into the opening through the bore in the housing, and a retracted position, where the pin does not extend into the opening; wherein the pin is received in and cooperates with the groove to retain the hitch member in the housing when the hitch member is received in the opening in the upright position and the pin is in the extended position; wherein the means for retaining the hitch member in the housing in the upright position is also capable of retaining the hitch member in the housing in the inverted position; wherein the means for retaining the hitch member in the housing further includes a sleeve, and wherein the pin is slidably received in the sleeve; wherein the pin is biased to the extended position, wherein the means for retaining the hitch member in the housing further includes a rod, and wherein the rod is coupled with the pin, whereby a user of the mechanism can move the pin from the extended position to the retracted position by way of the rod; and wherein the means for retaining the hitch member in the housing further includes a cam member, wherein the cam member is coupled with the rod, wherein the sleeve has a camming surface, wherein the cam member has a camming surface, wherein the camming surfaces abut one another in camming fashion, and wherein rotation of the rod rotates the cam member with respect to the sleeve, causes a camming action between the sleeve and the cam member, and moves the pin between the extended and retracted positions.