Patent ID: 6045147
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: B60D

Abstract:
A weight distributing trailer hitch having a spring bar for distributing weight between a towing vehicle and a trailer having a trailer tongue, and a lift unit, said lift unit comprising:a mounting bracket for attachment to said trailer tongue;a lift bracket rotatably connected to said mounting bracket for motion between a lowered and raised position and operably connected to said spring bar for raising and lowering said spring bar, said lift bracket including a locking pawl connected to said lift bracket for releasably latching the lift bracket in a raised position to maintain a desired tension on said spring bar, said lift bracket including a handle engagement member adapted to engage a removable handle to aid in rotation of said lift bracket upon movement of said handle while said handle is engaged with said handle engagement member;a locking pawl including a lower portion adapted for engagement with a detent provided on said mounting bracket and an upper portion angled outwardly from said lower portion;said outwardly angled upper portion of said locking pawl adapted to engage said handle upon engagement of said handle with said lift bracket handle engagement member to automatically release said locking pawl and unlatch said lift bracket to permit rotation of said lift bracket with the aid of said handle from the raised position to the lowered position to lower said spring bar.