Patent ID: 6406052
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: B60D

Abstract:
A trailer hitching post, comprising:a body; a hitch ball assembly; and a retainer assembly, wherein:the body comprises a substantially vertical box having a bottom, back, front, and two sides defining an interior, and an open top for receiving the hitch ball assembly and the retainer assembly; the hitch ball assembly comprises a hitch ball plate positioned within and secured to the body and dividing the interior thereof into an upper portion and a lower portion, and a hitch ball supported on, secured to, and extending substantially vertically from an upper surface of the hitch ball plate; the retainer assembly comprises a top retainer plate and a substantially vertically depending apertured tab substantially rigidly connected thereto; an upper portion of the front of the body is provided with an opening providing access therethrough into the upper portion of the interior of the body; the body is adapted to be secured to a surrounding structure; an inner back surface of the lower portion of the interior of the body is provided with a substantially vertical slot for receiving the vertically depending apertured tab of the retainer assembly; the body is provided with a reciprocating retaining shaft slidably positioned within an aperture through the front of the body and an aperture through a front surface of the slot on the inner surface of the back of the body; the retaining shaft may slide into the vertical slot and into an aperture of the vertical tab of the retainer assembly, thereby securing the vertical tab within the vertical slot and thereby also securing the retainer assembly to the body; the retaining shaft may slide out of the aperture of the vertical tab of the retainer assembly, thereby enabling removal of the vertical tab from the vertical slot and thereby also enabling removal of the retainer assembly from the body; and the body is provided with a locking mechanism for engaging the retaining shaft and for preventing, while the locking mechanism is engaged with the retaining shaft, sliding of the retaining shaft out of the aperture of the vertical tab, thereby also preventing removal of the retainer assembly from the body.