Patent ID: 7556279
Filing Date: 2009-07-07
Classification: B60D

Abstract:
1. A hitch for connecting a trailer to a towing vehicle, the trailer including a tongue with a ball receptacle and the towing vehicle including a hitch connector for mounting the hitch to the towing vehicle, said hitch comprising: a mounting element for connection to the hitch connector, a pivotal ball mount having a distal end and a proximal end, a pivot connector pivotally connecting the pivotal ball mount, between the distal end and the proximal end of the pivotal ball mount, to the mounting element such that at least a portion of the mounting element is located within the pivotal ball mount and the distal end and proximal end of the pivotal ball mount pivot in arc-shaped paths on opposite sides of the pivot connector, a hitch ball mounted on the distal end of the pivotal ball mount for connection to the ball receptacle of the trailer tongue, a lock lever supported by the mounting element adjacent the proximal end of the pivotal ball mount, a lock recess formed in the proximal end of the pivotal ball mount, and biasing means supported by said mounting element for urging the lock lever into the lock recess for locking the hitch ball in alignment with the mounting element in response to the pivotal movement of the pivotal ball mount about the pivot connector to a predetermined position with respect to the mounting element.