Patent ID: 8465043
Filing Date: 2013-06-18
Classification: B60D

Abstract:
1. A vehicular collision protection device for coupling to a vehicle hitch receiver, comprising: a plastic shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion and extending along a longitudinal axis, the first end portion configured to be received in a portion of the vehicle hitch receiver, the plastic shaft having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and spaced apart from one another, at least one of the plurality of apertures configured to receive a locking pin therethrough that removably couples the plastic shaft to the vehicle hitch receiver; and a plate member coupled to the second end portion of the plastic shaft, such that when an amount of force applied to the plate member in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis is greater than a threshold amount of force, a portion of the plastic shaft between at least two of the plurality of apertures is configured to be sheared by the locking pin to absorb at least a portion of the amount of force.