Patent ID: 6286852
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: B60D

Abstract:
A hitch capable of coupling a first vehicle to a laterally misaligned second vehicle, said hitch comprising:(a) a tongue housing for attaching to said first vehicle, said tongue housing comprising two spaced apart side walls defining a throat;(b) a first guide member attached to said housing, comprising:(i) a first cam member;(ii) a first pocket and a second pocket, said first and second pockets being located on either side of said first cam member;(c) a tongue having a first end and a second end, said tongue being extendable and retractable within said throat, said tongue having a width narrower than the distance between said two spaced apart side walls of said tongue housing;(d) a second guide member, coplanar with said first guide member and attached to said second end of said tongue, said second guide member comprising:(i) a second cam member and a third cam member;(ii) a third pocket located between said second and third cam members;(e) a coupler attached to said second end of said tongue;wherein said first and second guide members become matingly engaged in an aligned, locked position upon the full retraction of said tongue within said throat from a laterally misaligned position; andwherein said tongue is guided from said laterally misaligned position into said aligned, locked position through the combination of:(i) the mating engagement of said first cam member with said third pocket and said second and third cam members with said first and second pockets; and(ii) the guided retraction of said tongue along at least one of said side walls of said tongue housing.