Abstract:
A safety cable mount for a trailer includes a bracket and a first aperture formed in the bracket. The first aperture facilitates attachment of a fixed-end of a first safety cable. A recess is formed in the bracket and selectively receives a free-end of the first safety cable.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to safety cables for trailer hitches, and more particularly to a safety cable mount for trailer hitches.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Trailers are commonly used for towing any of a number of objects including boats, snowmobiles, recreational vehicles, and the like. Trailers are conventionally coupled to a towing vehicle via a tongue and hitch interface. In general, forward extending frame rails of a trailer include a tongue fixedly attached thereto. Traditional tongues include a ball socket that interfaces with a ball of the hitch for providing a primary connection therebetween. The ball and socket interface enables a degree of independent movement of the trailer, relative to the vehicle, for turning or other movement of the trailer relative to the vehicle.  
         [0003]     A secondary, or safety, connection is also traditionally provided by at least one cable, but preferably a pair of cables. One end of each cable is anchored to the trailer and the free-ends are attached to a vehicle structure, such as a hitch portion, via a hook or some other selective attachment device. When the free-ends of the cables are not attached to the vehicle, they dangle and can drag. Dangling cables are not asthetically pleasing and can be a tripping hazard when manually moving the trailer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Accordingly, the present invention provides a safety cable mount for a trailer. The safety cable mount includes a bracket and a first aperture formed in the bracket. The first aperture facilitates attachment of a fixed-end of a first safety cable. A recess is formed in the bracket and selectively receives a free-end of the first safety cable.  
         [0005]     In other features, the safety cable mount further includes a second aperture formed in the bracket. The second aperture facilitates attachment of a fixed end of a second safety cable. The recess selectively receives a free-end of the second safety cable.  
         [0006]     In other features, the safety cable mount further includes a fastener that is secured through the first and second apertures. The fixed-end of the first safety cable is secured to the fastener. A fixed-end of a second safety cable is secured to the fastener.  
         [0007]     In still another feature, the bracket includes a weld surface that facilitates welding of the safety cable mount to the trailer.  
         [0008]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a safety cable mount according to the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an alternative safety cable mount according to the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a trailer hitch assembly including the safety cable mount of  FIG. 2  using slots to secure safety cables thereto;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative trailer hitch assembly including the safety cable mount of  FIG. 2  using bolts to secure safety cables thereto;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another alternative safety cable mount according to the present invention; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a trailer hitch assembly including the safety cable mount of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. As used herein, the term cable is meant to include various types of similar structures known in the art including ropes, chains and the like.  
         [0017]     With particular reference to  FIG. 1 , a safety cable mount  10  is illustrated. The safety cable mount  10  includes parallel sides  12  that are bridged by a cross-member  14 . Although the illustration of  FIG. 1  shows the safety cable mount  10  as a single piece that is bent to form the parallel sides  12  and the cross-member  14 , it is anticipated that the safety cable mount  10  can be made of multiple pieces that are joined together. The safety cable mount  10  includes a recess  16  formed above the cross-member  14  and partially formed in the parallel sides  12 . Apertures  18  are formed through each of the parallel sides  12 . The parallel sides  12  each include a mounting surface  20  and a chamfer or radius  22 .  
         [0018]     As described in further detail below, the recess  16  enables selective attachment of a free-end of a cable for storing the cable when not in use. The apertures  18  facilitate attachment of a fixed end of the cable to anchor the cable to the safety cable mount  10 . The mounting surfaces  20  enable attachment of the safety cable mount  10  to a structure.  
         [0019]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an alternative safety cable mount  30  is illustrated. The alternative cable mount  30  includes parallel sides  32  that are bridged by a cross-member  34 . The safety cable mount  30  includes a recess  36  formed above the cross-member  34  and partially formed in the parallel sides  32 . Slots  38  are formed through each of the parallel sides  32 . The parallel sides  32  each include mounting surfaces  40  and a chamfer or radius  42 . As described in further detail below, the recess  36  enables selective attachment of a free-end of a cable for storing the cable when not in use. The slots  38  facilitate attachment of a fixed-end of the cable to anchor the cable to the safety cable mount  30 . The mounting surfaces  40  enable attachment of the safety cable mount  30  to a structure.  
         [0020]     The safety cable mount  10  is generally implemented in instances where the safety cable is indirectly anchored to the safety cable mount  10 . For example, and as described in further detail below, a bolt or other fastener is received through the apertures  18  and the safety cable is anchored to the fastener. The alternative safety cable mount  30  is generally implemented in instances where the safety cable is either directly or indirectly anchored to the safety cable mount  30 . For example, and as described in further detail below, the safety cable can be directly mounted through one of the slots  38 . Alternatively, a fastener is received through the slots  38  and the safety cable is anchored to the fastener.  
         [0021]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the safety cable mounts  10 , 30  are preferably designed for implementation with towed trailers for providing secondary (safety) connections. A portion of a trailer hitch assembly  50  is shown including a hollow, central frame rail  52  having a tongue mechanism  54  attached thereto. The tongue mechanism  54  is preferably of a type commonly known in the art, therefore a detailed description will not be presented here. The safety cable mount  10  or  30  can be secured to the trailer hitch assembly  50  by various means including, but not limited to, welding. The weld can be located along the entire length of the mounting surfaces  20 , 40  or a portion thereof. Although the safety cable mount  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , it is appreciated that the safety cable mount  10  can also be implemented.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates direct attachment of safety cables  56  to the safety cable mount  30 . More specifically, the safety cables  56  each include a length of multi-braid, coated cable having loops  58  formed at a fixed-end and a free-end. The loops  58  are formed by folding the cable back along its length and crimping, using crimps  60 . Hooks  62  are attached to the free-ends of the safety cables  56 . The fixed-ends are anchored to the safety cable mount  30  through the slots  38 . The safety cables  56  are illustrated in a stored position whereby the hooks  62  are received through the recess  36  to hold the safety cables  56  in place and to prevent the safety cables  56  from dangling or dragging.  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a portion of an alternative trailer hitch assembly  50 ′ is illustrated. The alternative trailer hitch assembly  50 ′ includes hollow frame rails  52 ′ attached in an A-type configuration by a tongue mechanism  54 ′. The safety cable mounts  30  are attached to bottom faces of the frame rails  52 ′. Although the safety cable mount  30  is illustrated, it is appreciated that the safety cable mount  10  can also be implemented.  FIG. 3  illustrates indirect attachment of the safety cables  56  to the safety cable mount  30 . Fasteners  70  are received through the slots  38  and the loops  58  at the fixed-ends of the safety cables  56  and are secured in place by nuts. The safety cables  56  are illustrated in a stored position whereby the hooks  62  are received through the recesses  36  to hold the safety cables  56  in place and to prevent the safety cables  56  from dangling or dragging.  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , another alternative safety cable mount  80  is illustrated. The alternative safety cable mount  80  includes a plate  82  having a slot  84  formed therein and a recess  86  formed therein. Mounting surfaces  88  are defined along an upper edge of the plate  82  and chamfers or radii  90  are formed along a bottom edge of the plate  82 . The slot  84  facilitates direct attachment of the safety cable  56  and the recess  86  facilitates storage of the safety cable  56 .  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , yet another alternative trailer hitch assembly  50 ″ is illustrated. The trailer hitch assembly  50 ″ is similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Therefore, like reference numbers are used to designate like components. The safety cable mounts  80  are attached to each of the frame rails  52 ″. The loops  58  on the fixed-end of the cables  56  are directly attached to the safety cable mounts  80  through the slots  84 . The safety cables  56  are illustrated in a stored position whereby the hooks  62  are received through the recesses  86  to hold the safety cables  56  in place and to prevent the safety cables  56  from dangling or dragging.  
         [0026]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.