Abstract:
Provided herein is a system for enabling quick and easy coupling of a motorized vehicle to a trailer or other load that is intended to be pulled or pushed by the motorized vehicle. A system of the invention first provides for gender modification of the trailer to be towed from being female in character, to being male in character. A receiving fixture is configured so as to guide the ball portion of the male-rendered trailer into a receiving hole disposed on the receiving fixture in a locking arrangement which provides increased flexibility in the linkage formed by the elements of this invention, with reduced binding on the hardware during a towing operation. A system according to the invention readily permits a single operator to quickly couple a vehicle to a trailer without additional assistance.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to accessories for motorized vehicles and loads which are towed by motorized vehicles, including trailers and like conveyances. It relates more particularly to a system which enables convenient and simple coupling of a motorized vehicle to a wheeled load which is intended to be towed or pulled by the motorized vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Readily-detachable means for the connection of various wheeled conveyances to a driving vehicle have been known probably for centuries, pre-dating perhaps even the Roman empire, as when carts were drawn by horses. In modern usage, especially following the advent of the automobile, motorized trucks, and the like, it is now commonplace to observe various conveyances being towed by such motorized vehicles at any given time on various national roads. Some common conveyances which are often towed include storage trailers, boat trailers, flatbed work trailers, and livestock transportation trailers, to name but a few.  
         [0003]     It is frequently the case that a motorized vehicle which is used to tow a trailer is not solely dedicated to towing a particular trailer, but is desired to be detached from the trailer from time to time in order to enable the vehicle to be used without the trailer attached. Thus, it is of little surprise that the prior art is replete with means for enabling the attachment of trailers to motorized vehicles, a few of which are now briefly mentioned below.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 929,920 teaches an automatic means for guiding and coupling an engine to a vehicle, comprising: a) a vehicle tongue having bars fastened to the opposite faces thereof and spaced apart and having their free ends flaring at angles to each other; b) a horizontally-disposed pin connecting parallel portions of the bars which project beyond the tongue and adjacent to the angled portions of the bars; c) parallel bars spaced apart, one of which projects beyond the other and bent at an angle; d) a spring-actuated pin supporting member movable between the parallel bars and provided with an elongated slot; and e) a pin normally resting upon the marginal edge of the slot at the end thereof and designed, as the supporting member is moved under the tension of the spring by contact with the horizontally-disposed pin to allow the coupling pin to fall by gravity to a locked position.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,122 sets forth a guidance device activated by a power source to aid an operator in the alignment of a first and a second object, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other comprising: a) a flexible line connectable between desired points on the first and second objects; b) a means mounted on the first object for drawing in the line as the first object moves toward the second object; c) a sensing means for detecting changes in the alignment of the desired points; and d) an indicating means for signalling the changes to the operator whereby alignment may be determined and maintained during movement of the first object toward the second object wherein the sensing means includes: i) a frame; ii) a switching element in electrical contact with one pole of the power source; iii) a means for pivotally mounting the element on the frame; and iv) at least three contact points carried by the frame and in electrical contact with the other pole of the power source; and wherein the switching element includes: i) an elongated slot through which a rivet passes to guide reciprocable movement of the element on the frame; ii) at least one gate extending outwardly from the element and having an aperture therein for the passage of the flexible line freely therethrough; and iii) a forward edge communicable with all of the contact points and terminating in a point communicable with any one of the contact points.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,232 provides a trailer hitch guide, comprising: a) a V-shaped plate having a pair of angularly-diverging arm panels adapted for mounting upon a draw bar in surrounding relation to a hitch ball carried on the draw bar; b) a pair of resilient pads, with each of the pads, respectively, being secured to one of the arm panels; and c) at least one pair of cooperating, L-shaped flanges affixed one above the other to one of the arm panels for slidably receiving one of the resilient pads therebetween.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,422 describes a retractable trailer hitch guide comprising: a) at least one side plate assembly composed of a first and second side plate; the first and second side plate being composed of a first and second side; a first and second yoke guide receiver tube being affixed by means respectively to the first and second side plate; b) a yoke assembly which is composed of a yoke end; a first and second yoke guide which are joined by a bracing means, affixed by means to each of the first and second yoke guides; the first and second yoke guides are sized and received respectively into the first and second yoke guide receiver tubes; c) the first and second side plates are adapted to be fixed to a tongue in an orientation which causes the yoke end to intercept and guide a trailer hitch ball for connection with a trailer hitch assembly.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,457 sets forth a vehicle hitching system that comprises: a) an alignment sensor attached to one of either a towing vehicle or a towed vehicle such that an alignment sensor emits a light beam over a field of view; and b) a light reflector attached to the other of the towing vehicle or the towed vehicle at a predetermined location relative to the alignment sensor, whereby the light reflector for reflects a portion of the emitted light beam back along a path that is substantially parallel to the emitted light beam. The alignment sensor emits a first audible alarm in response to detecting the reflected portion of the emitted light beam that is substantially parallel to the emitted light beam and the first audible alarm indicates that the light reflector is within the field of view of the alignment sensor to indicate that the hitch components are moving towards alignment.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,709 discloses A trailer hitch alignment system for aligning a vehicle with a gooseneck trailer, wherein the gooseneck trailer has a downwardly-extending hitch assembly for mating with a hitch ball mounted to the vehicle. The vehicle comprises a cab, a truck bed, and a bed box. The system comprises: a) one or more transmitters mounted to the vehicle on an inner portion of the bed box at one or more known positions for transmitting energy toward the downwardly extending hitch assembly; b) a first receiver mounted to the vehicle on an inner portion of the bed box in a known position for receiving a first reflected energy signal from the downwardly extending hitch assembly; c) a second receiver mounted to the vehicle on an inner portion of the bed box in a known position for receiving a second reflected energy signal from downwardly extending hitch assembly; d) a timer for determining a time of travel of the energy from the one or more transmitters to the downwardly extending hitch assembly and to the first receiver and the second receiver; e) a processor connected to the timer for determining a relative position of the downwardly extending hitch assembly with respect to a position of the hitch ball from the time of travel; and f) an indicator for indicating the relative position of the downwardly extending hitch assembly with respect to a position of the hitch ball.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,815 teaches an apparatus for securing a hitch to a vehicle, which comprises: a) a mount having longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions substantially mutually orthogonal to one another, wherein the mount has a platform portion to receive a hitch, and wherein the mount also has a first locking aperture and a second locking aperture formed therein; b) a retainer for selectively retaining an object extending around the hitch, the retainer having a forward end and a rearward end, the forward end pivoting with respect to the mount between a first, retaining position and a second, open position the retainer having at least one opening formed therein; and c) a lock configured to selectively retain the retainer in the first position when the first locking aperture is aligned with the at least one opening or in the second position when the second locking aperture is aligned with the at least one opening.  
         [0011]     One important criteria for a coupling from the safety standpoint is that the coupling must not fail while the motorized vehicle is towing a trailer. It has further been found desirable to provide a system which assists the driver of the motorized vehicle to single-handedly couple a trailer to the motorized vehicle. For cases where the on-board vehicle complementary counterpart of the coupling mechanism is in the direct view of the driver, alignment of the coupling mechanisms&#39; counterparts is a straightforward operation, inasmuch as the driver is able to guide the vehicle to a position on the ground with respect to the trailer which enables the coupling counterparts to engage one another, or be within an effective distance from one another to enable coupling by a simple hand operation, such as lowering the ball-receiving coupling counterpart on a trailer with a trailer ball which is connected to the frame of the motorized vehicle.  
         [0012]     However, in many instances, the design of the motorized vehicle is such that the counterparts of the coupling mechanism are not within direct view of the driver, such as where an automobile, sport-utility vehicle, pickup truck, or tow truck is used to pull, say, a boat mounted on a trailer. In such instances, the operator of the vehicle needs to be assisted by a second person standing outside who provides verbal or hand signals to the driver indicating which direction the vehicle&#39;s travel must be modified in order to make a coupling operation successful. For cases where the driver is acting solo, the act of coupling a trailer to such a vehicle becomes an exercise of trial and error, typically requiring the driver to either get lucky, or else exit the vehicle to inspect the proximity of the coupling counterparts with one another, and climb back aboard the vehicle and make further positional adjustments in the location of the vehicle. Such an exercise is time-consuming and frustrating at times, and also contains an inherent measure of danger associated with driving vehicles in a reverse direction.  
         [0013]     The present invention enables a driver to avoid these inconveniences by providing a system which enables a single person to engage the coupling between a vehicle and a trailer in a single-step operation, perfectly, every time.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The present invention provides a first component, which is a device useful for coupling a motorized vehicle to a trailer which comprises: A) a receiving portion comprising: a) a floor portion having: i) a trailer-receiving edge; ii) a second edge; and iii) a third edge; b) a first wall portion having a proximal end and a distal end and a height dimension and being disposed along the length of the second edge of the floor portion, extending perpendicularly upwards from the floor portion; c) a second wall portion having a proximal end and a distal end and a height dimension, and being disposed along the length of the third edge of the floor portion, extending perpendicularly upwards from the floor portion; d) a hole disposed in the floor portion in the proximity of the point where the second edge intersects the third edge, wherein the hole is adapted to receive a trailer ball; and B) a tow bar. The tow bar is attached to the receiving portion.  
         [0015]     Also provided is a second component which comprises a device useful for altering the gender of a trailer hitch which comprises: a) a first ball portion existing substantially in the shape of a sphere and having a first bore hole having an inner wall and extending at least partially therethrough, the first bore including threads on its inner wall; b) a second ball portion existing substantially in the shape of a sphere and having a second bore hole having an inner wall and extending at least partially therethrough, the second bore including threads on its inner wall; c) a rod having a first end which includes threads on its outer surface and a second end which includes threads on its outer surface, and an outer diameter; d) a strike plate, comprising a substantially planar sheet metal, further comprising a hole disposed through its entirety having a diameter that is large enough to enable the rod to pass therethrough; and e) a nut having a threaded bore capable of cooperative disposition on the rod. The first ball portion is disposed on the first end of the rod and the second ball portion is disposed on the second end of the rod by cooperation of the threads disposed on the rod ends and threads disposed within the bores within the ball portions. The strike plate is disposed on the rod at a location between the first ball portion and the second ball portion. The nut is disposed on the rod at a location between either of the ball portions and the strike plate.  
         [0016]     The first component and second component are used together. The first component is used to provide a motorized vehicle comprising the first component, which may cooperatively function with a gender-modified trailer, which gender-modified trailer comprises a conventional trailer having a “female” ball-receiving socket, that further comprises a device according to the second component with either of said first ball portion or said second ball portion being disposed in said ball-receiving socket, and the remaining ball portion being disposed beneath said socket.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     In the annexed drawings,  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a coupling means between a motorized vehicle and a trailer according to the prior art;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows a side exploded view of a gender-altering assembly component of a system according to the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of an assembled gender-altering assembly component of a system according to the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  shows a conventional trailer which is fitted with a gender-altering assembly component of a system according to the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  shows a trailer-receiving attachment according to the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of a trailer-receiving attachment according to the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7A  shows a conventional trailer which is fitted with a gender-altering assembly component of a system according to the present invention as it is approached by a trailer-receiving attachment according to the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 7B  shows a conventional trailer which is fitted with a gender-altering assembly component of a system according to the present invention in contact with a trailer-receiving attachment according to the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 7C  shows a conventional trailer which is fitted with a gender-altering assembly component of a system according to the present invention cooperatively engaged with a trailer-receiving attachment according to the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a coupling means according to one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 9A  shows a side view of a section of a portion of a coupling means according to the invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 9B  shows a perspective view of a section of a portion of a coupling means according to the invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  shows an exploded view of a gender-altering assembly according to an alternate form of the invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  shows an overhead view of a gender-altering assembly according to an alternate form of the invention with a trailer frame attached;  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  shows a frontal end view of a gender-altering assembly according to an alternate form of the invention with a trailer frame attached;  
         [0033]      FIG. 13  shows a right-side elevation view of a gender-altering assembly according to an alternate form of the invention with a trailer frame attached;  
         [0034]      FIG. 14  shows an underside perspective view of a gender-altering assembly according to an alternate form of the invention from the left side; and  
         [0035]      FIG. 15  shows an underside view of a gender-altering assembly according to an alternate form of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]     Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIG. 1  there is shown a perspective view of a coupling means between a motorized vehicle and a trailer according to the prior art. In this  FIG. 1  are shown a motorized vehicle  1 , which may be an automobile, truck, tractor, etc., having a bumper  3 , and a hitch tongue  5  which is rigidly affixed to the motorized vehicle  1 , typically to the vehicle&#39;s frame (not shown). The hitch tongue  5  includes a conventional ball  7  disposed at its distal end portion. There is also shown a trailer frame  11 , having a socket  9  at its distal end, which socket  9  is contoured so as to be able to receive the conventional ball  7  in a locking engagement, which enables a vehicle and trailer connected thereby to swivel about the junction formed by the conventional ball  7  and socket  9 , such as when the motorized vehicle  1  makes a turn during a change in its direction of travel.  
         [0037]     In  FIG. 2  is shown a side exploded view of a gender-altering assembly  10  component of a system according to the present invention. In this figure there is a first ball  13  having a bore  15 , a rod means  19  having a threaded end portion  21 , a strike plate  17 , a second ball  23  having a bore  25  disposed partially therethrough. The bore  15  through the first ball  13  preferably extends only partially into said ball  13 , such as about halfway through, and in one preferred embodiment includes threads on the inner wall of the bore  15  which cooperatively engage with threads on the end portion of rod means  19 . In one embodiment, the rod means  19  is threaded along its entire length. In another embodiment, the rod means only includes threads on its end portions. The second ball  23  is similarly configured to the first ball  13  in that it&#39;s bore  25  extends preferably partially through said ball  23  and includes threads on its inner wall. Such an arrangement enables the first ball  13  and the second ball  23  to both simultaneously be threaded onto the end portions of the rod means. Further inclusion of a strike plate  17 , which is a piece of sheet metal having any shape including without limitation rectangular, square, circular, etc., which has a hole disposed through it so as to enable the rod means  19  to pass through the strike plate  17 . Preferably, the hole in the strike plate  17  is just slightly larger than the outside diameter of the rod means  19 . Thus, the assembled form of the gender-altering assembly  10  comprises a rod having at least threaded end portions, each of which have a ball threaded thereto, with a strike plate being disposed between the balls such that the centerline of the hole is oriented substantially parallel to the length dimension of the rod means  19 . The strike plate  17  may also have one (or more) wall portion(s) extending upwardly around its perimeter, just as the first component. In one embodiment, the strike plate  17  is substantially circular as viewed from above. In another embodiment, the strike plate  17  is substantially rectangular as viewed from above. In another embodiment, the strike plate  17  is substantially square as viewed from above. Such a configuration as that described above enables a person to insert one of the ball portions of the second component into a conventional ball-receiving socket of a trailer, lock the coupler latch, and subsequently tighten the nut against the strike plate  17  so that the strike plate  17  is in firm contact with the underside of the portion of the conventional ball-receiving trailer which it is able to contact.  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  further shows a side view of an assembled gender-altering assembly  10  component of a system according to the present invention, which further includes a threaded nut  27  disposed along the rod means  19 , wherein the rod means  19  includes threads along its entire outer surface. Under such an arrangement, the nut may be tightened against the strike plate  17  so as to force the strike plate  17  to rigidly contact the first ball  13 , which is itself (as well as the second ball  23 ) attached to the end of the threaded rod means  19  by the threads within its bore being engaged to the threads on the rod means  19 .  
         [0039]     A gender-altering assembly  10  such as that shown in  FIG. 3  may be inserted into the socket portion  9  located at the distal end of a conventional trailer frame  11 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 . Such a provision causes the “gender” of a conventional trailer to be converted from being “female” in gender, to take on the trait of being “male” within the context of trailer hitch assemblies.  
         [0040]     In  FIG. 5  is shown a trailer-receiving attachment  12  according to the present invention, which includes a tow bar  31  having optional adjustment holes  29  disposed through its length. The trailer-receiving attachment  12  in one embodiment comprises a first floor portion  37  and a second floor portion  39 , which in one preferred form of the invention intersect at a partition  41 , which partition  41  is merely a line of intersection between the first and second floor portions by virtue of their being disposed in different physical planes. In an alternative embodiment, both the first floor portion  37  and second floor portion  39  exist in the same physical plane and there is no partition  41 , and such floor portion  112  is shown in  FIG. 8 . When the first floor portion  37  and the second floor portion  39  do not exist in the same plane, the first floor portion  37  may herein be alternatively considered as the first sub-floor portion, and the second floor portion  39  may alternatively be considered as a second sub-floor portion. It is however advantageous that the first floor portion  37  and second floor portion  39  are not in the same plane. The first floor portion  37  and second floor portion  39  collectively are configured to exist roughly in the shape of a triangle as viewed from above. There is a first wall portion  33  attached to the first floor portion  37  substantially perpendicularly along one of its edges. There is a second wall portion  35  attached to the second floor portion  38  substantially perpendicularly along one of its edges. The first wall portion  33  has a proximal end  45  and a distal end  46 . The second wall portion  35  has a proximal end  47  and a distal end  48 . Preferably, the first wall portion  33  and second wall portion  35  extend upwards (walls height dimension) from the floor portions to which they are attached/adjacent an amount between about 1 inch and 6 inches, with a preferred height dimension of about 1.5 inches. In a preferred embodiment, the height dimensions of the first wall portion  33  and the second wall portion  35  are the same. In one embodiment, the distal ends of the first and second wall portions intersect to form an angle, which angle may be any angle in the range of between about 45 degrees and 135 degrees, but is preferably about 90 degrees. In another embodiment, the distal ends of the first and second wall portions do not contact one another, such as when the distal ends are truncated. In a preferred embodiment, the location at which the first floor portion  37  contacts the proximal end  45  of the first wall portion  33  is at a higher elevation than the partition  41 , and the location at which the second floor portion  39  contacts the proximal end  47  of the second wall portion  35  is at a higher physical elevation than the partition  41 . Under such an arrangement, a valley is formed by the two floor portions, which valley has its lowermost points residing along the partition  41 .  
         [0041]     The trailer-receiving attachment  12  also includes a hole  43  which is disposed in the vicinity of the point at which the length dimensions of the first wall portion  33  and second wall portion  35  intersect. This hole  43  is dimensioned such that it is able to receive the second ball  23  of a trailer hitch such as that shown in  FIG. 4  which is equipped with a gender-altering assembly  10  as hereinbefore described. The assembly which comprises the first and second floor portions and the first and second wall portions is attached to the tow bar  31  by conventional means, such as welding. In one embodiment, one or more of the floor portions  37 ,  39  are welded to the tow bar  31 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of a trailer-receiving attachment according to the present invention, showing the respective locations of the second wall portion  35 , hole  43 , and tow bar  31 . In one embodiment, the hole  43  may include a liner, which essentially consists of a metal cup of cylindrical dimension which is attached to the underside of the floor portions along the circumference of the hole  43  from  FIG. 5 , so as to form a construct or lining which is reminiscent of a golf hole. Thus, the hole  43  is preferably provided with a lining.  
         [0043]      FIG. 7A  shows a conventional trailer which is fitted with a gender-altering assembly  10  component of a system according to the present invention as it is approached by a trailer-receiving attachment according to the present invention. In  FIG. 7B  there is shown a conventional trailer which is fitted with a gender-altering assembly component  10  of a system according to the present invention in contact with a trailer-receiving attachment according to the present invention, such as is the case when a vehicle comprising the trailer-receiving attachment is backed up to a trailer which is fitted with the gender-altering assembly  10 .  FIG. 7C  shows a conventional trailer which is fitted with a gender-altering assembly  10  component of a system according to the present invention cooperatively engaged with a trailer-receiving attachment according to the present invention, such as after the vehicle has backed up sufficiently to enable the second ball  23  to engage or reside within the hole  43 , thus completing a coupling operation using a system according to this invention.  
         [0044]     In a system according to the present invention, the weight of the load being towed essentially presses downward into the hole  43  in the trailer-receiving assembly  12 , which is different from that afforded by conventional coupling systems in the prior art, in which the weight of the trailered load presses down on the ball  7  from  FIG. 1 . Such a provision afforded by the present invention enables greater flexibility of the coupling during a towing operation with less binding forces on the linkage as a whole.  
         [0045]     In one preferred embodiment, the first floor portion  37  and second floor portion  39  (or  112 ,  FIG. 8  when the floor portion comprises a single planar surface) are coated with a friction-modifying substance, to permit smooth gliding of the second ball  23  along the collective floor portions during a coupling operation. Such a coating may be a polymeric coating, which is applied to these surfaces after manufacture of the trailer-receiving attachment  12 . In alternative embodiments, such a coating may comprise a single sheet of polymer, such as a sheet of polyethylene, polypropylene, or any other commercial thermoset or thermoplastic polymer attached to the floor portion(s) using conventional means such as screws or bolts disposed through the polymer sheet and the floor portions, or by adhesive means, as such are known to those skilled in the art, or through the use of a spray-on coating. This liner of the floor portion in one embodiment is textured and lubricated, using a conventional lubricant, such as an oil, TEFLON® polymers, or other conventional friction-modifying substance. Such provision provides for a smooth coupling transition as a vehicle backs up toward the trailer and the bottom ball  23  easily slides on the liner into the receiving hole  43 . The liner prevents metal-to-metal contact, which prolongs the life of the unit as a whole. For purposes of this specification and the claims appended hereto it is convenient to refer to that edge of the first floor portion  37  or the second floor portion  39 , either singly or both collectively, which is disposed towards the direction from which a distal end of a trailer fitted with a gender-altering assembly  10  approaches, as the trailer-receiving edge.  
         [0046]     During a coupling operation, as shown collectively in  FIGS. 7A, 7B ,  7 C, a vehicle equipped with a trailer-receiving attachment  12  according to the invention is caused to approach a trailer which is equipped with the gender-altering assembly  10 . When the second ball contacts either the first floor portion  37  or second floor portion  39 , it is caused by the effect of gravity to reside within the valley defined by the partition  41 , which partition further guides the second ball  23  right into the hole  43 . In the event the driver moves the vehicle quickly, or there is not perfect alignment of the second ball  23  with the partition  41 , the second ball  23  will ride along one of the floor portions until the second ball  23  strikes against one of either the first wall portion  33  or second wall portion  35 , which wall, by its location, guides the ball  23  to the location of the hole  43  as the vehicle moves towards the trailer. Thus, the present invention makes coupling a trailer to a motorized vehicle a simple, one-person operation.  
         [0047]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a coupling means according to one embodiment of the invention, showing the ball  23  disposed in the receiving hole. Also shown in this figure is the rod  19 , strike plate  17 , nut  27 , receiving hole  43 , tow bar  31 , floor portion  112 , and trailer frame  11 . In this embodiment, the floor portion  112  comprises a single plane. Further shown in this  FIG. 8  is a locking pin  71 , which resides in a pin hole  72 . The purpose of the locking pin is to keep the lower ball  23  in place within the receiving hole  43  while an item is being towed, when the vehicle travels over bumps or other imperfections in a road surface which might otherwise tend to cause the ball  23  to bounce out of the receiving hole  43 . The locking pin  71  in this means for securing the trailer is disposed so that its length axis is substantially skew to the length axis of the rod  19 .  FIG. 9  shows this relationship more clearly as it shows a side view of a section of a portion of a coupling means according to the invention which includes the receiving hole  43 . In this  FIG. 9A , there is also shown the lower ball, and the pin hole  72 . The pin hole is disposed so that a pin placed through it is located above the upper surface of the lower ball  23  when the lower ball  23  is in the receiving hole  43 , but between the outer surface of the rod  19  and a line drawn tangent to the ball, which tangent line is also substantially parallel with the long axis of the rod  19 , in one embodiment. Such a provision ensures that when the vehicle encounters a bump in the road, the ball  23  cannot pop out of the receiving hole  43  because the locking pin  71  obstructs its travel. The locking pin preferably extends from the exterior of one side surface of the ball-receiving hole  43  to the exterior of a surface located on the opposite side of the ball  23 . In one preferred embodiment, the locking pin  71  has holes drilled near both of its end portions, for receiving cotter pins, clips rings or other wares which prevent the locking pin  71  from sliding laterally out of the hole  72 . This relationship is more clearly shown in the perspective view in  FIG. 9B . Other conventional means for securing a trailer ball in a receiving hole known in the art are suitable for use within the metes and bounds of the present invention.  
         [0048]     According to one embodiment, the hole  43  has a diameter having dimension D, and a centerpoint centrally located on this diameter, and the centerpoint of the hole  43  is located at a distance less than about 3D from the point at which the first wall portion and the second wall portion intersect in space.  
         [0049]     In  FIG. 10  shows an exploded view of the components of a gender-altering assembly  20  according to an alternate form of the invention. In this embodiment, there is a plate portion  48  with an upper surface U and a lower surface L, which further comprises holes at  45 ,  47 ,  61 ,  63 ,  57 , and  59  for receiving the remaining elements of the gender-altering assembly  20 . Conventionally-sized trailer hitch balls are again employed in this embodiment, with the stud  73  of lower ball  69  being passed through hole  45  and being secured to the plate  48  via the nuts  49  and  53 . There is an upper ball  67  with a stud  75 , that is passed through hole  47  and secured to the plate  48  via nut  51 . Holes  57 ,  59 ,  61 , and  63  extend through the plate  48  and are collectively adapted to receive a plurality of stabilizing hardware assemblies, which stabilizing hardware assemblies comprise the bolt  65 , bracer  77 , bracer  79  and nut  55 , as shown in the remaining figures herein. The bracers  77 ,  79 ,  81  ( FIG. 11 ) are comprised of thick sheet metal stock, preferably steel, which contain a bore therethrough for reasons which shall become apparent. The plate  48  itself is preferably comprised of steel of an appropriate thickness, which is preferably in the range of between about 3 millimeters and 25 millimeters, although any thickness of steel may be employed. Although the plate  48  is depicted as being substantially trapezoidal in shape, in this preferred embodiment, the present invention also includes within its scope plates  48  of other shapes, including without limitation: circular, oval, rectangular, square, oblong, and including irregular shapes.  
         [0050]     In  FIG. 11  is shown an overhead view of a gender-altering assembly according to an alternate form of the invention with a trailer frame attached. In this view are shown stud  73  of the lower ball  69 , secured to the plate  48  via the nut  53 . The upper ball  67  is shown in phantom in its position within the socket portion of the trailer frame  11 . As is known in the art, the distal portion of the trailer frame  11  often includes a lip portion  99 . This lip portion  99  is used to advantage in securing a trailer frame  11  to the gender-altering assembly of this embodiment, by virtue of the braces  79  and  81  acting as clamps atop the lip portion  99 , with a clamping force being supplied by the nuts  55  and  89  attached to the studs  65  and  83 . Tightening of the nuts  55  and  89  with the braces  79  and  81  in position over the lip  99  of the trailer frame  11  provides a clamping force between the braces and the lip portion. Holes  59  and  63  are not used in this embodiment for securing stabilizing hardware assemblies, since holes  57  and  61  have been used for this purpose. The reason holes  59  and  63  are included, is to enable the movement of the stabilizing hardware assemblies to accommodate different sized widths of trailer frame  11 , thus conferring a high degree of universality to the gender-altering assembly of this embodiment concerning the trailer frames it is capable of receiving. The holes  59  and  63  can be disposed essentially anywhere on the plate portion, provided the bracers are suitably dimensioned to enable their appropriate contact with the distal end portion of the trailer frame  11  which contains the socket portion  9 .  
         [0051]     In  FIG. 12  is shown a frontal end view of a gender-altering assembly according to an alternate form of the invention, with a trailer frame attached. In this embodiment is shown the plate  48 , to which upper ball  67  (shown in phantom) is attached as previously described, and disposed in its position within the socket portion  9  of the trailer frame  11 . There is also a lower ball  69  attached to the plate  48  as earlier described via the nut  49  engaging its stud  73 , further fastened by nut  53  ( FIG. 13 ). The nut  53  and the portion of the stud  73  are omitted from this view, for clarity in showing the position of the upper ball  67 , but these elements are depicted clearly in  FIG. 13 . Thus, the lip portion  99  of the trailer frame  11  is seen to come into substantial close contact with the upper surface of the plate portion. Bolt  66  is shown disposed through hole  61  ( FIG. 11 ), and is seen to be holding the bracers  81 ,  85  in position such that they hold the distal end of the trailer frame in a fixed position. Bolt  65  is shown disposed through hole  57  ( FIG. 11 ), and is seen to be holding the bracers  77 ,  79  in position. Thus, bracers  77  and  85  provide an additional level of preventing substantial lateral movement of the distal end of the trailer with respect to the plate portion, and the bracers  79  and  81  provide an additional level of preventing vertical motion of the distal end of the trailer with respect to the plate portion. (Of course, the ball is still firmly engaged in the socket  9  and is only releasable by pulling on lock release lever  101 , and such mechanisms including a lock release lever are well known in the art). Thus, one way to attach such a gender-altering assembly to an existing trailer frame, the device is placed into proximity of the distal end of a trailer such that the upper ball  67  engages the socket  9 . Next, a stabilizing hardware assembly comprising bolt  66 , stabilizers  81 ,  85 , and nut  89  are paced into position and the nut and bolt  89  and  66  are tightened, thus causing the bracer  81  to clamp the lip portion  99  against the upper surface of the plate portion  48 . Then, a stabilizing hardware assembly comprising bolt  65 , stabilizers  79 ,  77 , and nut  55  are paced into position and the nut and bolt  55  and  65  are tightened, thus causing the bracer  79  to clamp the lip portion  99  against the upper surface of the plate portion  48 . This embodiment also includes an optional u-shaped channel  91 , for imparting additional strength to a gender-altering assembly according to the present invention, as is shown further in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 .  
         [0052]     In  FIG. 13  is shown a right-side elevation view of a gender-altering assembly according to an alternate form of the invention with a trailer frame attached. In this figure are shown the respective positions of the plate portion  48 , with the lower ball  69  attached thereto at its front portion via nuts  49  and  53  which are tightened against one another. Upper ball  67  is shown in phantom to be disposed within the socket portion of the trailer frame and connected to the plate portion by virtue of the engagement of the nut  51  with the threaded portion of the stud  75  that is disposed through the hole  47  ( FIG. 10 ) in the plate portion  48 . Also shown is the stabilizing hardware assembly which comprises bracers  77  and  79 , held in a firm clamping position with respect to the lip portion  99  of the trailer frame by bolt  65  by nut  55 .  
         [0053]     In  FIG. 14  is shown an underside perspective view of a gender-altering assembly according to an alternate form of the invention from a left viewpoint, which further comprises an optional stabilizing channel  91 . In this view are shown the respective positions of the plate portion  48 , bracers  85  and  81 , nut  89 , upper ball  67 , lower ball  69 , nuts  49  and  53 , and tube  93 . The tube  93  in this embodiment is hollow, and has an outer diameter which fits inside a corresponding hole within the lower ball  69 . There is a hole  95  that is disposed through the walls of the tube  93 , which enables attachment and detachment of the lower ball by insertion or removal of a pin that is commonly disposed through the lower ball  69  and the hole  95  in the tube  93 , as such feature is well-known in the art, and sold by Convert-A-Ball Inc., of Sydney, Nebr. (http://www.convert-a-ball.com) Upper ball  67  is affixed rigidly to the plate by the nut  51  that is disposed about the threaded portion of the stud  75 . The channel  91  has a u-shape in cross section, with the legs of the U shape being dimensioned so they are only slightly wider than the width of the nuts  49  and  51 , so that the nuts  49  and  51  are prevented from turning by their engagement with the walls of the legs of the u-shaped channel. Thus, the studs/bolts which hold the upper ball  67  and lower ball  69  to the plate portion  48  are each disposed through both the plate portion  48  and the floor portion of the u-shaped channel  91 . When the channel portion  91  is made of steel of at least 3 millimeters thickness, this arrangement provides added strength to the gender-altering assembly as a whole. The hollow tube portion  93  is preferably comprised of heavy steel as well, and is affixed to the stud  73  by conventional means, such as welding.  
         [0054]     In  FIG. 15  is shown an underside view of a gender-altering assembly according to the alternate form of the invention depicted in  FIG. 14 , showing the respective positions of the various elements, including the bolts  65  and  66 , holes  59  and  63 , nuts  49  and  51 , channel  91 , and lower ball  69 . Leg portions of the channel  91  are shown as L 1  and L 2 .  
         [0055]     Thus, in an alternate form of the invention, the upper ball and lower ball do not have centerpoints which lie substantially on the same vertical axis drawn perpendicular to a road or other flat surface upon which a motorized vehicle and trailer rest, but rather, the vertical axis of the lower ball and the vertical axis of the upper ball are offset, with the vertical axis of the lower ball being closer to the front of the motorized vehicle (when the trailer is engaged to a trailer using a gender-altering assembly according to this embodiment) and the vertical axis being closer to the rear of the towed trailer.  
         [0056]     The alternate embodiments of the gender-altering assembly as described herein are useful in all employments set forth for the earlier embodiment of the gender-altering device.  
         [0057]     Consideration must be given to the fact that although this invention has been described and disclosed in relation to certain preferred embodiments, obvious equivalent modifications and alterations thereof will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in this art upon reading and understanding this specification and the claims appended hereto. This includes subject matter defined by any combination of any one of the various claims appended hereto with any one or more of the remaining claims, including the incorporation of the features and/or limitations of any dependent claim, singly or in combination with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the other dependent claims, with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the independent claims, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claims so modified. This also includes combination of the features and/or limitations of one or more of the independent claims with features and/or limitations of another independent claims to arrive at a modified independent claim, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claim so modified. Further, when statements are made herein such as “according to the invention”, such statement in reality refers to a single possible embodiment of the invention, and such statements shall not be construed as being delimitive of the invention. Accordingly, the presently disclosed invention is intended to cover all such modifications and alterations, and is limited only by the scope of the claims which follow.