Abstract:
An attachment ( 10 ) is provided for use with a trailer hitch (H). The attachment comprises a sleeve ( 12 ) inserted in the hitch and secured to the hitch. On the outer end of the sleeve is plate ( 18 ) to which is affixed a vise ( 22 ). The vise is used to clamp objects in place so they can be worked upon. The plate, which can be round, oval, square, rectangular, provides a work surface to assist the person using the attachment work on the clamped object.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Provisional patent application 60/802,918 filed May 24, 2006 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to remote site operations carried out by any of a variety of contractors and work crews or the like, and more particularly to an attachment for the trailer hitch commonly found on pickup trucks and similar vehicles. The attachment includes a vise for clamping work pieces in place so they can be cut, welded, drilled, or otherwise operated on. 
         [0004]    It is common at remote sites where activities may be on-going for some period of time for workbenches to be set up that allow for different operations required to be performed to be carried out. There are numerous types of such operations (cutting, sawing, welding, nailing, gluing, etc.) and they are carried out on a variety of materials (wood, metal, plastic). If it is known ahead of time that certain pieces are going to be required, these can be prepared off-site at an installation designed for specific operations and supplied in a timely manner to the work site. It often happens, however, that something unforeseen occurs (the piece doesn&#39;t quite fit, something breaks and needs to be replaced, etc.) and the contractor or work crew must be ready to deal with these situations so as not to lose valuable time. 
         [0005]    One tool that is often required for field operations is a vise. While vises are relatively small and so are easily carried in a tool box, to be effectively used, they must first be clamped to some object that a) prevents the clamp from moving, b) allows the work piece to be readily clamped in place, and c) allows the worker ready access to the piece to perform whatever operations are required. If a workbench, 2×4s, or similar wood or metal pieces are available, this is easily accomplished. But this is not always the case. The present invention solves this problem. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with the present invention, an attachment is provided for use with the trailer hitch commonly found on the back of a pickup and other trucks for connecting a trailer to it. The attachment comprises a sleeve sized to be inserted into an opening in the hitch and secured to the hitch. On the outer end of the sleeve is a horizontal plate to which is affixed a vise. The vise is used to clamp objects in place so they can be worked upon. The plate, which can be round, oval, square, rectangular, or another convenient shape, provides a work surface to assist the person using the attachment to work on the clamped object. The attachment extends only a short distance outwardly from the hitch and its overall length is such it can be conveniently stored in a truck bed, toolbox, or behind or under a seat in the vehicle. 
         [0007]    Other object and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The objects of the invention are achieved as set forth in the illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings which form a part of the specification. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a representation of a truck with a trailer hitch; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vise attachment of the present invention installed on the hitch; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the attachment inserted in the hitch; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side view thereof; and, 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side view of an alternate trailer hitch construction. 
       
    
    
       [0014]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it will be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0016]    Referring to the drawings, a truck T has a trailer hitch H affixed to its rear bumper B so to attach a trailer to the truck for towing. The hitch is a conventional hitch. That is, it is hollow, and has a generally square cross-section. A trailer (not shown) to be towed has a hitch member which is inserted into hitch H and attached to the hitch using a pin or bolt or the like. 
         [0017]    A vise attachment of the present invention is indicated generally  10  in the drawings. The attachment first comprises a sleeve  12  sized and shaped to fit within hitch H. That is, the sleeve is also generally square in cross-section with the outer dimensions of the sleeve corresponding to the dimensions of the opening formed by the sides of the hitch. The sleeve is made by welding together lengths of a suitable material such as steel or aluminum. The length of sleeve  12  allows it to extend a sufficient distance into the opening in the hitch that the sleeve is stable and does not wobble or slide inside the hitch opening. In addition, the sleeve has opposed openings  14  (see  FIG. 3 ) which register with corresponding, opposed openings in the hitch for a latch pin  16  to be inserted through the openings and secure the sleeve to the hitch. It will be appreciated that openings  14  and pin  16  are exemplary only, and that the sleeve may have a single opening, or a threaded opening, as appropriate, for a threaded bolt or pin to be used to secure the sleeve to the hitch. When installed, the outer end of sleeve  12  of vise attachment  10  extends a substantial distance outwardly from the outer end of the hitch. 
         [0018]    A plate  18  is secured to the outer end of sleeve  12 . The plate is attached directly to the top of one side of sleeve  12 ; or, as shown in the drawings, the plate is slightly raised above the sleeve, by an offset  20 , so as to rest atop an outer flange F of hitch H. The plate, while shown to be a square plate in the drawings can also be rectangular, round, oval, or other convenient shape, without departing from the scope of the invention. Plate  18  is also a steel or aluminum material, as is offset  20 , and the plate (and offset  20 ) is attached to sleeve  12  by welding, for example. While not overly large, the plate provides an adequate work surface for the user, so they conveniently place tools or other work pieces near the vise for easy access. 
         [0019]    Fitted atop plate  18  is a vise  22 . The vise is one of a number of conventional vises. The vise is attached to the top of plate  18  by welding; or, as shown in the drawings, is bolted to plate  18  using bolts  24  extending from the underside of the plate. This latter means of attachment allows the vise to be readily removed and replaced with the same or other types of vises, or other tools, used for working with wood, metal or plastic materials. 
         [0020]    When not in use, attachment  10  fits in a toolbox or storage compartment in the back of a pickup or a truck. Or, it is sized to fit underneath a seat in the cab of the truck or behind the seat. The attachment is attached to the hitch by sliding the sleeve into the hitch and attaching the sleeve to the hitch with pin  16 . Thereafter, the user can perform whatever operations need to be done using the vise (or other tools) as necessary. When done, the user removes pin  16 , slides sleeve  12  out of the hitch, and stores the attachment in the truck. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , an alternate vise attachment construction is indicated generally  40 . Attachment  40  comprises a sleeve  42  sized and shaped to fit within hitch H, and the length of the sleeve allows it to slide a sufficient distance within the hitch so that it does not wobble or slide within the hitch. Sleeve  42  has opposed openings  44 , only one of which is shown in  FIG. 5 , that register with corresponding openings in the hitch for the latch pin  16 , when inserted through the openings, to secure the sleeve to the hitch. As before, sleeve  42  is made by welding together lengths of a suitable material such as steel or aluminum. 
         [0022]    A curved bracket  46  is attached to the outer end of sleeve  42 , and a plate  48  is secured to an extension  47  that is connected to an outer, upper end of the bracket. Plate  48 , like plate  18 , can be a square plate, or a rectangular, round, or oval plate; and can provide a small, but adequate, work surface for the user to conveniently place tools or other work pieces near a vise  52  fitted atop plate  48  for easy access to the vise. In this embodiment, vise  52  is bolted to the top of plate  48  using bolts  54 . Again this allows vise  52  to be readily removed and replaced with the same or other types of vises, or other tools, for working with wood, metal, or plastic. 
         [0023]    As with vise attachment  10 , attachment  40  fits in a toolbox or storage compartment in the back of a pickup or a truck, or underneath or behind a seat in the cab of the truck. As with attachment  10 , attachment  40  is attached to hitch H by sliding sleeve  42  into the hitch and attaching the sleeve to the hitch with pin  16 . When work requiring use of the vise attachment is done, the user removes pin  16 , withdraws sleeve  42  from the hitch, and stores the attachment in the truck. 
         [0024]    In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects and advantages of the present disclosure have been achieved and other advantageous results have been obtained. 
         [0025]    Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: