Hitch bar with swivel

The hitch bar with swivel has a proximal portion that attaches removably to the conventional receiver hitch receptacle of a supporting vehicle and a distal portion for supporting an apparatus, e.g., spreader for distributing animal feed, etc., thereon. The distal bar portion is positioned to overlay the proximal portion and to place the supported apparatus close to the rear of the supporting vehicle during operations in order to reduce the lever arm and corresponding bending loads on the hitch receptacle. The distal portion of the bar may be swiveled clear of the rear of the vehicle to allow the rear door (tailgate, rear hatch, etc.) of the vehicle to be opened when the vehicle is stopped. The distal bar portion and apparatus supported thereon have a combined length preferably less than half the width of the vehicle, permitting the bar to be swiveled freely without extending laterally beyond the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to vehicle hitches and towing attachments, and particularly to a hitch bar with swivel that allows the object attached thereto (e.g., spreader, etc.) to be pivoted clear of the rear of the supporting vehicle for access thereto.

2. Description of the Related Art

Innumerable devices have been adapted for removable attachment to the rear of a motor vehicle by means of the common receiver hitch receptacle often provided on such vehicles. Among these devices is an apparatus known as a spreader that serves to distribute or broadcast various materials therefrom. These materials may range from fertilizer to grass or other seed to animal feed, and perhaps other materials as well.

Spreaders are generally provided with relatively large capacity hoppers in order to avoid the need for frequent refilling of the hopper during operations. The resulting weight can place a considerable strain on the vehicle attachment means. As a result, many larger spreader and hopper units are permanently attached to the rear of the supporting vehicle, or at least attached by structure other than or in addition to the standard receiver hitch receptacle. Where a receiver hitch bar is used, it is desired to position the spreader (or other apparatus supported by the bar) as close as practicable to the supporting vehicle in order to reduce the length of the lever arm defined by the bar extending from the vehicle and its receiver hitch receptacle. The extension of a relatively massive structure from the receiver hitch receptacle of the vehicle can produce considerable bending forces on the hitch structure, particularly as the structure is accelerated up and down in the vertical plane through short, rapid movements due to the vehicle traveling over uneven terrain. The shorter the supporting hitch bar (lever arm), the smaller these bending forces are.

However, the close proximity of the spreader (or other apparatus) to the rear of the vehicle blocks the opening of the rearward door of the vehicle (e.g., pickup tailgate, rear door of van, etc.). If the operator needs to access some article or component within the rear of the vehicle, he or she must first remove the hitch-supported apparatus from the rear of the vehicle. As the apparatus may have a weight exceeding that which the operator is capable of supporting manually, the operator must find some means of supporting the hitch supported apparatus for removal, or disassemble the apparatus into manageable components, or drive the vehicle to a location where suitable supports (hoists, etc.) are available, just to open the rear gate or door of the vehicle.

Thus, a hitch bar with swivel solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The hitch bar with swivel is adapted for removable installation to the standard or conventional receiver hitch receptacle of a motor vehicle. The hitch bar has two sections, including a first or proximal section to the vehicle that is immovably affixed in the receiver hitch receptacle during installation, and a second or distal section supporting an apparatus, such as a spreader, animal feed distributor (feeder), etc. The two sections are secured to one another by a swivel having a substantially vertical axis when the hitch bar is mounted to the supporting vehicle.

The hitch bar is swiveled to position the spreader, feeder, or other apparatus close to the supporting vehicle during operation of the vehicle and/or spreader. This reduces the length of the lever arm extending from the rear of the vehicle, thus correspondingly reducing the force applied to the structure at the rear of the vehicle through the receiver hitch receptacle. When the operator wishes to access the rear of the vehicle, he or she need only swivel the distal section of the hitch bar generally 180° from its operative position to move the supported spreader or other apparatus well clear of the rear of the vehicle. The operator may then open the pickup tailgate, rear door or hatch, etc. of the supporting vehicle to access the interior of the vehicle. When the access to the rear of the vehicle is completed, the tailgate, door, hatch, etc. is closed and the distal portion of the hitch bar assembly is swiveled back into its normal operating position for operation or transport of the apparatus supported thereon.

The distal arm portion of the hitch bar has a length preferably less than half the width of the supporting vehicle. As the proximal arm portion is substantially in the vertical plane of the longitudinal centerline of the supporting vehicle, the distal arm portion of the hitch bar and the apparatus supported thereon cannot extend beyond the side of the vehicle at any point in its arcuate travel, thus allowing the supporting vehicle to be parked in a relatively narrow or tight area while still allowing the swivel arm and attachment to be swiveled clear of the rear of the vehicle for access thereto.

The structure of the hitch bar and swivel joint is preferably formed of readily available materials, such as square section steel tubes for the arms and concentric pipe sections for the swivel, but other materials may be adapted. Means for supporting an electrical cable may be provided along and/or through the arm portions and/or swivel to provide electrical power to the apparatus being carried on the hitch bar. A hitch pin is provided to secure the distal bar portion to the proximal bar portion to hold the apparatus supported on the distal bar close to the supporting vehicle for operations. The pin is temporarily removed to allow the distal portion of the bar to swivel freely when rear door or tailgate access is needed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The hitch bar with swivel provides for the placement of the distal end of the bar relatively close to the supporting vehicle during operation, thereby reducing the length of the lever arm and corresponding bending loads on the attachment point to the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. The swivel allows the distal portion of the bar, i.e., the portion carrying the operative apparatus (spreader, etc.), to be pivoted away from the rear of the vehicle when not in operation to allow the operator to open the rear door or gate of the vehicle for access to the inside of the vehicle without having to remove the apparatus and/or hitch bar from the vehicle.

FIG. 1of the drawings provides a detailed side elevation view in section of the swivel mechanism of the hitch bar with swivel, designated generally by the reference numeral10in the drawings. The bar of the hitch bar with swivel comprises a hitch attachment arm12, also designated as the proximal arm, that is removably attachable to the supporting vehicle, and a swivel arm14, also designated as the distal arm, attached to the hitch attachment arm12by a swivel mechanism16.

The swivel mechanism16includes a cylindrical lower collar18, to which the swivel attachment end20of the hitch attachment arm12is welded so that the hitch attachment arm12extends radially from the lower collar18. A hollow, cylindrical support sleeve22is installed concentrically within the lower collar18. The lower end24of the lower collar18is welded to the lower end26of the support sleeve22. The lower collar18thus concentrically surrounds the lower portion28of the support sleeve22, the assembly of the lower collar18and support sleeve22being open at the lower end thereof. Thus, the hitch attachment arm12, lower collar18, and support sleeve22are permanently and immovably affixed to one another, and do not swivel or pivot relative to one another or relative to the supporting vehicle when installed thereto.

A swivel collar30is placed concentrically about the upper portion32of the support sleeve22above the lower collar18and rests thereon. The swivel collar30is not immovably attached to the support sleeve22or to the lower collar18, but is free to rotate or swivel about the upper portion32of the support sleeve22. The attachment end34of the distal or swivel arm14is welded to the swivel collar30and extends radially therefrom. An upper collar36is welded to the upper end38of the support sleeve22, thereby capturing the swivel collar30about the upper portion32of the support sleeve22between the fixed lower collar18and the fixed upper collar36. A grease fitting40is threaded into the medial portion of the swivel collar30diametrically opposite the swivel arm14to provide lubrication between the swivel collar30and the support sleeve22. The lower collar18and the lower portion28of the support sleeve22may have a passage42formed therethrough diametrically opposite the hitch attachment arm12for an electrical wiring harness or cable44from the support vehicle to the apparatus (spreader, etc.) supported by the distal swivel arm14of the hitch bar and swivel. A grommet or the like (not shown) may be installed in the passage42to protect the wiring44from chafing.

FIGS. 2 and 3of the drawings provide environmental perspective views of the hitch bar with swivel10installed to the receiver hitch receptacle R of a supporting vehicle V, e.g., a pickup truck, etc. The hitch attachment arm12is preferably formed of an elongate, straight length of square section steel tubing, the hitch attachment end46having a dimension adapted to fit closely within the receiver hitch receptacle R of the supporting vehicle V. A conventional hitch pin48is used to secure the hitch attachment arm12to the receiver hitch receptacle R.

The swivel arm14also comprises an elongate, straight length of material, preferably square or rectangular section steel tubing. The swivel arm14is adapted for supporting a spreader assembly50or other attachment thereon. A spreader support arm52extends laterally across the swivel arm14. The spreader support arm52is also preferably formed of square or rectangular steel tube stock and has mutually opposed first and second ends54and56. The swivel arm14has a distal end58. Vertically disposed first and second hopper supports60and62extend upward from the first and second ends54and56of the spreader support arm52. A third hopper support arm64extends vertically upward from the distal end58of the swivel arm14. These three hopper support arms60through64support the spreader hopper66therein. The open side of the arrangement disposed generally above the swivel mechanism16provides a clear area for the installation and removal of the hopper66to and from the hitch bar and swivel10. The spreader mechanism68is suspended from the lower end or mouth of the hopper66, above the swivel arm14and spreader support arm52. The spreader mechanism68shown in the drawings is one kind of conventional spreader mechanism, but any other conventionally known spreader mechanism may be used.

FIG. 2of the drawings illustrates the hitch bar and swivel10in an operative position, i.e., the swivel arm14is rotated to overlie the hitch attachment arm14. The swivel arm14is secured in this position by a swivel arm hitch pin70inserted through aligned passages72in the swivel arm14and the hitch attachment arm12; the passage72through the hitch arm12being visible inFIG. 3. The configuration illustrated inFIG. 2places the spreader assembly50quite close to the structure of the supporting vehicle V, thereby reducing the length of the lever arm between the receiver hitch receptacle R and the spreader assembly50, which may have a load in the hopper66. Thus, the stress and strain on the receiver hitch structure of the supporting vehicle V and the bending loads on the hitch attachment arm12as the vehicle V is in motion and encountering vertical accelerations due to uneven terrain are greatly reduced.

However, the operative configuration illustrated inFIG. 2results in blocking the vehicle tailgate G or other rearwardly disposed vehicle door. The hitch bar with swivel10facilitates opening the vehicle rear door or tailgate G by swiveling the swivel arm14and spreader assembly50through substantially 180° to position the spreader assembly50rearward of the swivel mechanism16. The operator need only remove the swivel arm hitch pin70from its passages72through the two arms12and14, and swivel the swivel arm14away from the rear of the vehicle V. The swivel arm hitch pin70may be stored in the corresponding passage72through either the swivel arm14(as shown inFIG. 3) or the hitch attachment arm12, as needed. The length of the hitch attachment arm12provides clearance between the hopper66and the rear of the vehicle V, allowing the tailgate G to be dropped, as shown inFIG. 3.

Preferably, the swivel arm14has a length less than half the width of the supporting vehicle V, as shown inFIG. 4of the drawings. InFIG. 4, the hitch bar12is shown extending from its removable attachment to the receiver hitch receptacle of the supporting vehicle V. The hitch bar10is shown in its operative configuration with the hopper66in solid lines and the swivel arm14extending forward from the swivel16to lie over the hitch attachment arm12. This positions the spreader mechanism and its hopper66quite close to the rear of the vehicle V (e.g., bed of a pickup truck, as shown inFIG. 4), thereby reducing the stresses on the hitch arm12and hitch structure of the vehicle V, as noted further above.

When access to the rear of the vehicle V is required, the operator need only remove the swivel arm hitch pin70from its installation as shown in the configuration ofFIG. 2, and swivel the swivel arm14to its extended position substantially in alignment with the centerline CL of the vehicle V. This is the most rearward position shown inFIG. 4, corresponding to the position illustrated inFIG. 3of the drawings. This positions the spreader mechanism and hopper66(shown in broken lines in this position) at its greatest distance from the rear of the vehicle V, allowing the tailgate (or other access panel or door, depending upon the vehicle configuration) to be opened for access.

FIG. 4also illustrates an intermediate position for the swivel arm14and hopper66thereon, shown at 90° to the vehicle centerline CL and corresponding axis of the hitch arm12. It will be seen in the top plan view ofFIG. 4that the swivel arm14has a length L that is less than half the width W of the vehicle V, as measured from the centerline CL of the vehicle V. This assures that the distal end of the swivel arm14and the apparatus attached thereto, such as the hopper66, cannot extend beyond the side S1of the vehicle V, or the opposite side S2if swiveled or pivoted to the right side. It will be recalled that the position of the hopper66on the swivel arm14is defined in part by the third hopper support arm64that extends vertically upward from the distal end58of the swivel arm14. Thus, the hopper66cannot extend beyond the distal end58of the swivel arm14.

Accordingly, the supporting vehicle V may be positioned or parked in a relatively narrow area that provides just sufficient room for the width W of the vehicle, and the swivel arm14with its attached hopper66may still be swiveled or pivoted through 180° while remaining within the width W of the support vehicle V when swiveled through an arcuate path about the swivel16. Any structure that may be immediately adjacent to the rearward extended side of the vehicle V, e.g., the rearward extension line of the side S1of the vehicle, cannot interfere with the full arcuate travel of the swivel arm14. The operator of the vehicle V with the hitch bar with swivel10attached thereto may easily manipulate the swivel arm14to provide access to the rear of the vehicle V, even though the vehicle may be parked in a relatively narrow garage or other width restricted or limited parking area. Once this has been accomplished, the operator need only reposition the swivel arm14and lock it in place over the hitch arm12, as shown inFIG. 2, to be ready for operations.