Trailer hitch attachment device

A trailer hitch attachment device for securing a trailer hitch to a hitch receiver includes a collar that comprises a tube. A channel defining an upper guide and a lower guide is positioned in each of a pair of alignment blocks coupled to a left side and a right side of the tube. A latch with a pair of biasers and a pair of extractors coupled to an inside surface is hingedly coupled to the tube. Each of a pair of pins with a curved end, an actuator end, and a pivot hole is positioned in an associated one of the channels with the curved ends extending toward the tube and with the actuator ends positioned proximate to a back end of the tube. A pair of pivots is coupled to and extends from an associated one of the upper guides, through an associated one of the pivot holes and is coupled to an associated one of the lower guides.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to attachment devices and more particularly pertains to a new attachment device for securing a trailer hitch to a hitch receiver.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a collar that comprises a tube. A channel defining an upper guide and a lower guide is positioned in each of a pair of alignment blocks coupled to a left side and a right side of the tube. A latch with a pair of biasers and a pair of extractors coupled to an inside surface is hingedly coupled to the tube. Each of a pair of pins with a curved end, an actuator end, and a pivot hole is positioned in an associated one of the channels with the curved ends extending toward the tube and with the actuator ends positioned proximate to a back end of the tube. A pair of pivots is coupled to and extends from an associated one of the upper guides, through an associated one of the pivot holes and is coupled to an associated one of the lower guides.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 8, the trailer hitch attachment device10generally comprises a collar12. The collar12comprises a tube14that has a square profile16when viewed along a longitudinal axis18. One of each of a pair of alignment blocks20is coupled to a left side22and a right side24of the tube14. Each of the pair of alignment blocks20has a channel26parallel to the longitudinal axis18. The channels26define an upper guide28and a lower guide30. Each of the pair of alignment blocks20has a penetration32perpendicular to the channels26. The penetrations32are proximate to a back end34of the tube14. A tab36with an opening38is coupled to and positioned on a top40of the tube14proximate to the back end34. A first coupler42is coupled to and positioned on the top40of the tube14proximate to a front44of the tube14. The first coupler42is a pair of protections. Each of the pair of projections46has an orifice48. The collar12may be comprised of a single piece of steel. Preferably, the collar12is comprised of a single piece of hardened steel. A hole50that is threaded is positioned in a bottom52of the tube14. A screw54, complimentary to the hole50, is positioned in the hole50. The screw54has a head56, and a tail58that is threaded. The head56has a hexagonally shaped indentation60.

A latch62comprising a plate64is hingedly coupled to the tube14. The plate64is flat. A second coupler66that is complimentary to the first coupler42is coupled to a hinge edge68of the plate64. The hinge edge68may be a tubular extension70of the plate64that is complimentary to the orifices48of the pair of projections46. A pair of transitions72that is flat and has an inside edge74is coupled to the plate64. Each of the inside edges74are coupled to an associated one of a pair of opposing edges76of the plate64. Preferably, each of the pair of transitions72is coupled to an associated one of the pair of opposing edges76at a 55 degree angle78relative to the plate64, such that the pair of transitions72extends toward the bottom52of the tube14. One of each of a pair of wings80is coupled to an associated one of the pair of transitions72. Each of the pair of wings80is flat and has a triangular end82and a straight end84. Each of the straight ends84is coupled to an associated one of a pair of outside edges86of the pair of transitions72at a 35 degree angle73relative to the transition, such that the pair of wings80extends toward the bottom52of the tube14perpendicularly to the plate64.

One of each of a pair of biasers90is coupled to an inside surface92of an associated one of the pair of wings80. Each of the pair of biasers90is half-cylindrically shaped and is positioned parallel to an associated one of a front rim94of the pair of wings80. The pair of biasers90comprises a first set of extrusions96protruding from the inside surface92.

One of each of a pair of locks98is coupled to the inside surface92of an associated one of the pair of wings80. The pair of locks98is half-cylindrically shaped. Each of the pair of locks98is positioned on the inside surface92parallel to the straight end84. The pair of locks98comprises a second set of extrusions100protruding from the inside surface92.

One of each of a pair of extractors102is coupled to the inside surface92of an associated one of the pair of wings80. The pair of extractors102is half-cylindrically shaped. Each of the pair of extractors102is positioned on the inside surface92proximate to an associated one of the triangular ends82. The pair of extractors102comprises a third set of extrusions104protruding from the inside surface92.

The latch62may be comprised of a single piece of steel. Preferably, the latch62is comprised of a single piece of hardened steel.

A slot106, complimentary to the tab36, is positioned in the plate64proximate to a rear edge108of the plate64. The slot106is parallel to the longitudinal axis18, such that the slot106is positioned to accept the tab36when the latch62is in a closed position, and such that the opening38in the tab36is positioned to accept a keeper or lock to secure the latch62in a closed position.

A handle110is coupled to the rear edge108the plate64. Preferably, the handle110is an arcuate extension112of the plate64that extends away from the top40, such that the handle110is positioned to facilitate movement of the latch62to a closed position.

One of each of a pair of pulls114is coupled to the front rim94of an associated one of the pair of wings80. The pair of pulls114comprises extensions116of the pair of wings80, such that the pair of pulls114is positioned to facilitate movement of the latch62to an open position.

Each of a pair of pins118having a cylindrical body120, a curved end122, an actuator end124, and a pivot hole126is positioned in an associated one of the channels26with the curved ends122extending toward the tube14and with the actuator ends124positioned proximate to the back end34. The curved end122is tapered and perpendicular to the cylindrical body120. The pivot hole126comprises a loop128coupled proximate to the actuator end124and extending from the cylindrical body120away from the curved end122. Each of the pair of pins118has a stop130positioned proximate to the curved end122. The actuator end124comprises a block132coupled to the cylindrical body120. The block132has an opposing pair of tapered faces134. Each of the pair of pins118may be comprised of a single piece of steel. Preferably, each of the pair of pins118is comprised of a single piece of hardened steel.

A pair of pivots136that is cylindrical is coupled to and extends from an associated one of the upper guides28, through an associated one of the pivot holes126and is coupled to an associated one of the lower guides30. Each of the pair of pivots136has a pair of termini138that comprise heads140. One of each of the pair of pivots136is positioned in an associated one of the penetrations32with the heads140extending past the penetration32. Each of the pair of pivots136may be comprised of steel. Preferably, each of the pair of pivots136is comprised of hardened steel.

A rod142that is cylindrical and has a pair of ends144, with each of the pair of ends144comprising a catch146, is positioned in and through the tubular extension70of the plate64and the orifices48of the pair of projections46, such that the catches146are positioned to secure the rod142in the tubular extension70and the orifices48to hingedly secure the latch62to the collar12. The rod142may be comprised of a single piece of steel. Preferably, the rod142is comprised of a single piece of hardened steel.

In use, the device10is positioned such that the user can insert a trailer hitch into the tube14. The hole50is positioned in the bottom52of the tube14to accept the screw54such that the hitch is fixed in a desired position by tightening the screw54into the hole50. The pair of pins118is positioned to engage the holes in the hitch receiver when the pair of biasers90contacts the pair of pins118as the latch62is moved to a closed position. The pair of pins118is positioned to disengage from the holes in the hitch receiver when the pair of extractors102engages the actuator ends124of the pins118as the latch62is moved to an open position.