Pivotable trailer hitch

A hitch member for an automotive vehicle is affixed to a mounting bar which is rotatably mounted in the side beams of the frame of the vehicle and is rotatable with such mounting bar. A brace member is pivotally mounted on a cross member affixed to the side beams of the frame and is movable and releasably affixable to the hitch member to secure said hitch member in operable position and in retracted position when the hitch member is not in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a pivotable trailer hitch. More 
particularly, the invention relates to a pivotable trailer hitch for an 
automotive vehicle having a frame with a pair of spaced parallel side 
beams extending along the length of the vehicle, the frame having front 
and rear ends, and a rear bumper affixed to the side beams at the rear 
ends thereof and extending perpendicularly thereof. 
Pivotable trailer hitches are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,733,936; 
2,804,316; 2,823,930; 2,849,243; 3,640,550 and 3,751,072. 
Objects of the invention are to provide a pivotable trailer hitch of simple 
structure, which is inexpensive in manufacture, installed with facility 
and convenience, used with facility, convenience and safety, and functions 
efficiently, effectively and reliably as a trailer hitch in operable 
position and is stored in retracted position in a manner which protects it 
from damage and eliminates clearance problems existing with known types of 
hitches.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The pivotable trailer hitch of the invention is for an automotive vehicle 1 
(FIG. 1) having a frame 2 with a pair of spaced parallel side beams 3 and 
4 extending along the length of the vehicle (FIG. 1). The frame 2 has a 
front end (not shown in the FIGS.) and a rear end 5 (FIG. 1). A rear 
bumper 6 is affixed to the side beams 3 and 4 at the rear ends 5 and 7 
thereof, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1, and extends perpendicularly to 
said side beams. 
The pivotable trailer hitch of the invention comprises a mounting bar 8 
rotatably affixed to the side beams 3 and 4 of the frame 2 in the area of 
the rear ends 5 and 7 thereof and extending perpendicularly to said side 
beams. 
A hitch member 9 has spaced opposite first and second ends 10 and 11, 
respectively. The first end 10 of the hitch member 9 is affixed to the 
mounting bar 8 and rotatable therewith. A hitch plate 12 extends angularly 
with the hitch member 9 at the second end 11 of said hitch member. The 
hitch plate 12 has first and second ends 13 and 14, respectively. A hitch 
pin hole 15 is formed through the hitch plate 12 at the first end 13 
thereof, as shown in FIG. 1. A pin hole 16 is formed through the hitch 
plate 12 at the second end 14 thereof, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
A cross member 17 is affixed to the side beams 3 and 4 of the frame 2 in 
spaced parallel relation with the mounting bar 8, closer to the front end 
of the frame than the rear end 5 of said frame, as shown in the FIGS. A 
cross member pin hole 18 is provided on the cross member 17, as shown in 
FIGS. 2 and 3. 
A bumper pin hole member 19 is provided on the rear bumper 6, as shown in 
FIGS. 2 and 3. 
A brace member 20 has spaced opposite first and second ends 21 and 22 (FIG. 
2). The first and second ends 21 and 22 of the brace member 20 have first 
and second pin hole members thereat, which pin hole members are not shown 
in the views of the FIGS. The first end 21 of the brace member 20 is 
pivotally affixable to the pin hole 16 of the hitch plate 12 via a pin 23, 
shown in section in FIG. 2, to secure the hitch member 9 in operable 
position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with its hitch plate substantially 
parallel to the plane of the side beams 3 and 4 of the frame 2 and below 
said frame and extending rearward of the rear bumper 6, as shown in FIGS. 
1 and 2. 
The hitch member 9 is releasable from the brace member 20 and is rotatable 
with the mounting bar 8 to a retracted position, as shown in FIG. 3, in 
which the hitch plate 12 abuts the cross member 17. The first end 21 of 
the brace member 20 is then pivotally affixable to the bumper pin hole 
member 19, in the manner shown in FIG. 3, via a pin 24, shown in cross 
section in FIG. 3, whereby the brace member supports the hitch member in 
the retracted position of said hitch member. The second end 22 of the 
brace member 20 is pivotally affixable to the cross member pin hole member 
18, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, via a pin 25, shown in cross section in 
FIGS. 2 and 3. 
The trailer hitch of the invention is especially advantageous when utilized 
with four wheel drive vehicles of high road clearance, so that the hitch 
member will not create any problems due to road clearance when it is in 
its retracted position. The bracing of the hitch member prevents buckling 
failure thereof. The mounting bar 8 may be rotatably mounted by any 
suitable means such as, for example, mounting ferrules, and the like. 
While the invention has been described by means of a specific example and 
in a specific embodiment, I do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious 
modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing 
from the spirit and scope of the invention.