Abstract:
A compact, lightweight hitch-coupling tool is designed to lift, move, and align a hitch-head assembly via two or more points/regions of contact with a hitch ball. When a user moves a hitch-head assembly via the hitch-coupling tool of the present invention, the assembly&#39;s mass is evenly distributed through the center of the head of the tool allowing a user to easily maneuver large hitch-head assemblies with one hand.

Description:
CLAIM OF DOMESTIC PRIORITY This application claims of the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120 of U.S. provisional application 61/730,339 filed Nov. 27, 2012.  
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Everyone loves to take a road trip. From escaping for a few days to a refreshing winter or summer vacation, it is not surprising that the RV market has been growing. Escaping cold winters, snowbirds have been known to spend months living out of RVs; however, in recent years there has been an influx of young families purchasing RVs, emphasizing spending time together, but doing so while on a budget, and RVing has always offered that. 
         [0002]    Anyone who has ever had to couple a trailer hitch to the receiver of their towing vehicle knows that it can be a cumbersome, dirty, and often a frustrating task. In the case of large loads, such as RVs, boats equestrian trailers, which can be hard to maneuver in a safe and controlled manner, a weight distribution hitch is required to improve the towing vehicle&#39;s ability to brake, steer, and turn, preventing dangerous out-of-control driving situations. Unfortunately, the combination of an adjustable weight distribution shank and adjustable ball mount, results in a heavy hitch-head assembly, with an awkward center of mass, which is difficult to pick up, move, and insert into the receiver on a towing vehicle. Add in a lubricated ball mount, and now not only is the hitch-head assembly awkward and heavy, it is also slippery. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    At the heart of the present invention is a hitch-coupling tool that allows the user to easily pick up a hitch-head assembly and efficiently maneuver that assembly in and out of the vehicle receiver or from the receiver to a remote location for storage. The hitch-coupling tool will accommodate any hitch ball size, making it universal. When the hitch-coupling tool is attached to the hitch ball, the center of mass of the hitch-head assembly/tool is shifted through the center of the head of the hitch-coupling tool, making the hitch-head assembly easier to carry and maneuver. Should the towing vehicle have limited space around the receiver, the hitch-coupling tool is pivotable about the hitch ball, allowing the user to move the tool handle out of the way of the towing vehicle&#39;s bumper. The hitch-coupling tool of the present invention is lightweight and easy to use, allowing a broader range of individuals to move and install the hitch-head assembly of a weight distribution hitch. The hitch-coupling tool of the present invention firmly grips the hitch ball of the hitch-head assembly, preventing rotation of the hitch-head. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the hitch-coupling tool of the present invention; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the hitch-coupling tool of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of hitch-coupling tool of the present invention with the interchangeable coupling plates removed; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a left-side view of the hitch-coupling tool of the present invention engaged with a hitch ball, wherein the interchangeable coupling plates have been removed; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a front view of an interchangeable coupling plate of the present invention 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a nut/bolt assembly of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the hitch-coupling tool of the present invention engaged with a hitch ball; 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a left-side view of the hitch-coupling tool of the present invention engaged with a hitch ball; 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the hitch-coupling tool of the present invention engaged with a hitch ball; 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is a rear view of the hitch-coupling tool of the present invention engaged with a hitch ball; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the hitch-coupling tool of the present invention engaged with a hitch ball. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Looking at  FIGS. 1 &amp; 11  the hitch-coupling tool  10  of the present invention is illustrated. Hitch-coupling tool  10  comprises a handle  4  with a blunt first end  6 , and tapered second end  8  and ergonomic finger groove  5 . Blunt end  6  is designed to simply be as unobtrusive as possible to avoid interfering with the bumper of the towing vehicle. A mounting orifice  12  resides therethrough tapered second end  8  of handle  4 . Neck  14  connects handle  4  to head (claw)  18 . As illustrated head  18  is asymmetrical in design with a partial circular configuration. Gripping orifice  16  extends therethough neck  14  and both reduces the total weight of hitch-coupling tool  10  and provides an additional grip, as a user&#39;s fingers can be inserted through gripping orifice  16  should the user desire or need to use both hands when using tool  10  to move or manipulate a heavy hitch-head assembly. 
         [0016]    As illustrated, handle  4 , neck  14 , and head  18  form a unitary body for both durability and ease of manufacture. However, handle  4 , neck  14 , and head  18  could be constructed independently of one another and mechanically fastened together without departing from the scope of the invention. Handle  4 , neck  14 , and a head  18  can be comprised of any durable lightweight material, such as, but not limited to: glass-filled nylon, aluminum, steel, stainless steel, or any durable polymer. 
         [0017]    Looking at  FIGS. 2-4  it can seen be that head  18  has a first face  19 , a second face  21  ( FIG. 3 ), and a shoulder  23  connecting first face  19  and second face  21  (See  FIG. 3 ). Numerous recessed channels  37  on first face  19  and second face  21  add both a unique design element while also reducing the weight of tool  10  ( FIG. 4 ). In at  FIG. 2-3  it can be seen that head  18  comprises short-coupling arm  20  and long-coupling arm  22 , and interchangeable coupling plates  24 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2  coupling plates  24  are connected to first face  19  and second face  21  of head  18  via four nut/bolt assemblies  26 , ( FIG. 6 ) which pass through plate orifices  28  and connect within head orifices  30  as is well known in the art. 
         [0018]    Still looking at  FIGS. 2-4  short-coupling arm  20  and long-coupling arm  22  form an open-ended, hitch ball grabbing cavity  31 . The unique geometry of both short-coupling arm  20  and long-coupling arm  22  are designed to work in unison to provide the most stability when tool  10  is in the loaded position (i.e. connected to a hitch ball). Two gripping prongs  32  extend from short-coupling arm  20  and by virtue of their spacing (the spacing between individual prongs), it is the inside corner of each gripping prong  32  that contacts hitch ball  100 . Because of the weight of the hitch ball  100  and attached hitch-head assembly (not illustrated), gripping prongs  32  slightly indent hitch ball  100  “biting” into hitch ball  100 , to aid in securing hitch ball  100  within the hitch ball grabbing cavity  31  (and the hitch-head to which hitch ball  100  is attached). The “bite” by gripping prongs  32  keep tool  10  from rotating under load, and provide the only contact surface for hitch ball  100  on short-coupling arm  20 . Gripping prongs  32 , can be made of any durable material, including but not limited to tungsten carbide, steel, stainless steel, or a durable polymer, but it is to be noted that in the preferred embodiment the gripping prongs  32  are made of a material that is harder than the metal of the hitch ball  100 . 
         [0019]    The gripping prongs  32  are replaceable wedge shaped bits or inserts that are retained by their wedge geometry in a matingly configured recess formed in the short-coupling arm  20  (not illustrated). The gripping prongs  32  are further constrained within the recess by coupling plates  24 . 
         [0020]    Looking at  FIG. 3  it can be seen that shoulder  23  of long-coupling arm  22  comprised a shallow ball-channel  38  in which hitch ball  100  rests, as is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Long-coupling arm  22  also comprises a neck channel  34  proximate ball-channel  38 , and a neck-abutment portion  36  proximate neck channel  34 . 
         [0021]    Looking at  FIGS. 1 &amp; 11  it can be seen that the surface area of coupling plates  24  is larger than the surface area of first face  19  and second face  21 , such that when coupling plates  24  are connected to short-coupling arm  20  and long-coupling arms  22 , coupling plates  24  extend beyond the edge of faces  19 ,  21 . While the coupling plates  24  are not required for tool  10  to engage hitch ball  100  and allow a user to carry a load-leveling hitch-head with ease, coupling plates  24  are designed to increase the rigidity of tool  10  should the tool be made of a lightweight material such as glass filled nylon. Due to the separation between the inner faces of plates  24  and the spherical geometry of the hitch ball  100 , plates  24  contact the hitch ball in conjunction with the gripping prongs  32  to garner a 4-point “grip” on the hitch ball&#39;s lower hemisphere. In models of the hitch-coupling tool  10  of the present invention that do not employ coupling plates  24 , or wherein the coupling plates reside flush with the edge of head  18  (first face  19 , and second face  21 ), there would be a 3 point “grip” on the hitch ball. As used herein “point” could also include a “region” of contact and is not restricted to one physical point. 
         [0022]    A accommodate all standard sized hitch balls, a user can simply use larger or smaller coupling plates to accommodate different sized hitch balls. Using correspondingly sized coupling plate  24 , tool  10  can accommodate three sizes of hitch balls 1⅞″, 2″, and 2 and 5/16″. Turning to  FIG. 5  it can be seen that section  40  of plate  24  corresponds geometrically to the lower section of long-coupling arm  22 . Section  40  can simply be lengthened (resulting in a smaller opening  42 ) to accommodate a smaller hitch ball  100 . For ease of manufacture, the placement of plate orifices  28  are not altered in making different sized plates  24  to accommodate different sized hitch balls. The portion of plate material between orifice  28  and blunt end  44  of section  40  is manufactured to be longer or shorter depending on the hitch ball sizing. When coupling plates  24  are connected to first face  19  and second face  21  of head  18 , hitch ball  100  will contact gripping projections  32  on short-coupling arm  20  and will rest in plate notches  46  in coupling plates  24 . Coupling plates  24  can be made of any durable material including but not limited to steel or stainless steel. 
         [0023]    In operation the hitch-coupling tool  10  is simply slid over the hitch ball  100  and positioned at an approximate 90 degree angle with the hitch ball  100  as is illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The user is now ready to lift the hitch-head assembly.