Abstract:
A trailer hitch adapter that elevates the height of a trailer hitch to lower the rear edge of a trailer, thus allowing a safer entry by a motorcycle into the trailer.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates broadly to trailer hitches. Specifically, the present invention relates to a trailer hitch adapter. More specifically, the present invention relates to trailer hitch adapters that facilitate towing of motorcycles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Motorcycles have been enjoyed by the public for decades. In recent years, more and more motorcycles have become popular not simply as means for transportation, but also as recreational vehicles that are used primarily for pleasure. Accordingly, motorcycles have become more and more expensive as their popularity grows, and there is a greater desire to participate in motorcycle shows, club rallies, as well as transporting the motorcycle to repair shops where even more money is spent to customize it. 
     Transporting a motorcycle typically involves loaded it by ramp into the back of a pickup truck where it is secured for transport. As motorcycles have grown in size and power, the danger of pushing or riding a motorcycle up a ramp into the back of a pickup truck has increased. A fall from a ramp while astride a large motorcycle now can cause serious injury. Motorcycle trailers can reduce this danger, but their cost makes them an unattractive choice, as does the problem of storing a motorcycle trailer when not in use. Even with the trailer, ramps are still necessary and the risk of injury is not completely eliminated. Another problem with transporting motorcycles is that often more than one motorcycle needs to be transported, either by truck or trailer. It is often impossible to transport two ore more motorcycles in the back of a pickup truck due to their size, so a large trailer is often used. 
     Thus, there remains a heartfelt need to transport motorcycles in a manner that is safer and less costly than by current methods. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves the problems described above by providing a trailer hitch adapter that elevates the height of a trailer hitch to lower the rear edge of a trailer, thus allowing a safer entry by a motorcycle into the trailer. 
     In one aspect, the present invention provides a trailer hitch adapter that has a base member having a slotted aperture, an upper member, the upper member having a length and being insertable within the base member, an adjustment member having a plurality of apertures arranged in a vertical relationship with each other, the adjustment member attached edgewise with a front side of the upper member and running substantially the length of the upper member, a collar, the collar surrounding an upper end of the base member and having an aperture aligned with the slotted aperture, a first pair of mounting brackets, each of the first pair of mounting brackets mounted in an opposing relation with respect to each other on opposing sides of the slotted aperture, each of the first pair of mounting brackets having an aperture located to receive a securing pin placed through the first pair of mounting brackets to secure the adjustment member therebetween, a tongue disposed in a horizontal orientation, the tongue attached to the bottom of the adjustment member; the tongue having an aperture through which a ball hitch is secured, and a second pair of mounting brackets, each of the second pair of mounting brackets having a plurality of apertures arranged in a vertical relationship with each other, the second pair of mounting brackets attached edgewise with a rear side of the base member in a substantially parallel relationship with each other at a distance sufficient to receive a square hitch therebetween. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides a motorcycle carrier, having a first bracket, the first bracket having a horizontal member attached to the tongue and extending for a length, a pair of outside flanges, the outside flanges disposed at opposing ends of the length of the first bracket, each of the outside flanges having an aperture in its center, a pair of side bracket members disposed in a substantially vertical manner and in a parallel relationship with respect to each other, each of the side bracket members attached to on of the pair of outside flanges at apertures located near the top of the side bracket members, a pair of side arm bracket members, the side arm bracket members disposed in a substantially diagonal manner and in a parallel relationship with each other, each side arm bracket member attached to the base member at one end of the side arm bracket member, the side arm bracket member also attached to one of the side bracket members at a point along the length of the side arm bracket member, and a pair of cradle members, the cradle members attached to ends of the side arm bracket members, the cradle members disposed in a substantially horizontal manner and in a parallel relationship with each other at a distance sufficient to receive a motorcycle wheel. 
     In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a dual motorcycle carrier comprising first and second motorcycle carriers, each of the first and second motorcycle carriers having a first bracket, the first bracket having a horizontal member attached to the tongue and extending for a length, a pair of outside flanges, the outside flanges disposed at opposing ends of the length of the first bracket, each of the outside flanges having an aperture in its center, a pair of side bracket members disposed in a substantially vertical manner and in a parallel relationship with respect to each other, each of the side bracket members attached to on of the pair of outside flanges at apertures located near the top of the side bracket members, a pair of side arm bracket members, the side arm bracket members disposed in a substantially diagonal manner and in a parallel relationship with each other, each side arm bracket member attached to the base member at one end of the side arm bracket member, the side arm bracket member also attached to one of the side bracket members at a point along the length of the side arm bracket member, and a pair of cradle members, the cradle members attached to ends of the side arm bracket members, the cradle members disposed in a substantially horizontal manner and in a parallel relationship with each other at a distance sufficient to receive a motorcycle wheel. 
     Numerous other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from reading the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of the trailer hitch adapter of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the trailer hitch adapter shown in  FIG. 1  in assembled form. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a hydraulic pump assembly for elevating the trailer hitch adapter shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates the jackscrew of the trailer hitch adapter shown in  FIG. 1  coupled to a hand crank. 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates the jackscrew of the trailer hitch adapter shown in  FIG. 1  coupled to an electronic controller. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of the trailer hitch adapter shown in  FIG. 1  with a receiver that carries the front wheel of a motorcycle. 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates a plan view of the receiver that carries the front wheel of a motorcycle. 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates an elevation view of the receiver that carries the front wheel of a motorcycle. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a plan view of a double receiver that carries the front wheels of two motorcycles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Directing attention to  FIG. 1 , there is shown generally an exploded view of an embodiment of the trailer hitch adapter of the present invention. Base member  100  is configured vertically with slotted aperture  101  running longitudinally along the center of the front face. Collar  104  is secured around the outside of the upper end of base member  100  to provide strength and support to base member  100 , and also has a slotted aperture  105  dimensioned similar to slotted aperture  101 . Upper member  102  is dimensioned to be inserted within base member  100 , and has adjustment member  106  affixed edgewise to its front face. Adjustment member  106  includes a series of adjustment holes that allow tongue  108  to be presented at one of a plurality of heights. In an embodiment, triangular brace  107  is included to provide support between adjustment member  106  and tongue  108 . 
     Mounting brackets  110  are, in the preferred embodiment, a pair of right-angle shaped pieces that are affixed to the edges of collar  104  that oppose aperture  105 . When upper member  102  is inserted into base member  100 , one of the holes of adjustment member  106  aligns with the holes of mounting brackets  110 , and securing pin  11  is inserted through these holes. In an embodiment, securing pin  111  is bent at an angle, and, in combination with cotter pin  113 , is locked in position to secure upper member  102  within base member  100  to secure adjustment member  106  and tongue  108  at a desired height. Optionally, a mudflap can be included in the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the mudflap is slotted horizontally so that it fits over tongue  108 . 
     Jack screw  118  is secured within base member  100  and upper member  102  to provide an elevation mechanism to adjust the height of upper member  102  and adjustment member  106  so that different holes on adjustment member  106 . In an embodiment, jack screw  118  includes lower jack screw member  120 , upper jack screw member  124 , union brackets  122  and inner jack screw member  126 . Union brackets  122  include two plates, each affixed to either upper jack screw member  124  or lower jack screw member  120 . Inner jack screw member  126 , in an embodiment, includes through-hole  127 . By inserting a threaded bolt into through-hole  129  of base cap  130 , then into through-hole  131 , and then into through-hole  127 , and placing a threaded nut on the portion of the threaded bolt exposed on the opposite side, jack screw  118  can be secured within base member  100  and upper member  102 . 
     On the rear side of base member  100 , mounting brackets  132 ,  134  can be affixed in a substantially parallel relationship with respect to each other on the rear face of base member  100 . Directing attention to  FIG. 2 , mounting brackets  132 ,  134  can be secured to base member also by adding fastener plate  140  to the side surfaces of base member  100  and mounting brackets  132 ,  134 . Square member  144  can be fasted between mounting brackets  132 ,  134  to fasten the entire apparatus to a square hitch (not shown) that is commonly found on vehicles used to tow trailers and other vehicles. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4A , jack screw  118  can utilize crank handle  150 . However, in place of crank handle  150 , electronic control unit  155  can be placed atop upper jack screw member  124  to provide a powered operation of jack screw  118 . In yet another embodiment, jack screw  118  can be replaced by hydraulic unit  300  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , Hydraulic unit  300  includes pump handle  320 , that can be operated in a vertical movement to elevate or lower adjustment member  106  and tongue  118 . 
     Directing attention to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 A and  6 B, in another aspect, the present invention provides motorcycle carrier  500 . Ball hitch  502  is inserted through tongue  108  and secured by nut  504  or other suitable fastener. While nut  504  is shown above bracket  508 , this is for visibility in  FIG. 5 , and it is to be understood that bracket  508  is placed in contact with tongue  108  such that bracket  508  is secured to tongue  108  by the insertion of ball hitch  500  through both tongue  108  and bracket  508 , then nut  504  is fastened to ball hitch  502 . Side bracket members  506  are oblong, straight pieces that fasten to the outside flanges  510  on bracket  508 , and, in an embodiment, include a plurality of fastening apertures  507  that allow different mounting points along the length of side bracket members  506 . Also present at the bottom of side bracket member  506  is a pivot aperture  509 . Side bracket member  506  fastens to aperture  511  located along the length of side arm bracket member  514 . Side arm bracket members  514  fasten to base cap  130  through aperture  515 , and to cradle members  516  at aperture  517 . Cradle members  516  attach to side arm bracket member  514  at aperture  519 , located along the length of cradle member  516 . Receiver  512  is a curved member that fastens to cradle members  516  and may also include a plurality of apertures  521 . 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a plan view and elevation view, respectively, of carrier  500  attached to trailer hitch adapter  100 . Directing attention to  FIG. 6A , the front wheel of a motorcycle is placed within space  520 , defined herein as the space between cradle members  516 . No lifting of the motorcycle is required. Once the motorcycle wheel is placed within space  520 , the motorcycle can be secured to receiver  512  by tying, strapping, or chaining the motorcycle wheel to one or more of apertures  521 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention incorporating dual, side by side motorcycle carriers  500 . In this embodiment, horizontal bar members  700 - 1  and  700 - 2  are disposed between motorcycle carriers  500 - 1  and  500 - 2 . One of horizontal bar members  700  can fasten to tongue  108  to allow two motorcycles to be towed behind a vehicle with no lifting of either motorcycle in the manner described above with reference to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 A and  6 B. 
     While numerous modifications can be made to embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, it is to be understood that such modifications in no way limit the present invention.