Abstract:
Described is a system, device and method for coupling of a towing vehicle to a trailer or other towed item. A skid plate provides a surface on which a tongue of the towed item slides toward alignment over a hitch such as a hitch ball or pintle hook. The tongue, when approaching the correct location, impacts a latch. Movement of the latch facilitates movement of the skid plate downward, out of the way of the tongue. The skid plate automatically drops or tilts below the level of the hitch. The tongue of the trailer then drops onto, engages, or couples to the hitch.

Description:
The present invention relates generally to systems, devices and methods for hitching a trailer to a towing vehicle, and more particularly to a device that facilitates the coupling of a trailer tongue to a hitch of a towing vehicle by a tow vehicle operator and with little or no manual intervention to lower or otherwise couple the trailer tongue to the hitch. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Trucks and other towing vehicles are commonly used to pull trailers, boats, vehicles and other towed items. One common problem is the lack of visual or other feedback when directing a towing vehicle toward a tongue of the towed item. For example, it is often not possible to see a hitch ball located on the rear frame of the towing vehicle or the tongue of a trailer. Therefore, as a tow vehicle driver is attempting to connect the trailer with the hitch ball, the tow vehicle driver often must go through a trial and error process for aligning the trailer to the hitch ball. The tow vehicle driver often has to approximate the alignment of the trailer to the hitch ball and approximate the distance between the trailer and the tow vehicle. Such a process requires the tow vehicle driver to intermittently leave the driving position in the tow vehicle to see when the hitch ball is in the correct position with respect to the trailer so that the trailer will connect with the hitch ball. 
     Previous designs have attempted to aid a tow vehicle driver in hitching a trailer to a hitch ball or pintle hook attached to a vehicle. However, previous designs offer no mechanism to lower or couple the tongue of the trailer to the hitch ball. Many prior designs are overly complex or have overly elaborate assemblies that are prone to corrosion or other failure. Other designs are difficult to properly use with a conventional towing trailer. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary introduces a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     One aspect of the present invention provides a system, device and method for facilitating the coupling of a hitch of a towing vehicle with a tongue of a towed item such as the towing vehicle approaches the towed item or as the towed item approaches the towing vehicle. No human or manual intervention is required for the coupling once the invention is initialized for use. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides a surface on which a tongue of the towed item slides toward alignment over a hitch such as a hitch ball or pintle hook. The tongue, when approaching the correct location, engages a latch. Operation of the latch facilitates movement of the skid plate downward which causes the tongue to drop onto the hitch. 
     These and other aspects of the invention are described further in the Detailed Description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the subject matter are set forth in the appended claims. Throughout, like numerals refer to like parts with the first digit of each numeral generally referring to the figure which first illustrates the particular part. The subject matter, as well as a preferred mode of use, are best understood by reference to the following Detailed Description of illustrative implementations when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a trailer hitch loader according to a first exemplary implementation; 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a trailer hitch loader shown in  FIG. 1A  wherein a skid plate and allied parts are rotated to a position somewhat below a ball hitch; 
         FIG. 1C  is an exploded perspective view of trailer hitch loader shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 1D  is a perspective view of a sleeve body and a bottom plate of a trailer hitch loader according to a second exemplary implementation; 
         FIG. 2A  is a side view of embodiments of pintle hooks and a side view of a trailer hitch loader according to a third exemplary implementation; 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a trailer hitch loader according to a third exemplary implementation for use with a pintle hook; 
         FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of a trailer hitch loader shown in  FIG. 2B  wherein a skid plate is rotated below the pintle hook; 
         FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of a trailer hitch loader shown in  FIG. 2B  and further comprising a u-bolt; and 
         FIG. 2E  is an exploded perspective view of a trailer hitch loader showing components comprising a trailer hitch loader such as the one shown in  FIG. 2B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the invention is described below with respect to a preferred implementation, other implementations are possible. The concepts disclosed herein apply equally to other devices for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle by moving the towing vehicle toward the trailer or moving the trailer toward the towing vehicle. Furthermore, the concepts applied herein apply more generally to coupling of vehicles. The invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures. 
     Described is a device, system and method for facilitating the coupling of a towing vehicle to a trailer or other towed item. More specifically, in a preferred implementation, a tongue of a trailer is coupled to a hitch of a towing vehicle. Throughout, for sake of simplicity in explanation, reference may be made to a trailer. However, the use of a trailer refers to any towed item. 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a trailer hitch loader according to a first exemplary implementation. With reference to  FIG. 1A , a skid plate  100  is movably attached to a sleeve body  101 . The skid plate  100  serves as a plane over which a trailer tongue (not shown) slides toward proper alignment over a hitch ball  102  or other connection means. 
     The sleeve body  101  is attached to a tow bar (not shown) of a tow vehicle (not shown). The sleeve body  101  may be removably or permanently attached to the tow bar. In one implementation, the sleeve body  101  fits fore and aft of the hitch ball  102 . The hitch ball  102  can be of any shape, size or material. In one exemplary implementation, the hitch ball  102  is a 2⅝ inch hitch ball. Weld marks  103  show where a bottom plate  117  is connected to the sleeve body  101  such as by welding. Other means may be employed to assemble the components comprising the trailer hitch loader. 
     Studs or holes  104  in the sleeve body  101  allow for set screws which can be used to align or secure, or align and secure the sleeve body  101  to the tow bar. Instead of or in addition to set screws, other mechanisms may be used to align or secure, or align and secure the sleeve body  101  to the tow bar. Set-screw holes  109  in the bottom plate  117  allow for set-screws (not shown) to be inserted through the bottom plate  117  and against a tow bar (not shown). The set-screws, which pass through the set-screw holes  109 , assist the sleeve body  101  to remain in its proper place. 
     As a trailer tongue (not shown) slides from right to left in  FIG. 1A , and along a plane created by the skid plate  100 , the trailer tongue impacts one or more arms  114 . Two arms  114  are shown in  FIG. 1A . Other numbers of arms  114  are possible. Each arm  114  is connected to a link  113  by a hinge pin  156  through an arm hole  112 . The arms  114  turn about respective hinge pins  156 . A link  113  pulls a corresponding latch  107 . In an alternative implementation, a link  113  may be a rod with swivel ends to provide a means of adjusting the resting position of a corresponding arm  114 . 
     In an exemplary implementation, there is a latch  107  on each side of the hitch ball  102 . The latches  107  support the skid plate  100 . Each latch  107  turns about a hinge pin  156 , the hinge pin  156  being inserted through a latch hinge aperture  116 . Each latch  107  may be positioned against an optional latch stop bar  108 . The latch stop bar  108  helps align the latch or latches  107  under the skid plate  100 . Latches  107  are under compression as a trailer tongue exerts a downward force onto the skid plate  100 . 
     During use, when the arms  114  are engaged and rotated (e.g. pushed by a trailer tongue), the weight of the trailer tongue and the weight of the skid plate  100  cause the skid plate  100  to drop downward, out of the way of the trailer tongue. The trailer tongue is then able to drop onto, or otherwise engage, the hitch ball  102 . The skid plate  100  is connected to the main hinge pins by legs  105 . The legs  105  may be of any shape, size, thickness or geometry. The skid plate  100  turns about an axis defined by main hinge pin apertures  106 . Main hinge pins connect the legs  105  to the sleeve body  101  at the main hinge pin apertures  106 . Alternatively, depending on the size, configuration or position of the hitch ball  102 , the main hinge pins may connect the legs  105  to the sleeve body  101  at alternate main hinge pin apertures  202 . In one implementation, the skid plate  100  comprises a notch  110  to accommodate certain models of trailer tongue receiver wherein these certain models comprise a tongue which protrudes below a cup portion of a receiver, the cup portion of the receiver mating to the hitch ball  102 . 
     After the skid plate  100  drops, the skid plate  100  may be secured by a magnet, latch, cord or other means to prevent the skid plate  100  from swinging or otherwise moving when not in use. For example, a circular-shaped magnet (not shown) may be affixed to the bottom plate  117  such as between set-screw holes  109  or other location. In another implementation, the trailer hitch loader may be removed after a towed item is attached to a hitch ball  102 . In yet another implementation, the skid plate  100  may be removed after a towed item is attached to a hitch ball  102  leaving the remainder of the trailer hitch loader in place. 
     The geometry of the components comprising the trailer hitch loader is such that a portion of a towed item (e.g. trailer tongue) is designed to contact a portion of the skid plate  100  when a towing vehicle (not shown) and a towed item (not shown) are brought together. The skid plate  100  offers a vertical range  122  in which contact with the skid plate  100  can be successful. Thus, the trailer hitch and trailer tongue do not have to be identically aligned or coordinated vertically—the vertical range  122  comprises part of the ease of use of the trailer hitch loader. 
     In a preferred implementation, a top edge of the skid plate  100  is proximal to the top and leading portion of the hitch ball  102 . Furthermore, in a preferred implementation, an angle of inclination  128  of the skid plate  100  (as measured from the horizontal) is between approximately 10 and approximately 45 degrees. In one particular implementation the angle of inclination  128  of the skid plate is approximately 28 degrees. 
     Other implementations of a trailer hitch loader are possible such as varying the number, geometry and arrangement of legs  105 , arms  114 , links  113  and latches  107 . In a preferred embodiment, an axis formed by the main hinge pins  106  is located anywhere on the proximate to towing vehicle side of the hitch ball  102  including under the hitch ball  102 . In another embodiment, the axis formed by the main hinge pins  106  is located beneath the top of the hitch ball  102 . Also, in a preferred embodiment, there are a plurality of arm holes  112  to accommodate a variety of configurations or shapes of trailer tongues and to accommodate a variety of hitch balls  102 , pintle hooks or other connection means. Each arm  114  is positioned and each link  113  is fastened to the corresponding arm  114  so as to allow a particular trailer tongue to couple properly onto a particular hitch ball  102  when the trailer tongue is properly aligned over the particular hitch ball  102 . 
     While embodiments of a trailer hitch loader have been described as being attached to or part of a towing vehicle, a trailer hitch loader alternatively may be attached to or form part of a towed trailer or towed item. For example, the trailer hitch loader may be part of a tongue of a trailer. In such an alternative, the hitch ball  102  or other component of the towing vehicle would impact and slide along a skid plate until the hitch ball  102  and the tongue of the towed item were properly aligned. An arm or other mechanism would be engaged and would facilitate the coupling of the towed vehicle to the towed item. The overall mechanism would be similar to that shown in  FIG. 1A . 
       FIG. 1B  shows the skid plate  100  of  FIG. 1A  after the arms  114  have been engaged by a trailer tongue (not shown). With reference to  FIG. 1B , the skid plate  100  has rotated about the axis defined by the main hinge pins  106  and has moved to a location generally below the sleeve body  101  and bottom plate  117 . 
       FIG. 1C  is an exploded view of a trailer hitch loader shown in  FIG. 1A . With reference to  FIG. 1C , a skid plate  100  comprises upturned side guides along the lateral edges of the skid plate  100 . In a preferred implementation, the upper portion of the lateral edges of the skid plate  100  are rolled outward, the proximal edge of the skid plate  100  is rolled downward, and the leading edge of each arm is partially rolled to the side. The rolled edges provide an improved surface of contact, increased strength, and provide an improved user experience in working with the trailer hitch loader. In the implementation shown in  FIG. 1C , set screws  121  are inserted through apertures  205  in the bottom plate  117  and through apertures in the sleeve body  101 . 
     In one implementation, the sleeve body  101  comprises tabs which are cut from the body of the sleeve body  101  and arranged vertically. The tabs each comprise an aperture either for an arm  114  or for a leg  105  (a main hinge aperture  106 ). Thus, the thickness of each tab is the same as that of the material used to form the sleeve body  101 . In other implementations, the thickness of a tab may be greater than or less than the thickness of the sleeve body  101 . One advantage of a greater thickness would be to provide increased strength to the trailer hitch loader. 
     Further, in a preferred implementation, the width of the proximal edge of the skid plate  100  is greater than the width of the distal edge of the skid plate  100 , the edge closest to the hitch ball (the hitch ball is not shown in  FIG. 1C ). The side guides maintain the trailer tongue on the skid plate  100  when the trailer tongue contacts a lateral edge of the skid plate  100 . Thus, the trailer tongue may be guided toward the hitch ball  102  as the tow vehicle is moved toward the trailer tongue or as the trailer tongue is moved toward the tow vehicle. Thus, the skid plate  100  provides a horizontal range (not shown in  FIG. 1C ) in which to initiate contact between the trailer tongue and the tow vehicle. 
       FIG. 1D  is a perspective view of a sleeve body and a bottom plate of a trailer hitch loader according to a second exemplary implementation of a trailer hitch loader. With reference to FIG.  1 D, sides of an alternative bottom plate  217  fit into the sleeve body  101 . The alternative bottom plate  217  and the sleeve body  101  comprise weld marks or holes  103 , alternative main hinge apertures  112  and latch hinge pin apertures  116 . 
       FIG. 2A  comprises a side view of two varieties of pintle hooks known in the art. Pintle hooks typically support larger or heavier towed items as compared to other coupling mechanisms such as a hitch ball. With reference to  FIG. 2A , a first pintle hook  300  comprises a hook or pin  202 , a latch or cap  204  that mates to the top of the hook or pin  202 , and a horizontal bar or stinger  206 . A first pintle hook  200  comprises a relatively heavy bracket  208 . A gudgeon or trailer tongue (not shown) is then mated to the hook or pin  202 . A trailer hitch loader comprises one or more latch hinge apertures  116  and one or more hinge pins  156 . 
     A second pintle hook  200  comprises a more modest bracket  210  and in lieu of a hook or pin  202 , a hitch ball  102  is shown at the end of the pintle hook arm. Instead of a hitch ball  102 , other shapes of coupling device may be used. As shown in  FIG. 2A , pintle hooks may be mounted vertically. A trailer hitch loader according to the invention described herein may be created so as to function with any kind of tow connection including pintle hooks where a tongue or other part of a towed item drops onto a portion of a towing vehicle. The bottom portion of  FIG. 2A  shows the motion of a skid plate  100  in relation to a hitch ball  102  and a horizontal bar or stinger  206 . 
       FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a trailer hitch loader according to a third exemplary implementation for use with a pintle hook  200  where the hook or pin is in the form of a hitch ball  102 . In this implementation, the trailer hitch loader is mounted vertically between the pintle hook  200  and the towing vehicle (not shown). Alternatively, the trailer hitch loader can be mounted to a horizontal bar or stinger  206 . In the implementation shown in  FIG. 2B , u-bolt apertures  115  are formed in the bottom portion of the sleeve body  101  or bottom plate. An arrow shows the motion of the skid plate  100  when the latch or latches  107  are disengaged from the skid plate  100 . A hitch ball  102  is mounted with a pintle hook nut  201 . An aperture  203  is formed in the bottom of the sleeve body  101  or bottom plate so as to accommodate the hitch ball  102  and pintle hook nut  201  or at least accommodate access to the hitch ball  102  and pintle hook nut  201 . 
       FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of a trailer hitch loader shown in  FIG. 2B  wherein a skid plate  100  is rotated below the pintle hook  200  such as in the situation where a towed item has been coupled to the hitch ball  102 . With reference to  FIG. 2C , a trailer tongue or other portion of a towed item has impacted and engaged two arms  114 . The arms  114  in turn have disengaged the latch or latches  107  from supporting the skid plate  100 . The skid plate  100  has come to rest below the hitch ball  102  of the pintle hook  200 . In  FIG. 2C , cap  204  is shown in an upwardly inclined position. In practice, the cap  204  would rest on top of the tongue (not shown) of a towed item, the tongue coupled to the hitch ball  102  after the trailer hitch loader has been actuated or triggered. Further, in practice, the skid plate  100  would be held up by a cord, latch or other means. In a preferred implementation, the skid plate  100  is held up from impacting a road or other surface by one or more magnets (not shown in  FIG. 2C ). 
       FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of a trailer hitch loader shown in  FIG. 2B . The trailer hitch loader comprises a u-bolt  212 . The ends of the u-bolt  212  pass through u-bolt apertures  115  in the sleeve body  101  or bottom plate. The u-bolt  212  is fastened tightly to the horizontal bar or stinger  206  (not shown) to provide increased strength to the trailer hitch loader against the weight of a trailer tongue pressing downward against the skid plate  100 . Other mechanisms or means may be used in lieu of a u-bolt  212  to provide strength to the trailer hitch loader. 
       FIG. 2E  is an exploded perspective view of a trailer hitch loader shown in  FIG. 2B  showing the components comprising a trailer hitch loader shown in  FIG. 2B  minus the pintle hook or hitch ball  203  and cap  204 . With reference to  FIG. 2E , a leading edge  204  of the skid plate  100  is not rolled downward. Mounting holes are visible in the sleeve body  101 . In the implementation shown in  FIG. 2E , the latch  107  is a single piece that is attached on each of two sides to a respective link  113 . As shown in  FIG. 2E , the bottom of the sleeve body  101  may not have any apertures, other than those for mounting of the other components, so as to prevent dirt or other material from soiling or otherwise coating the pintle hook. Thus, the trailer hitch loader may serve other functions and benefits in addition to those of assisting in the coupling of a towing vehicle to a towed item. 
     The foregoing discussion has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Various features from one implementation can be combined with other features from other implementations. The description is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. Consequently, variation and modification commensurate with the above teachings, within the skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The implementations described herein and above are further intended to explain the best mode presently known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to use the invention as such, or in other implementations, and with the various modifications required by their particular application or uses of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternate implementations to the extent permitted.