Abstract:
A trailer hitch facilitating proper alignment and connection to the hitch coupler of a trailer. The trailer hitch includes a tow bar assembly and a throat having spaced parallel top and floor panels generally equal in spacing to a vertical thickness of the tow bar and rearwardly diverging side panels. The front of the throat is connected or connectable to an elongated tubular extension or receiver and is sized to be slidably carried within the throat assembly. A slide bar is carried between the tow bar and the throat and includes a stop which limits the distance the tow bar may be extended rearwardly from the throat and, when in the fully or a partially extended position, is movable side-to-side to facilitate proper coupling alignment between the hitch ball and a hitch coupling of a trailer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to variable range towing hitches for pulling a trailer behind a towing vehicle and more particularly to an improved wide range towing hitch which presents a compact, full function, wide range trailer hitch which facilitates coupling the trailer to the trailer hitch ball over a broad range of misaligned orientations of the respective vehicles. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   A number of wide range towing hitches are known and described in prior patents which facilitate tow vehicle-to-trailer tongue connection even when there is misalignment without the need to jockey the tow vehicle or the tongue of the trailer. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,865 to Francisco teaches a trailer hitch which is extendable in length, having at least two telescoping members, the hitch lockable at a 90° angle. Scrivner teaches a trailer hitch which may be released for free movement both laterally and longitudinally in U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,028. 
   A connection-facilitating hitch is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,854 to Hill, et al., an object of which is a hitch characterized by a pivotal coupling arm and mechanism for capturing and supporting the arm. U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,957 to Gullickson discloses a wide-range hitch including a receiver tube mounted for pivotal movement within the interior of the housing. 
   Ryan discloses a trailer hitch with a telescoping member capable of lateral swing movement in U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,606 and Eppinette teaches an adjustable trailer coupling including a telescoping arm pivotally connected to an articulating arm in U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,176. A quick hitch coupling apparatus with the tow bar pivotally and releasably connected to the hitch sleeve is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,742 to Relja. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,270 to Henderson discloses an extensible and retractable split hitch offering versatility in aligning the hitch with the ball of a towing vehicle and U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,387 to Schuck teaches a hitch with a swiveling tongue. A proximity hitch which is retrofitable is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,667 to Elkins and Davis teaches a self-aligning coupling apparatus in U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,446. Shields discloses a trailer hitch for facilitating hitching of a trailer to a towing vehicle is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,171. 
   The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
   The present invention provides a trailer hitch having a variable length and lateral adjustability which will accommodate trailer to tow vehicle misalignment over a broad range of lateral and fore-and-aft misalignments and, once coupled together, will self align one to another as the towing vehicle is backed rearwardly toward the trailer. In one embodiment, an automatic reengagement hatch is provided to establish the design retraction point, after which a locking pin secures the towing position of the trailer hitch itself. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is directed to a trailer hitch facilitating proper alignment and connection to the hitch coupler of a trailer. The trailer hitch includes a tow bar assembly and a throat having spaced parallel top and floor panels generally equal in spacing to a vertical thickness of said tow bar and rearwardly diverging side panels. The front of the throat is connected or connectable to an elongated tubular extension or receiver and is sized to be slidably carried within the throat assembly. A slide bar is carried between the tow bar and the throat and includes a stop which limits the distance the tow bar may be extended rearwardly from the throat and, when in the fully or a partially extended position, is movable side-to-side to facilitate proper coupling alignment between the hitch ball and a hitch coupling of a trailer. 
   It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a trailer hitch arrangement which accommodates misalignment between the hitch ball connected to the rear distal end of the trailer hitch and the hitch coupler attached to the forwardly distal end of the trailer. 
   Yet another object of this invention is to maximize similarities between conventional trailer hitches and that of the embodiments of the present invention. 
   Still another object of this invention is to provide in one aspect thereof a trailer hitch which readily adapts to and affords benefits for existing trailer hitch receivers permanently attached to a tow vehicle. 
   The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative and not limiting in scope. In various embodiments one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference of the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of one embodiment, the throat assembly of which is permanently attachable to an existing tubular receiver connected to the rear of the tow vehicle. 
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is another rear perspective view of  FIG. 1  attached to the receiver of a tow vehicle, the tow vehicle being shown in phantom. 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a section view in the direction of arrows  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a section view in the direction of arrows  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 8  is a view of  FIG. 7  showing the tow bar assembly in a fully extended and laterally pivoted position. 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan schematic view of the invention of  FIG. 1  in relation to scenarios of misalignment between a tow vehicle V and a trailer T. 
       FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of another embodiment including a throat extension thereof acting as a tow bar receiver. 
       FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of  FIG. 10  additionally showing the throat assembly permanently attached to a rear frame cross member of the tow vehicle. 
       FIG. 12  is another rear perspective view of  FIG. 10  attached to a rear frame cross member of the tow vehicle shown in phantom. 
       FIG. 13  is a rear lower perspective section view in the direction of arrows  13 - 13  in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 15  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 16  is a section view in the direction of arrows  16 - 16  in  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 17  is a view of  FIG. 16  showing the range of rearward and lateral articulation of the tow bar assembly to effect trailer connection. 
       FIG. 18  is a view similar to  FIG. 16  depicting an additional self-locking feature. 
   

   Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in reference figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered to illustrative rather than limiting. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, and firstly to  FIGS. 1 to 9 , one embodiment of the invention is there shown in the various figures at numeral  10 . This trailer hitch  10  includes a tow bar assembly  12  and a throat assembly  14 . The tow bar assembly  12  includes an elongated tubular tow bar  16  of rectangular section having inwardly tapered side surfaces or panels  18  at a proximal end thereof which function as described herebelow. At the other or rearward end of the elongated tow bar  16  which preferably is square in cross section, is a tow bar riser  20  formed of solid metal which is arcuately bent to terminate at a generally horizontal hitch ball support  22  having a central aperture formed therethrough which lockably supports a conventional hitch ball  24  and locking nut 
   The throat assembly  14 , also formed of metal plate material, includes a throat  32  with outwardly divergent side panels and parallel spaced top and bottom panels which are generally spaced apart the height or thickness of the tow bar  16 . The rearward distal margins of the throat  32  are open to define an elongated generally rectangular opening leading to a hollow interior of the throat  32  which may in one aspect be described as a frustro-pyramid-shaped cavity. 
   This embodiment  10  is adapted to be permanently attached to an existing conventional tubular receiver R already attached to the rear of the tow vehicle V as best seen in  FIG. 4 through 8 . The receiver R is typically connected to a central portion of a conventional trailer hitch shown schematically at C in  FIG. 3  which, in turn, is permanently connected or attached by fasteners to the frame F at the rear of a tow vehicle V. The receiver R typically receives a conventional straight tow bar which slidably engages thereinto and is pin-connected by a conventional locking pin similar to that shown at  42  which passes through aligned holes in the receiver R and the conventional tow bar (not shown) and is held in place by a conventional retainer clip similar to that shown at  44 . 
   However, in this embodiment  10 , the throat  32  of the throat assembly  14  is positioned against the rearwardly facing opening of the receiver R, proper alignment and strength being aided by an additional alignment plate  38  having a notch  40  formed therein which mates over the existing enlargement or strenghtening flange A formed around the distal opening of the receiver R. Once the throat assembly  14  is positioned as shown in phantom, weldments at  48 ,  52  and  54  are made which permanently secure the throat assembly  14  to the receiver R. 
   The tubular tow bar  16  is adapted for loose slidable engagement into the receiver R in a conventional fitting way with respect to trailer hitches generally. The tow bar  16  is also lockable in the in-use ready to tow position by locking pin  42  which slidably engages through mating apertures E and  56  formed through the side panels of receiver R and side panels of throat  32 , respectively, as best seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
   However, when the hitch coupler D best seen in  FIG. 9  is misaligned with the hitch ball  24 , the locking pin  42  may be removed and the tow bar assembly  12  rearwardly extended as seen in  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  17  (described in more detail herebelow). The hitch ball  24  may then be properly articulated beneath the hitch coupler C whereupon a conventional trailer tongue jack (not shown) may be utilized to lower the tongue of the trailer T along with the hitch coupler D down over the hitch ball  24 , the alignment of which may be easily readjusted as the hitch coupler is lowered over the hitch ball  24 . 
   Once the hitch ball  24  and the hitch coupler D are properly engaged together, the tow vehicle V may be backed up in the inward direction of arrow O whereupon the sides of the tow bar  16  may contact against the inner side surfaces of the side panels  34  of the throat  32 , the trailer being forced to laterally move into longitudinal alignment with the receiver R and the trailer hitch  10 . Along the way, the tapered side panels  18  may make contact with the side surfaces of the receiver R to help force this axial alignment between the receiver R and the tow bar assembly  16  and the trailer tongue of the trailer T itself. 
   Once the throat assembly  14  is fully reengaged as assisted in alignment and strengthened in its lateral positioning by notch  36  which matably engages against the side surfaces of the tow bar riser  20  as best seen in  FIG. 1 , the locking pin  42  may be reengaged through the aligned apertures E and  56  of the receiver R and tow bar  16 , respectively. 
   Importantly, to avoid improper rearward withdrawal of the tow bar assembly  12  from the throat assembly  14 , an elongated slide bar  26  is also provided in this embodiment  10 . This slide bar  26  is rigidly connected at mounting block  30  to the lower forwardly end of the tow bar riser  20  and extends along the longitudinal axis of the tow bar assembly  12  slidably engaged through a guide/stop  46  which is rigidly connected to the bottom  58  of the throat  32 . Thus, as best seen in  FIG. 8 , when the tow bar assembly  12  is fully extended in the direction of arrow O, the enlarged end  28  of the slide bar  26  abuts against the guide/stop  46  preventing further rearward extension of the tow bar assembly  12 . Note that the lateral pivotal movement in the direction of arrow S of the tow bar assembly  12  does not interfere with the stop function between the enlarged slide bar end  28  and the guide/stop  46  as the aperture formed through the guide/stop  46  is sufficiently large to accommodate the misalignment depicted in  FIG. 8 . 
   Also note that the forwardly edge of the tow bar notch  36  abuts against the forwardly facing surface of the tow bar riser  20  to prevent excessive inward movement assures and proper in-use positioning of the tow bar assembly  12  in the pinned and locked position shown in  FIGS. 1 to 7 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 10 to 17 , an alternate embodiment or aspect is there shown generally at numeral  60  and includes a tow bar assembly  62  and a throat assembly  64 . The tow bar assembly  62  is similar to that described in the previous embodiment  10  and includes an elongated tubular tow bar  70  having inwardly tapered sides  100  and an end plate  98  at the forwardly proximal end thereof. A solid formed metal hitch ball support  72  which carries a conventional hitch ball  74  thereon as shown, is rigidly connected to the rearward distal end of the tow bar  70  in a longitudinally aligned arrangement. 
   The throat assembly  64  includes a throat  78  fabricated or formed of plate metal material having a floor  80  and opening divergently rearwardly to define an elongated rectangular rear opening to receive the tow bar  70  and its lateral articulation as shown in  FIG. 17  when rearwardly extended to facilitate proper trailer coupling alignment. This throat assembly  64  also includes a throat extension  76  formed as a unit with the throat  78  having a uniform tubular cross section for loosely slidably receiving the tow bar  70  in a fashion hereabove described with respect to the tow bar  70  and receiver described in the embodiment  10 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 12 , this embodiment  60  is rigidly attached by weldments  116  to the rear frame cross member-M which is turn is rigidly or mechanically attached to the frame F of the tow vehicle V. When the tow bar assembly  62  is fully engaged into the throat assembly  64 , the locking pin  82  is slidably engaged through aligned apertures formed through the sides of the tow bar  70  and the throat extension  76  to lockably affix the tow bar assembly  62  fully engaged into the throat assembly  64  for normal towing activity. However, as best seen in  FIG. 17 , when the locking pin  82  is removed, the tow bar assembly  62  may be rearwardly withdrawn any suitable adjustable amount up to the positioning of the tow bar assembly  62  shown in solid lines in this figure. The locus or track of the upright axis  118  of the hitch ball  74  is approximately depicted in the dashed lines at  120  as the tow bar assembly  62  is withdrawn in the direction of arrow J and arcuately articulated in the direction of arrow H. The limiting factor of movement rearwardly of the tow bar assembly  62  is controlled generally by the contact of the tapered surfaces  100  against the inner side wall surfaces of the throat extension  76  and against the side surfaces of the throat  78  as typically shown at contact or stop surface  104 . Thus, as with the previous embodiment  10 , the hitch ball  74  is rearwardly positionable over broad range both rearwardly and arcuately side-to-side with respect to the longitudinal axis of the throat assembly  64  to accommodate misalignment between the hitch ball  74  and the hitch coupler D. 
   To prevent excessive rearward withdrawal of the tow bar assembly  62  from supportive engagement from the throat assembly  64 , an elongated slide bar  68  is also provided. In this embodiment  60 , the slide bar  68  is positioned and extends longitudinally within the tow bar  70  when the tow bar assembly  64  is fully engaged in the in-use position as best seen in  FIG. 16 . However, when the tow bar assembly  62  is withdrawn rearwardly in the direction of arrow J, the slide bar  68 , slidably engaged through loosely aligned aperture  102  formed into the tow bar end plate  98 , slidably engages along the length of the slide bar  68  until coming in contact with the enlarged end  68   b  of the slide bar  68 . 
   The opposite or forwardly end of the slide bar  68  is threadably engaged into locking nut  94 , the two being supported through an aligned aperture formed transversely therethrough through which an elongated bolt  86  is engaged. Each end of the bolt  86  is carried through aligned apertures formed through tabs  92  which are securely attached and in longitudinal alignment with, the upper and lower surfaces of the throat extension  76  as best seen in  FIGS. 11 and 14 . By this arrangement, the slide bar  68  is rigidly but releasably secured and may be easily assembled into the tow bar  70  and the throat extension  76 . 
   Note that the tow bar end plate  98  serves an additional function, that being an end stop for inward movement of the tow bar assembly  62  against the throat end plate  96  as the tow vehicle is backed up after the hitch ball  74  has been properly aligned to and coupled with the hitch coupler D previously described. Thus, should the tow vehicle V be inadvertently backed up too far, the contact between the tow bar end plate  98  against the inner surface of the throat end plate  96  will prevent any damage therebetween. 
   Referring lastly to  FIG. 18 , an alternate means for preventing excess movement of the tow bar  70  into the throat extension  76 ′ in the direction of arrow P is there shown. A spring latch  106  having a rearwardly facing tapered end  108  is biasingly engaged within a latch support  122  which is rigidly secured against the side surface of the tubular extension  76 ′ as shown. A spring biased pivotally connected latch release  110 , which is movable inwardly in the direction of arrow L, causes the latch  106  to be moved in the direction of arrow N. The latch release  110  and torsion spring  114  are supported on support  112  which is also rigidly connected to the side of the tubular extension  176 . 
   In operation, the tapered side surface  100  of the tow bar  70 ′ strikes the tapered end  108  of the latch  106  driving it outwardly in the direction of arrow N until it engages through a mating hole  124  formed in the side of the tow bar  70 ′. Thereupon, the latch  106  will pop into this aperture  124  and serve as a positive trailering positioner of the tow bar  70 ′ after which the locking pin  82  will be inserted through the aligned apertures in the throat extension  76 ′ and the tow bar  70 ′ for full towing strength. 
   While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permeations and additions and subcombinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permeations, additions and subcombinations that are within their true spirit and scope.