Abstract:
A front spotting trailer hitch assembly for use with vehicles having front tow hooks. This front hitch assembly works well for easily back trailers into positions, such as for storage. This front spotting trailer hitch assembly attaches to the front tow hooks and allows a user to attach a hitch ball to the hitch assembly for towing. This front spotting trailer hitch assembly is able to be quickly attached and detached from the vehicle having front tow hooks.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention generally relates to trailer hitches, and more particularly to spotting hitches located on the front end of a vehicle for use in spotting a trailer into place.  
           [0003]    2. Background Information  
           [0004]    Many people use trailers for various purposes. One problem often associated with trailers is in backing them up. For most people, the task of moving a vehicle in reverse while towing a trailer proves to be an extremely difficult and challenging procedure. If done improperly, the vehicle trailer combination will tend to jackknife, possibly leading to property damage and/or injury to persons. Most of this problem is caused by the fact that the person backing the trailer is facing a direction different than which he or she is traveling. Thus, to compensate for the trailer moving to the left, the operator must turn the wheel to the right (and vice versa). For many people, this coordination is difficult.  
           [0005]    Another disadvantage to backing a trailer using the prior art method is the fact that the user is typically located an entire vehicle length from the trailer. Particularly where the vehicle being used is large, the vehicle operator backing the trailer may not be able to see the trailer or may have limited visibility through the vehicle&#39;s side mirrors during the backing process.  
           [0006]    What is needed is a method and/or device for use in backing a trailer which allows the vehicle operator to face the trailer being backed. What is also needed is a method of backing a trailer which uses a front hitch apparatus which is easy to install and uninstall on existing vehicles.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention is a front hitch assembly for use with vehicles having front tow hooks, including those having a generally horizontally oriented first tow hook, and a generally horizontally oriented second tow hook. This invention is envisioned for use on all vehicles which have front tow hooks, whether these tow hooks be vertical, horizontal or other. One embodiment of the invented front hitch assembly comprises an elongated first frame piece having a first end extending to a second end, with the first frame piece attaching to the first tow hook. It is preferred the first frame piece further comprises at least one locking means for locking the first frame piece on the first tow hook. The first frame piece second end is additionally able to attach to a center receiver. This center receiver is for attaching the first frame piece to a second frame piece. The center receiver is further able to cooperate with a trailer hitch ball through use of a trailer hitch ball connector for connecting with a trailer hitch ball assembly containing a trailer hitch ball. The elongated second frame piece has a first end extending to a second end. The second frame piece is able to attach to the second tow hook, and preferably has at least one locking means for locking the second frame piece on the second tow hook. The second frame piece second end is able to attach to the center receiver. 
       
    
    
       [0008]    Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective environmental view of one embodiment of the present invention shown installed on a pickup truck.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.  
         [0018]    Referring initially to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the invented front hitch assembly  10  is shown attached to the front of a vehicle  2 . It is preferred that a standard trailer hitch ball connector  8  be used with the invented front hitch assembly  10  so that the front of the vehicle, through using the present invention, may be attached to a trailer or other towed object, thereby allowing the driver of the vehicle to spot the trailer into or out of a space, particularly a confined space. The vehicle  2  shown in FIG. 1 has a first tow hook having a first tow hook point (not shown) and a second tow hook having a second tow hook point (not shown). These hooks are commonly horizontal in orientation in relation to the vehicle and are commonly found on standard makes and models of many trucks, SUV&#39;s, and passenger vehicles.  
         [0019]    As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is a front hitch assembly which attaches to the front tow hooks of a vehicle, thereby allowing a trailer to be towed or spotted into place through use of a trailer hitch ball attached to the assembly.  
         [0020]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. This second embodiment of the front hitch assembly  10  shows a first frame piece  12 , a center receiver  20 , and a second frame piece  26 . The first frame piece  12  is an elongated piece having a first end  13  extending to a second end  14  (shown in FIG. 3). This embodiment preferably uses a square, metal, tubular first frame piece  12  and second frame piece  26 , however other shapes and forms of first frame pieces and second frame pieces are also envisioned. The first frame piece  12  has a top side  40  opposite a bottom side and a front side  42  opposite a back side.  
         [0021]    The first frame piece  12  preferably has an entrance slot  16  for receiving a vehicle first hook point therethrough (as shown in FIG. 3). The first frame piece  12  additionally has an exit slot  17  for allowing the first vehicle hook point to exit the first frame piece  12 . It is preferred that the exit slot  17  be located nearer the first end  13  than the entrance slot  16  is, however, depending upon the orientation and curvature of the vehicle&#39;s tow hook, the slots ( 16 ,  17 ) may be located accordingly, or as necessary within the frame piece  12 . It is preferred that these slots  16 ,  17  be located in or near the junction between the top side  40  and back side.  
         [0022]    The first frame piece  12  preferably also comprises a first frame piece locking means  15  which is utilized to lock the first frame piece  12  upon the first tow hook  4  when the first tow hook  4  is inserted through the entrance slot  16  and out the exit slot  17 . This locking means  15  can comprise any means of locking the first frame piece  12  upon the tow hook  4 , however, the preferred method of locking the first frame piece  12  against the first tow hook  4  is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the first frame piece locking means  15  comprising a bolt  34 , which extends through a threaded hole  35  located within the bottom side  41  of the first frame piece  12 . Thus, this bolt  34  is able to be tightened against the first tow hook  4  thereby pressing the first tow hook  4  against the top  40  of the first frame piece  12 . It is preferred that this bolt  34  further comprise a handle  33  for allowing the user to tighten the bolt  34  against the hook  4  by hand.  
         [0023]    Referring back to FIG. 2, in this embodiment it is preferred that a center receiver connection stop  18  be located on the first frame piece  12 . Likewise, it is preferred that a similar center receiver connection stop  32  be located on the second frame piece  26 . These connection stops  18 ,  32  serve to inhibit lateral movement of the center receiver  20  upon the frame pieces  12  and  26 . As can be seen in this figure, it is preferred that the center receiver connection stop  18  be located far enough in (offset) on the first frame piece  12  so that the center receiver  20  can completely be slid onto the first frame piece  12 . This would allow the user to attach both the first frame piece  12  and the second frame piece  26  respectively upon the first tow hook  4  and second tow hook  6 , bring the second ends  14 ,  28  of the frame pieces  12 ,  26  together, and then slide the center receiver  20  from fully on the first frame piece  12  to a position where the center receiver  20  is half on the first frame piece  12  and half on the second frame piece  26 , as shown in FIGS.  2 - 4 . When in this position, the center receiver  20  could be locked onto the first and second frame pieces  12 ,  26  through use of a locking means  22 . As seen in FIG. 3, this locking means  22  comprises a self locking release pin  37  which is able to extend through a hole  36  located in the center receiver  20  and in through a hole  38  located in the front side  42  of the first frame piece  12 . Likewise, it is also envisioned that the center/receiver connection stop  32  could be offset rather than stop  18  and/or the locking means  22  could be located on the second frame piece.  
         [0024]    The second frame piece  26  preferably has an entrance slot  30  for receiving a vehicle second hook point therethrough (as shown in FIG. 3). The second frame piece  26  additionally has an exit slot  31  for allowing the second vehicle hook point  7  to exit the second frame piece  26 . It is preferred that the exit slot  31  be located nearer the first end  27  than the entrance slot  30  is, however, depending upon the orientation and curvature of the vehicle&#39;s tow hook, the slots ( 30 ,  31 ) may be located accordingly, or as necessary within the frame piece  26 . It is preferred that these slots  30 ,  31  be located in or near the junction between the top side  40 ′ and back side.  
         [0025]    The second frame piece  26  preferably also comprises a second frame piece locking means  29  which is utilized to lock the second frame piece  26  upon the second tow hook  6  when the second tow hook  6  is inserted through the entrance slot  30  and out the exit slot  31 . This locking means  29  can comprise any means of locking the second frame piece  26  upon the tow hook  6 , however, the preferred method of locking the first frame piece  26  against the first tow hook  6  in this embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the first frame piece locking means  29  comprising a bolt  34 ′, which extends through a threaded hole  35 ′ located within the bottom side  41 ′ of the second frame piece  26 . Thus, this bolt  34 ′ is able to be tightened against the second tow hook  6  thereby pressing the second tow hook  6  against the top  40 ′ of the second frame piece  26 . It is preferred that this bolt  34 ′ further comprise a handle  33 ′ for allowing the user to tighten the bolt  34 ′ against the hook  6  by hand.  
         [0026]    Referring again to FIG. 2, the center receiver  20  has a trailer hitch ball connector  23  for receiving a standard trailer ball hitch assembly  8  (as shown in FIG. 1). Referring now to FIG. 3, the center receiver  20  has a center receiver frame channel  21  extending therethrough from a center receiver first end  43  and a center receiver second end  44 . This channel  21  is able to receive therein the second end  14  of the first frame piece  12 , as well as the second end  28  of the second frame piece  26 . In such a manner, the center receiver  20  is able to slide along the frame piece  12 ,  26  until the center receiver  20  contacts one of the center receiver connection stops  18 ,  32 . Other means of attaching the second end  14  of the first frame piece  12  in relation to the second end  28  of the second frame piece  26  are also envisioned.  
         [0027]    In use (the embodiment shown in FIGS.  2 - 4 ), a user would start with either the first frame piece or the second frame piece. For the sake of this discussion, we will assume that the user prefers to attach the first frame piece first. In use, the user would take the first frame piece  12  and insert the first tow hook point  5  into the entrance slot  16 . The user would then rotate the first frame piece  12  around so that the first tow hook point  5  would extend out of the exit slot  17  (as shown in FIG. 3). Likewise, the user would do the same for the second frame piece, with the second tow hook point  7  extending into the entrance slot  30  and out of the exit slot  31 . In such a fashion, the second end  14  of the first frame piece would be generally adjacent to the second end  28  of the second frame piece.  
         [0028]    At this point or earlier, the user would insert the second end  14  of the first frame piece  12  into the center receiver  20  frame channel  21 . The user would slide the center receiver  20  onto the first frame piece  12  so that the center receiver  20  contacts the center receiver connection stop  18 . At this point, the center receiver second end  44  would generally be inwards or equal to the second end  14  of the first frame piece  12  so that the first frame piece  12 . The second frame piece  26  could then be rotated and oriented next to the first frame piece  12  where the second end of the first frame piece and the second end of the second frame piece would be adjacent to one another. The center receiver  20  could then be slid so that the second end of the second frame piece is able to be inserted into the opening entering into the center receiver frame channel  21  which exists in the center receiver second end  44 . This thereby would lock the center receiver onto the first frame piece and/or second frame piece. Additionally, locking means  22  could be used to lock the center receiver on the first frame piece and the second frame piece. At this point, the first frame piece locking means  15  and the second frame piece locking means  29  could be tightened down thereby fixedly holding the orientation of the first frame piece and second frame piece so that the trailer hitch ball connector  23  would be held appropriately in line to receive trailer hitch ball assembly  8 , as shown in FIG. 4. While this discussion discusses one means of using this embodiment of the present invention and assembling it, other orders are also possible as long as in the end, the desired arrangement is arrived at.  
         [0029]    A third embodiment is shown in FIG. 5. This third embodiment of the front hitch assembly  10 ′ consists chiefly of a main frame piece  46 . The main frame piece  46  is an elongated piece having a first end  48  extending to a second end  50 . This embodiment preferably uses a square, metal, tubular main frame piece  46 , however other shapes and forms of main frame pieces are also envisioned. The main frame piece  46  has a top side  52  opposite a bottom side  54  (shown in FIG. 7) and a front side  56  (shown in FIG. 6) opposite a back side  58 . In use, the front side  56  faces the object being towed, and the back side  58  faces the towing vehicle.  
         [0030]    The main frame piece  46  preferably has a pair of hook receiving slots  60 / 60 ′ for respectively receiving a vehicle&#39;s first and second tow hooks. These slots  60 / 60 ′ are preferably located in the back side  58  and are spaced apart generally the same distance the vehicle&#39;s tow hooks are spaced apart. It is preferred that these slots  60 / 60 ′ be located, respectively, near the first end  48  and the second end  50 , however, depending upon the orientation and curvature of the vehicle&#39;s tow hook, the slots may be located accordingly.  
         [0031]    The main frame piece  46  preferably additionally has a first tang  62  and a second tang  62 ′. These tangs  62 / 62 ′ are for inhibiting movement of the tow hooks when the assembly  10 ′ is installed thereon. It is preferred that these tangs  62 / 62 ′ extend downwards from the top side  52  along the back side  58 , preferably centered within the slots  60 / 60 ′ as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. These tangs have a width less than the inside diameter of the curvature of the tow hook so that, as shown in FIG. 6, the tow hook  64 / 64 ′ may extend through the slot  60 / 60 ′ into the frame piece  46 , with the point of the tow hook extending back out of the frame piece  46  and the tang  62 / 62 ′ may reside between the inside diameter of the curvature of the tow hook (again, as shown in FIG. 6).  
         [0032]    Referring again to FIG. 5, preferably extending from the main frame piece  46  are bracing means  66 / 66 ′ for supporting the assembly  10 ′ when installed on the vehicle. In this embodiment, these bracing means  66 / 66 ′ comprise flanges  68 / 68 ′ which extend outwards to a cross piece  70 / 70 ′. In use, the tow hook  64 / 64 ′ would rest upon the cross piece  70 / 70 ′, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8. When a trailer is attached to the assembly  10 ′ via the trailer hitch ball connector  23 ′, the downward force of the weight of the trailer on the hitch ball connector  23 ′ causes the cross piece  70 /′  70  to be slightly be forced upwards and against the underside of the tow hook  64 / 64 ′, using the hooks′ attachment to the main frame piece  46  as a fulcrum, thereby locking the assembly  10 ′ upon the hook(s).  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIG. 6, the tow hooks  64 / 64 ′ are preferably able to be attached to the main frame piece  46  through use of at least one locking means  72 / 72 ′. These locking means  72 / 72 ′ are utilized to lock the main frame piece  46  upon the tow hooks  64 / 64 ′ when the tow hooks are inserted into the hook receiving slot  60 / 60 ′. This locking means  72 / 72 ′ can comprise any means of locking the main frame piece  46  upon the tow hooks, however, the preferred method of locking the main frame piece  46  against the tow hooks is shown in FIG. 8.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 8 shows the main frame piece locking means  72 ′ ( 72 ) comprising a bolt  74 ′ ( 74 ), which extends through a threaded hole  76 ′ ( 76 ) located within the bottom side  54  of the main frame piece  46 . Thus, this bolt  74 ′ ( 74 ) is able to be tightened against the underside of the tow hook  64 ′ ( 64 ) thereby pressing the tow hook against the top  52  of the main frame piece  46  and fixedly holding the tow hook within the main frame piece  46 . It is preferred that this bolt  74 ′ ( 74 ) further comprise a handle  78 ′ ( 78 ) for allowing the user to tighten the bolt  74 ′ ( 74 ) against the tow hook  64 ′ ( 64 ) by hand.  
         [0035]    Referring again to FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the main frame piece  46  has a trailer hitch ball connector  23 ′ for receiving a standard trailer ball hitch assembly  8  (as shown in FIG. 1).  
         [0036]    In use (the embodiment shown in FIGS.  5 - 8 ), a user would merely hold the assembly  10 ′ with the top side  52  facing upwards. The user would then place the assembly  10 ′ on the tow hooks by sliding the hook receiving slot  60  on the driver&#39;s side tow hook  64 , and sliding the hook receiving slot  60 ′ on the passenger&#39;s side tow hook  64 ′. The flanges  68 / 68 ′ would then drop into the curvature of the hook  64 / 64 ′ and the crosspiece  70 / 70 ′ would be generally below the hooks  64 / 64 ′. The user would then be able to operate one or both of the locking means  72 / 72 ′ to thereby fixedly hold the main frame piece  46  so that the trailer hitch ball connector  23  would be held appropriately in line to receive trailer hitch ball assembly  8 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. While this discussion discusses one means of using this embodiment of the present invention and assembling it, other orders are also possible as long as in the end, the desired arrangement is arrived at.  
         [0037]    While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.