Abstract:
A tow ball cover which has a body formed of resilient or flexible material having a totally hollow interior which includes an upper or head compartment which defines a socket for close retention of a tow ball characterized In that there is provide an end plate or end wall which is integral with the body and which has a rear surface for incorporation of indicia which are used for promotional, advertising or display purposes.

Description:
FIELD OR THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a tow ball cover assembly which can be used for promotional or advertising purposes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Conventional tow ball covers are well known and have been used previously for promotional or advertising purposes. Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,320 for example which describes a cover or protector for a tow ball or hitch ball which is integral in nature having an outer surface and inner surface so as to define a socket for accommodation of the hitch ball or tow ball. The cover has a plurality of resilient fingers surrounding a bottom aperture for receipt of the tow ball when the cover is being fitted thereto. The outer surface may be established in the shape of a commercial product such as oil container or outboard motor power head and the like. Colour indicia may also be depicted on the outer surface. However it is an essential feature of this reference that the outer surface be in the nature of a commercial product such as an orange motor oil container, outboard motor power head or of a liquid bottle container each of which may have advertising indicia depicted on the outer surface. 
         [0003]    However the cost of manufacture of different outer surfaces so as to represent a plethora of different commercial designs was not only impractical in relation to manufacture but also impractical for effective advertising or promotional purposes. GB 2296480 refers to a similar tow ball cover having a ball shaped socket for receiving a tow ball and which also may be luminous and also which may incorporate a decorative design such as being in the shape of a rabbit or a penguin. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,293 also refers to a similar tow ball cover as described above for U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,320 or GB 2296480 which has an elongate sleeve having a bottom opening or aperture and a head part in the shape of a duck or other types of animals. 
         [0005]    However it will be appreciated that similar disadvantages applied to GB 2296480 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,293 as described above for U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,320. 
         [0006]    Reference may also be made to U.S. Pat. No. 7,204,507 which describes a cover for a ball hitch that has a top wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to the top wall and which depends downwardly therefrom. The peripheral wall has a bottom edge defining an opening into the interior of the cover which forms a socket for the hitch ball in use. There is also provided a flap having an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of side edges. The upper edge of the flap is attached to the peripheral wall and the flap extends below the bottom edge of the peripheral wall. Advertising indicia or promotional words may be provided or a forward surface of the flap that faces away from the cover, i.e. which is visible from a rear of a vehicle having a ball hitch to which the cover has been applied. 
         [0007]    However it will be appreciated that the flap was loosely mounted on the cap and as such would tend to move in a breeze or cross winds generated by travel of a vehicle to which the cap was attached. The cap was also only a loose fit on the tow ball or hitch ball and therefore was not securely attached thereto. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a tow ball cover assembly which is effective in providing a large surface area for display, advertising or promotional purposes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention therefore provides a tow ball (which as used in this specification also includes within its scope the term “hitch ball”) cover which has a body formed of resilient or flexible material having a totally hollow interior which includes an upper or head compartment which defines a socket for close retention of a tow ball characterized in that there is provided an end plate or end wall which is integral with the body and which has a rear surface for incorporation of indicia which are used for display, advertising or promotional purposes. 
         [0010]    The resilient body of the cover assembly may also have a neck portion which defines a peripheral recess for reception of a closure or securing band which may optionally be in the form of a circular clamp similar to a hose clamp or C-clamp for securing the resilient body to a corresponding neck part of the tow ball assembly which neck part is located below the tow ball. 
         [0011]    The resilient body may also include a base compartment for accommodation of a base part of the tow ball assembly which base part is located below the neck part of the tow ball assembly. 
         [0012]    The tow ball assembly to which the tow ball cover of the invention may be fitted may also include a support platform or plate which in use may be attached to a vehicle in any suitable or conventional manner. The resilient body may have a peripheral undersurface which is in bearing contact with an upper surface of the support plate. 
         [0013]    The end plate or end wall may be oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the tow ball assembly or the tow ball cover assembly and is integral with the resilient body of the tow ball cover assembly. It is preferably coextensive or contiguous with a peripheral wall part surrounding the base compartment as well as the head compartment of the cover assembly. 
         [0014]    The resilient body may also have a spherical wall part and a cylindrical wall part which defines the head compartment. 
         [0015]    The end wall plate or end wall may be contiguous with the head compartment but more preferably extends past the head compartment on each side to form a pair of extensions each located laterally of the head compartment. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
         [0016]    Reference may be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the attached drawings wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a tow ball cover assembly of the invention and an associated tow ball assembly; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an assembled view of the tow ball cover assembly shown in  FIG. 1  fitted to the tow ball assembly; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the assembled tow ball cover assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the tow ball cover assembly of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the assembled tow ball cover assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the assembled view shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
       [0023]    In  FIG. 1  there is shown a tow ball cover assembly  10  to be fitted to a conventional tow ball arrangement  11 . Tow ball cover assembly  10  includes cover body  12  which has a totally hollow interior  13  as well as end wall component  14 . Hollow interior  13  includes a base compartment  15  and the cover body  12  includes a peripheral wall part  23 A which surrounds base compartment  15 . The cover body  12  also has an inwardly extending peripheral recess  16  as well as a part spherical wall  18  and part cylindrical wall  19 . Hollow interior  13  also includes upper or head compartment  17 . The cover body  12  also has a vertical split or elongate opening  20  which allows tow ball cover assembly  10  which may be formed from resilient plastics material to be easily fitted onto tow ball arrangement  11  which includes tow ball  21 , neck part  22 , base part  23  having a top surface  22 A and depending shank  24  which is secured to a support plate  25  attachable to a vehicle (not shown) by threaded fastener or nut  26 . Tow ball cover assembly  10  also includes a locking ring or band  27  which may be in the form of a conventional hose clamp having a screw threaded clamping part  28 . Tow ball cover assembly  10  also includes rounded or tapered part  29 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows tow ball cover assembly  10  fitted to tow ball arrangement  11  wherein ball  21  fits within internal compartment  17  which is also shown in  FIG. 4 . Elongate opening  20  also includes enlarged end opening  30 . Base part  23  also abuts peripheral wall part or base wall part  23 A shown in  FIG. 4 . Tapered part  29  abuts tapered wall pail  23 B of tow ball assembly  11  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows a rear view of tow ball cover assembly  10  fitted to tow ball arrangement  11  from a rear end thereof and also shows a rear surface  31  of rear wall  14  on which may be displayed graphics or indicia  32 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a similar view to what is shown in  FIG. 3  and also shows a pair of opposed elongate openings  20  which may be used as an alternative to a single elongate opening  20 . There is also shown undersurface  33  of cover assembly  10  as well as peripheral undersurface  34  of base  15  which contacts a top surface  25 A of support plate  25  in use shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of what is shown in  FIG. 1  and shows indicia  32  being applied to rear surface  31  of end wall  14 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows a sectional view through the assembly of  FIG. 2  and shows base compartment  15  surrounded by wall  23 A, tapered surface  29  which abuts tapered surface  23 B, and internal compartment  17 . 
         [0029]    It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the tow ball assembly  10  of the invention is very securely fitted to the tow ball assembly  11  by tow ball  21  fitting smugly within head compartment  17  as shown by the line in phantom indicating tow ball  21  in  FIG. 6 . Also base part  23  fits snugly within base compartment  15 . This secure attachment is accentuated by the use of locking band  27  fitting securely in recess  16 . The provision of end wall  14  which has a pair of lateral extensions  14 A and  14 B on either side of head compartment  17  provides a large surface area for depiction of indicia  32  which is effective in use and provides a substantial improvement over prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,204,507 because end wall  14  is integral with body  12 .  FIG. 1  also defines a longitudinal axis  33  of tow ball assembly  11 . Also the provision of a single or pair of vertical splits  20  ensures speed and efficient removal of tow ball cover assembly  10  from tow ball assembly  11  after removal of locking band  27 . 
         [0030]    It will also be appreciated that indicia  2  may be licensed trade marks of professional sports teams, advertising or other promotional matter and indicia  32  may be engraved, embossed, printed or otherwise formed on rear surface  31  (wherein the term “rear” has regard to the direction of travel of tow ball arrangement  11 ). Indicia  32  may also be luminous or phosphorescent if required.