Abstract:
An adjustable receiver hitch system including a slide member that may be installed on a receiver tube attached to a vehicle, extending therethrough. Near the distal end of the slide member is disposed a rotationally pivotable bearing assembly. Interchangeable connection ends may be attached to the bearing assembly and are used to connect to a towed trailer. One interchangeable end may feature a height adjustment capability, while others may have fixed vertical heights. The system allows a user to adjust the attachment portion of the hitch in multiple ways to connect to a towed trailer to allow for attachment without an exact alignment between the primary vehicle and the trailer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/348,544, filed May 26, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL HELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to trailer hitch assemblies for receiver hitch systems. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A receiver hitch utilizes an insert secured in a tube at the rear of a primary vehicle to connect to a towed trailer. Typically, a conventional hitch ball is mounted at the distal end of the insert (which may include a “dropped” portion). In order to connect to a towed trailer, a mounting ball on a receiver hitch insert must be aligned with the counterpart receiver on the hitch of the trailer. Typically, this requires backing up the primary vehicle to the trailer with the assistance of a spotter providing directions, or moving the trailer to the primary vehicle, where the trailer is of sufficiently light weight. 
         [0004]    Because of the difficulties encountered in aligning the ball to the hitch unassisted, there have been numerous hitch designs that attempt to provide some adjustment capability to reduce the level of precision needed for alignment. However, these types of hitches typically are limited to a single type of connection, or utilize parts that require adjacent exposed metal structures to side directly against one another. Over time, these can rust and stick reducing the effectiveness of the hitch. 
         [0005]    A receiver hitch system that allowed for easier adjustment and longer useful life would be an improvement in the art, Such a system that allowed for multiple types of adjustments and connections in a single system would be a further improvement in the art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention includes an adjustable receiver hitch system including a slide member that may be installed in a receiver tube attached to a vehicle, extending therethough. Near the distal end of the slide member is disposed a rotationally pivotable bearing assembly. Interchangeable connection ends may be attached to the bearing assembly and are used to connect to a towed trailer. One interchangeable end may feature a height adjustment capability, while others may have fixed vertical heights. The system allows a user to adjust the attachment portion of the hitch in multiple ways to connect to a towed trailer to allow for attachment without an exact alignment between the primary vehicle and the trailer. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the various drawings are for illustrative purposes only. The nature of the present invention, as well as other embodiments of the present invention, may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, to the appended claims, and to the several drawings. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an adjustable receiver hitch system in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, installed in a receiver tube on a tow vehicle. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of an adjustable receiver hitch system of  FIG. 1  in isolation. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the receiver hitch system of the present invention  FIGS. 1 and 1A . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a rear portion of the system of  FIGS. 1 through 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of a rear portion of the system of  FIGS. 1 through 2  with a connection end removed. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  are side, opposite side, and top perspective views of the rear portion of the system of  FIGS. 1 through 3A  with an alternate interchangeable connection end installed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The present invention relates to apparatus, systems and method for adjustable receiver hitches. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described, while illustrating certain embodiments, are not intended to so limit the invention or the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will also understand that various combinations or modifications of the embodiments presented herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. All such alternate embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , one embodiment of an adjustable receiver hitch system  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention is depicted. Beginning a proximal nd thereof (in relation to the primary vehicle), a slide member  100  extends from proximal end to a distal connection end  105  as a solid metal bar. The slide member  100  is sized and configured for slidable placement in a receiver tube T 1  disposed at the rear of a primary vehicle P. As depicted, the receiver tube T 1  and slide member  100  may have square cross-sectional shapes. A first collar  102  may be removably disposed at the proximal end of the slide member  100  as a cap or lip which has a cross-sectional diameter wider than the bore of receiver tube T 1  to prevent inadvertent removal of the slide portion from the receiver tube. One or more holes  103  may pass through the slide member  100  allowing it to be secured in the receiver tube by placement of a rod therethrough at a desired location. 
         [0016]    A second collar  104  may be disposed on the slide member  100  distal to the hole(s)  103  and proximal to the connection end  105 , as a lip or bead formed thereon having a cross-sectional shape wider than the bore of receiver tube T 1  to limit the distance the slide rmember  100  may be inserted therein. This can prevent inadvertent damage to a primary vehicle from the remainder of the system  10  structure. 
         [0017]    On the top surface of the connection end portion of the slide member  100 , a bearing hub assembly  200  is mounted. The bearing hub assembly includes a lower portion  202 , which may be formed as a “neck” attached to the upper surface of the tube  100 , and to the bottom of a bearing assembly  204 , formed as a pintle and surrounding collar covered by a cap (best depicted in  FIG. 3A ) which is disposed on the neck. A hub plate  206 , which may have a round shape when viewed from above and thicker sections for structural reinforcement extends from the collar and includes a number of upwardly extending threaded shafts  208 . 
         [0018]    A connection plate  300  may be attached to the collar. As depicted, the connection plate  300  may include a series of holes corresponding to the threaded shafts  208 , through which the shafts  208  may be inserted. Lug nuts  302  may be secured on the threaded shafts to secure the connection plate  300  in to the collar. A connection end  400  may then extend distally from the connection plate, as discussed further herein. 
         [0019]    Distal to the bearing hub assembly, a locking plate  250  is disposed at the distal end of the tube  100 . The locking plate  250  may be disposed atop a member  251  ( FIG. 4 ) attached to the distal end of slide member  100 . Upon attachment, a connection end  400  extends distally over locking plate  250  and includes a locking hole  252  and stops  254  at each medial end for preventing unwanted over-rotation of the connection end. 
         [0020]    Connection end  400 A depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , has a first connection member  402  extending distally from the connection plate  300 , to which the bottom surface thereof is attached. In the depicted embodiment, the connection member  402  extends distally over the locking plate  250  to a distal end and is a solid bar having a square cross-sectional shape. A retractable pin  404  extends through the connection member  402  to interact with the locking hole  252 . 
         [0021]    One or more holes may extend laterally through the connection member  402  allowing a rod  407  to be inserted therethrough. As depicted, a drop hitch end  406  with a ball B may be mounted on connection member  402  by placing the connection tube portion thereof  410  slidably onto the connection member  402  and securing thereon for towing with rod  407 . 
         [0022]    The alternate connection end  4003  depicted in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6  has a first connection member  4023  extending distally from the connection plate  300 B, to which the bottom surface thereof is attached. In the depicted embodiment, the connection member  402 B extends distally over the locking plate  250  to a height adjustment receiving tube  420  at the distal end. A retractable pin  4043  extends through the connection member  402  to interact with the locking hole  252 . 
         [0023]    Height adjustment receiving tube  420  has a bore running in a vertical direction and aligned locking holes  421 A and  4213  in the opposite sides thereof. Height adjustment bar  440  is a member sized to fit in the bore of the tube  420 , extending vertically therethough, which is placed in the tube  420 . As depicted both height adjustment receiving tube  420  and height adjustment bar  440  may have square cross-sectional shapes. 
         [0024]    A plurality of receiving holes  442  allow the bar  440  to be secured at different selected heights in the height adjustment receiving tube  420  by rods  443  placed though the locking holes  421 A and/or  421 B and the desired receiving holes  442 . A hitch mounting plate  446  is secured to the bottom of height adjustment bar  440  and extends distally therefrom to support a mounting ball B or other hitch connection (such as a hook or pin). 
         [0025]    It will be appreciated that interchangeable connection ends  400 A and  4003  may be connected and disconnected to the system  10  by either the connection plate  300  and nuts (as depicted with connection end  4003 ), or by a “quick-connect” feature on a connection member  402  (as depicted with connection end  400 A) depending on the particular application and desire of the user. 
         [0026]    In use, a user places a system  10  in a receiver tube T 1  on a primary vehicle and reverses the vehicle near a trailer to be towed. A precise alignment during the movement of the vehicle is not needed. The user is then able to adjust the system  10  by extending or retracting the slide member  100  in the receiver tube to adjust for differences in the horizontal distance between the trailer and the primary vehicle. Similarly, by pivoting the connection end  400 A or  400 B using the bearing hub assembly  200 , lateral distances between the trailer and the primary vehicle may be adjusted. Finally, where a connection end  400 B is used, a user may adjust the height of the mounting plate  446  by moving height adjustment receiving bar  440  to a desired position in height adjustment tube  420  and securing it therein to bring a ball B on the mounting plate  446  to the correct height to connect with a ball socket on the corresponding trailer hitch. The trailer may then be moved to place the system  10  in position to lock the various components in place. 
         [0027]    While this invention has been described in certain embodiments, the present invention can be further modified with the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further,this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practices in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.