Patent Publication Number: US-7594641-B2

Title: Hitch installation hoist

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present invention relates generally to hoists. More particularly, it relates to a hoist employed to aid in lifting, positioning and holding a trailer tow hitch beneath a vehicle to facilitate installation of the hitch. 
   Typically, a trailer hitch assembly mounted on the cargo bed of a vehicle is used to secure a large trailer, such as a gooseneck trailer. Trailer hitch assemblies for use with the cargo bed of a vehicle present inherent problems in installing the hitch assembly. Typically, such hitch assemblies are installed beneath the cargo bed of the vehicle. The weight of the trailer requires the hitch assembly to be of substantial construction. In positioning the hitch beneath a motor vehicle it is necessary to both lift the hitch and tilt the hitch. Because the hitch can be quite heavy, the person installing the hitch usually requires mechanical assistance or the assistance of another person in effecting the different movements required of the hitch. 
   Previously, hitch hoists have been used for positioning and holding hitches beneath a motor vehicle. Such hoists, however, are relatively complex and expensive. There continues to be a need, therefore, for a hitch hoist that is simple, that is inexpensive in construction, that can be employed by a single person to install a hitch with minimum exertion of effort and that is reliable in operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a hoist for installing a hitch beneath the bed of a motor vehicle. 
   Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   To achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the invention as embodied and broadly described in this document, there is provided a portable hoist assembly for lifting a hitch to be installed on the underside of a vehicle bed, wherein the hitch has a hitch ball hole and the vehicle bed has a hole to be aligned with the hitch ball hole when the hitch is installed. The hoist assembly includes a hoist frame and a winch for paying out and drawing in a cable having an end for securing to the hitch. The winch is supported by the frame above the vehicle bed hole. A rigid elongated member is attached to the cable end. The elongated member can be oriented in a first position wherein it can pass through the vehicle bed hole and the hitch ball hole. Also, the elongated member can be oriented in a second position wherein it cannot pass through the hitch ball hole. In this configuration, the elongated member can be lowered through the vehicle bed hole and the hitch ball hole in the first orientation and can secure the cable to the hitch in the second orientation. 
   In one suitable embodiment, the elongated member can be in the form of a rigid tube or pin. The elongated member has a length greater than the diameter of the hitch ball hole. In a preferred embodiment, the elongated member includes a rigid tube that has a length less than the diameter of the hitch ball hole and a pin that can be positioned within the tube and that has a length greater than the diameter of the hitch ball hole. 
   To install a hitch assembly, the hoist is positioned in the vehicle bed such that the winch is supported above the vehicle platform hole. The elongated member is lowered through the vehicle platform hole and the hitch ball hole in the first orientation. The elongated member is then secured to the hitch by placing it in the second orientation after it is lowered through the hitch ball hole. The hitch is then lifted into position for installation to the underside of the vehicle bed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred methods and embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a front-right perspective view showing a hoist according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear-right perspective view of the hoist of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a right side perspective view of the hoist of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a vehicle in partial cross section showing the hoist of  FIG. 1  positioned in the bed of the vehicle and holding a hitch in place below the bed for installation; and 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view in partial cross-section showing the hoist of  FIG. 1  positioned in the bed of the vehicle of  FIG. 4  and holding the trailer hitch in place below the bed for installation. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Reference will now be made in more detail to presently preferred methods and embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention is described more fully with reference to these examples and drawings, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative devices, and illustrative examples shown and described. Rather, the description which follows is to be understood as a broad, teaching disclosure directed to persons of ordinary skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon the invention. 
   In the drawings, the reference numeral  10  designates generally a hitch hoist in accordance with the invention. The hoist  10  includes a frame  11  that includes an upright member  12  mounted to a platform  14 . The platform  14  is fabricated from two longitudinal tubular members  16   a ,  16   b , a transverse tubular member  18  and an opposing longitudinal member  20 . The longitudinal members  16   a ,  16   b  are connected to the transverse member  18  and extend perpendicularly to one side of the upright member  12 . The opposing longitudinal member  20  also is connected to the transverse member  18  and extends perpendicularly to an opposing side of the upright member  12 . The hoist  10  is provided with a hand grip  19  near the top of the upright member  12  for lifting and positioning the hoist  10 . A handle  21  is mounted near the midpoint of the upright member  12  for carrying the hoist  10 . 
   In a presently preferred embodiment, the upright member  12 , the longitudinal members  16   a ,  16   b , the transverse member  18  and the opposing longitudinal member  20  are fabricated from tubular stock, which preferably has a non-circular cross-sectional shape, such as a rectangle or square. A preferred material for the stock is steel. Upon reading this disclosure, however, those of skill in the art will recognize that the tubular stock my be fabricated from other suitable material, such as aluminum or other suitable metals. The upright member  12 , longitudinal members  16   a ,  16   b , transverse member  18  and opposing longitudinal member  20  are welded together to form the frame  11 . 
   A winch plate  22  is affixed to the front face of the upright member  12  for mounting a winch  24  to the frame  11 . The winch  24  is bolted or otherwise affixed to the winch plate  22 . The winch  24  is operated by a hand crank  26  and can be operated in both a forward and reverse direction to reel in or pay out a length of cable  28 . In one exemplary embodiment, the winch  24  can be equipped with a friction clutch (not shown) to hold the winch drum in selected positions to which it is turned. In another embodiment, the winch  24  can be a ratcheting pawl winch. In either case, the winch can be operated in both forward and reverse directions. 
   A rigid elongated member  23  is attached to the end of the cable  28 . The elongated member has a length greater than the diameter of the hitch ball hole  38  discussed below. In a preferred embodiment, the elongated member  23  can be in the form of a rigid tube or pin. In another preferred embodiment, the elongated member  23  includes a rigid tube that has a length less than the diameter of the hitch ball hole  38  and a pin that can be slidably positioned within the tube and that has a length greater than the diameter of the hitch ball hole  38 . The elongated member is fabricated from a material sufficient to hold the weight of a hitch, such as steel. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in operation the winch  24  is used to raise and lower a hitch  30  to be mounted beneath a cargo bed  42  of a vehicle  40 , such as a pick-up truck. Such a hitch is commonly known as a “gooseneck” trailer hitch and typically includes side mounting brackets  32   a ,  32   b  that attach to the vehicle frame  44 , cross members  34  joining the mounting brackets  32   a ,  32   b , and a center portion  36  that attaches to the cross members  34  and provides means for mounting a hitch ball (not shown) including a hitch ball hole  38 . Installation of the hitch  30  requires that a hole be cut in the vehicle bed  42  so that the hitch ball is accessible from above. 
   To install the hitch  30 , the hoist  10  is placed in the vehicle bed  42  so that the winch  24  is just above the hole cut in the floor of the vehicle bed for accommodating the hitch ball. In a generally vertical orientation, the elongated member  23  can be lowered through the hole in the vehicle bed  42 , through the hitch ball hole  38  in the hitch  30 . The elongated member  23  is then secured to the hitch by placing it in a generally horizontal orientation after it is lowered through the hitch ball hole. The hitch  30  is then lifted into position for installation to the underside of the vehicle bed. 
   From the foregoing it should be apparent that this invention provides a hoist which enables one person to lift a trailer hitch into position beneath the undercarriage of a motor vehicle and to hold the hitch in that position while mounting holes are marked or drilled and while fasteners are installed. The versatility of the hoist permits its use for a variety of types and styles of hitches and a variety of motor vehicles. 
   Having read this disclosure, it will also be understood by those having skill in the art that the modifications may be made to the invention. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative devices, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept.