Abstract:
An improved receiver hitch having a plurality of receivers is provided. The improved receiver hitch may be used with inserts that are slidably mounted into one or more of the plurality of receivers. The improved receiver hitch may be used with an insert such as a winch carrier in a winch mounting assembly or with other inserts such as ball mounts, clevis mounts, etc. The improved receiver hitch enables better handling, increased capacity, etc.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to vehicle hitches and, more specifically, to an improved receiver style hitch in a winch mounting system and a method of using the same.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A typical vehicle mounting system includes a hitch which attaches directly to the vehicle to provide a connection between the vehicle and a trailer or other attachment. The hitch may be factory installed on original bumpers or frames or may be welded or bolted onto bumpers or vehicle frames after market. It is helpful to have hitches on both the front and rear of the vehicle for versatility. A hitch may be a weight carrying hitch or may include a weight distribution system that enhances handling and braking and increases capacity beyond what is recommended when a weight-carrying hitch is used.  
         [0003]     A standard receiver style hitch has one receiver. The standard receiver style hitch includes a main cross tube with the one receiver in the center thereof in a direction perpendicular to the main cross tube. The receiver is the receptacle part of the hitch which accommodates inserts. A common receiver style hitch is a square tube hitch with a two inch square receptacle for receiving inserts, although round tube hitches and other receiver sizes are available. The receiver is typically about seven inches long. An insert is any item that slides into the receptacle of a receiver style hitch. Exemplary inserts include drawbars, ball mounts, bike racks, winch carriers, etc.  
         [0004]     The main cross tube may include mounting plates or the like to permit mounting the hitch to the bumper or frame of the vehicle using bolts. The hitch may also, in some circumstances, be welded to the bumper or fame of the vehicle. The hitch may be mounted in a manner that the main cross tube extends across the horizontal axis of the car at the front or rear of the vehicle with the receiver projecting away from the vehicle to permit sliding the insert into the receiver of the hitch. The receiver projects out from the center of the front or rear of the vehicle. A hitch pin or clip may be used to fasten the insert into the hitch.  
         [0005]     As is known in the art, a winch carrier may be fastened into the hitch for a winch mounting system. A winch carrier is used to carry a winch on the vehicle. When the winch is mounted on the winch carrier, it is referred to herein as a “winch and carrier assembly.” Winches have been commonly used for moving objects and vehicles. In the typical application, one end of a wire rope is securely attached to a stationary object while the other end is wound around the drum of a winch. Of course, it is to be appreciated that the winch may also be secured to the stationary object with the winch rope securely attached to the object to be moved.  
         [0006]     The standard portable winch carrier includes a cradle with a pair of handles at shoulder width apart to make it easy to carry the winch from one hitch to another. A shank extends from the center of the winch carrier and is received and fastened into the receptacle of the standard receiver hitch. The winch carrier may be removed from the vehicle or storage area and lifted using the cradle handles and plugged into the hitch as per conventional installation. This permits operating the winch anytime and anywhere and also permits moving the winch from one vehicle to another if both vehicles are equipped with receiver style hitches.  
         [0007]     Conventional hitches, especially when used with a winch and carrier assembly, face the most extreme demands and must withstand the stress encountered in a particular situation. A winch mounting system must distribute the rated load of the winch along the vehicle frame i.e. they are designed to the vehicle&#39;s capabilities to withstand straight pulls, as well as side loads. This minimizes the possibility of changing the alignment of the vehicle, affecting its ride and handling. In addition, braking may be affected and capacity limited by hitch selection.  
         [0008]     There is therefore a need for an improved receiver-style hitch that may be used with a variety and plurality of inserts and that reduces stress on common failure points of the standard receiver-style hitch. There is a further need for an improved receiver-style hitch that may be used in a winch mounting system that provides better ride, handling and braking and that can support full-size rigs and heavier recovery situations and enables carrying a winch on either end of a vehicle. There is also a need for an improved receiver hitch that may be used in a winch mounting system that positions the winch for optimum performance. There is a further need for an improved receiver style hitch that may be used in a winch mounting system and method whereby the winch and carrier assembly may be easily and quickly installed and removed by one person. There is an additional need for an improved receiver style hitch that may be used in a winch mounting system and method that has a strong and stable mounting platform. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention resides in an improved winch mounting system. The improved winch mounting system comprises, generally, a receiver hitch having a plurality of receivers and a winch carrier slidably mounted therein.  
         [0010]     In one preferred form of the invention for a winch mounting system for the rear end of a vehicle, the receiver hitch includes a substantially straight main cross tube terminating at both ends with side mounting brackets that may be mounted to the vehicle frame. The plurality of receivers includes a middle receiver in a substantially central position with respect to the side mounting brackets and between and spaced apart from a pair of outer receivers. The middle receiver extends in a perpendicular direction from one side of the receiver hitch. The pair of outer receivers also extends in a perpendicular direction from the same side of the receiver hitch and may be spaced at about equal distances apart from the middle receiver at an off-center position with respect to the main cross tube. The outer receivers may be longer than the inside middle receiver. The winch carrier may be slidably mounted into the open ends of the outer receivers and fastened by a hitch pin or the like.  
         [0011]     The winch carrier includes a cradle having a pair of handles and a face plate mounted on the front thereof. A pair of shanks extending behind the face plate is received in the outer receivers. As is known in the art, a winch may be mounted into the winch carrier for a “winch and carrier assembly.” The winch and carrier assembly may also include a conventional fairlead or cable guide assembly means for guiding the winch rope and thereby minimizing damage to the winch rope.  
         [0012]     In another form of the invention for the front end of the vehicle, a front receiver hitch includes a substantially straight cross bar with downwardly sloping ends terminating at about a 90 degree angle in hitch mounting plates. The front receiver hitch includes a pair of spaced apart receivers in a substantially off-center position with respect to the hitch mounting plates. The winch and carrier assembly is removably mounted to the front hitch in the same manner as with the rear hitch i.e. by slidably mounting the winch carrier shanks into the receivers and inserting the hitch pin through aligned opposite paired openings. In another embodiment, the front receiver hitch may further include shackles mounted to a front face of the hitch mounting plates.  
         [0013]     The receiver style hitch may be used with other inserts slidably mounted into one or more of the receivers. For example, one or more ball mounts (not shown) and/or one or more clevis mounts, etc. may be inserted in the receivers.  
         [0014]     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective assembly view of a winch mounting system embodying the invention, illustrating a winch carrier having a pair of rearwardly-extending shanks being inserted into corresponding receivers of a receiver style hitch;  
         [0017]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the winch carrier, illustrating a face plate mounted on the front of the winch carrier and having a slot therein;  
         [0018]      FIG. 1B  is a front view of a winch and carrier assembly, illustrating a winch mounted on the winch carrier with its wire rope fed through the slot of the face plate and through a roller fairlead mounted to the front of the winch and carrier assembly;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the winch and carrier assembly of  FIG. 1B , illustrating the wire rope wrapped around a winch drum and extending exteriorly from the winch;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of the winch and carrier assembly of  FIGS. 1B and 2 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2B  is a side perspective view of the winch and carrier assembly of  FIGS. 1B, 2 , and  2 A slidably mounted into the receiver-style hitch mounted to the rear of a vehicle;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a receiver-style hitch mounted to the front of a vehicle with mounting plates;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective assembly view of the front mounted hitch of  FIG. 3  receiving the winch and carrier assembly of  FIGS. 1B-2A ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3B  is an alternative embodiment of the front mounted hitch of  FIG. 3 , illustrating a shackle on each of the mounting plates for the front mounted receiver;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3C  is a side view of one side of the front mounted hitch of  FIG. 3B ; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 3D  is a perspective side view of the front mounted hitch of  FIGS. 3B and 3C  receiving the winch and carrier assembly of  FIGS. 1B-2A . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]     As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention as shown in  FIGS. 1-2B  is concerned with an improved winch mounting system, generally designated in the accompanying drawings by the reference number  10 . The improved winch mounting system comprises, generally, a receiver hitch  12  having a pair of outer receivers  14 ; and a winch carrier  16  slidably mounted into the pair of outer receivers  14 . The receiver hitch  12  may also include a middle receiver  18  between the pair of outer receivers  14 . The receiver hitch  12  may be used with inserts other than the winch carrier  16  as hereinafter described.  
         [0028]     In the first embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 , the improved receiver hitch  12  includes a substantially straight square main cross tube  20  terminating at both, ends with side mounting brackets  21  with the middle receiver  18  in a substantially central position with respect to the side mounting brackets  21 . As is known in the art and as shown in  FIG. 1 , the middle receiver  18  extends in a perpendicular direction from one side of the receiver hitch  12 . The pair of outer receivers  14  also extends in a perpendicular direction from the same side of the receiver hitch  12  and may be spaced at about equal distances apart from the middle receiver  18  at an off-center position with respect to the main cross tube  20 . The outer receivers  14  may be longer than the middle receiver  18 . The pair of outer receivers  14  measure about 12.5 inches long and therefore extend about 4.5 inches beyond the standard eight inch middle receiver. The additional and deeper receivers allow for more weight transfer to the hitch, cross tube, side brackets and vehicle frame helping the hitch able to withstand heavier loads.  
         [0029]     Each of the outer and middle receivers  14  and  18  has a first end and a second end  22  and  24 . The first end  22  may be mounted by welding or the like to the one side of the main cross tube  20 . The receiver hitch  12  may be an OEM or an aftermarket hitch. An aftermarket hitch may include a standard receiver-style hitch with one standard middle receiver to which the pair of outer receivers  14  may be added by welding or the like. The second end  24  of the receivers is the receptacle end for receiving the inserts. Opposite paired openings  26  in both sides of the receiver near the second end  24  are for purposes as described hereinafter. Although a square tube hitch is shown, it is to be appreciated that a round tube hitch may also be used.  
         [0030]     The side mounting brackets  21  include attachment openings  28  through which fasteners (not shown) may be used to mount the main cross tube  20  to the frame or bumper at the rear of the vehicle as shown in  FIG. 2B . Although side mounting brackets  21  are shown in the drawing, it is to be appreciated that the particular mounting brackets used will depend on the installation instructions and the type of vehicle to which the hitch is mounted.  
         [0031]     The winch carrier  16  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 1 A includes a cradle  30  having a pair of handles  32  and a face plate  34  mounted on the front thereof. The face plate  34  includes a front side and a rear side  36  and  38  and a slot  40  therein for purposes as described hereinafter. A pair of shanks  42  extends rearwardly from the bottom of the rear side of the face plate in a perpendicular direction to and under the cradle  30 . The pair of shanks  42  is slightly smaller in outside dimension than the inside dimension of the outer receivers  14  in order to be inserted therein. As shown in  FIG. 2B , the pair of shanks  42  may be received in the corresponding pair of outer receivers  14 . The shanks  42  include opposite paired openings  44  in the sides thereof just rearwardly of the cradle  30  for purposes as described hereinafter. The positioning of the opposite paired openings  44  in the shanks  42  is to space the winch carrier  16  away from the vehicle when the winch carrier is slidably mounted into the receiver hitch as shown in  FIG. 2B . The opposite paired openings  44  in the shanks  42  are positioned to hold the cradle  30  about nine inches out from the vehicle.  
         [0032]     As is known in the art and as shown in  FIGS. 1B, 2 ,  2 A and  2 B, a winch  46  including a drum  48  for winding a wire rope  50  and a motor  52  which rotates the drum  48  may be mounted into the cradle  30  behind the rear side  38  of the face plate  34 . The winch  46  further includes a control box  54  and clutch  56  as shown. When the winch is mounted on the cradle  30  of the winch carrier  16 , it is referred to herein as a “winch and carrier assembly”. The wire rope  50  from the winch passes through the slot  40  in the face plate  34 .  
         [0033]     As shown in  FIGS. 1B, 2A  and  2 B, the winch and carrier assembly may also include a conventional fairlead  58  or cable guide assembly means for guiding the wire rope  50  and thereby minimizing damage to the wire rope. The fairlead  58  surrounds the slot  40  in the face plate  34  and provides rollers for guiding the wire rope  50  onto and off of the winch drum  48 . The fairlead  58  may be fixedly coupled by bolts to the front side  36  of the face plate  34  and into the winch  46  as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B .  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIG. 2B , the winch carrier  16  may be slidably mounted into the pair of outer receivers  14  of the hitch until the opposite paired openings  26  and  44  in each of the pair of outer receivers  14  and the winch carrier shanks  42  are substantially aligned. The winch carrier  16  may be fastened to the hitch by inserting the hitch pin or clip (not shown) through the substantially aligned opposite paired openings  26  and  44 . When so fastened, the combination of the hitch and winch carrier  16  are referred to herein as a winch mounting system.  
         [0035]     In an alternative embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 3-3A , a front receiver hitch  60  includes a substantially straight main cross tube  62  with downwardly sloping ends terminating at about a 90 degree angle in hitch mounting plates  64 . The front receiver hitch  60  may be bolted to the frame of the vehicle as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3 A. It is to be appreciated that the front receiver hitch may in some applications be installed on the bumper of a vehicle. The hitch mounting plates  64  include attachment openings (not shown) for mounting bolts  66 . The front receiver hitch  60  includes a pair of spaced apart outer receivers  68  in a substantially off-center position with respect to the hitch mounting plates  64 . The outer receivers  68  include opposite paired openings  69  near the receptacle end. The outer receivers may be shorter than those previously described. The winch carrier  16  as shown in  FIG. 1A  or the winch and carrier assembly as shown in  FIG. 3A  may be removably mounted to the front receiver hitch  60  in the same manner as with the rear hitch i.e. by slidably mounting the winch carrier shanks into the receivers and inserting the hitch pin or clip (not shown) through the substantially aligned opposite paired openings.  
         [0036]     Although a three receiver hitch on the rear end of the vehicle and a two receiver hitch on the front end of the vehicle has been described and shown, it is to be appreciated that substantial benefit may be derived from an alternative configuration of the invention whereby the three receiver hitch is mounted on the front of the vehicle and the two receiver hitch is mounted on the rear end of the vehicle.  
         [0037]     In another embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 3B-3D , the front receiver hitch  60  may further include shackles  70  mounted to a front face of the hitch mounting plates  64  as shown in  FIG. 3B . The shackles project downwardly and forwardly as shown in  FIGS. 3C and 3D . The shackles may be used as additional bracing for side pulls or for use to strap the winch to a rock or tree for vehicle-free winching or for other known purposes.  
         [0038]     Although the receiver hitches have been described for use in a winch mounting system, it is to be appreciated that the receiver style hitch may be used with other inserts slidably mounted into one or more of the receivers. For example, one or more ball mounts (not shown) and/or one or more clevis mounts, etc. may be inserted into the receivers.  
         [0039]     In operation, the receiver hitches of the present invention may be mounted to the vehicle by methods well known in the art. The winch and carrier assembly may be moved from the front or rear of the vehicle if there are front and rear hitches.  
         [0040]     From the foregoing, it is to be appreciated that the receiver hitch of the present invention is readily adaptable for receiving a wide variety of inserts, including a winch carrier in a winch mounting system. Other inserts may also be mounted into the receiver hitch for a stable and strong vehicle mounting system.  
         [0041]     Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.