Abstract:
A swinging trailer to facilitate connection to a towed vehicle by placing the hitch ball carried by the towing vehicle and the hitch receiver carried by the towed vehicle in the view of the driver allowing the driver to better position the hitch ball in alignment with the trailer&#39;s ball receiver. The trailer hitch comprises a foldable linkage whose unfolded or extended length is greater than one-half the width of the towing vehicle. The foldable linkage is affixed to a post that is adapted to fit into the conventional hitch receiver secured to the frame of the towing vehicle the hitch ball is mounted at the free end of the foldable linkage. When the foldable linkage is in its fully folded state, the hitch ball is located immediately in front of the hitch receiver at the midline of the towing vehicle and when fully extended is outboard of the driver&#39;s side of the towing vehicle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to Provisional Applications Ser. No. 60/684,363, filed May 25, 2005; Ser. No. 60/693,349, filed Jun. 23, 2005; and Serial No.  60 / 703 , 481 , filed July  28 ,  2005 , all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     I. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates generally to trailer hitches for motor vehicles, and more particularly to an improved design of a ball and ball socket-type trailer hitch that allows a driver to view both the ball carried by the towing vehicle and the socket on the tongue of the towed trailer to facilitate alignment of the two for hook-up of the trailer to the towing vehicle.  
       I. Discussion of the Prior Art  
       [0004]     One common type of trailer hitch found on many motor vehicles comprises a relatively short receiver tube of rectangular cross-section that is welded by brackets to the frame of the towing vehicle proximate the center of the rear bumper. The receiver tube is adapted to receive therein a rectangular bar that has a ball member bolted to one end thereof. The rectangular bar carrying the ball is held in place in the tubular receiver by a transversely-extending removable pin that passes through aligned apertures formed through the sidewalls of the tubular receiver and through the bar on which the ball is mounted. The bar projects outwardly beyond the rear bumper of the towing vehicle only about 8 to 10 in.  
         [0005]     When it is desired to hitch the towing vehicle to a trailer, the trailer must either be manually moved to a point where the ball socket on the trailer is brought into alignment with the ball on the hitch and lowered onto the ball. A knob on the socket is then turned to bring a latch member into engagement with a neck that connects the ball to the rectangular bar on which the ball is mounted. However, with heavy trailers, such as those used to transport a boat or other heavy loads, it is often not possible to manually move the trailer and, thus, it becomes necessary to back the towing vehicle to a precise point where the socket on the trailer is vertically aligned with the ball on the vehicle&#39;s trailer hitch. When it is recognized that the trailer hitch only extends about 10 in. beyond the rear bumper at the center thereof, it cannot be viewed by the driver using the rear-view mirror of the vehicle. Hence, maneuvering the towing vehicle becomes a hit or miss proposition. Even with another person providing guiding directions, getting the hitch accurately aligned with the socket on the trailer to be towed is time consuming and frequently results in damage to the towing vehicle caused by the socket on the trailer tongue striking the vehicle&#39;s bumper or sheet metal at the rear of the vehicle.  
         [0006]     It can be seen, then, that a need exists for a trailer hitch arrangement that will allow the vehicle driver to readily observe the ball on the trailer hitch and the socket portion of the hitch that is on the trailer itself through the vehicle&#39;s driver side rear view mirror. The present invention fulfills such a need.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The trailer hitch of the present invention includes a short post or bar of rectangular cross-section adapted for insertion into the tubular receiver affixed to the frame of the towing vehicle proximate a centerline of the rear bumper. Instead of having the short rectangular post directly support the hitch ball as in the prior art, the post is welded to a relatively longer, three-sided, steel channel proximate one end of the channel. The channel is of U-shaped cross-section and is welded to the aforementioned post or bar such that the channel is open to the rear of the vehicle on which the hitch is used.  
         [0008]     Pivotally joined to the channel at the opposed end portion thereof is a tubular bar of rectangular cross-section that is dimensioned to allow it to be folded into and received within the open side of the U-shaped channel. Thus, the channel and the tubular bar form a foldable linkage. Welded to the end of the tubular bar opposite from the pivot is a further tubular receiver of rectangular cross-section, having the open center portion or lumen thereof oriented vertically. This tubular receiver is arranged to receive a rectangular post that supports a flat steel bar to which the hitch ball member is bolted. The rectangular post includes a plurality of apertures extending laterally through it so that a pin can be passed through the tubular receiver and through a selected one of the vertically spaced holes to provide adjustability to the height of the ball above ground surface.  
         [0009]     The length of the channel and the bar that can pivot into the channel are such that when the bar is swung out from the channel, the ball hitch member extends laterally beyond the side of the vehicle and is, therefore, viewable by the driver either directly or by using a rear view mirror mounted on the driver&#39;s side of the towing vehicle. When in this position, the driver may view the scene as he or she backs the vehicle until the ball is directly beneath the ball receiving socket on the trailer to be towed. The trailer tongue can then be lowered by manipulating the trailer jack so that the ball falls into the ball receiving socket and, at this point, the screw knob on the trailer socket can be turned to bring the socket&#39;s latch member into engagement with the neck formed on the ball member.  
         [0010]     Next, by slowly driving forward, the bar to which the ball assembly is affixed will pivot about the hinge pin that connects it to the channel allowing the bar to again deploy and become latched within the channel and, at this point, the ball hitch is again aligned with the centerline of the towing vehicle. Next, a pin is inserted through aligned apertures in the channel and in the end of the elongated bar, thereby holding the bar within the laterally extending channel. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The foregoing features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, especially when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of a first embodiment showing the trailer hitch of the present invention in its extended state;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the trailer hitch of  FIG. 1  in its partially folded state;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the trailer hitch of  FIG. 1  in its fully folded state;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a view affording a perspective view of the trailer hitch in its folded state and with the support wheel in its stowed position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is an alternative embodiment of the trailer hitch of the present invention having dual folding arms;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates the addition of a latch mechanism to the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates the latch mechanism engaging the swing arm  26  to hold it in the channel  16 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]     Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The words “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “rightwardly” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and associated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.  
         [0020]     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the trailer hitch of the present invention is seen to comprise a post  10  that is adapted to be inserted into a hitch receiver  12  of conventional design found on many motor vehicles. The post  10  has a hole  11  formed through it from its right side to its left side and which can be aligned with holes formed through the opposed sides of the receiver  12  allowing a pin  14  to be inserted through the aligned holes to hold the post  10  in place.  
         [0021]     The post  10  is welded to an elongate channel member  16  having a top side  18 , a rear side  20  and underside  22  and an open front side. The steel channel member  16  is of a length that is greater than ¼th of width of the towing vehicle and formed through the upper side wall  18  and the lower side wall  22  proximate the leftmost end thereof when viewed in  FIG. 1  are aligned holes, allowing a hinge pin  24  to be inserted through them and through aligned apertures formed in the rightmost end of an extension bar  26 .  
         [0022]     The extension bar may be solid, but preferably comprises a tube of rectangular cross-section where the height dimension of the bar  26  allows it to be folded within the open front side of the channel member  16 , as best seen in the view of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0023]     The combined length of the channel  16  and the bar  26  are such that the left end  30  of the bar  26  extends laterally beyond the left side edge of the towing vehicle on which the hitch assembly is attached. Welded to a rear surface  31  of the bar  26  proximate its left end  30 , when viewed in  FIG. 1  is a tubular receiver  32  of rectangular cross-section allowing a rectangular post  34  of lesser dimension to fit therein. Welded to the top of the post  34  is a plate  36  to which a conventional hitch ball assembly  38  may be attached by means of a bolt with a nut  40  passing through an aperture  41  in the plate  36 .  
         [0024]     Because the combined length of the channel member  16  and the pivotable bar  26  is greater than one-half the width dimension of the towing vehicle, the ball assembly  38  can be viewed by the vehicle&#39;s driver through the driver&#39;s side rear view mirror (not shown). The height above ground of the ball  38  is adjustable, within limits, by providing a series of aligned apertures along the length dimension of the post  34 , one of which is selected for insertion of a pin  42  that extends through aligned apertures  33  in opposed sides of the tubular receiver  32 .  
         [0025]     With special reference to  FIG. 3 , when the bar  26  is rotated into the confines of the channel member  16 , a third pin (not shown) may be dropped through aligned apertures  45  and  46  formed vertically through the right end portion of the channel member and apertures  47  in the outer end portion  30  of the bar  26 , respectively, thus preventing the bar  26  carrying the hitch ball  38  from swinging out from the confines of the channel  16 .  
         [0026]     In operation, when desiring to hook up to a trailer, the pin (not shown) will be pulled from the apertures  45 - 47  and the bar  26  swung out from the confines of the channel  16  to the position shown in  FIG. 1 . At this point, the ball  38  will be visible to the vehicle&#39;s driver either through the driver&#39;s side rearview mirror or by the driver leaning out the vehicle&#39;s window while looking rearward. He or she may now back the vehicle to the point where the hitch ball  38  is directly beneath the socket on the tongue of the trailer to be towed. At this point, the driver will leave the vehicle and manipulate a trailer jack on the trailer&#39;s tongue to lower the ball receiving socket portion of the hitch onto the ball  38 . Once the socket is secured to the ball  38 , the driver may pull forward slightly resulting in the bar  26  pivoting about the pin  24  through a predetermined arc. Then, by backing up slightly, the hitch will reach the disposition shown in  FIG. 3 . At this point, the pin may be re-inserted through holes  45 - 47 , holding the hitch ball  38  in direct alignment with the post  10  and the receiver  12 . At this point, the trailer is ready to be towed.  
         [0027]     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , as an option, there may be included a winch assembly for effecting closure of the bar  26  within the channel  16  following the coupling of the trailer&#39;s hitch socket to the hitch ball  38 . The use of the winch assembly obviates the need for performing the described driving maneuver to effect closure of the bar  26  within the channel  16 .  
         [0028]     The winch assembly comprises a C-shaped winch mounting bracket  100  secured to the channel  16  by the hinge pin  24 . Bolted to the mounting plate is a commercially-available winch  102  having a d.c. motor  104  driving a spool  106  on which a steel cable  108  is wound. The free end of the cable  108  has a hook (not shown) that engages the edge of a slot  110  formed in the rear surface of the bar  26 . The cable also passes through a slot  112  formed through the back surface  20  of the channel  15  and about a vertically oriented guide roller  114 , only a top portion thereof can be seen in  FIG. 2 . The d.c. motor  104  is adapted to be powered by the battery of the towing vehicle.  
         [0029]     The winch has a clutch lever  116  that, when moved in a first direction. disengages the spool allowing the bar  26  to be freely manually moved to its fully extended position as in  FIG. 1 . When the clutch lever  116  is moved to a second position and the motor  104  is actuated, the cable  108  is wound onto the spool  105  as the bar  26  to which the towed vehicle is now coupled is drawn into the confines of the channel  16 .  
         [0030]     Should a difficulty arise in attempting to couple the socket portion of a trailer hitch onto the ball  38  due to deflection of the channel  16  and the extended pivotal bar  26  because of the weight of the trailer tongue, there is provided a support wheel assembly  50  that is attachable to the outer end portion of the tubular bar  26 . More particularly, and with reference to  FIG. 3 , the support wheel assembly  50  is seen to comprise a caster wheel having a yoke  52  that is journaled for rotation about a vertical shaft (not shown). A wheel member  56  is mounted on an axel  58  supported by the yoke  52 . The vertical shaft fits into a cylindrical socket  54  surrounding a lower end of a tubular post  60  and is held in place by a pin  62 . The post  60  is inserted through a tubular receiver  64  of rectangular cross-section welded to the front side surface of bar  16 . A pin  66  extends through aligned bores in opposed walls of the receiver  64  and a selected one of the plurality of apertures  67  in post  60  to lock the wheel assembly at a desired elevation that will maintain the bar  26  level when fully extended.  
         [0031]     As can be seen from  FIG. 7 , the wheel assembly  50  engages the ground and prevents deflection of the hitch ball  38  as the trailer&#39;s tongue weight is applied to the extended arm  26 .  
         [0032]     Next, with reference to  FIG. 4 , the wheel assembly  50  can be stowed when not in use by simply pulling the pin  66 , removing the post  60  from the lumen of the receiver  64 , rotating the assembly by  1800  and reinserting the post  60  into the upper end of the receiver  64 , such that the wheel  56  extends upward as shown.  
         [0033]     Without limitation, the channel  16  may be square and approximately 4 in. on a side. Its length may be about 26 in. The bar  26  may also be of rectangular cross-section measuring about 3.5 in. on a side and may also be 26 in. in length. While the post  10  and the receiver  32  are preferably welded to the channel  16  and the bar  26 , respectively, it is also possible to use bolts to fasten the aforementioned parts to one another. To eliminate any play between the receiver  32  and post  34  and between receiver  64  and post  67  that might result in a rattling noise, it has been found convenient to weld a nut about an aperture drilled through the receivers and then inserting set-screws  65  and  69  that urge the posts securely against the inside wall of the receivers.  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the channel  16  is made double the length of that depicted in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3  and with the post  10  welded to the elongated channel  16  at its approximate midpoint. Then, not only is a tubular bar  26  pivotally connected to the left end of the channel  16 , but a further tubular arm  26 R is pivotally connected to the rightmost end of the channel  26  by a hinge pin  71  that extends through aligned apertures  23 R formed through the channel  16  and the left end portion of the bar  26 R.  
         [0035]     The width dimension and height dimension of the bar  26 R are such that the bar  26 R will fold into the space between the upper sidewall  18  and the lower sidewall  22  of the channel member  16 . The tubular bar  26 R has a relatively short length of tubular bar stock  32 R welded to the rear wall  31 R proximate the right end thereof for accommodating an insert member  68  therein. A pin  70  inserted through aligned bores in the tube stock  32 R and the post of the insert member  68  is used to maintain the insert member  68  at a selectably adjustable elevation determined by a series of bores formed through the post of the insert member  68 . Only one such bore  72  is visible in the view of  FIG. 5 . Hitch ball  38  is preferably attached to the plate  41  so that when arm  26  is extended, it will be viewable by the driver. The other insert member  41 R may then be used as a place to affix a variety of possible attachments, e.g., a barbeque grill for camping or for tailgating at sporting events, a bike carrier, a luggage rack, a spare trailer tire, etc. Because of the manner in which the arms  26  and  26 R swing out and away from the rear of the towing vehicle, such attachments do not inhibit the ability to open rear doors of a panel truck or van nor does it interfere with the lifting of a tailgate on SUV on which the trailer hitch of the present invention may be used.  
         [0036]     It has also been found advantageous to add a latch assembly  74  to the hitch of the present invention to facilitate capture of the swing arm  26  in the channel  16  during the hook-up of the trailer to the towing vehicle. As explained at page 5, once the trailer hitch socket on the trailer is secured to the ball  38 , the driver will pull forward slightly and that results in the bar  26  pivoting about pin  24  and swinging through a predetermined arc. Then, by backing up slightly, the swing bar  26  will fold into the channel and at this point the driver must leave his vehicle and insert the pin  44  through the holes  45  and  46 . However, it has been found that if the trailer is on a slight incline, it may want to coast rearward due to gravity so that the arm  26  will again swing out slightly so that the apertures  45  and  46  will no longer be aligned to permit a pin to be dropped there through. The addition of the latch assembly  74  solves this problem.  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the latch assembly  74  comprises a clevis-type bracket  76  that is welded or otherwise affixed to the rear face surface of the channel  16 , and a C-shaped latch  78  is pivotally joined to the clevis by a hinge pin (not shown). The hook portion  80  of the latch  78  is spaced sufficiently from its hinge pin so as to straddle the top  18  of the channel  16  with the hook portion  80  residing in front of the open face of the channel  16 . It is further noted that the hook portion  80  has a tapered profile  82  on a front face surface thereof that acts as a cam. As the swing bar  26  moves against this tapered surface  82 , it causes the latch  78  to first rise and then it subsequently falls as the swing arm  26  completely enters the channel  16  clearing the hook  80 . As best seen in  FIG. 12 , the latch  78  with its depending hook portion  80  will retain the swing arm  26  within the channel until such time that the driver inserts a locking pin down through the now-aligned apertures  45  and  46 . Thus, even if the trailer is on a slight incline, once the swing bar  26  is made to fully enter the channel  16 , it cannot again pull out so that the apertures  46  are no longer aligned with the apertures  45 .  
         [0038]     The addition of the hook assembly also provides added safety in the highly unlikely event that the pin used to secure the swing bar  26  in the channel  16  may be jarred free from its locking position due to ground irregularities encountered in travel. Here, the latch would continue to hold the swing bar in the channel with the hitch bar  38  aligned with the post  10 .  
         [0039]     This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different equipment and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.