Patent ID: 12187085

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The same reference numbers may be used in multiple figures to refer to the same components or elements. The following description of example embodiments is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

An improved weight distributing hitch system facilitates unrestricted side to side movement of an attached trailer, or rotation about a vertical hitch axis. Movement of the trailer or rotation about a hitch system longitudinal axis is also enhanced and may only be restricted by safety chains. Trailer movement corresponding to rotation about a transverse axis of the hitch is enhanced over prior systems.

The improved hitch system includes an upper hitch portion that is configured to couple to a trailer coupler portion and to a vehicle coupler portion to provide multiple degrees of rotational freedom as well as longitudinal coupling for towing the trailer by the vehicle.

A weight distributing lower hitch portion couples to the upper hitch portion about a transverse axis. The weight distributing lower hitch portion includes spring bars extending to rearward points on a frame of the trailer between a tongue of the trailer and the axle of the trailer. A pivot bolt is positioned between the upper hitch portion and lower hitch portion to bias the upper hitch portion and lower hitch portion away from each other and hence bias the spring bars away from the trailer frame. The spring bars may then be coupled to the trailer frame by using respective levers to transfer weight distribution.

A vertical axis of the weight distributing lower hitch portion is directly in line with the vertical axis of the upper hitch portion. The weight distributing lower hitch portion and the upper hitch portion move together about the longitudinal axis. Current ball type hitch systems and their weight distributing hitch spring bars, by contrast, work against each other.

FIG.1is an exploded perspective view of a hitch system100.FIG.2is a perspective view of hitch system100in assembled form. A cartesian coordinate key is shown to illustrate a longitudinal axis102, a vertical axis104, and a transverse axis106used as a reference for describing relative positions and rotations of elements of the hitch system100.

Hitch system100includes an upper hitch portion110configured to couple to a trailer coupler portion120and to a vehicle coupler portion125. A weight distributing lower hitch portion115is coupled to the upper hitch portion110via a vertical support112rigidly attached to the main body111of the upper hitch portion110and a transverse axle or rod113coupled to the lower hitch portion115.

The weight distributing lower hitch portion115includes a weight distribution lever119that is coupled to a head assembly118via a vertical axle or bolt121, permitting rotation about the vertical bolt121(and a bushing515shown inFIG.5). The head assembly118is configured to couple to spring bars116and117that are configured to extend to rearward points on a frame of the trailer as shown inFIG.3.

A pivot bolt130or other adjustable length device is positioned between the upper hitch portion110and lower hitch portion115to bias the upper hitch portion110and lower hitch portion115away from each other. A first end of the pivot bolt130engages an adjustment collar131that is fastened to the upper hitch portion110. The adjustment collar131contains threads that mate with threads on the first end of the pivot bolt130to adjust a length of the pivot bolt extending toward a lever portion135of the weight distribution lever119. In further examples, the collar131may be positioned on the lever portion135to exert force on the upper hitch portion110.

The length of the pivot bolt extending toward the lever portion135defines the amount of bias of the lower hitch portion115away from the upper hitch portion110. The biasing action of the pivot bolt causes rotation of the lower hitch portion115about a transverse axis of the transverse rod113. Such biasing action also creates the ability to spring load the spring bars away from the trailer, allowing subsequent loading of the spring bars to distribute the trailer weight.

The pivot bolt130thus engages an upper surface of the lower hitch portion via the adjustment collar131and extends an adjustable distance vertically between the threaded opening of the collar131and the lever portion135of the lower hitch portion115.

Trailer coupler portion120includes a coupling shaft or transverse rod140that is dimensioned to fit slots142and be captured by latch plates144rotatably coupled to the upper hitch portion110. The trailer coupler portion120can thus rotate about the transverse rod140. The transverse rod140may be longitudinally positioned in a somewhat vertical alignment with transverse rod113, thus providing an aligned rotational degree of freedom for both the upper hitch portion and lower hitch portion, allowing some vertical movement relative to the vehicle and trailer about the hitch system100.

Trailer coupler portion120also includes bracket133coupled to a coupling portion via a vertical bolt148. The bracket133is configured to couple to the trailer to provide a longitudinal connection for applying force to the trailer during normal towing conditions. Coupling via the vertical bolt148allows rotation of the bracket133about a vertical axis corresponding to freedom of motion of the trailer in a transverse, or side-to-side motion. The vertical bolt148may be positioned in substantially vertical alignment with bolt121, providing the ability of the head assembly118and rods116and117to also move with the same transverse movement. While perfect vertical alignment may allow significant relative transverse movement less than perfect vertical alignment may also be beneficial as the amount of transverse movement is naturally restricted by vehicle and trailer clearances. The desired amount of vertical alignment will allow desired vehicle and trailer transverse movement for normal towing conditions without unduly stressing components of the hitch system100.

A further degree of motion is provided by the hitch system100via a connection of the upper hitch portion110to the vehicle coupler portion125. A longitudinal axle or bolt150is used to couple a position channel152to the main body111of the upper hitch portion110. The position channel152contains openings153to couple to rods154of a vehicle coupler position channel155. The longitudinal bolt150allows rotational movement between the vehicle and the trailer. In other words, if one wheel of the trailer is higher than the other wheel, that may result in rotation of the trailer about the longitudinal axis relative to the vehicle.

FIG.3is a side elevation view of a portion of the hitch system100illustrating coupling of spring bar117to a trailer300frame310. InFIG.3, only a portion of the head assembly118and trailer coupler portion120are shown. The trailer coupler portion120is coupled to the frame310of trailer300in a conventional manner. In one example, a jack315may be used to raise the frame310in order to help couple the biased spring bars117,116(not visible inFIG.3) prior to coupling the spring bars to the trailer frame310. To facilitate coupling of the spring bars, each spring bar117may include a U-bolt320fastened to the spring bar at a distal end322. A link chain325is coupled to the U-bolt320. A lever330is coupled to the trailer at points332,333to allow rotation of the lever330about such points332,333. The lever330contains a protrusion335to fit within a link337of the chain325. The lever330is shown in a closed position. Prior to the closed position, the bar117is likely lower than the frame310. The lever is used to engage the chain at link337and cam the chain325and the bar117into the position shown. The lever330may then be locked into place to bias the bars in the position shown and redistribute the weight of the trailer on the hitch system100. The jack315may then be raised to proceed to tow the trailer by the vehicle. While a chain and lever are shown, any other method of biasing the bars116,117towards the trailer frame may be used, such as various combinations of straps, screws, and other types of levers.

FIG.4is an exploded perspective view of the upper hitch portion110. The slots142formed in the main body111of the upper hitch portion110have a width corresponding to the transverse rod140of the trailer couplers120. The latch plates144are coupled to the main body111via a pin410. Latch plate slots415may be slightly larger than slots142to allow rotation of the latch plates about the pin410to engage with the rod140. A pin420is then used to secure the latch plates144over the pin410. Pin420may then be secured in place via a cotter pin421to secure the rod140in position for towing the trailer.

In one example, the vertical support112may be welded into place in the body111. Longitudinal bolt150is then fastened through a first hole425via associated washer426,427and nut430. Washer426is positioned between the vertical support112and the position channel152to allow respective rotation of the position channel152and main body111about the longitudinal bolt150.

FIG.5is an exploded perspective view of the lower hitch portion115. The head assembly118may be formed with two openings510for receiving the spring bars116and117, which may be retentively coupled into the head assembly via bolts512and513. A bushing515may be placed between upper and lower sides of the head assembly118and in a hole520of the weight distribution lever119. The vertical bolt121is then positioned through the head assembly to rotatingly couple the lever119and head assembly118via nut522. Bolt113is coupled to the lever119via nut525. A bolt530may also be coupled to the head assembly118between the opening510via a nut532to add structural integrity to the head assembly118.

FIG.6is an exploded perspective view of the trailer coupler portion120. A pad eye610may be welded or otherwise attached to the bracket133, also referred to as a 50 degree bracket. The pad eye610may include a portion with a hole615sized to fit a bushing620. The vertical bolt148may be inserted through the coupling portion146and bushing620to rotatingly secure the coupling portion146to the pad eye610and therefore to the bracket133. A flange nut625may be used to hold the bolt148in place. Bracket133may include an opening630sized to allow jack315to move vertically. The coupler portion144may be welded, bolted, or otherwise secured to the trailer frame310.

FIG.7is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle coupler portion125. Vehicle coupler portion125in one example may include the vehicle channel155affixed to an orthogonally extended wall tube715. Wall tube715may be welded to the channel155and then may be coupled directly to a vehicle in a conventional manner. The channel155may include multiple openings for use with bolts154and corresponding nuts721to couple the vehicle coupler portion125to the upper hitch portion110via mating holes in position channel152.

Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, the upper hitch portion and lower hitch portions may be reversed such that the lower hitch portion is above the upper hitch portion. Axles described may be pins, bolts, rods, or any other form of attachment that allows rotation about an axis of the axle. Components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.