Patent ID: 12194794

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIGS.1to8Ashow a preferred embodiment of a noise and anti-swaying dampener100for minimising noise between an attachment arm10of a sports equipment carrier or ball attachment, and a vehicle hitch12. In a preferred aspect, dampener100doubles as a pivotal closure cap, as will be described further below. Dampener100includes a dampener body102, a lever or handle104connected to the dampener body, a plunger106connected to the dampener body, and a fastening means108that in a preferred aspect shown inFIGS.1and2, is in the form of a circumferential collar. The preferred elements of dampener100and their interrelationship are described below.

As shown inFIG.1, attachment arm10includes a portion18with an aperture20sized and configured to receive a conventional ball mount. The use of a ball mount in carrying/towing items would be well-understood by those in the field, and for simplicity, such details are not repeated here.

Referring toFIGS.1,2,5,6, and7A, body102of dampener or cap100includes an upper surface110, a lower surface112, and a vehicle-facing end114. Cap100preferably has a width larger than the typical width of a standard hitch. Cap100has a hitch engagement surface116on lower surface112, as shown inFIG.6. Cap100includes a handle pivot point118(FIG.7A) having opposed pivot apertures120(FIG.6) sized and configured to receive a pivot arm122(FIG.7A) of lever104along a rotation axis through the apertures120.

As shown inFIGS.2and6, cap body102further includes a collar pivot point124having a pair of opposed pivot apertures126sized and configured to receive respective pivot arms128of collar108. Engagement of collar pivot arms128with pivot apertures126permits the cap to open and close at least 90 degrees about a pivot or rotation axis connecting and running through pivot apertures126. The axis extending through pivot apertures120represents a first axis of rotation, and the axis extending through pivot apertures126represents a second axis of rotation, where the first and second axes are offset from one another as shown inFIG.6.

FIGS.5and6show handle or lever104having an arm engagement tab130at a distal free end thereof. Tab130is at an acute angle relative to the majority of lever104.

Referring now toFIGS.7A and8A, lever104includes a bulbous portion132at its proximal end. Bulbous portion132is sized and configured to slidably engage with an engagement surface134of plunger106. Plunger106preferably includes a fungible hitch engagement surface136configured to compress against the exterior of attachment arm10. Engagement surface136preferably has a maximum length approximately equal to a maximum width of cap body102. Cap body102further includes a plunger channel138sized and configured to accommodate the movement of plunger106therethrough.

Preferably, plunger106is configured for only vertical up and down movement within channel138. Plunger106is further preferably configured with an over-centre locking shape so that an upward force exerted on lever104to disengage the plunger from the hitch is initially resisted.

As the plunger moves vertically downward, forcing the body102to pivot about the axis of124and thus creating a compressive force between116and hitch12resulting the indented dampening effect on carrier attachment arm.

Cap100and any one or more of its associated components may be constructed from a variety of materials, for example, plastic, metal, carbon fibre, or a material such as polyurethane.

Referring toFIGS.1,2,3,6,7A and8A, in use, cap body102may come already engaged with hitch12, or may attach to hitch12by sliding body102over hitch12. Once about the outer surface of hitch12, cap100may be moved or swivelled from a closed position covering the open end of hitch12, to an open potion where the length of body102is roughly parallel to the top of hitch12, exposing the open end of the hitch. Thereafter, a user may slide an attachment arm10, such as a carrier attachment arm into the open end of the hitch until apertures in the attachment arm are aligned with apertures in the hitch. An engagement pin14is then slid through the corresponding apertures. Once pin14has been inserted through the apertures, a locking pin16is inserted through a distal end of the engagement pin14to lock and secure the engagement pin in position as shown inFIG.3.

Closure cap100is engaged to dampen the rattle or noise between attachment arm10and hitch12by moving, rotating or swivelling arm104so that distal end130moves toward vehicle-facing end114. Referring toFIGS.7A and8A, the rotation of lever104results in the movement of bulbous portion132so that bulbous portion132engages or slides with plunger engagement surface134to move plunger106partially out of plunger channel aperture138until fungible hitch engagement surface136compresses against the exterior surface of the attachment arm while the attachment arm is engaged with the hitch.

It will be appreciated that the steps described above may be performed in a different order, varied, or some steps omitted entirely without departing from the scope of the present description.

Referring now toFIGS.9to10B, a noise dampener200is shown in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present description. Dampener200is similar to dampener100except that lever204is about one half the width of lever104, and plunger206is formed as a larger block-like piece that moves in a reciprocal, vertical up and down motion, preferably only vertical. Lever204includes a pivot point240interconnecting a moveable, rotatable extension flange242. Flange242rotates to a position that is generally parallel to lever204when lever204is in its engaged position, as shown inFIG.10B. In the unengaged position, shown inFIG.9A, flange242rotates to a position where its length is roughly perpendicular to the horizontal plane of lever204. Thus, pivot point240represents a third axis of rotation parallel, but offset to the first and second axes of rotation described above in the embodiment ofFIGS.1-8A.

Continuing to refer toFIGS.9A and10B, the rotation of lever204results in the movement of flange242so that flange242engages or slides with plunger engagement surface234to move plunger206partially out of the plunger channel aperture until a fungible hitch engagement surface compresses against the exterior surface of the attachment arm while the attachment arm is engaged with the hitch.

The foregoing description is by way of example only, and may be varied considerably without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example only, placement of the cap may be positioned on other areas around the hitch, for example, along the side or bottom of the hitch. The plunger may be configured to engage with the attachment arm via a horizontal slidable incremental ratcheted mechanism as an alternative to any cam-like mechanism such that no rotation is needed to engage the noise dampener with the carrier arm and the hitch. Such a ratcheted mechanism may include a quick release to disengage the ratchet for easily disengaging the noise dampener.

The features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments, or combined with or interchanged with the features of other embodiments, as appropriate, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present disclosure in a preferred form provides the advantages of effective noise reduction and reduction of parts wear that is often inherent often with other attempts to reduce noise in a hitch.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.