Patent ID: 7594641

Claim:
A portable hoist assembly for lifting a hitch to be installed on the underside of a vehicle platform, wherein the hitch has a hitch ball hole and the vehicle platform has a hole to be aligned with the hitch ball hole when the hitch is installed, the hoist assembly and hitch combination comprising: a hoist frame; a winch for paying out and drawing in a cable; and an elongated member coupled to the cable such that the elongated member can be oriented in: a first position wherein the elongated member can pass through the vehicle platform hole and the hitch ball hole; and a second position wherein the elongated member cannot pass through the hitch ball hole; whereby, in the first position, the elongated member can be lowered through the vehicle platform hole and the hitch ball hole and, in the second position, the elongated member can secure the cable to the hitch; and wherein the elongated member is disposed in the second orientation and the cable supports the hitch.