Patent ID: 8201844

Claim:
A method of securing a hitch device to a receiver hitch comprising the steps: providing a self-locking hitch pin comprising a locking member with a distal cylindrical portion connected to a proximal plate that is pivotally connected to a shaft within a channel, said locking member that engages with said shaft in a coaxial orientation to form a substantially cylindrical rod when an axis of said shaft is rotated in a first position, and said locking member that may freely pivot to a perpendicular orientation to said shaft when said axis of said shaft is rotated in a second position; inserting said locking member and then said shaft of said self-locking hitch pin, while oriented in said first position, through a first side of a receiver orifice and hitch orifice to a sufficient distance such that said locking member may freely pivot on an opposite side of said receiver orifice from said first side; rotating said shaft to said second position thereby allowing said locking member to pivot to said perpendicular orientation on said opposite side of said receiver orifice thereby preventing extraction of said shaft from said receiver orifice and said hitch orifice; and, retaining said shaft on said first side of said receiver orifice with a retainer compressively held in place with a compressive mechanism with respect to said shaft.