Patent ID: 7425014

Claim:
A trailer hitch comprising: a tow bar assembly including an elongated tow bar rectangular in cross section and a hitch ball support disposed at a rearwardly end thereof, said tow bar also having straight side panels which taper inwardly in the longitudinal direction at a forwardly end thereof; a throat assembly including a throat having spaced parallel top and floor panels generally equal in spacing to a vertical thickness of said tow bar and rearwardly diverging side panels, the rearward edges of said top, floor and side panels defining an elongated generally rectangular opening from which said tow bar rearwardly extends, said throat having an elongated tubular throat extension having straight side panels coaxially forwardly extending from said throat in the longitudinal direction and adapted for rigid connection to a vehicle; said tow bar sized to be slidably carried and held from substantial axial rotation or vertical movement within said throat assembly; an elongated longitudinally extending substantially cylindrical slide bar carried for slidable movement between said tow bar assembly and said throat assembly, said slide bar including an enlarged stop at each end thereof which limits the distance said tow bar assembly may be extended rearwardly from said throat assembly to a fully extended position; said elongated slide bar being rigidly connected at said forward end of said tow bar assembly and slidably extending through a guide stop which is rigidly connected to said throat; said tow bar assembly, when in the fully or a partially extended position, being pivotally movable laterally side-to-side between said top and floor panels against one said side panel to facilitate a proper coupling alignment between the hitch ball and a hitch coupling of a trailer; a removable or releasable locking pin insertable through aligned holes in said tow bar assembly and said throat assembly to secure said tow bar assembly fully within and coaxially aligned with said throat assembly.