Patent ID: 8616576

Claim:
A hitch apparatus comprising: a tongue member having a vehicle end, a free end opposite the vehicle end, and a drawpin hole defined through the tongue member in proximity to the free end; wherein the vehicle end of the tongue member is adapted for attachment to a vehicle such that the drawpin hole is oriented substantially vertically; an upper clevis strap pivotally attached to a top side of the tongue member about a substantially vertical top pivot axis located between the drawpin hole and the vehicle end of the tongue member such that the upper clevis strap can pivot from an operating position, where the upper clevis strap is above the drawpin hole, to an idle position, where the upper clevis strap extends laterally from the tongue member; a lower clevis strap pivotally attached to a bottom side of the tongue member about a substantially vertical bottom pivot axis located between the drawpin hole and the vehicle end of the tongue member such that the lower clevis strap can pivot from an operating position, where the lower clevis strap is below the drawpin hole, to an idle position, where the lower clevis strap extends laterally from the tongue member; wherein the upper and lower clevis straps define corresponding substantially vertically oriented upper and lower clevis holes; wherein the upper and lower clevis straps are configured such that when the upper and lower clevis straps are in the operating position, the upper and lower clevis holes are vertically aligned with the drawpin hole in the tongue member, and such that a recess is formed between one of the upper and lower clevis straps and the tongue member.