Patent ID: 7380810

Claim:
A hitch assembly for connecting a tow vehicle to a trailer, comprising: a support member for fixed interconnection to a tow vehicle; a frame having first and second pivots for pivotally supporting a hitch plate that is adapted to connect a trailer to a tow vehicle, wherein said first and second pivots define a horizontal pivot axis, and wherein said horizontal pivot axis is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tow vehicle; a first air spring having a first end fixedly connected to said support member and a second end fixedly connected to said frame, wherein said first air spring supports said frame relative to said support member free of other direct mechanical connection between said frame and said support member; and a sliding interface between mating contact surfaces of said frame and said support member wherein said sliding interface permits vertical relative movement between said support member and said frame and at least partially restricts movement in a second direction to transit tow forces between said frame and said support member.