Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-08
2001-11-27
DePumpo, Daniel G. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
CD12S162000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322094
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to covers for trailer hitches. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cover for a trailer hitch which provides an attractive yet utilitarian shell in order to protect and to cover a trailer hitch, and to prevent injury to those working in the vicinity of a trailer hitch.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitches are commonly attached to the rear bumper of a vehicle for the purpose of pulling a trailer. These hitches typically employ a tow ball at the distal end for receiving a trailer. At the proximal end, the hitch defines a draw bar which attaches to the rear bumper of a vehicle. Such trailer hitches are frequently used by truck owners to pull a trailer having a boat or perhaps lawn maintenance materials.
A hazard inherent with the use of trailer hitches is the potential for those working in proximity to the trailer hitch to inadvertently bump their leg against the hitch. In this regard, a trailer hitch which is attached to a vehicle but is not hitched to a trailer creates a risk to those walking around the rear of the vehicle of coming into contact with the trailer hitch. This, in turn, can cause injury to the kneecap, shin, or other part of the lower extremities. In the case of smaller children, an even greater risk of injury exists inasmuch as trailer hitches are at face or even eye level.
In an effort to avoid injury, covers have been constructed which cover an extended portion of a trailer hitch. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,955,968 and 5,037,122 issued to Beckerer, Jr., in 1990 and 1991, respectively, provide a protective cover for a trailer hitch which runs the length of the hitch. These covers included a dome extending upwards in order to cover the tow ball. However, these covers do not minimize the risk of injury to one who is walking around the rear of a vehicle and who bumps a lower extremity against the side or a front edge of the cover. These devices essentially substitute one hard object having sharp edges for another of similar shape.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,533,743 and 6,039,339, issued in 1996 and in 2000, respectively, to Bello, a cover for a trailer hitch is offered which is of softer material. In the '743 patent, the device is described as being a shock absorbing material. In the '339 patent, the material is an inflatable and deflatable rubber or plastic. In each case, the cover comprises portions which extend away from the tow ball and towards the rear bumper at an angle. While these covers assist in minimizing the risk of injury to one who is walking around the rear of a vehicle, it is evident that a deformable substance may deform too much, with the lower extremity still being capable of hitting the side of the trailer hitch. Moreover, the deformable or inflatable substance suffers from having a shorter life than a more rigid material inasmuch as such can be torn or punctured.
It is clear that a need remains for a trailer hitch cover which is durable, yet which protects those walking towards the trailer hitch from receiving a direct blow to the lower extremities.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch cover which is externally constructed of a durable material.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch cover which does not conform to the shape of the trailer hitch, but which has durable members which extend away from the trailer hitch at an angle, thereby protecting those walking towards the trailer hitch from receiving a direct blow to the lower extremities.
Still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch cover which has no sharp edges.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch cover which is attractive, and which allows for the easy mounting of a trademark or decoration for display.
And yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a trailer hitch cover which is easily mounted when the trailer hitch is not in use, and then removed when the trailer hitch is to be employed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reviewing the detailed description and associated figures of the trailer hitch safety cover. In the apparatus of the present invention, a cover is provided which fits onto a trailer hitch.
The cover serves to cover both the tow ball portion of the trailer hitch, and the drawbar portion.
The cover is first comprised of a shell fabricated from durable material. An example of such a durable material is fiberglass. The shell is dimensioned to be large enough and deep enough to cover both the tow ball and the distal end of the drawbar. The shell defines the top and side walls of the cover.
The shell is configured to have no sharp edges. In addition, it is configured to have side walls which extend away from the end of the trailer hitch and towards the rear bumper of the vehicle at an angle. The angle should be of sufficient magnitude away from the trailer hitch such that a person who inadvertently contacts the cover while working at the rear of the vehicle would sustain only a glancing or indirect blow to the lower extremities. In this way, the risk of a more serious injury as would be caused by a direct blow is minimized.
Inside of the shell is a filler material. In the preferred embodiment, the filler material is a malleable substance such as rubber or plastic. A more specific example would be expandable polyurethane foam. The filler material fills the shell and forms a base. The filler material includes a cavity which is shaped to closely receive the tow ball and draw bar of the trailer hitch. This allows the cover to fit over the trailer hitch with minimal play.
Finally, a fastener is placed at the base of the filler material proximal to the back side of the of the cover. The fastener further secures the cover onto the trailer hitch by wrapping under the drawbar. In the preferred embodiment, the fastener is a strip of fabric connected to the filler material by hook and loop.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 415080 (1999-10-01), Schultz
patent: D. 422951 (2000-04-01), Everett
patent: 3228445 (1966-01-01), Matotte
patent: 3596926 (1971-08-01), Randall
patent: 4955968 (1990-09-01), Beckerer, Jr.
patent: 5037122 (1991-08-01), Beckerer, Jr.
patent: 5533743 (1996-07-01), Bello
patent: 5560631 (1996-10-01), Salvo
patent: 5791677 (1998-08-01), Froehlich
patent: 5829774 (1998-11-01), Klemp
patent: 5934699 (1999-08-01), Blake
patent: 6039339 (2000-03-01), Bello
patent: 3233813 (1983-11-01), None
patent: 2097306 (1972-03-01), None
patent: 2176759 (1987-01-01), None
BAGE Co. Hitch Accessories http:bagecompany.hypermart.net/hitchaccess.htm. Undated.
Hitch Cover Concepts, LLC http://www.hitchcoverconcepts.com/playtag.html. Undated.
Hitch http://www.hitch-it.com/products.htm. Undated.
DePumpo Daniel G.
Pitts & Brittian P.C.
LandOfFree
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