Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-20
2001-11-06
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C280S432000, C280S504000, C280S511000, C280S512000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312004
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to trailer hitch assemblies. More particularly, the present invention relates to a trailer hitch assembly incorporating a tow loop which enables the hitch assembly to easily be coupled to a hook of a towing chain, a rope or other form of towing strap. In addition, the present invention relates to an apparatus for maintaining connection between a towing vehicle and a trailer.
2. Discussion
Hitch assemblies are used in a wide variety of applications for towing trailers and other like vehicles. In one typical form, the hitch assembly includes a ball joint type hitch member which receives a mating hitch member of the item being towed. In other applications the hitch assembly includes a receiver, which essentially forms a tubular neck, into which the hitch member including such a ball joint style member is inserted. An external fastening element such as a steel pin is then inserted through openings in a portion of the hitch member as well as through aligned holes in the receiver such that the hitch member may be quickly attached and/or detached from the receiver simply by removal of one or more such pins.
The hitch implements presently available are not specifically suited for enabling towing by the use of a tow chain having a claw or hook shaped end. Furthermore, previously developed hitch members are not particularly well suited for enabling a towing strap, rope or other like item to be quickly and easily attached thereto.
In view of the foregoing limitations, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a hitch assembly for a vehicle having a hitch member which includes a tow loop which is of dimensions to easily enable a towing chain having a hook or claw at an end thereof to be quickly and easily attached to the tow loop. It is a further object that the hitch member be constructed so as to enable it to be quickly and easily inserted into the receiver portion of the hitch assembly without modification to the receiver portion. In this matter, the hitch member can be easily removed from the receiver member and a different style of hitch member coupled to the receiver member if the tow loop is not needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a hitch assembly which incorporates a hitch member having a tow loop portion. The hitch assembly comprises a tubular receiver which is adapted to slidably receive a base portion of the hitch member therein. Each of the tubular receiver and the base portion include openings which are formed so as to align with one another when the hitch member is fully inserted into the receiver portion. An external pin or other like fastening element can then be inserted through the aligned holes to quickly couple the hitch member to the receiver.
The tow loop of the hitch member is preferably formed from a single length of material, such as steel, in a somewhat U-shape. One end thereof forms a generally circular shape and the ends of the single length of material are positioned generally parallel to one another, and may be slid into the base portion during manufacture of the hitch member. The generally parallel end portions are welded within the base portion such that the hitch member forms an extremely strong, single piece component with the tow loop portion projecting outwardly of the base portion.
The hitch member of the present invention can therefore be quickly and easily inserted into or removed from the receiver without any special tools. The tow loop portion of the hitch member has a radius sufficiently large to enable a claw, hook or other like implement to be secured thereto. Alternatively, even a rope, nylon strap or other like implement can be inserted through the tow loop portion and used to tow another object.
According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus for maintaining a connection between a towing vehicle and a trailer. In one form, the apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention includes a first portion coupled to the trailer and a second portion coupled to the hitch. The first and second portions are attached to one another for pivotal movement about a first axis.
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Draper Deanna
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
Johnson Brian L.
Tow Hook Concepts L.L.C.
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