Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-30
2001-03-13
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C280S292000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199892
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a receiver hitch cover that includes an adapter allowing the cover to fit into more than one size receiver hitch tube. More specifically, the invention relates to a receiver hitch cover having a removable sleeve or spacer element that can be placed onto the cover so that the cover fits one size of receiver tube, or that can be removed so that the cover fits another size of receiver tube.
The present invention also relates to an approach for applying a protective covering over graphic elements that may be printed, adhered or otherwise positioned on the cover assembly. More specifically, a protective coating is formed from a fluid polymer that expands as it cures to form a clear, abrasion resistant, water resistant covering over the graphic information.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A receiver hitch cover is used to cover an automobile's Class II or Class III receiver hitch tube when the towing drawbar is not in place. A hitch cover improves the aesthetics of the hitch tube covering the unsightly empty, and typically rusty, hitch tube. The cover also protects the tube from debris, dirt, etc. that might enter the tube from the rear of the vehicle. Often, covers include information in the form of graphics and/or text to further enhance aesthetics. For example, logos, clever slogans, graphics depicting special interests, and the like are often printed onto the cover, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to the cover.
The graphics and text information applied onto the cover is susceptible to damage from the elements as well as dirt and debris that can strike the cover with some force when a vehicle carrying the cover is driving down the roadway. Salt, ice, harsh weather, and the sun, in particular, can degrade the quality of the graphics and text in a relatively short time. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a clear, abrasion resistant, weather resistant, ultraviolet light resistant protective coating over the information. However, providing a protective coating that has all of these desirable properties has been challenging. Many conventional protective coating materials degrade in sunlight. Others are not sufficiently waterproof. Still others do not adhere well to the cover. Another problem concerns excessive expansion and contraction with seasonal temperature changes. Too much expansion and contraction can cause the protective coating to crack.
The respective sizes of the Class II and Class III hitch tubes are specified by industry standards and are different from each other. The Class II receiver hitch tube is generally square-shaped, with the tube being about 1¼ inches square. The Class III receiver hitch is also square-shaped, but is a little bigger. Its tube is about 2 inches square.
Manufacturers of receiver hitch covers previously made two different sized covers to fit the Class II and III hitches, respectively. This requires the manufacturers to establish and run separate manufacturing lines for each cover, separate packaging designs, separate inventory tracking systems, and the like. This double investment is costly and inefficient. It would be desirable to find a way to make a hitch cover that would fit both Class II and Class III hitches to avoid such duplication. The manufacturer would benefit directly from reduced manufacturing and distribution costs, and these cost savings could be passed onto the consumer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a convertible receiver hitch cover that is easily modified on demand to fit into two or more different sized receiver hitch tubes. The convertible hitch cover generally includes a faceplate and a stem extending from the faceplate that can be inserted into a hitch tube. A sleeve or a spacer element is selectively positioned over the stem so that the cover fits into a correspondingly sized hitch tube. When the sleeve or spacer element is removed, the cover fits into a smaller sized tube. Different sized spacers can be used so that the cover can fit into many differently sized tubes.
In another aspect, the present invention includes a faceplate having a lip around the front face to define a cavity in which graphic or text elements may be placed. The cavity may then be at least partially filled with a protective coating that overlies the graphic or text elements. Preferably, the coating is formed from one or more ingredients comprising a thermosetting polymer that undergoes no shrinkage, and preferably expands slightly, as it cures. Because the polymer does not shrink as it cures, the polymer fills and interlocks with microscopic voids on the faceplate, thus helping to mechanically secure the protective coating to the faceplate.
In another aspect, the present invention involves forming the protective coating from a poured, thermosetting, nonshrinking polymer in which air bubbles in the poured polymer may be expelled by contacting the surface of the poured polymer with carbon dioxide.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4040641 (1977-08-01), Riecke
patent: 4852902 (1989-08-01), Young et al.
patent: 5603178 (1997-02-01), Morrison
patent: 5879102 (1999-03-01), Koliopoulos
patent: 6019386 (2000-02-01), Morelock
patent: 6079136 (2000-06-01), Kozlarek
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Cuff Michael
Faegre & Benson LLP
Swann J. J.
LandOfFree
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