Trailer hitch attachment device

The disclosure relates to attachment devices and more particularly pertains to a new attachment device for securing a trailer hitch to a hitch receiver.

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a collar that comprises a tube. A channel defining an upper guide and a lower guide is positioned in each of a pair of alignment blocks coupled to a left side and a right side of the tube. A latch with a pair of biasers and a pair of extractors coupled to an inside surface is hingedly coupled to the tube. Each of a pair of pins with a curved end, an actuator end, and a pivot hole is positioned in an associated one of the channels with the curved ends extending toward the tube and with the actuator ends positioned proximate to a back end of the tube. A pair of pivots is coupled to and extends from an associated one of the upper guides, through an associated one of the pivot holes and is coupled to an associated one of the lower guides.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a trailer hitch attachment device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side cut-away view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a front cut-away view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 8 thereof, a new attachment device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8 , the trailer hitch attachment device 10 generally comprises a collar 12 . The collar 12 comprises a tube 14 that has a square profile 16 when viewed along a longitudinal axis 18 . One of each of a pair of alignment blocks 20 is coupled to a left side 22 and a right side 24 of the tube 14 . Each of the pair of alignment blocks 20 has a channel 26 parallel to the longitudinal axis 18 . The channels 26 define an upper guide 28 and a lower guide 30 . Each of the pair of alignment blocks 20 has a penetration 32 perpendicular to the channels 26 . The penetrations 32 are proximate to a back end 34 of the tube 14 . A tab 36 with an opening 38 is coupled to and positioned on a top 40 of the tube 14 proximate to the back end 34 . A first coupler 42 is coupled to and positioned on the top 40 of the tube 14 proximate to a front 44 of the tube 14 . The first coupler 42 is a pair of protections. Each of the pair of projections 46 has an orifice 48 . The collar 12 may be comprised of a single piece of steel. Preferably, the collar 12 is comprised of a single piece of hardened steel. A hole 50 that is threaded is positioned in a bottom 52 of the tube 14 . A screw 54 , complimentary to the hole 50 , is positioned in the hole 50 . The screw 54 has a head 56 , and a tail 58 that is threaded. The head 56 has a hexagonally shaped indentation 60 .

A latch 62 comprising a plate 64 is hingedly coupled to the tube 14 . The plate 64 is flat. A second coupler 66 that is complimentary to the first coupler 42 is coupled to a hinge edge 68 of the plate 64 . The hinge edge 68 may be a tubular extension 70 of the plate 64 that is complimentary to the orifices 48 of the pair of projections 46 . A pair of transitions 72 that is flat and has an inside edge 74 is coupled to the plate 64 . Each of the inside edges 74 are coupled to an associated one of a pair of opposing edges 76 of the plate 64 . Preferably, each of the pair of transitions 72 is coupled to an associated one of the pair of opposing edges 76 at a 55 degree angle 78 relative to the plate 64 , such that the pair of transitions 72 extends toward the bottom 52 of the tube 14 . One of each of a pair of wings 80 is coupled to an associated one of the pair of transitions 72 . Each of the pair of wings 80 is flat and has a triangular end 82 and a straight end 84 . Each of the straight ends 84 is coupled to an associated one of a pair of outside edges 86 of the pair of transitions 72 at a 35 degree angle 73 relative to the transition, such that the pair of wings 80 extends toward the bottom 52 of the tube 14 perpendicularly to the plate 64 .

One of each of a pair of biasers 90 is coupled to an inside surface 92 of an associated one of the pair of wings 80 . Each of the pair of biasers 90 is half-cylindrically shaped and is positioned parallel to an associated one of a front rim 94 of the pair of wings 80 . The pair of biasers 90 comprises a first set of extrusions 96 protruding from the inside surface 92 .

One of each of a pair of locks 98 is coupled to the inside surface 92 of an associated one of the pair of wings 80 . The pair of locks 98 is half-cylindrically shaped. Each of the pair of locks 98 is positioned on the inside surface 92 parallel to the straight end 84 . The pair of locks 98 comprises a second set of extrusions 100 protruding from the inside surface 92 .

One of each of a pair of extractors 102 is coupled to the inside surface 92 of an associated one of the pair of wings 80 . The pair of extractors 102 is half-cylindrically shaped. Each of the pair of extractors 102 is positioned on the inside surface 92 proximate to an associated one of the triangular ends 82 . The pair of extractors 102 comprises a third set of extrusions 104 protruding from the inside surface 92 .

The latch 62 may be comprised of a single piece of steel. Preferably, the latch 62 is comprised of a single piece of hardened steel.

A slot 106 , complimentary to the tab 36 , is positioned in the plate 64 proximate to a rear edge 108 of the plate 64 . The slot 106 is parallel to the longitudinal axis 18 , such that the slot 106 is positioned to accept the tab 36 when the latch 62 is in a closed position, and such that the opening 38 in the tab 36 is positioned to accept a keeper or lock to secure the latch 62 in a closed position.

A handle 110 is coupled to the rear edge 108 the plate 64 . Preferably, the handle 110 is an arcuate extension 112 of the plate 64 that extends away from the top 40 , such that the handle 110 is positioned to facilitate movement of the latch 62 to a closed position.

One of each of a pair of pulls 114 is coupled to the front rim 94 of an associated one of the pair of wings 80 . The pair of pulls 114 comprises extensions 116 of the pair of wings 80 , such that the pair of pulls 114 is positioned to facilitate movement of the latch 62 to an open position.

Each of a pair of pins 118 having a cylindrical body 120 , a curved end 122 , an actuator end 124 , and a pivot hole 126 is positioned in an associated one of the channels 26 with the curved ends 122 extending toward the tube 14 and with the actuator ends 124 positioned proximate to the back end 34 . The curved end 122 is tapered and perpendicular to the cylindrical body 120 . The pivot hole 126 comprises a loop 128 coupled proximate to the actuator end 124 and extending from the cylindrical body 120 away from the curved end 122 . Each of the pair of pins 118 has a stop 130 positioned proximate to the curved end 122 . The actuator end 124 comprises a block 132 coupled to the cylindrical body 120 . The block 132 has an opposing pair of tapered faces 134 . Each of the pair of pins 118 may be comprised of a single piece of steel. Preferably, each of the pair of pins 118 is comprised of a single piece of hardened steel.

A pair of pivots 136 that is cylindrical is coupled to and extends from an associated one of the upper guides 28 , through an associated one of the pivot holes 126 and is coupled to an associated one of the lower guides 30 . Each of the pair of pivots 136 has a pair of termini 138 that comprise heads 140 . One of each of the pair of pivots 136 is positioned in an associated one of the penetrations 32 with the heads 140 extending past the penetration 32 . Each of the pair of pivots 136 may be comprised of steel. Preferably, each of the pair of pivots 136 is comprised of hardened steel.

A rod 142 that is cylindrical and has a pair of ends 144 , with each of the pair of ends 144 comprising a catch 146 , is positioned in and through the tubular extension 70 of the plate 64 and the orifices 48 of the pair of projections 46 , such that the catches 146 are positioned to secure the rod 142 in the tubular extension 70 and the orifices 48 to hingedly secure the latch 62 to the collar 12 . The rod 142 may be comprised of a single piece of steel. Preferably, the rod 142 is comprised of a single piece of hardened steel.

In use, the device 10 is positioned such that the user can insert a trailer hitch into the tube 14 . The hole 50 is positioned in the bottom 52 of the tube 14 to accept the screw 54 such that the hitch is fixed in a desired position by tightening the screw 54 into the hole 50 . The pair of pins 118 is positioned to engage the holes in the hitch receiver when the pair of biasers 90 contacts the pair of pins 118 as the latch 62 is moved to a closed position. The pair of pins 118 is positioned to disengage from the holes in the hitch receiver when the pair of extractors 102 engages the actuator ends 124 of the pins 118 as the latch 62 is moved to an open position.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.