Patent Application
20190143770
Embodiments described generally relate to hitch pin lock systems. More particularly, such embodiments relate to hitch basket and hitch trailer connectors and locks.
Hitch pin locks are intended to secure objects such as a hitch basket or trailer to a vehicle. These locks are typically straight metal rods that are inserted into a cylindrical lock.
The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying Figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
It is to be understood that the following disclosure describes several exemplary embodiments for implementing different features, structures, or functions of the invention. Exemplary embodiments of components, arrangements, and configurations are described below to simplify the present disclosure; however, these exemplary embodiments are provided merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various exemplary embodiments and across the Figures provided herein. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various exemplary embodiments and/or configurations discussed in the Figures. Moreover, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. Finally, the exemplary embodiments presented below may be combined in any combination of ways, i.e., any element from one exemplary embodiment may be used in any other exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Additionally, certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, various entities may refer to the same component by different names, and as such, the naming convention for the elements described herein is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, unless otherwise specifically defined herein. Further, the naming convention used herein is not intended to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. Additionally, in the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to.” All numerical values in this disclosure may be exact or approximate values unless otherwise specifically stated. Accordingly, various embodiments of the disclosure may deviate from the numbers, values, and ranges disclosed herein without departing from the intended scope. Furthermore, as it is used in the claims or specification, the term “or” is intended to encompass both exclusive and inclusive cases, i.e., “A or B” is intended to be synonymous with “at least one of A and B,” unless otherwise expressly specified herein.
The terms “up” and “down”; “upward” and “downward”; “upper” and “lower”; “upwardly” and “downwardly”; “above” and “below”; and other like terms as used herein refer to relative positions to one another and are not intended to denote a particular spatial orientation since the apparatus and methods of using the same may be equally effective at various angles or orientations.
The lock rod 200, locking member 300, connector 400, and hitch basket 600 can be fabricated from any number of materials. For example, suitable materials can include, but are not limited to, any one or more metals (such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, brass, nickel), wood, other composite materials (such as ceramics, wood/polymer blends, cloth/polymer blends, etc.), and plastics (such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylethylketone (PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyamide resins (such as nylon 6 (N6), nylon 66 (N66)), polyester resins (such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene is phthalate (PEI), PET/PEI copolymer) polynitrile resins (such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polymethacrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymers (ASt), methacrylonitrile-styrene copolymers, methacrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene copolymers; and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)), polymethacrylate resins (such as polymethyl methacrylate and polyethylacrylate), cellulose resins (such as cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate butyrate); polyimide resins (such as aromatic polyimides), polycarbonates (PC), elastomers (such as ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR), ethylene propylene-diene monomer rubber (EPDM), styrenic block copolymers (SBC), polyisobutylene (PIB), butyl rubber, neoprene rubber, halobutyl rubber and the like)), and mixtures, blends, or copolymers of any and all of the foregoing materials.
The first section 210 of the lock rod 200 can be at least 0.25 in, at least 0.27 in, at least 0.35 in, at least 0.5 in, at least 1 in, or at least 1.5 in long. The first section 210 can be between 0 in and 4 in, between 0.27 in and 4 in, between 0.27 in and 3 in, between 0.27 in and 2 in, between 0.27 in and 1.5 in, between 0.27 in and 1 in.
The second section 220 of the lock rod 200 can be can be at least 0.25 in, at least 0.27 in, at least 0.35 in, at least 0.5 in, at least 1 in, or at least 1.5 in long. The second section 220 can be between 0 in and 4 in, between 0.27 in and 4 in, between 0.27 in and 3 in, between 0.27 in and 2 in, between 0.27 in and 1.5 in, between 0.27 in and 1 in. Further, the second section 220 can be similar in length to the first section 210. The length of the second section 220 can be between 90%-110% of the length of the first section 210, between 80%-120% of the length of the first section 210, between 70%-130% of the first section 210, greater than 80% of the length of the first section 210, greater than 90% of the length of the first section 210, greater than 100% of the length of the first section 210.
The second section 220 can have a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the first section 210. The second section 220 can be designed to slide into channel 310 where it can be securely attached to locking member 300. The inside diameter of channel 310 can be smaller than the outside diameter of the second section 220 to prevent the lock rod 200 from penetrating too far into the channel 310. The inside diameter can also be larger than the diameter of the first section. Additionally, there can be a tapered portion 314 of the top of channel 310 that is adapted to receive a tapered portion of the lock rod 222 between the first section 210 and the second section 220. It is believed that this tapered portion may help decrease the amount the lock system 100 wobbles when the system is attached to a moving vehicle. The outside diameter of the channel 310 can be larger than the diameter of the first section.
The lock rod 200 can have a have a tapered end 224 to receive locking member 300. The lock rod 200 can further have a lock groove 226 to assist in securing the lock rod 200 to the locking member 300.
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A lock 320 of a known type can be used and which has an engaging member which secures the tapered portion of the lock rod 224 by use of a key or other locking mechanism. In this regard, the engaging member secures the tapered portion of the lock rod 224 when in locked position. When in the unlocked position, the lock rod 200 is removable from locking member 300.
As seen in
As shown in
Certain embodiments and features have been described using a set of numerical upper limits and a set of numerical lower limits. It should be appreciated that ranges including the combination of any two values, e.g., the combination of any lower value with any upper value, the combination of any two lower values, and/or the combination of any two upper values are contemplated unless otherwise indicated. Certain lower limits, upper limits and ranges appear in one or more claims below. All numerical values are “about” or “approximately” the indicated value, and take into account experimental error and variations that would be expected by a person having ordinary skill in the art.
Various terms have been defined above. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined above, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in at least one printed publication or issued patent. Furthermore, all patents, test procedures, and other documents cited in this application are fully incorporated by reference to the extent such disclosure is not inconsistent with this application and for all jurisdictions in which such incorporation is permitted.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
