Patent Application
20120139210
I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to hitches for coupling a towed implement to a towing vehicle, and more particularly to a hitch ball coupler for use on garden tractors, riding lawnmowers, ATVs and similar work vehicles for coupling implements, such as trailers, earth tillers, rakes, aerators, leaf vacuums, etc. thereto.
II. Discussion of the Prior Art
Many different trailer hitch designs are known in the art for coupling a trailer or other implement to a towing vehicle. One ubiquitous arrangement comprises a so-called “ball hitch” where a spherical ball of a predetermined diameter has a pedestal and a threaded shank where the shank is adapted to be fitted through an aperture in a steel bracket and held in place by a bolt, lock washer combination. The bracket typically mounts by a clevis connection to a receiver affixed to the rear of the towing vehicle. Adapted to cooperate with the hitch ball is a coupler having a spherical socket for cupping the ball therein and a retainer mechanism that cooperates with the pedestal to latch the ball within the socket to prevent separation during travel. Such hitch arrangements are often found on small utility trailers, boat trailers, and in other applications where tongue weight and towed load constraints do not demand a more sturdy structure, such as a “fifth wheel” or a “gooseneck”.
The conventional coupler described above, while quite reliable when properly used, suffers from a number of drawbacks, including unintended uncoupling when not properly latched. Improper latching can result because the engagement of the latching mechanism with the hitch ball is hidden from view of the user. Also, the conventional prior art ball hitch coupler tends to be somewhat costly.
Accordingly, a need exists for a relatively inexpensive coupler or hitch for mating smaller lawn and garden implements to towing vehicles, such as self-propelled, ride-on lawn tractors, ATVs and similar towing vehicles, and that is not prone to unintended decoupling of the towed implement from the towing vehicle, even when traversing uneven terrain. The present invention satisfies this need.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pintle coupler that is adapted for mating with a hitch ball on a towing vehicle and that comprises a plate member adapted to be attached to an end of a trailer tongue where the plate member has a first aperture formed through its thickness dimension of a size greater than a diameter of the hitch ball with which the hitch coupler is to be used. Pivotally connected to the plate member is a retainer member, the retainer member also comprising a plate that includes a U-shaped inset of a width dimension that is less than the diameter of the hitch ball but greater than the diameter of a stem portion of the hitch ball. The pivotal coupling is such that the retainer member can be rotated from a first position where the U-shaped inset is unaligned with the first aperture in the plate member to a second position where the U-shaped inset is aligned vertically with the first aperture.
The preferred embodiment may further include a second aperture formed through the plate member and an aperture formed through the retainer member such that the second aperture and the aperture formed through the retainer member become aligned when the retainer member is in its second position. When so aligned, a spring-ball pin can be inserted through the aligned apertures to prevent the retainer member from disengaging from the pedestal portion of the hitch ball.
The foregoing features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, especially when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
This description of the preferred embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. In the description, relative terms such as “lower”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “above”, “below”, “up”, “down”, “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “downwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “connected”, “connecting”, “attached”, “attaching”, “join” and “joining” are used interchangeably and refer to one structure or surface being secured to another structure or surface or integrally fabricated in one piece, unless expressively described otherwise.
Referring first to
The plate member 18 is generally rectangular but with a rounded distal end 20 that is concentric with a first aperture 22. The plate member 18 is preferably cold-rolled steel about ¼ inch in thickness.
As seen in
As mentioned, the retainer member 24 is pivotally joined to the plate 18 by means of a shoulder bolt 28 that extends through aligned apertures in the plate member 18 and the retainer member 24. A user, by grasping a handle 30, may rotate the retainer member 24 in a counterclockwise direction about the shoulder bolt 28 from a first position, as shown in
In
The diameter of the aperture 22 formed in the plate member 18 is slightly larger than the diameter of the sphere 34 such that the pintle coupler plate member 18 may fit over the sphere and rest upon the flared base 38. The width dimension of the inset 26 on the retainer member 24 is only slightly larger than the diameter of the pedestal 36 and less than the diameter of the spherical member 34 such that when it is rotated about the bolt 28 as a pivot in a clockwise direction to a second position, the hitch ball will be captured by the pintle coupler 10, as best seen in the view of
Also seen in
It may be seen, then, that the present invention provides a relatively low cost, yet strong and safe pintle coupler for joining a towing vehicle to a towed implement. This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different equipment and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.
