TRAILER HITCH STORAGE

Abstract

A trailer hitch includes a receiver for mounting and securing a first hitch ball mount for towing, and one or more receptacles configured to prevent use for towing and for storing a second hitch ball mount. A receptacle for storing a hitch ball mount includes an enclosure secured to a vehicle and positioned to secure a hitch ball mount such that a rise or drop of the hitch ball mount is perpendicular to a lateral dimension of the vehicle. A mounting plate for storing a hitch ball mount including a mounting pin for insertion through a hitch pin hole of the hitch ball mount, and a clip fastened to the mounting plate and configured to capture sides of the hitch ball mount to secure the hitch ball mount to the mounting plate, and a mounting pin clip fastened to the mounting plate and configured to extend around the hitch ball mount and fasten to the mounting pin to further secure the hitch ball mount to the mounting plate.

Claims

1. A trailer hitch comprising: a receiver for mounting and securing a first hitch ball mount for towing; and one or more receptacles configured to prevent use for towing and for storing a second hitch ball mount.

2. The trailer hitch of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to secure the first ball hitch mount using a hitch pin.

3. The trailer hitch of claim 1, wherein the one or more receptacles are positioned to prevent the second hitch ball mount from being inserted with a trailer ball facing upward.

4. The trailer hitch of claim 1, wherein the one or more receptacles are positioned such that a trailer ball of the second hitch ball mount is inaccessible.

5. The trailer hitch of claim 1, wherein the one or more receptacles comprise a hitch ball mount retaining mechanism that releases when subjected to less than a towing force.

6. A receptacle for storing a hitch ball mount comprising: an enclosure secured to a vehicle and positioned to secure a hitch ball mount such that a rise or drop of the hitch ball mount is perpendicular to a lateral dimension of the vehicle.

7. The receptacle of claim 6, comprising: a receptacle hole corresponding to a hitch pin hole of the hitch ball mount; and a hitch pin configured to be inserted through the receptacle hole and hitch pin hole to secure the hitch ball mount in the receptacle.

8. The receptacle of claim 6, comprising: a spring box mounted to the receptacle, the spring box enclosing: a spring and a spring retainer biased by the spring to extend into a hitch pin hole of the hitch ball mount to secure the hitch ball mount in the receptacle.

9. The receptacle of claim 6, comprising: a spring clip mounted to the receptacle, the spring clip including: a pin and a pin retainer biased by the spring clip to extend into a hitch pin hole of the hitch ball mount to secure the hitch ball mount in the receptacle.

10. The receptacle of claim 6, wherein the enclosure is secured to one or more structural components within a side wall of the vehicle.

11. The receptacle of claim 7, wherein the enclosure is secured under a lid of the side wall of the vehicle.

12. The receptacle of claim 6, wherein the enclosure is secured to a side wall of a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

13. The receptacle of claim 6, wherein the enclosure is secured to a side wall of a cargo area of the vehicle.

14. A mounting plate for storing a hitch ball mount comprising: a mounting pin for insertion through a hitch pin hole of the hitch ball mount; a clip fastened to the mounting plate and configured to capture sides of the hitch ball mount to secure the hitch ball mount to the mounting plate; and a mounting pin clip fastened to the mounting plate and configured to extend around the hitch ball mount and fasten to the mounting pin to further secure the hitch ball mount to the mounting plate.

15. The mounting plate of claim 14, further comprising a cotter pin hole extending through the mounting pin configured for accepting a cotter to further secure the hitch ball mount to the mounting plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIGS. 1 and 2 show components of a trailer hitch and a trailer coupled together;

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a typical trailer hitch;

[0030] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate hitch ball mounts with a relatively small rise and a relatively small drop, respectively;

[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates a hitch ball mount with a relatively large drop;

[0032] FIG. 7 shows a fastening mechanism for attaching a trailer ball to a hitch ball mount;

[0033] FIG. 8 depicts an adjustable height hitch ball mount with a selection of different diameter trailer balls;

[0034] FIGS. 9A and 9B show an existing hitch ball mount holder for mounting on a sidewall of a pickup truck cargo bed;

[0035] FIG. 10 illustrates one disclosed embodiment that includes a trailer hitch with multiple receivers;

[0036] FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate an embodiment that includes one or more hitch ball mount storage receptacles built into a tailgate or sidewall of a vehicle;

[0037] FIG. 12 depicts a cross sectional view of another receptacle with an alternate method of securing the hitch ball mount;

[0038] FIG. 13A illustrates a cross sectional front view and FIG. 13B illustrates a rear view of another receptacle with yet another method of securing the hitch ball mount;

[0039] FIG. 14A depicts a mounting plate providing a still further method of securing the hitch ball mount; and

[0040] FIG. 14B depicts a hitch ball mount attached to the mounting plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The disclosed embodiments are directed to a solution that provides convenient on vehicle storage for multiple hitch ball mounts that safely secure each ball hitch mount in a generally otherwise unused location.

[0042] FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment that includes a trailer hitch 1000 with multiple receivers. For example, the trailer hitch 1000 may include a main trailer hitch receiver 1002 and additional receptacles 1004, 1006 into which hitch ball mounts 106 may be inserted for storage. The additional receptacles 1004, 1006 may be arranged to prevent use during towing. For example, the additional receptacles may be positioned such that the hitch ball mounts 106 may be prevented from being inserted with the trailer ball facing upward. In some embodiments, the additional receptacles may be positioned such that the trailer ball is inaccessible. In other embodiments, the hitch ball mounts 106 may be secured with a releasable mechanism, for example, the spring based mechanisms described below and shown in FIGS. 12, 13A and 13B below, such that a towing force acts to disconnect the hitch ball mounts 106 from the additional receptacles 1004, 1006.

[0043] FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate an embodiment 1100 that includes one or more hitch ball mount storage receptacles built into a tailgate or sidewall of a vehicle. In this embodiment, storage receptacles 1102 are located under a hinged lid or removable cover 1104 and mounted vertically inside a vehicle tailgate or sidewall 1106. The receptacle 1102 may be attached to one or more structural supports 1108 in the interior of the tailgate or sidewall 1106. The hitch ball mounts 106 may be secured in the receptacles 1102 by various means including by their own weight, by contact and pressure provided by the hinged lid or removable cover 1104, or using the same hitch pin 108 used to secure the hitch ball mounts 106 into the trailer hitch receiver 104.

[0044] However, using just the ball mount weight to secure the hitch ball mounts may allow unwanted movement and may potentially cause damage to the vehicle, and securing the hitch ball mount using the hitch pin may require manually inserting the pin through a very narrow and crowded space.

[0045] FIG. 12 depicts a cross sectional view of another receptacle 1202 with an alternate method of securing the hitch ball mount 106. The receptacle 1202 includes a spring box 1204 on one or more sides of the receptacle 1202 with a spring 1206 biasing a bearing 1208 against a bearing retainer 1210 that is positioned to protrude into the hitch pin hole 110 in the hitch ball mount 106. In this embodiment, the bearing 1208 snaps into place when the hitch ball mount 106 is inserted into the receptacle 1202. The bearing releases when the hitch ball mount 106 is pulled upward with enough force to remove the hitch ball mount 106. This embodiment eliminates the need for manually inserting and removing the hitch pin 108.

[0046] FIG. 13A illustrates a cross sectional front view and FIG. 13B illustrates a rear view of another receptacle 1302 with yet another method of securing the hitch ball mount 106. In this embodiment, a spring clip 1304 spans the receptacle 1302 and operates to bias pins 1306 against pin retainers 1308 protruding into hitch ball mount pin holes 110 in the hitch ball mount 106.

[0047] FIG. 14A depicts a mounting plate 1402 providing a still further method of securing the hitch ball mount 106, and FIG. 14B depicts a hitch ball mount 106 attached to the mounting plate 1402. The mounting plate 1402 may be mounted to the vehicle in any suitable location. The mounting plate 1402 may include a mounting pin 1404 and a clip 1406. The hitch ball mount 106 is mounted on the mounting plate 1402 by sliding the hitch pin hole 110 of the hitch ball mount over the mounting pin 1404 until the mounting pin 1404 protrudes through the pin hitch pin hole 110 and the hitch ball mount 106 is captured by the clip 1406 and rests against the mounting plate 1402. The clip 1406 may include any of a spring clip, clamp, buckle, magnet, Velcro strap, or any other suitable fastening device. A mounting pin clip 1408 may be fastened to the mounting plate 1402 and to the mounting pin 1404 to further secure the hitch ball mount 106. A cotter pin may be inserted into a cotter pin hole 1410 in the mounting pin 1404 to still further secure the hitch ball mount 106. Padding 1412 may be provided on the mounting plate 1402 to eliminate surface to surface rattling and noise.

[0048] While the storage receptacles 1102, 1202, 1302, 1402 are described as located under a hinged lid or removable cover, or mounted vertically inside a vehicle tailgate or sidewall, it should be understood that the storage receptacles may be located inside a vehicle cabin, such as under a seat, or in an inside wall behind an access panel. Other receptacle locations may include attaching the receptacles to an inside wall of a cargo bed, an inside wall of an interior cargo area, or to the vehicle undercarriage. If located above or to either side of a wheel well in the cargo bed, storage of the hitch ball mount would be out of the way, still allowing large items such as full size sheets of plywood, drywall, four wheel ATVs, etc. . . . to be loaded into the cargo bed.

[0049] While the storage receptacles 1102, 1202, 1302, 1402 are described as being mounted vertically, it should be understood that the storage receptacles may be mounted horizontally allowing the hitch ball mount 106 to be inserted and removed horizontally rather than vertically. The hitch ball mount 106 may be mounted horizontally such that any amount of rise or drop may be accommodated flush against a cargo bed wall or cabin wall and avoid interference with cargo and cabin loads.

[0050] It should also be understood that the disclose embodiments may be constructed of any suitable material including any compatible metal, metal alloy, plastic, padding, shock absorbing material or any combination of material suitable for the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0051] All of the embodiments can be used for any size ball mount/receptacle size (1″, 2″ etc. . . . ) by simply sizing the device accordingly. For example a vehicle with a 2″ receptacle would require storage for 2″ ball mounts, while a vehicle with a 1″ receptacle requires storage for 1″ ball mounts. Further, all of the embodiments can be utilized to store ball mount adaptor sleeves. For example a sleeve that allows a 1″ ball mount to be used with a 2″ receptacle.

[0052] The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. For example, the principles herein apply generally to any large, standardized data set. Various modifications and changes may be made to the principles described herein without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Claim language reciting “at least one of” a set indicates that one member of the set or multiple members of the set satisfy the claim.

[0053] It is noted that the embodiments described herein can be used individually or in any combination thereof. It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the embodiments. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the embodiments. Accordingly, the present embodiments are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0054] Various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of the disclosed embodiments will still fall within the scope of the disclosed embodiments.

[0055] Various features of the different embodiments described herein are interchangeable, one with the other. The various described features, as well as any known equivalents can be mixed and matched to construct additional embodiments and techniques in accordance with the principles of this disclosure.

[0056] Furthermore, some of the features of the exemplary embodiments could be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. As such, the foregoing description should be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the disclosed embodiments and not in limitation thereof.