Adjustable trailer hitch

Claim 2

A trailer hitch comprising: a pintle adapted to be coupled in a generally horizontal position to a first vehicle, an elongated receiver having a generally vertically disposed open end and adapted to be connected to a second vehicle, said receiver and said pintle having cooperating tongue and groove means thereon to permit the pintle to be inserted into the receiver through said open end and removably retained therein at any one of a number of operative locations along the length thereof, and means engageable with the receiver and the pintle for interconnecting the same when the pintle is at any one of said operative locations.

Claim 3

A trailer hitch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiver has a pair of opposed, spaced generally vertical sides defining the open end, the grooves of said structure extending across substantially the entire widths of said sides.

Claim 4

A trailer hitch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pintle is disposed transversely of the length of said receiver when the pintle is inserted therein, said cooperating means including structure extending across substantially the entire width of the receiver for restraining the pintle against movement along said receiver length.

Claim 5

Apparatus for interconnecting a pair of vehicles comprising: a first, elongated generally vertically disposed member having a generally vertically disposed open end and means thereon for coupling the same to a first vehicle; a second member adapted to be coupled to a second vehicle, said first member having means defining a plurality of spaced generally horizontal grooves transversely of the length thereof and extending substantially to said open end, the second member being receivable through said open end into said first member and having means defining tongue structure insertable into any one of a number of groups of said grooves when the second member is received in the first member to thereby removably restrain the second member against movement in a direction longitudinally of the first member; and means engageable with the members for interconnecting the same when the second member is received in the first member.

Claim 6

Apparatus for interconnecting a pair of vehicles comprising: a first, elongated generally vertically disposed member having a generally vertically disposed open end and means thereon for coupling the same to a first vehicle; a second member adapted to be coupled to a second vehicle, said first member having means defining a plurality of spaced generally horizontal grooves transversely of the length thereof and extending substantially to said open end, the second member being receivable through said open end into said first member and having means defining tongue structure insertable into any one of a number of groups of said grooves when the second member is received in the first member to thereby removably restrain the second member against movement in a direction longitudinally of the first member; and means engageable with the members for interconnecting the same when the second member is received in the first member.

Claim 7

Apparatus for interconnecting a pair of vehicles comprising: a first, elongated member having a pair of spaced, generally vertical sides and adapted to be coupled to a vehicle to be towed; a second, elongated, generally horizontal member adapted to be coupled to a tow vehicle, said first member having an open, longitudinally extending front defining an entry for the insertion of the second member between the sides of the first member at any one of a number of operative locations along the same; tongue and groove structure on the members for restraining the second member against movement longitudinally of the first member when the second member is between said sides; and means for interconnecting the first and second members when the second member is at any one of said locations within the second member.

Claim 8

Apparatus for interconnecting a pair of vehicles comprising: a first, elongated member having a pair of spaced, generally vertical sides and adapted to be coupled to a vehicle to be towed; a second, elongated, generally horizontal member adapted to be coupled to a tow vehicle, said first member having an open, longitudinally extending front defining an entry for the insertion of the second member between the sides of the first member at any one of a number of operative locations along the same; tongue and groove structure on the members for restraining the second member against movement longitudinally of the first member when the second member is between said sides; and means for interconnecting the first and second members when the second member is at any one of said locations within the second member.

Claim 9

Apparatus for interconnecting a pair of vehicles comprising: a first, elongated member having a pair of spaced sides and adapted to be coupled to a vehicle to be towed; a second, elongated member adapted to be coupled member a two vehicle, said first member having an open, longitudinally extending front defining an entry for the insertion of the second member between the sides of the first member at any one of a number of operative locations along the same, said sides having a plurality of spaced grooves therein, there being a groove on one side aligned with a groove on the other side, said second member having a pair of tongues receivable within any one of the pairs of grooves for restraining the second member against movement longitudinally of the first member when the second member is between said sides; and a pin removably extending through one of the members and into the other member for interconnecting the members when the second member is at any one of said locations along the first member.

Claim 10

Apparatus for interconnecting a pair of vehicles comprising: a first, elongated member having a pair of spaced sides and adapted to be coupled to a vehicle to be towed; a second, elongated member adapted to be coupled member a two vehicle, said first member having an open, longitudinally extending front defining an entry for the insertion of the second member between the sides of the first member at any one of a number of operative locations along the same, said sides having a plurality of spaced grooves therein, there being a groove on one side aligned with a groove on the other side, said second member having a pair of tongues receivable within any one of the pairs of grooves for restraining the second member against movement longitudinally of the first member when the second member is between said sides; and a pin removably extending through one of the members and into the other member for interconnecting the members when the second member is at any one of said locations along the first member.

Claim 11

Apparatus for interconnecting a pair of vehicles comprising: an elongated U-shaped member having a pair of spaced sides and a plate interconnecting the sides; hitch ball means on said plate for interconnecting the same to the ball-receiving tongue of a vehicle to be towed; a pintle adapted to be coupled to a tow vehicle and having a pair of tongues on opposite side margins thereof, said U-shaped member having an open, longitudinally extending front defining an entry for the insertion of the pintle between said sides at any one of a number of operative locations along the same, there being a number of pairs of grooves on the inner surfaces of said sides, said tongues extending longitudinally of the pintle and being receivable within any one of the pairs of grooves of said sides for restraining the pintle against movement longitudinally of the U-shaped member when the pintle is between said sides; and means for interconnecting said member when the second member is at any one of said locations within the second member.

Claim 12

Apparatus for interconnecting a pair of vehicles comprising: an elongated U-shaped member having a pair of spaced sides and a plate interconnecting the sides; hitch ball means on said plate for interconnecting the same to the ball-receiving tongue of a vehicle to be towed; a pintle adapted to be coupled to a tow vehicle and having a pair of tongues on opposite side margins thereof, said U-shaped member having an open, longitudinally extending front defining an entry for the insertion of the pintle between said sides at any one of a number of operative locations along the same, there being a number of pairs of grooves on the inner surfaces of said sides, said tongues extending longitudinally of the pintle and being receivable within any one of the pairs of grooves of said sides for restraining the pintle against movement longitudinally of the U-shaped member when the pintle is between said sides; and means for interconnecting said member when the second member is at any one of said locations within the second member.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said pintle is cylindrical in configuration and has a pair of flattened portions on opposed sides thereof, said tongues being formed in said flattened portions.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said pintle is transversely square to define a pair of opposed, flat sides, the tongues being formed in said flattened portions.