Ball and socket mechanical and electrical trailer hitch

Claim 1

A hitch assembly for mechanically and electrically connecting a towed vehicle to a prime mover comprising in combination: a metallic ball unit adapted for mechanical connection to the prime mover and having a ball including at least one spherical segment affixed thereto and insulated electrically therefrom, said unit including a passageway for receiving a first electric conductor from the prime mover and attached to said segment; a socket unit adapted for mechanical connection to the towed vehicle and having a socket adapted to partially enclose said ball for transmitting mechanical thrust therebetween, said socket having an opening formed therein whereby said segment is exposed; electrical connection means including at least one second electrical conductor leading to the towed vehicle, said connection means including a housing removably secured to said socket over said opening and having an element connected to said second conductor and resiliently engageable with said segment when said housing is secured, whereby to transmit electric current from said segment to said element during mechanical use of the hitch assembly, and wherein said ball unit includes a plurality of conductive spherical segments affixed to the ball and each segment separated by a non-conducting segment on either side thereof, and said connection means including a plurality of flexible elements, such that each element is engageable with a conductive segment for transmitting current therebetween.