US4248450A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle towing hitch having readily selectable tow balls
Assignee: CHAPPLE CONRAD K
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Filing: 1979-03-05
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Granted: 1981-02-03
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Expires: 1999-03-05
Abstract
Abstract Described is a vehicle towing hitch designed for permanent installation on the towing vehicle and having a plurality of readily selectable tow balls. The hitch allows the user the ability to select one of any standard tow ball size by simply removing an index pin, rotating the desired tow ball to the upper vertical position, and reinstalling the index pin. In a heavy duty embodiment, a tongue which may be incorporated including a tow pin for receiving the tongue of a towed vehicle such as a trailer as well as an additional large tow ball size.
Inventors
- 👤 Wesley I. McWethy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:32
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0842; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/01; B60D1/06; B60D1/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A towing hitch having a plurality of readily selectable tow balls, said towing hitch comprising: a mounting plate adapted for mounting on a towing vehicle, said mounting plate having a circular opening therein in a generally horizontal position when the mounting plate is mounted on the towing vehicle, a solid main pin of circular cross-section and having two adjacent concentric portions, the first portion having a diameter co-extensive with the diameter of the opening in the mounting plate and securely fitted therein, the second portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first portion and having a passageway therethrough along the axis thereof, a tubular body of generally square cross-section and having opposed walls, said body being adapted for rotation about the first portion of the main pin and being in abutting relationship between the mounting plate and the second portion, opposing walls of said body having aligned openings therein, a plurality of tow balls of different size fixedly mounted on the walls of said body, and an index pin removably insertable through the aligned openings in the opposing walls of the body and the passageway in the second portion of the main pin whereby the body of the towing hitch can be rotated about the main pin to select a tow ball of the desired size and said index pin inserted through said aligned openings and passageway to retain said body and tow ball in a fixed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
A towing hitch having a plurality of readily selectable tow balls, said towing hitch comprising: a mounting plate adapted for mounting on a towing vehicle, said mounting plate having a circular opening therein in a generally horizontal position when the mounting plate is mounted on the towing vehicle, a solid main pin of circular cross-section and having two adjacent concentric portions, the first portion having a diameter co-extensive with the diameter of the opening in the mounting plate and securely fitted therein, the second portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first portion and having a passageway therethrough along the axis thereof, a tubular body of generally square cross-section and having opposed walls, said body being adapted for rotation about the first portion of the main pin and being in abutting relationship between the mounting plate and the second portion, opposing walls of said body having aligned openings therein, a plurality of tow balls of different size fixedly mounted on the walls of said body, and an index pin removably insertable through the aligned openings in the opposing walls of the body and the passageway in the second portion of the main pin whereby the body of the towing hitch can be rotated about the main pin to select a tow ball of the desired size and said index pin inserted through said aligned openings and passageway to retain said body and tow ball in a fixed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The towing hitch of claim 1 wherein the body thereof is of extended length, the end of the body distal from the mounting plate including aligned openings in opposed walls thereof and slots in the remaining opposed walls whereby the tongue of the hitch of a towed vehicle can be inserted therein, and a tow pin removably insertable within the aligned openings to thereby retain said tongue within the towing hitch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-02-03 | 1984-08-04 | 1985-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-03 | 1988-08-04 | 1989-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-03 | 1992-08-04 | 1993-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |