Universally adjustable trailer hitch

Claim 2

A trailer hitch for attachment to the underside of a vehicle at spaced apart locations of varying width comprising: an elongated member provided with at least three outwardly disposed sides; a trailer hitching member secured to one of the sides of the elongated member at a location generally centrally disposed between the ends of said elongated member; a pair of brackets for attaching said elongated member to the underside of said vehicle at said spaced apart locations; at least one of said brackets having a generally U-shaped central portion with ears projecting from opposite sides thereof and said central portion provided with three inwardly disposed surfaces complementary in configuration to said three corresponding outwardly disposed sides of said elongated member; and means for securing said ears to the underside of the vehicle with said three inwardly disposed surfaces of the central portion of said bracket in intimate contact with the three corresponding outwardly disposed sides of said elongated member.

Claim 3

The trailer hitch of claim 1 wherein said elongated member is substantially square in cross-sectional configuration.

Claim 4

The trailer hitch of claim 1 wherein said trailer hitching member comprises a tubular hitch box substantially square in cross-section.

Claim 5

The trailer hitch of claim 3 further comprising a plate member attached to said elongated member and anchoring means disposed on said plate member to secure a safety chain thereto.

Claim 6

The trailer hitch of claim 4 wherein said anchoring means comprises a pair of spaced apart anchoring apertures through said plate member, said anchoring apertures disposed adjacent opposite sides of said hitch box.

Claim 7

The trailer hitch of claim 1 wherein each of said ears is provided with an aperture therethrough in registration with apertures provided on the underside of said vehicle and said means for securing said ears comprises a bolt extending through the registered apertures in said ears and the underside of said vehicle.

Claim 8

The trailer hitch of claim 1 further comprising a pair of support members each attached to one of said brackets and the underside of said vehicle.

Claim 9

The trailer hitch of claim 7 wherein each of said support members includes two flanges, one of said flanges for attachment to one of said brackets and the other of said flanges for attachment to the underside of said vehicle.

Claim 10

The trailer hitch of claim 8 wherein said two flanges of each of said support members are disposed generally parallel to each other.

Claim 11

The trailer hitch of claim 8 wherein said two flanges of each of said support members are disposed generally perpendicular to each other.

Claim 12

The trailer hitch of claim 9 wherein each of said support members is formed from a flat plate with said two flanges formed by bending opposite edges of the flat plate.

Claim 13

The trailer hitch of claim 10 wherein each of said support members is formed from a flat plate with said two flanges formed by bending generally perpendicularly disposed edges of the flat plate.

Claim 14

A trailer hitch for attachment to the underside of a vehicle at spaced apart locations which spacing may vary in width comprising: an elongated member provided with at least three outwardly disposed sides; a trailer hitching member extending outward from one side of said elongated member; a pair of support brackets each having two flanges; means for securing one of said flanges of each of said support brackets to the underside of said vehicle at said spaced apart locations; a pair of clamps for clamping said elongated member to the other of said flanges of each of said support brackets, each of said clamps having a central portion with three inwardly directed surfaces complementary in configuration to and in intimate contact with the three outwardly disposed sides of said elongated member.

Claim 15

A trailer hitch for attachment to the underside of a vehicle at spaced apart locations which spacing may vary in width comprising: an elongated member provided with at least three outwardly disposed sides; a trailer hitching member extending outward from one side of said elongated member; a pair of support brackets each having two flanges; means for securing one of said flanges of each of said support brackets to the underside of said vehicle at said spaced apart locations; a pair of clamps for clamping said elongated member to the other of said flanges of each of said support brackets, each of said clamps having a central portion with three inwardly directed surfaces complementary in configuration to and in intimate contact with the three outwardly disposed sides of said elongated member.

Claim 16

The trailer hitch of claim 13 wherein said trailer hitching member comprises a tubular hitch box substantially square in cross-section.

Claim 17

The trailer hitch of claim 13 wherein each of said clamps include ears extending from opposite sides of said central portion and means for securing said ears to said other flanges of said support brackets.

Claim 18

The trailer hitch of claim 13 wherein said two flanges of each of said support brackets are spaced apart and disposed generally parallel to each other.

Claim 19

The trailer hitch of claim 13 wherein said two flanges of each of said support brackets are disposed generally perpendicular to each other.

Claim 20

A universally mountable trailer hitch for attachment to two spaced apart frame members disposed on the underside of a vehicle wherein said frame members may be spaced apart various distances comprising: an elongated member having a substantially square outside configuration; a trailer hitching member extending rearwardly from a one side of said elongated member; a pair of support brackets each having two flanges disposed generally perpendicular to each other with a body portion disposed therebetween, one of said flanges disposed in a generally horizontal plane and the other of said flanges disposed in a generally vertical plane; means for fastening the generally horizontally disposed flange of each of said support brackets to the underside of one of said spaced apart frame members; a pair of generally U-shaped clamps each having three inwardly disposed surfaces in intimate contact with three corresponding sides of said elongated member, each of said clamps having a central portion with legs terminating in oppositely projecting ears; and means for fastening said oppositely projecting ears of each of said clamps to the generally vertically disposed flange of one of said support brackets with the fourth side of said elongated member clamped against the generally vertically extending flanges of said support brackets.

Claim 21

A universally mountable trailer hitch for attachment to two spaced apart frame members disposed on the underside of a vehicle wherein said frame members may be spaced apart various distances comprising: an elongated member having a substantially square outside configuration; a trailer hitching member extending rearwardly from a one side of said elongated member; a pair of support brackets each having two flanges disposed generally perpendicular to each other with a body portion disposed therebetween, one of said flanges disposed in a generally horizontal plane and the other of said flanges disposed in a generally vertical plane; means for fastening the generally horizontally disposed flange of each of said support brackets to the underside of one of said spaced apart frame members; a pair of generally U-shaped clamps each having three inwardly disposed surfaces in intimate contact with three corresponding sides of said elongated member, each of said clamps having a central portion with legs terminating in oppositely projecting ears; and means for fastening said oppositely projecting ears of each of said clamps to the generally vertically disposed flange of one of said support brackets with the fourth side of said elongated member clamped against the generally vertically extending flanges of said support brackets.

Claim 22

The universally mountable trailer hitch of claim 18 wherein said trailer hitching member comprises a tubular hitch box substantially square in cross-section.

Claim 23

The universally mountable trailer hitch of claim 19 further comprising a plate member extending from said elongated member about said tubular hitch box, and a pair of spaced apart anchoring apertures provided in said plate members for securing a safety chain thereto.