Trailer hitch architecture adaptable to multiple conventional drawbar sizes having drawbar adaptor size-reducing sleeve for attachment pin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10202009-B2
Application number	US-201615212382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2016
Priority date	Jul 18, 2016
Publication date	Feb 12, 2019
Grant date	Feb 12, 2019

Abstract

The disclosed inventive concept provides a trailer hitch arrangement for use with a drawbar that is adaptable to universally use a high strength conventional hitch pin. Particularly, a reducing pin sleeve is fitted into the hitch pin hole of the drawbar. The inner diameter of the reducing pin sleeve is less than the hitch pin hole conventionally formed in the drawbar while the inner diameter of the reducing pin sleeve is the same as that of the receiver. When the drawbar is fitted into the receiver, the reducing pin sleeve is captured therein, thus preventing side-to-side movement relative to the drawbar. The disclosed inventive concept allows vehicle owners having a standard 3″ receiver trailer hitch which conventionally includes a ⅝″ hitch pin hole to safely and effectively handle above 20,000 lbs. trailer rating by insertion of the hitch pin sleeve into the ¾″ hitch pin hole provided in the drawbar.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a receiver including a receiver pin-hole having a diameter;
a drawbar insertable into said receiver, said drawbar including a drawbar pin-hole having a diameter;
a sleeve having outer and inner diameters and insertable into said drawbar pin-hole, said diameter of said receiver pin-hole being equal to said inner diameter of said sleeve and smaller than said diameter of said drawbar pin-hole.

2. The trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said receiver includes a pair of opposed first and second inner walls and wherein said sleeve includes first and second ends, said first end of said sleeve being constrained from movement by said first inner wall of said receiver, and said second end of said sleeve being constrained from movement by said second inner wall of said receiver.

3. The trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , further including a hitch pin insertable into and through said receiver pin-hole and said sleeve.

4. The trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle of claim 3 , wherein said receiver is a 3″ receiver, said receiver pin-hole is a ⅝″ hole, said drawbar pin-hole is a ¾″ hole, said inner diameter of said sleeve is ⅝″, said outer diameter of said sleeve is ¾″, and said hitch pin is a ⅝″ hitch pin.

5. The trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle of claim 3 , wherein said hitch pin has an outer diameter, said outer diameter of said hitch pin being the same as said diameter of said receiver pin-hole and said inner diameter of said sleeve.

6. The trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said drawbar has a long axis and said drawbar pin-hole is formed through said drawbar transverse to said long axis of said drawbar, and further wherein said receiver has a long axis and said receiver pin-hole is formed through said receiver transverse to said long axis of said receiver.

7. The trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said inner diameter of said sleeve is coaxial with said drawbar pin-hole.

8. A trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a receiver having opposed first and second walls and a receiver pin-hole having a diameter;
a drawbar insertable into said receiver, said drawbar including a drawbar pin-hole having a diameter;
a sleeve having inner and outer diameters, said sleeve being insertable into said drawbar pin-hole, said sleeve being constrained from lateral movement by being positioned entirely within said receiver and between said first and second walls,
wherein said diameter of said receiver pin-hole is equal to said inner diameter of said sleeve and is smaller than said diameter of said drawbar pin-hole.

9. The trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle of claim 8 , further including a hitch pin insertable into and through said receiver pin-hole and said sleeve.

10. The trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle of claim 9 , wherein said receiver is a 3″ receiver, said receiver pin-hole is a ⅝″ hole, said drawbar pin-hole is a ¾″ hole, said inner diameter of said sleeve is ⅝″, said outer diameter of said sleeve is ¾″, and said hitch pin is a ⅝″ hitch pin.

11. The trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle of claim 9 , wherein said hitch pin has an outer diameter, said outer diameter of said hitch pin being the same as said diameter of said receiver pin-hole and said inner diameter of said sleeve.

12. The trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein said drawbar has a long axis and said drawbar pin-hole is formed through said drawbar transverse to said long axis of said drawbar, and further wherein said receiver has a long axis and said receiver pin-hole is formed through said receiver transverse to said long axis of said receiver.

13. The trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein said inner diameter of said sleeve is coaxial with said drawbar pin-hole.

14. A method for attaching a drawbar to a receiver of a trailer hitch assembly, the method comprising:
forming a receiver having opposed first and second walls;
forming a drawbar insertable into said receiver, said drawbar including a drawbar pin-hole;
forming a sleeve;
forming a hitch pin;
positioning said sleeve in said drawbar pin-hole to form a drawbar assembly;
inserting said drawbar assembly into said receiver whereby said sleeve is constrained from lateral movement by being positioned entirely between said walls; and
inserting said hitch pin into and through said receiver pin-hole and said sleeve.

15. The method for attaching a drawbar of claim 14 , wherein said receiver includes a receiver pin-hole having a diameter and said sleeve has inner and outer diameters, said diameter of said receiver pin-hole being equal to said inner diameter of said sleeve and smaller than said diameter of said drawbar pin-hole.

16. The method for attaching a drawbar of claim 15 , wherein said receiver is a 3″ receiver, said receiver pin-hole is a ⅝″ hole, said drawbar pin-hole is a ¾″ hole, said inner diameter of said sleeve is ⅝″, said outer diameter of said sleeve is ¾″, and said hitch pin is a ⅝″ hitch pin.

17. The method for attaching a drawbar of claim 15 , wherein said hitch pin has an outer diameter, said outer diameter of said hitch pin being the same as said diameter of said receiver pin-hole and said inner diameter of said sleeve.

18. The method for attaching a drawbar of claim 15 , wherein said drawbar has a long axis and said drawbar pin-hole is formed through said drawbar transverse to said long axis of said drawbar, and further wherein said receiver has a long axis and said receiver pin-hole is formed through said receiver transverse to said long axis of said receiver.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Bresky Aaron Anthony
• Howe Douglas Lee
• Mccarthy Daniel J
• Lin Chih Yu
• Kunynetz Andre

Classifications

• B60D1/06

  Ball-and-socket hitches · CPC title

• B60D1/155 Primary

  comprising telescopic or foldable parts · CPC title

• B60D1/58

  Auxiliary devices · CPC title

• B60D1/075 Primary

  Hitch adaptors · CPC title