Methods and apparatus for a hitch including multiple pins coupled to an outboard frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11685205-B2
Application number	US-202016996150-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2020
Priority date	Aug 22, 2019
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a hitch including multiple pins coupled to an outboard frame are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein include a hitch including a first pin, a second pin parallel to the first pin, a third pin orthogonal to the first pin, and a fourth pin parallel to the third pin, wherein the first pin, the second pin, the third pin and the fourth pin are to couple the hitch to a frame of a vehicle. The example apparatus includes a load manager to determine a load condition based on sensor data from at least one of the first pin, the second pin, the third pin, or the fourth pin.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a load block;
a first mounting ear extending from the load block;
a second mounting ear extending from the load block;
a pin support to be coupled to a vehicle frame;
a first pin coupled to the pin support and the first mounting ear; and
a second pin coupled to the pin support and the second mounting ear, the first pin orthogonal to the second pin.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first pin is oriented along a lateral axis and the second pin is oriented along a horizontal axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first pin, the first mounting ear, and the pin support form a first clevis and the second pin, the second mounting ear, and the pin support form a second clevis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first pin is disposed closer to a front of the vehicle frame than the second pin.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first pin or the second pin includes a sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the load block includes an opening to receive an end of a crossbar.

7. A hitch comprising:
a crossbar;
a receiver tube; and
a first pin housing assembly coupled to a first end of the crossbar, the first pin housing assembly including:
a load block;
a first mounting ear extending from the load block;
a second mounting ear extending from the load block;
a pin support to be coupled to a vehicle frame;
a first pin coupled to the pin support and the first mounting ear; and
a second pin coupled to the pin support and the second mounting ear.

8. The hitch of claim 7 , wherein the first pin is orthogonal to the second pin.

9. The hitch of claim 8 , wherein the first pin is oriented along a lateral axis and the second pin is oriented along a horizontal axis.

10. The hitch of claim 7 , wherein the first pin, the first mounting ear, and the pin support form a first clevis and the second pin, the second mounting ear, and the pin support form a second clevis.

11. The hitch of claim 7 , wherein the first pin is disposed closer to a front of the vehicle frame than the second pin.

12. The hitch of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first pin or the second pin includes a sensor.

13. The hitch of claim 7 , wherein the load block includes an opening to receive the first end of the crossbar.

14. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle frame; and
a hitch coupled to the vehicle frame, the hitch including:
a load block;
a first mounting ear extending from the load block;
a second mounting ear extending from the load block;
a pin support to be coupled to the vehicle frame;
a first pin coupled to the pin support and the first mounting ear; and
a second pin coupled to the pin support and the second mounting ear, the first pin orthogonal to the second pin.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the first pin is oriented along a lateral axis and the second pin is oriented along a horizontal axis.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the first pin, the first mounting ear, and the pin support form a first clevis and the second pin, the second mounting ear, and the pin support form a second clevis.

17. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the first pin is disposed closer to a front of the vehicle frame than the second pin.

18. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the load block includes an opening to receive an end of a crossbar of the hitch.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Reinert Bryce
• Giaier Kevin Stanton
• Niedert Andrew
• Montgomery Carl

Classifications

• B60D1/145

  consisting of an elongated single bar or tube · CPC title

• B60D1/248

  for measuring, indicating or displaying the weight · CPC title

• B60D1/488

  mounted directly to the chassis of the towing vehicle · CPC title

• B60D1/485 Primary

  mounted by means of transversal members attached to the frame of a vehicle · CPC title

• B60D1/01 Primary

  Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type · CPC title