Hitches and connections for automated guided vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020398620-A1
Application number	US-202016903705-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 17, 2020
Priority date	Jun 18, 2019
Publication date	Dec 24, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

This disclosure relates to systems and methods of towing, hitching, and connecting devices. In particular, this disclosure relates to tow devices, hitches, and connections for towing item containers behind vehicles, both autonomous and manually guided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A tow hitch configured to releasably couple to a wire container, the tow hitch comprising:
a main body, the main body having a front face, a top side, and a bottom side; a hitch receiver disposed on the front face; at least one top flange disposed on the top side of the main body; at least one small flange disposed on the top side of the main body proximate the at least one top flange; and at least one bottom flange disposed on a bottom side of the main body opposite the at least one top flange.

2 . The tow device of claim 1 , wherein the tow hitch comprises at least one support structure, wherein the at least one support structure is coupled to the front face of the main body and the hitch receiver, and wherein the at least one support structure extends in a transverse direction from a longitudinal direction of the hitch receiver.

3 . The tow device of claim 1 , wherein the hitch receiver is formed having an aperture formed therein, the aperture extending a length of the hitch receiver.

4 . The tow device of claim 3 , wherein a portion of a perimeter of the aperture is defined by the front face of the main body.

5 . The tow device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one top flange comprises a first vertical portion, a horizontal portion, and a second vertical portion, wherein the first vertical portion is coplanar with the front face of the main body, wherein the horizontal portion extends perpendicularly from the first vertical portion, and wherein the second vertical portion extends perpendicularly from the horizontal portion such that the second vertical portion is parallel to and offset from the first vertical portion.

6 . The tow device of claim 1 , wherein the tow device comprises two top flanges spaced apart from each other.

7 . The tow device of claim 6 , wherein the two top flanges are horizontally spaced apart such that the two top flanges and two bottom flanges are configured to fit in spaces between adjacent vertical wires of a wire container.

8 . The tow device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bottom flange comprises a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, wherein the horizontal portion extends perpendicularly from the bottom side of the main body, and wherein the vertical portion extends perpendicularly from the horizontal portion.

9 . The tow device of claim 1 , wherein the tow hitch comprises two bottom flanges spaced apart from each other.

10 . The tow device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one small flange comprises a single member that extends away at an angle from a front face of the main body.

11 . The tow device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one small flange is configured to secure the tow hitch to a wire container with a snap fit, wherein the at least one small flange is configured to snap under a third horizontal wire of the wire container when a force is applied to the tow hitch, resulting in a first horizontal wire applying a force against the at least one top flange and the third horizontal wire applying a force against the at least one small flange.

12 . A tow hitch configured to releasably couple to a wire container, the tow hitch comprising:
a main body, the main body having a first end and a second end; a hitch receiver disposed on the first end; a locking member, wherein the locking member comprises an actuator that is configured to selectively move from a locked position to an unlocked position; two flanges disposed on the second end of the main body; and two small flanges disposed on the bottom surface of the main body and at the second end.

13 . The tow device of claim 12 , wherein a hook is disposed on a surface of the main body such that the tow device can be hung for storage.

14 . The tow device of claim 12 , wherein the hitch receiver comprises a cylindrical cross section.

15 . The tow device of claim 12 , wherein the hitch receiver is formed having an aperture therein that extends a length of the hitch receiver.

16 . The tow device of claim 12 , wherein the two flanges each comprise a horizontal portion that is parallel to a bottom surface of the main body.

17 . The tow device of claim 12 , wherein the two small flanges each comprise a single member that extends away from the bottom surface at an angle.

18 . The tow device of claim 12 , wherein the actuator of the locking member is configured to selectively change between a lock position and unlock position, wherein an engagement portion of the locking member is configured to interface with a mating portion of a tow device when the actuator is changed to the lock position, and wherein the engagement portion of the locking member is configured to not interface with the mating portion of a tow device when the actuator is changed to the unlock position.

19 . The tow device of claim 12 , wherein the hitch receiver extends through the main body.

20 . The tow device of claim 12 , wherein the first end of the main body is narrower than the second end of the main body.

Assignees

• United States Postal Service

Inventors

• Shiu Leung Man
• Houston Edward F
• Taylor Anthony B
• Nguyen Tuyen Thanh
• Bombaugh Scott R
• Simpson Christopher Robert

Classifications

• B60D1/481 Primary

  adapted for being mounted to the front and back of trailers, carts, trolleys or the like to form a train · CPC title

• B60D1/14 Primary

  Draw-gear or towing devices characterised by their type · CPC title

• B60D1/52 Primary

  removably mounted · CPC title

• B60D2001/005

  for carts, scooters or the like · CPC title

• B62D63/08

  Component parts or accessories · CPC title