Gooseneck hitch ball

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9242520-B2
Application number	US-201313833789-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

A hitch ball is shown and described. The hitch ball may include a ball member, a body extending from the ball member, and a locking member in communication with the body. The hitch ball may also include a first release mechanism positioned in the ball member, the first release mechanism operatively coupled with the locking member, where positioning the first release mechanism in an first direction positions the locking member in a disengaged position, and a second release mechanism positioned in the body, the second release mechanism operatively coupled with the locking member, where positioning the second release mechanism in a second direction positions the locking member in the disengaged position.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A hitch ball comprising:
a ball member;
a body extending from the ball member;
a locking member in communication with the body;
a first release mechanism positioned in the ball member, the first release mechanism operatively coupled with the locking member, wherein positioning the first release mechanism in a first direction positions the locking member in a disengaged position; and
a second release mechanism positioned in the body, the second release mechanism operatively coupled with the locking member, wherein positioning the second release mechanism in a second direction positions the locking member in the disengaged position.

2. The hitch ball of claim 1 , wherein the first release mechanism includes a handle positioned within the ball member.

3. The hitch ball of claim 1 , wherein the second release mechanism includes a handle engaged with the body axially spaced from the ball member.

4. The hitch ball of claim 1 , both of the ball member and body are configured for insertion into a socket.

5. The hitch ball of claim 1 , wherein the first and second directions are a same direction.

6. The hitch ball of claim 1 , further comprising a plunger, the plunger in operative engagement with the locking member.

7. The hitch ball of claim 6 , wherein the second release mechanism is operatively engaged with the plunger.

8. The hitch ball of claim 6 , wherein the second release mechanism includes a handle selectively engageable with either of the plunger or the body.

9. A hitch ball assembly comprising:
a socket;
a ball member insertable within the socket;
a body extending from the ball member, the body insertable within the socket wherein the ball member is configured to be inserted in the socket and the body is configured to be inserted in the socket;
a release mechanism; and
a locking member in operative communication with the release mechanism, the release mechanism accessible from both of the ball member and body, wherein the release member positions the locking member from a first position engaged with the socket and a second position disengaged from the socket.

10. The hitch ball assembly of claim 9 , further comprising an engaging device positioned with the socket, wherein the locking mechanism engages the engaging device in the first position.

11. The hitch ball assembly of claim 10 , wherein the engaging device includes a generally annular groove positioned in the socket.

12. The hitch ball assembly of claim 10 , wherein the engaging device includes first and second annular grooves positioned in the socket, the first and second annular grooves axially spaced apart.

13. The hitch ball assembly of claim 9 , wherein the release mechanism is operatively engaged with the ball member and the body.

14. The hitch ball assembly of claim 9 , wherein the release mechanism is accessible to a user when the ball member inserted into the socket.

15. The hitch ball assembly of claim 9 , wherein the release mechanism is biased in a locked position whereby the locking member is in the first position.

16. The hitch ball assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a first handle operatively engaged with the release mechanism, the first handle positioned in the ball member.

17. The hitch ball assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a second handle operatively engaged with the release mechanism, the second handle positioned in the body axially spaced from the first handle.

18. The hitch ball assembly of claim 17 , wherein the second handle is accessible when the ball member extends downward into the socket.

19. A hitch ball comprising:
a ball member configured for insertion into a socket of a hitch assembly;
a body extending from the ball member, the body configured for insertion into the socket of the hitch assembly; and
a locking member located in the body, the locking member moveable between a first engaged position and a second disengaged position, wherein the locking member in the first position locks the ball member in both an upright position relative to the socket and an inverted position relative to the socket.

20. The hitch ball of claim 19 , further comprising a release mechanism in operative communication with the locking member, the release mechanism positionable between a first position moving the locking member to the first engaged position to a second position moving the locking member to the second disengaged position.

21. The hitch ball of claim 20 , further comprising first and second handles operatively coupled with the release mechanism.

22. The hitch ball of claim 21 , wherein the first handle is positioned in the ball member and the second handle is positioned in the body.

23. The hitch ball of claim 22 , wherein the release mechanism includes a plunger whereby the second handle includes a handle member selectively attachable to the plunger opposite the ball member.

24. The hitch ball of claim 22 , wherein the second handle includes a handle member selectively attachable to the body opposite the ball member.

25. A hitch ball comprising:
a ball member
a body extending from the ball member, the body configured for insertion into the socket of the hitch assembly;
a locking member located in the body member, the locking member moveable between a first engaged position and a second disengaged position;
a plunger located in the body and in operative engagement with the locking member;
a handle in operative communication with the plunger, the handle rotatable between first and second positions, wherein the handle in the first position allows the locking member to be moveable to the first engaged position locking the body in the socket; and
a second handle in operative communication with the plunger, the second handle positioned in the body axially spaced from the handle.

26. The hitch ball assembly of claim 25 , wherein the handle in the second position allows the locking member to be moveable to the second disengaged position releasing the body from engagement with the socket.

Assignees

• Cequent Performance Prod Inc

Inventors

• Mida Lynn H
• Belinky Jacob S

Classifications

• B60D1/488

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

• B60D1/52

  removably mounted · CPC title

• B60D1/06 Primary

  Ball-and-socket hitches · CPC title

• B60D1/54

  collapsible or retractable when not in use, e.g. hide-away hitches · CPC title