Interchangeable hitch ball assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9370976-B2
Application number	US-201213666456-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2012
Priority date	Nov 1, 2011
Publication date	Jun 21, 2016
Grant date	Jun 21, 2016

Abstract

A hitch ball assembly generally includes a ball member and a body connected to the ball member. A passageway extends longitudinally within the body and at least one locking member may be in communication with the passageway to lock the hitch ball in place. An elongated member within the passageway is biased to engage the locking member. The body further includes an opening arranged transverse to the passageway. A release mechanism is positioned within an opening in the body transverse to the passageway. The release member is in communication with the elongated member to move the elongated member between a locked position and an unlocked position.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A hitch ball assembly comprising:
a ball member;
a body connected to said ball member;
a longitudinal passageway within said body;
at least one locking member in communication with said passageway;
an elongated member located within said passageway and biased to engage said at least one locking member;
an opening in said body transverse to said passageway; and
a release mechanism positioned within said opening and in communication with said elongated member to move said elongated member between a locked position and an unlocked position, said release mechanism including a slide moveable within said opening, said slide including a camming surface in communication with said elongated member, said camming surface including a first resting slot holding said elongated member in said unlocked position and a second resting slot spaced from said first resting slot.

2. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1 further comprising a bridge portion above said camming surface.

3. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1 , wherein said elongated member includes a pin in contact with said camming surface.

4. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1 , wherein said camming surface includes a first ramped surface.

5. The hitch ball assembly of claim 4 , wherein said camming surface includes a second ramped surface opposite said first ramped surface.

6. The hitch ball assembly of claim 5 further comprising a curved slot between said first ramped surface and said second ramped surface.

7. The hitch ball assembly of claim 4 , wherein said first resting slot is adjacent to said first ramped surface.

8. The hitch ball assembly of claim 7 , wherein said second resting slot is adjacent to said second ramped surface.

9. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least one locking member comprises one or more ball bearings.

10. The hitch ball assembly of claim 9 , wherein said one or more ball bearings are movable within an opening in said body.

11. The hitch ball assembly of claim 10 further comprising a plunger positioned at an end of said elongated member and configured to engage said ball bearings.

12. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1 , wherein said elongated member is biased by a spring.

13. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1 further comprising a cap positioned at an end of said passageway.

14. A hitch ball assembly comprising:
a ball member;
a body connected to said ball member, said body having a passageway;
an elongated member located within said passageway;
at least one locking member in communication with said elongated member;
an opening in said body generally transverse to said elongated member; and
a slide positioned within and moveable with respect to said opening;
a camming surface positioned on said slide;
a pin attached with said elongated member, said pin rolls along said camming surface to move said elongated member between a locked position and an unlocked position.

15. The hitch ball assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a longitudinal passageway with said body.

16. The hitch ball assembly of claim 15 , wherein the elongated member is located within said passageway, said at least one locking member in communication with said passageway.

17. The hitch ball assembly of claim 14 , wherein said camming surface includes a first ramped surface.

18. The hitch ball assembly of claim 17 , wherein said camming surface includes a second ramped surface opposite said first ramped surface.

19. The hitch ball assembly of claim 18 further comprising a curved slot between said first ramped surface and said second ramped surface.

20. The hitch ball assembly of claim 17 , wherein said camming surface includes a first resting slot adjacent to said first ramped surface.

21. The hitch ball assembly of claim 14 , wherein said pin generally prevents said slide from being removed from said opening.

22. A hitch ball assembly comprising:
a ball member;
a body connected to said ball member, said body member including a longitudinal passageway;
an elongated member located within said passageway;
at least one locking member in communication with said elongated member;
an opening in said body generally transverse to said elongated member; and
a slide positioned within and moveable with respect to said opening;
a camming surface positioned on said slide;
a pin attached with said elongated member and engaged with said camming surface, wherein said pin generally prevents said slide from being removed from said opening.

23. The hitch ball assembly of claim 22 , wherein said pin rolls along said camming surface to move said slide between a locked position and an unlocked position.

24. The hitch ball assembly of claim 22 , wherein the elongated member is biased to engage said at least one locking member.

25. The hitch ball assembly of claim 22 , wherein said camming surface includes a first ramped surface.

26. The hitch ball assembly of claim 25 , wherein said camming surface includes a second ramped surface opposite said first ramped surface.

27. The hitch ball assembly of claim 26 further comprising a curved slot between said first ramped surface and said second ramped surface.

28. The hitch ball assembly of claim 25 , wherein said camming surface includes a first resting slot adjacent to said first ramped surface.

Assignees

• Cequent Performance Prod Inc

Inventors

• Mccoy Richard W
• Orlos Mike

Classifications

• B60D1/06 Primary

  Ball-and-socket hitches · CPC title

• B60D1/60

  Covers, caps or guards {, e.g. comprising anti-theft devices} · CPC title

• B60D1/52

  removably mounted · CPC title

• B60D1/075 Primary

  Hitch adaptors · CPC title

• B60D1/065

  characterised by the hitch mechanism · CPC title