Collapsible towing hitch
US5000473A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 1990 |
| Grant date | Mar 19, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 7, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60D1/54
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A collapsible towing hitch includes a base member which is pivotally mounted to the front bumper or frame or a vehicle so as to rotate from an operable position to a storage position. A pair of spring-loaded latch pins are mounted on the base member and correspond with apertures in a pair of yoke brackets and in a pair of base member mounting brackets so as to selectively lock the base member in the storage position. A pivotal arm is mounted at each end of the base member to pivot in a generally horizontal plane when the base member is in the operating position. An elongatged bar is pivotally connected to the free end of each pivotal arm, and each bar is mounted at its free end to a ball hitch housing. The pivotal connection between the elongated bars and the pivotal arms is automatically locked in an aligned condition utilizing a slidable plate on the pivotal arms which is selectively retained by a pair of hooks on the elongaged bars. In this fashion, the slidable plates may be easily moved and unlatched so as to pivot the pivotal arms with respect to the elongated bars and collapse the ball hitch housing into close contact with the base member. Once the ball hitch housing is coll…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.