Removable trailer hitch ball
US6241271A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 5, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 18, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60D1/52
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A removable trailer hitch ball in which a generally spherical configuration hollow ball with opposed upper and lower vertically aligned bore holes for removable attachment to a stud with a cross bore aligned with transversely aligned holes on opposite sides of the hollow ball. A removable lock pin with a spring loaded detent ball is inserted through the transversely aligned holes of the hollow ball and stud. The spring loaded detent ball is protruded into a cavity between the side of the stud and the inner wall of the hollow ball to detachably secure the hollow ball onto the stud which may be integrally formed at the end of a drawbar for detachable connection to a receiver of a trailer hitch. Different size balls may be detachably secured to a given stud. In one embodiment the stud is formed in a shank integrally at one end of a drawbar. The hollow ball can be formed into a generally spherical configuration from a swagged cylindrical metal tube cut to length that is in a split swagging die having a mandrel extending inwardly from a bowl in one die to form the vertically aligned bore holes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.