초록 ▼

A decorative and protective cover for covering the end of a towing hitch tube which is exposed when the drawbar that is used for towing a trailer is removed from the hitch tube. The cover is a one-piece molded plastic part that has a covering portion comprising an end wall that is disposed in end co

A decorative and protective cover for covering the end of a towing hitch tube which is exposed when the drawbar that is used for towing a trailer is removed from the hitch tube. The cover is a one-piece molded plastic part that has a covering portion comprising an end wall that is disposed in end covering relation to the end of the hitch tube and an integral attaching portion that projects from a central region of the cover end wall for releasably attaching the cover to the hitch tube. The cover further includes a top wall and side walls that are in top and lateral covering relation to the hitch tube. It also has a partial bottom wall that is an underlying relation to the hitch tube but contains a centrally located notch that provides access to the attaching portion for unlatching the attaching portion from the hitch tube when it is desired to remove the cover. The attaching portion comprises a tubular wall fitting closely into the hitch tube and an integral catch that snaps into a hole in the hitch tube which is used for pinning the drawbar to the hitch tube when the drawbar is in use. The cover also contains covering provisions for covering safety chain attachment holes that are provided to either side of the hitch tube. Advantageously the cover is fabricated as an injection molded plastic part from a tough, durable plastic such as polypropylene.

대표청구항 ▼

In combination with the drawbar receiver tube of a towing hitch, said drawbar receiver tube having a tubular wall terminating in an open end via which a drawbar is inserted into the receiver tube, said tubular wall containing a hole in inwardly set relation to the open end thereof via which the draw

In combination with the drawbar receiver tube of a towing hitch, said drawbar receiver tube having a tubular wall terminating in an open end via which a drawbar is inserted into the receiver tube, said tubular wall containing a hole in inwardly set relation to the open end thereof via which the drawbar is inserted, a molded plastic cover for covering the open end of the receiver tube when the drawbar is removed therefrom, said cover comprising an end wall covering the open end of the receiver tube and an integral locator and releasable catch projecting from the inside of said end wall to locate the cover on the end of the receiver tube and to releasably latch the cover to the receiver tube by the catch engaging said receiver tube hole when the cover is fully installed on the receiver tube, said integral locator and releasable catch comprising for the integral locator a relatively rigid tubular wall that has an opening in spaced relation from said end wall and that closely fits the open end of the receiver tube tubular wall, and said integral locator and releasable catch having said catch defined in a portion of said relatively rigid tubular wall by a pair of slots that project from said opening in the direction toward said cover\s end wall and that lie on either side of the catch whereby when the cover is being installed on and removed from the receiver tube tubular wall, the catch relatively resiliently deflects for passing into and out of the receiver tube tubular wall, and when the cover is fully installed on the receiver tube tubular wall, the catch resiliently relaxes for engaging said hole to latch the cover to the receiver tube tubular wall.