초록 ▼

A hitch assembly (10) for mounting adjacent an underneath surface (102A) of a bed (102) of a truck (100) to enable the truck to tow a vehicle having a gooseneck coupling. The hitch assembly has a retractable hitch ball (28, 228) which allows for retracting the hitch ball out of the bed of the truck

A hitch assembly (10) for mounting adjacent an underneath surface (102A) of a bed (102) of a truck (100) to enable the truck to tow a vehicle having a gooseneck coupling. The hitch assembly has a retractable hitch ball (28, 228) which allows for retracting the hitch ball out of the bed of the truck when not in use. The hitch assembly includes a mounting assembly, a container (24) and a hitch ball. The container is mounted in an opening (14E) of a mounting plate (14) of the mounting assembly such that the open top end of the container is adjacent an opening in the bed of the truck. The hitch ball is positioned in the container with a compression spring (29) located between the hitch ball and the closed, lower end (24B) of the container. The compression spring acts to move the hitch ball into the semi-retracted position when the locking mechanism (34) is unlocked. When the hitch ball is moved to the fully extended or fully retracted position, the locking mechanism automatically locks the hitch ball in position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A trailer hitch assembly for a bed of a truck adjacent an opening in the bed of the truck, which comprises:(a) a container having a first end and a closed, second end with a sidewall extending therebetween forming an inner chamber, the sidewall having an opening extending into the inner chamber w

1. A trailer hitch assembly for a bed of a truck adjacent an opening in the bed of the truck, which comprises:(a) a container having a first end and a closed, second end with a sidewall extending therebetween forming an inner chamber, the sidewall having an opening extending into the inner chamber wherein the container is mounted adjacent an underneath surface of the bed of the truck such that the first end of the container is adjacent the opening in the bed of the truck; (b) a hitch ball mounted in the inner chamber of the container having a first ball end and a second end; (c) a biasing means mounted in the inner chamber of the container between the closed, second end of the container and the second end of the hitch ball for biasing the hitch ball toward the open first end of the container; and (d) a locking rod having a first end and a second end and mounted adjacent the container such that in a locked position, the first end of the locking rod extends through the opening in the sidewall of the container and into contact with the hitch ball and wherein the locking rod is capable of locking the hitch ball in an extended position or a retracted position.