Hitch ball mount and method of forming the hitch ball mount
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B60D-001/06
B60D-001/52
출원번호
US-0649700
(2012-10-11)
등록번호
US-9308789
(2016-04-12)
발명자
/ 주소
Bernart, Francis
DePietro, Thomas
출원인 / 주소
Cequent Consumer Products
대리인 / 주소
McDonald Hopkins LLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
37
초록▼
A hitch ball mount is shown and described. The hitch ball mount may include a generally tubular body having first and second end portions, the first end portion engageable with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, and a drop portion monolithic with the tubular body and formed between the first and
A hitch ball mount is shown and described. The hitch ball mount may include a generally tubular body having first and second end portions, the first end portion engageable with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, and a drop portion monolithic with the tubular body and formed between the first and second end portions of the tubular member. The hitch ball mount may further include a hitch ball mounting portion monolithic with the drop portion and tubular body, the hitch ball mounting portion formed at the second end portion of the tubular member and extending from the drop portion, where a hitch ball is selectively attachable to the hitch ball mounting portion.
대표청구항▼
1. A hitch ball mount comprising: a generally tubular body having first and second end portions, the first end portion engageable with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the tubular body including a pair of transverse apertures;a drop portion monolithic with the tubular body and formed between th
1. A hitch ball mount comprising: a generally tubular body having first and second end portions, the first end portion engageable with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the tubular body including a pair of transverse apertures;a drop portion monolithic with the tubular body and formed between the first and second end portions of the tubular member;a hitch ball mounting portion monolithic with the drop portion and tubular body, the hitch ball mounting portion formed at the second end portion of the tubular member and extending from the drop portion, wherein a hitch ball is selectively attachable to the hitch ball mounting portion and;a seam located in at least a portion of the hitch ball mounting portion. 2. The hitch ball mount of claim 1, wherein the tubular body is stamped to form the monolithic drop portion and hitch ball mounting portion. 3. The hitch ball mount of claim 1, wherein the seam includes a generally protective layer. 4. The hitch ball mount of claim 3, wherein the protective layer includes welding. 5. The hitch ball mount of claim 3, wherein the protective layer includes a coating generally preventing corrosion. 6. The hitch ball mount of claim 1, further comprising an axial through-hole extending through the hitch ball mounting portion and an acircular recess, wherein the acircular recess is positioned axially relative to the through-hole with the through-hole being within the recess. 7. The hitch ball mount of claim 6, further comprising a hitch ball having a base, a portion of the hitch ball inserted into the through-hole, wherein the base includes a perimeter, whereby a majority portion of the perimeter of the base is engageable with the recess to prevent rotation of the hitch ball during installation. 8. The hitch ball mount of claim 7, wherein the acircular recess includes a sidewall and the majority portion of the perimeter is engageable with the sidewall to prevent rotation of the hitch ball during installation of a nut. 9. The hitch ball mount of claim 8, wherein the acircular recess is a first acircular recess and wherein the hitch ball mounting portion includes a first face, the first acircular recess positioned on the first face. 10. The hitch ball mount of claim 9, further comprising a second face positioned on the hitch ball mounting portion opposite the first face, the second face including a second acircular recess, whereby the second acircular recess is positioned axially relative to the through-hole with the through-hole being within the second recess. 11. The hitch ball mount of claim 10, wherein the majority portion of the perimeter of the base is engageable with the second recess to prevent rotation of the hitch ball during installation. 12. A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the hitch ball mount comprising: a generally tubular body having first and second end portions and a cavity therebetween, the first end portion being engageable with the hitch receiver;a drop portion monolithic with the tubular body and formed between the first and second end portions of the tubular member;a hitch ball mounting portion monolithic with the drop portion and tubular body, the hitch ball mounting formed at the second end portion of the tubular member and extending from the drop portion, wherein hitch ball mounting portion is generally free of the cavity;the hitch ball mounting portion includes a tongue having an axial through-hole extending through the tongue and a recess wherein the recess is positioned axially relative to the through-hole with the through-hole being within the recess; anda seam located in at least a portion of the hitch ball mounting portion. 13. The hitch ball mount of claim 12, wherein the recess is an acircular recess. 14. The hitch ball mount of claim 12, wherein the first end portion of the tubular member includes a generally slanted end and an aperture capable of receiving a hitch pin. 15. The hitch ball mount of claim 12, wherein the drop portion and the hitch ball mount portion are formed by stamping the tubular member. 16. The hitch ball mount of claim 15, wherein the stamped drop portion and hitch ball mount portion are formed in a single stamping operation. 17. A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver, the hitch ball mount comprising: a generally tubular body having first and second end portions, the first end portion engageable with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the tubular body including at least one aperture to receive a pin therein and operatively attach to the hitch receiver;a drop portion monolithic with the tubular body and formed between the first and second end portions of the tubular member;a hitch ball mounting portion formed with and adjacent to the drop portion free of welding between the hitch ball mounting portion and the drop portion; anda seam located in at least a portion of the hitch ball mounting portion. 18. The hitch ball mount of claim 17, wherein the drop portion is formed by stamping the tubular member between the first and second end portions. 19. The hitch ball mount of claim 18, wherein the hitch ball mount is formed by stamping the tubular member at the second end portion. 20. A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver, the hitch ball mount comprising: a monolithic tubular member comprising a first section having a cavity extending a longitudinal length, the first section including a pair of transverse apertures;a second section extending from the first section; anda third section extending from the second section, the third section being generally flattened such that an interior top portion of the tubular member and an interior bottom portion of the tubular member are in proximity to one another and the third section being generally free of the cavity, wherein the hitch ball is capable of being secured to the third section. 21. The hitch ball mount of claim 20, wherein flattening the third section generally eliminates the cavity from the third section. 22. The hitch ball mount of claim 21, wherein the first section is a generally tubular member having first and section end portions, the first end portion capable of selective attachment to a towing vehicle. 23. The hitch ball mount of claim 22, wherein the second section is a drop portion monolithic with the tubular body and formed between the first and second end portions of the tubular member. 24. The hitch ball mount of claim 23, wherein the third section is a hitch ball mounting portion monolithic with the drop portion and tubular body, the hitch ball mounting portion formed at the second end portion of the tubular member and extending from the drop portion. 25. The hitch ball mount of claim 24, further comprising an axial through-hole extending through the hitch ball mounting portion and an acircular recess, wherein the acircular recess is positioned axially relative to the through-hole with the through-hole being within the recess. 26. A hitch ball mount comprising: a tubular member having first and second end portions, the tubular member including a pair of transverse apertures;a drop formed by stamping the tubular member between the first and second end portions; anda hitch ball mounting portion formed by stamping the tubular member at the second end portion, the hitch ball mounting portion including a seam, wherein a hitch ball is selectively attachable to the hitch ball mounting portion. 27. A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver, the hitch ball mount comprising: a hitch receiver portion capable of being selectively secured to the hitch receiver, the hitch receiver portion including an open end portion insertable into the hitch receiver, the hitch receiver portion including a pair of transverse apertures;a drop portion adjacent to the hitch receiver portion;a ball mounting portion adjacent to the drop portion, the ball mounting portion including a seam formed therein; andwherein the hitch receiver portion, drop portion and ball mounting portions are monolithically formed. 28. The hitch ball mount of claim 27, wherein the ball mounting portion includes a first face and a second face opposite the first face. 29. The hitch ball mount of claim 28, further comprising an axial through-hole positioned in the ball mounting portion extending between the first and second faces of the ball mounting portion. 30. The hitch ball mount of claim 29, further comprising a first acircular recess having a perimeter on at least one of the first or second faces, the first acircular recess positioned axially relative to the through-hole with the through-hole being within the perimeter. 31. A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver, the hitch ball mount comprising: a hitch receiver portion capable of being selectively secured to the hitch receiver, the hitch receiver portion having an internal cavity extending a longitudinal length, the hitch receiver including a pair of transverse apertures;a drop portion adjacent to the hitch receiver portion;a ball mounting portion adjacent to the drop portion, wherein the ball mounting portion is cavity free and includes a seam formed therein; andwherein the hitch receiver portion, drop and ball mounting portions are formed from a monolithic member. 32. A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver, the hitch ball mount comprising: a hitch receiver portion capable of being selectively secured to the hitch receiver, the hitch receiver portion having an internal cavity extending a longitudinal length, the hitch receiver including a pair of transverse apertures;a ball mounting portion adjacent to the hitch receiver portion, wherein the ball mounting portion is cavity free and includes a seam formed therein; andwherein the hitch receiver portion and ball mounting portions are generally free of any welding. 33. A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the hitch ball mount comprising: a generally tubular body having first and second end portions, the first end portion engageable with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the generally tubular body including a pair of transverse apertures;a drop portion monolithically formed from the tubular body between the first and second end portions of the tubular member;a hitch ball mounting portion monolithically formed from the second end portion of the tubular member, wherein the hitch ball is selectively attachable to the hitch ball mounting portion; anda seam located in at least a portion of the hitch ball mounting portion. 34. The hitch ball mount of claim 27, wherein the hitch receiver portion is a generally tubular member. 35. The hitch ball mount of claim 27, wherein the hitch receiver portion includes a generally closed periphery in cross-section. 36. The hitch ball mount of claim 24 further comprising a seam located in a portion of the hitch ball mounting portion. 37. The hitch ball mount of claim 12, wherein the seam includes a generally protective layer. 38. The hitch ball mount of claim 17, wherein the seam includes a generally protective layer. 39. The hitch ball mount of claim 26, wherein the seam includes a generally protective layer. 40. The hitch ball mount of claim 27, wherein the seam includes a generally protective layer. 41. The hitch ball mount of claim 31, wherein the seam includes a generally protective layer. 42. The hitch ball mount of claim 32, wherein the seam includes a generally protective layer. 43. The hitch ball mount of claim 33, wherein the seam includes a generally protective layer. 44. A hitch ball mount capable of securing a hitch ball to a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle, the hitch ball mount comprising: a generally tubular body having first and second end portions, the first end portion engageable with a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle;a drop portion monolithically formed from the tubular body between the first and second end portions of the tubular member;a hitch ball mounting portion monolithically formed from the second end portion of the tubular member, wherein the hitch ball is selectively attachable to the hitch ball mounting portion; anda seam located in at least a portion of the hitch ball mounting portion, wherein the seam includes a generally protective layer.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (37)
Harrison Benny (P.O. Box 1247 Jay OK 74346), Adjustable offset ball hitch.
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