Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
Docket No: GEM107-1CA
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DRAWBAR AND HITCH RECEIVER MOVEMENT ELIMINATING SYSTEMS
TECHNICAL FIELD
[01] This document relates to the technical field of trailer hitches and
more specifically
relates to drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating systems.
BACKGROUND
[02] There are many types of trailers that are being pulled by vehicles on
highways and
roads each day. These trailers range in size from small trailers that can be
pulled by family
cars, to large trailers for hauling heavy equipment that must be towed by
adequately sized
trucks having adequate horsepower for pulling the weight.
SUMMARY
[03] The following includes information that may be useful in understanding
the aspects
(embodiments) of the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of
the
information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently
described or claimed
inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or
implicitly referenced
is prior art.
[04] There are many types of apparatuses used for towing trailers also.
Commercially,
these hitching apparatuses are designed for specific types and weights of
trailers, with the
most common being of the 5th wheel style. Non-commercially, the most common
type of
hitch is the drawbar and receiver type of hitch that gained in popularity due
to its
versatility. This type of hitch generally has a receiver that is made most
often of heavy
duty square tubing. The tubing may have various types of mounting brackets or
straps that
adapt it to be rigidly mounted to the towing vehicle. A drawbar having a
trailer ball
attached in some fashion is generally constructed such that it has a heavy
duty square tube
portion that is sized to slide within the receiver and be locked into place by
a heavy metal
pin that passes through aligned holes in both the receiver and the drawbar.
The versatility
of such an arrangement is that the pin can be pulled and another drawbar
having any
number of types or sizes of trailer attachments, or even other devices not
used for pulling
trailers can be coupled to the vehicle. This probably makes this type of hitch
the most
common.
[05] The drawbar is sized to easily slide into the receiver, using common
sizes of readily
available square tubing stock. The clearance between the outer surface of the
drawbar and
the inner surface of the receiver can become problematic when trailers are
being towed
which have comparatively high weights for the vehicle doing the towing, that
have higher
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centers or gravity, or that have a balance point that is too far forward such
as when a trailer
is loaded too heavily behind the axle of the trailer. These things should
never be attempted,
but happen every day anyway to varying degrees. Very small amounts of movement
between the drawbar and receiver can result in much larger, uncontrolled
movements of
the trailer and reduce the safety factor for the driver and others on the
road. Various
apparatuses have been designed to attempt to compensate for this, such as anti-
sway bar
devices, but they are very heavy and cumbersome to install and reinstall. An
innovation
that would greatly improve the convenience or reduce the labor and expense of
using a
device for this purpose is needed.
[06] Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems
such as
those found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,052,032 to Edward C. Adair, U.S. Pat. No.
6,283,489 to
Josef Thomas Hoog, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,328,222 to Leslie Roeber. This art is
representative of anti sway trailer hitches. None of the above inventions and
patents, taken
either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.
[07] Ideally, a trailer hitch should provide maximum safety and anti-sway
tendencies and,
yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a
need exists
for a reliable drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating system to avoid
the above-
mentioned problems.
[08] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known trailer
hitch art, an
embodiment provides a novel drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating
system.
The general purpose of the aspect (embodiment), which will be described
subsequently in
greater detail, is to provide greater convenience, reduced labor, and reduced
cost.
[09] The drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating system has three
main
embodiments each very similar and functioning with the same operational
characteristics.
The first embodiment, the drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating
system
preferably has a receiver portion having a vehicle mount on a first end and a
drawbar
receiver on a second end, a drawbar portion having a receivable shaft, a
movement
adjustment portion, and a movement adjustment nut, a ball mount portion having
a
movement adjustment attachment end, a ball throughhole end, a first side, and
a second
side, lateral lock pin holes through the receivable shaft and the drawbar
portion that may
be brought into alignment, a lateral lock pin for inserting through the
plurality of lateral
lock pin holes, and a trailer ball comprising a coupler first portion, a shaft
boss, a threaded
shaft, and a shaft nut.
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[010] The receiver portion is a square tube having a first end and a second
end. The second
end has a front face that is larger in width and height than the width and
height of the
tubing itself, with the front face being a flat surface. The vehicle mount is
nonremovably
attached to the first end of the drawbar receiver and generally is structured
differently for
different makes and years of towing vehicles. The drawbar portion has a
receivable shaft, a
movement adjustment portion, and a movement adjustment nut. The receivable
shaft and
the movement adjustment portion are linearly and integrally constructed and
the movement
adjustment portion of the drawbar portion is cylindrically shaped and
transitions to a
square cross-section at the receivable shaft. The movement adjustment portion
comprises
male threads on the exterior periphery and the movement adjustment nut
comprises female
threads on the inner periphery such that the movement adjustment portion and
the
movement adjustment nut are adapted to be threadably coupled together via the
male
threads of the movement adjustment portion and the female threads of the
movement
adjustment nut. The male threads of the movement adjustment portion are
adapted to
prevent the movement adjustment nut from contacting the second side of the
movement
adjustment attachment end of the ball mount portion. The movement adjustment
nut is
removable from the drawbar portion. The movement adjustment nut comprises
equidistantly spaced linear groves deposed longitudinally across an exterior
of the
movement adjustment nut for gripping via a spanner wrench. The spanner wrench
may be
common or standard for convenience, and not proprietary. The movement
adjustment nut
is substantially cylindrical and adapted to be rotated via the spanner wrench.
The ball
mount portion has a movement adjustment attachment end, a ball throughhole
end, a first
side, and a second side. The second side of the movement adjustment attachment
end is
non-removably attached to the movement adjustment portion of the drawbar
portion. The
movement adjustment nut of the drawbar portion and the front face of the
drawbar receiver
each comprise a flat contact face adapted for contacting each other during an
in-use
condition.
[011] A trailer ball comprises a coupler first portion, a shaft boss, a
threaded shaft, and a
shaft nut. The coupler first portion, the shaft boss, and the threaded shaft
are linearly and
integrally formed and the shaft nut is designed to be threadably coupled to
the threaded
shaft. The threaded shaft is adapted to be inserted through a throughhole of
the ball
throughhole end and rigidly attached via a threadably coupling of the shaft
nut to the
threaded shaft. The outside dimension of the receivable shaft is sized such
that it is able to
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be slideably inserted into the tubular portion of the second end of the
drawbar receiver and
locked in place via a lateral lock pin. The lateral lock pin is insertable
through a series of
laterally deposed and aligned lateral lock pin holes in the tubular portion
and the
receivable shaft. The receivable shaft of the drawbar portion and the tubular
portion of the
drawbar receiver each are adapted to have a substantially square cross-
section. The
movement adjustment nut is able to be threadably adjusted to contact the front
face of the
tubular portion of the second end of the drawbar receiver when the drawbar and
hitch
receiver movement eliminating system is in an assembled condition on a towing
vehicle to
eliminate the lateral and vertical movement of the drawbar portion within the
drawbar
receiver to stabilize the swaying motion of a trailer coupled to the towing
vehicle to
increase the safety factor.
[012] The second embodiment, the drawbar and hitch receiver movement
eliminating clamp
preferably comprises a receiver having a vehicle mount on the first end and a
drawbar
receiver on the second end with the second end having a tubular portion with a
front face,
and a drawbar having a receivable shaft and a ball mount portion. The ball
mount portion
comprises a drawbar end, a ball throughhole end, a first side, and a second
side, a clamp
portion having a movement eliminating bolt, a first half, and a second half
with the first
half having a first side, a second side, a top side, and a bottom side, a
trailer ball
comprising a coupler first portion, a shaft boss, a threaded shaft, and a
shaft nut.
[013] The
vehicle mount is nonremovably attached to the first end of the drawbar
receiver
just as in the first embodiment, and the second end has a receiver having a
tubular portion
with a front face. The ball mount portion has a second side that is non-
removably attached
to one end of the receivable shaft of the drawbar. The first half and the
second half of the
clamp portion is substantially U-shaped conforming to a top half and a bottom
half of the
exterior surface of a cross-section of the receivable shaft of the drawbar and
is designed to
opposingly clamp about the exterior surface of the receivable shaft via at
least one fastener
passing through each end of both the first half and the second half of the
clamp portion
through cylindrically shaped through-holes passing vertically through the top
side to the
bottom side of each end with the movement eliminating bolt threadably
extending through
the first half of the clamp portion, from the first side to the second side,
to contact the front
face of the drawbar receiver. The clamp portion is able to be slideably moved
along the
drawbar when the fasteners are loose in order to adjust the position of the
clamp portion in
relation to the front face to ensure there are adequate threads on the
movement eliminating
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bolt to tighten it against the front face of the drawbar receiver. The
movement eliminating
bolt is tightened against the front face via a clockwise rotation to set the
clamp and remove
any horizontal or vertical movement of the ball mount portion in relation to
the drawbar
receiver when the drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating clamp is in
an
assembled condition and is installed on the towing vehicle and trailer to
eliminate lateral
and vertical movement of the drawbar within the receiver for stabilizing any
swaying
motion of the trailer coupled to the towing vehicle that might result when
moving at
normal travel speeds. The movement eliminating bolt threadably passes through
the center
portion of the first half of the clamp portion, from the first side through to
the second side
utilizing a lock nut to lock the adjustment in place. The movement eliminating
bolt is
angled downward from horizontal at about 10 degrees to contact the front face
of the
drawbar receiver. This is needed to have clearance between the receivable
shaft of the
drawbar for tightening the head with a wrench.
[014] The coupler first portion of the trailer ball, the shaft boss, and
the threaded shaft are
linearly and integrally formed and the shaft nut is designed to be threadably
coupled onto
or to be removable from the threaded shaft. The threaded shaft is adapted to
be inserted
through a throughhole of the ball throughhole end and rigidly attached via a
threadably
coupled shaft nut to the threaded shaft.
[015] The outside dimension of the receivable shaft is sized so that it is
able to be slideably
inserted into the tubular portion of the second end of the receiver and locked
in place via a
lateral lock pin. The lateral lock pin is insertable through a plurality of
laterally deposed
and aligned lateral lock pin holes in the tubular portion and in the
receivable shaft and in
the drawbar receiver.
[016] The third embodiment, the movement eliminating trailer hitch ball-mount
system
preferably comprises a receiver having a vehicle mount on the first end, a
drawbar receiver
on the second end which is a tubular portion with a front face, a drawbar
having a
receivable shaft, and a ball mount portion which comprises a drawbar end a
ball
throughhole end, a first side and a second side, and a movement eliminating
bolt, a trailer
ball comprising a coupler first portion, a shaft boss, a threaded shaft, and a
shaft nut. The
vehicle mount is nonremovably attached to the first end of the drawbar
receiver as in the
other embodiments. The second side of the ball mount portion is non-removably
attached
to one end of the receivable shaft of the drawbar. The movement eliminating
bolt
threadably extends through the ball mount portion from the first side through
to the second
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side above an attachment point of the receivable shaft on the second side. The
upwardly
angled two thirds portion of the ball mount portion is attached to the
receivable shaft on
the second side leaving an adequate space above it for the movement
eliminating bolt hole
and for the movement eliminating bolt to threadably pass through without
interference
from the receivable shaft. The movement eliminating bolt is positioned
horizontally
through the ball mount portion, is positioned parallel to the receivable
shaft, and includes a
backup nut for locking the adjustment of the movement eliminating bolt in
relation to the
ball mount portion and against the front face of the tubular portion. The ball
mount portion
is comprised of flat bar steel having a two thirds portion of the total length
angled upward
at about 65 degrees from the horizontal 1/3 portion. The horizontal 1/3
portion has the
throughhole for installation of the trailer ball. A trailer ball comprises a
coupler first
portion, a shaft boss, a threaded shaft, and a shaft nut. The ball mount
portion includes a
movement eliminating bolt hole having female threads about the inner periphery
and the
movement eliminating bolt comprises male threads about the outer periphery for
threadably coupling the movement eliminating bolt through the movement
eliminating bolt
hole of the ball mount portion to contact the front face of the drawbar
receiver.
[017] The
coupler first portion, the shaft boss, and the threaded shaft are linearly and
integrally formed and the shaft nut is designed to be threadably coupled to
the threaded
shaft. It should be noted that the coupler second portion is the ball socket
of the trailer
tongue in all embodiments. The threaded shaft is adapted to be inserted
through a
throughhole of the ball throughhole end and rigidly attached by threading the
shaft nut
onto the threaded shaft and tightening. The outside dimension of the
receivable shaft is
sized such that it is able to be slideably inserted into the tubular portion
of the second end
of the receiver and locked in place via a lateral lock pin. The lateral lock
pin is insertable
through a plurality of laterally deposed and aligned lateral lock pin holes in
the tubular
portion and in the receivable shaft. The movement eliminating bolt is able to
be threadably
adjusted to contact the front face of the tubular portion of the second end of
the receiver
when the movement eliminating trailer hitch ball-mount system is in an
assembled
condition and installed on a towing vehicle and a trailer, to eliminate the
lateral and
vertical movement of the drawbar within the receiver to stabilize any swaying
motion
during travel which increases the safety factor of towing a trailer.
[018] An aspect (embodiment) holds significant improvements and serves as a
drawbar and
hitch receiver movement eliminating systems. For purposes of summarizing the
invention,
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certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been
described
herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be
achieved in
accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the
invention may
be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one
advantage or group
of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages
as may be
taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed
to be novel
are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion
of the
specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the aspect
(embodiment) will become better understood with reference to the following
drawings and
detailed description.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[019] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification
illustrate
embodiments and method(s) of use for the aspect (embodiment), drawbar and
hitch
receiver movement eliminating systems, constructed and operative according to
the
teachings of the aspect (embodiment).
[020] FIG. IA shows perspective view of a first embodiment illustrating a
drawbar and
hitch receiver movement eliminating system according to an embodiment.
[021] FIG. 1B shows another perspective view of the first embodiment
illustrating the
drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating system according to an
embodiment as
depicted in FIG. 1A.
[022] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a second embodiment illustrating a
drawbar and
hitch receiver movement eliminating clamp according to an embodiment.
[023] FIG. 2B is another perspective view of the second embodiment
illustrating the
drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating clamp according to an
embodiment of
the embodiment of FIG. 2A.
[024] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a third embodiment illustrating a
movement
eliminating trailer hitch ball-mount system according to an embodiment.
[025] FIG. 3B is another perspective view of the third embodiment
illustrating the
movement eliminating trailer hitch ball-mount system according to an
embodiment of FIG.
3A.
[026] FIG. 4 is a rear view of a towing vehicle with an embodiment of a
drawbar and hitch
receiver movement eliminating system affixed to the towing vehicle.
[027] The various embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction
with the
appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[028] As discussed above, embodiments relate to a trailer hitch and more
particularly to a
drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating systems as used to improve the
maximum safety and anti-sway tendencies.
[029] Generally speaking, drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating
systems has
three main embodiments, each very similar and functioning with the same
operational
characteristics though they vary slightly in structural characteristics. Each
embodiment has
a means for the drawbar to push outwardly against the face of the receiver to
eliminate the
typical movement of the drawbar within the receiver caused by the standard
clearances
between the two, thereby considerably reducing the amplified swaying movement
of the
trailer that is caused by the small movements of the drawbar within the
receiver.
[030] Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in
FIG. IA a
perspective view of a first embodiment illustrating drawbar and hitch receiver
movement
eliminating system 100 according to an embodiment.
[031] The first embodiment, drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating
system 100
preferably has receiver portion 105 having vehicle mount 106 on first end 107
and drawbar
receiver 110 on second end 111, drawbar portion 115 having receivable shaft
116,
movement adjustment portion 117, and movement adjustment nut 118, ball mount
portion
125 having movement adjustment attachment end 126, ball throughhole end 127,
first side
128, and second side 129, lateral lock pin holes 146 through receivable shaft
116 and
drawbar receiver 110 that may be brought into alignment, a lateral lock pin
145 for
inserting through the plurality of lateral lock pin holes 146, and trailer
ball 135 comprising
coupler first portion 136, shaft boss 137, threaded shaft 138, and shaft nut
139.
[032] Referring now to FIG. 1B showing another perspective view of the
first embodiment
illustrating drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating system 100
according to an
embodiment of FIG. 1A.
[033] Receiver portion 105 is a square tube having first end 107 and second
end 111.
Second end 111 has front face 113 that is larger in width and height than the
width and
height of tubular portion 112 itself, with front face 113 being a flat
surface. Vehicle mount
106 is nonremovably attached to first end 107 of drawbar receiver 110 and
generally is
structured differently for different makes and years of towing vehicles.
Drawbar portion
115 has receivable shaft 116, movement adjustment portion 117, and movement
adjustment nut 118. Receivable shaft 116 and movement adjustment portion 117
are =
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linearly and integrally constructed and movement adjustment portion 117 of
drawbar
portion 115 is cylindrically shaped and transitions to a square cross-section
at receivable
shaft 116. Movement adjustment portion 117 comprises male threads 119 on
exterior
periphery 120 and movement adjustment nut 118 comprises female threads 121 on
inner
periphery 122 such that movement adjustment portion 117 and movement
adjustment nut
118 are adapted to be threadably coupled together via male threads 119 of
movement
adjustment portion 117 and female threads 121 of movement adjustment nut 118.
Male
threads 119 of movement adjustment portion 117 are adapted to prevent movement
adjustment nut 118 from contacting second side 129 of movement adjustment
attachment
end 126 of ball mount portion 125. Movement adjustment nut 118 is removable
from
drawbar portion 115. Movement adjustment nut 118 comprises equidistantly
spaced linear
groves 155 deposed longitudinally across an exterior of movement adjustment
nut 118 for
gripping via a spanner wrench. The spanner wrench may be common or standard
for
convenience, and preferably not proprietary. Movement adjustment nut 118 is
substantially
cylindrical and adapted to be rotated via the spanner wrench. Ball mount
portion 125 has
movement adjustment attachment end 126, ball throughhole end 127, first side
128, and
second side 129. Second side 129 of movement adjustment attachment end 126 is
non-
removably attached to movement adjustment portion 117 of drawbar portion 115.
Movement adjustment nut 118 of drawbar portion 115 and front face 113 of
drawbar
receiver 110 each comprise flat contact face 108 adapted for contacting each
other during
an in-use condition.
[034] Trailer
ball 135 comprises coupler first portion 136, shaft boss 137, threaded shaft
138, and shaft nut 139. Coupler first portion 136, shaft boss 137, and
threaded shaft 138
are linearly and integrally formed and shaft nut 139 is designed to be
threadably coupled to
threaded shaft 138. Threaded shaft 138 is adapted to be inserted through a
throughhole of
ball throughhole end 127 and rigidly attached via threadably coupling the
shaft nut 139 to
threaded shaft 138. The outside dimension of receivable shaft 116 is sized
such that it is
able to be slideably inserted into tubular portion 112 of second end 111 of
drawbar
receiver 110 and locked in place via lateral lock pin 145. Lateral lock pin
145 is insertable
through a series of laterally deposed and aligned lateral lock pin holes 146
in tubular
portion 112 and receivable shaft 116. Receivable shaft 116 of drawbar portion
115 and
tubular portion 112 of drawbar receiver 110 each are adapted to have a
substantially square
cross-section. Movement adjustment nut 118 is able to be threadably adjusted
to contact
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front face 113 of tubular portion 112 of second end 111 of drawbar receiver
110 when
drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating system 100 is in an assembled
condition
on a towing vehicle to eliminate the lateral and vertical movement of drawbar
portion 115
within drawbar receiver 110 to stabilize the swaying motion of a trailer
coupled to the
towing vehicle to increase the safety factor.
[035] Referring now to FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a second embodiment
illustrating
drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating clamp 200 according to an
embodiment.
[036] The second embodiment, drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating
clamp
200 preferably comprises receiver 205 having vehicle mount 206 on first end
207 and
drawbar receiver 208 on second end 209 with second end 209 having tubular
portion 210
with front face 211, and drawbar 215 having receivable shaft 216 and ball
mount portion
217. Ball mount portion 217 comprises drawbar end 218, ball throughhole end
219, first
side 220, and second side 221, clamp portion 225 having movement eliminating
bolt 226,
first half 227, and second half 228 with first half 227 having first side 229,
second side
230, top side 231, and bottom side 232, trailer ball 235 comprising coupler
first portion
236, shaft boss 237, threaded shaft 238, and shaft nut 239.
[037] Referring now to FIG. 2B is another perspective view of the second
embodiment
illustrating drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating clamp 200
according to an
embodiment of FIG. 2A.
[038] Vehicle mount 206 is nonremovably attached to first end 207 of drawbar
receiver 208
just as in the first embodiment, and second end 209 has receiver 205 having
tubular
portion 210 with front face 211. Ball mount portion 217 has second side 230
that is non-
removably attached to one end of receivable shaft 216 of drawbar 215. First
half 227 and
second half 228 of clamp portion 225 is substantially U-shaped conforming to
top half 246
and bottom half 247 of the exterior surface of a cross-section of receivable
shaft 216 of
drawbar 215 and is designed to opposingly clamp about the exterior surface of
receivable
shaft 216 via at least one fastener 270 passing through each end 275 of both
first half 227
and second half 228 of clamp portion 225 through cylindrically shaped through-
holes 233
passing vertically through top side 231 to bottom side 232 of each end 275
with movement
eliminating bolt 226 threadably extending through first half 227 of clamp
portion 225,
from first side 229 to second side 230, to contact front face 211 of drawbar
receiver 208.
Clamp portion 225 is able to be slideably moved along drawbar 215 when
fastener(s) 270
are loose in order to adjust the position of clamp portion 225 in relation to
front face 211 to
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ensure there are adequate threads on movement eliminating bolt 226 to tighten
it against
front face 211 of drawbar receiver 208. Movement eliminating bolt 226 is
tightened
against front face 211 via a clockwise rotation to set clamp portion 225 and
remove any
horizontal or vertical movement of ball mount portion 217 in relation to
drawbar receiver
208 when drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating clamp 200 is in an
assembled
condition and is installed on the towing vehicle and trailer to eliminate
lateral and vertical
movement of drawbar 215 within receiver 205 for stabilizing any swaying motion
of the
trailer coupled to the towing vehicle that might result when moving at normal
travel
speeds. Movement eliminating bolt 226 threadably passes through center portion
260 of
first half 227 of clamp portion 225, from first side 229 through to second
side 230 utilizing
lock nut 280 to lock the adjustment in place. Movement eliminating bolt 226 is
angled
downward from horizontal at about 10 degrees to contact front face 211 of
drawbar
receiver 208. This is needed to have clearance between receivable shaft 216 of
drawbar
215 for tightening the head with a wrench.
[039] Coupler first portion 236 of trailer ball 235, shaft boss 237, and
threaded shaft 238 are
linearly and integrally formed and shaft nut 239 is designed to be threadably
coupled onto
or to be removable from threaded shaft 238. Threaded shaft 238 is adapted to
be inserted
through throughhole 240 of ball throughhole end 219 and rigidly attached via a
threadably
coupled shaft nut 239 to threaded shaft 238.
[040] The outside dimension of receivable shaft 216 is sized so that it is
able to be slideably
inserted into tubular portion 210 of second end 209 of receiver 205 and locked
in place via
lateral lock pin 241. Lateral lock pin 241 is insertable through a plurality
of laterally
deposed and aligned lateral lock pin holes 242 in tubular portion 210 and in
receivable
shaft 216 and in drawbar receiver 208.
[041] Referring now to FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a third embodiment
illustrating
movement eliminating trailer hitch ball-mount system 300 according to an
embodiment.
[042] The third embodiment, the movement eliminating trailer hitch ball-mount
system 300
preferably comprises receiver 305 having vehicle mount 306 on first end 307,
drawbar
receiver 308 on second end 309 which is tubular portion 310 with front face
311, drawbar
315 having receivable shaft 316, and ball mount portion 317 which comprises
drawbar end
318, ball throughhole end 319, first side 320 and second side 321, and
movement
eliminating bolt 322, trailer ball 325 comprising coupler first portion 326,
shaft boss 327,
threaded shaft 328, and shaft nut 329.
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[043] Referring now to FIG. 3B is another perspective view of the third
embodiment
illustrating movement eliminating trailer hitch ball-mount system 300
according to an
embodiment of FIG. 3A.
[044] Vehicle mount 306 is nonremovably attached to first end 307 of drawbar
receiver 308
as in the other embodiments. Second side 321 of ball mount portion 317 is non-
removably
attached to one end of receivable shaft 316 of drawbar 315. Movement
eliminating bolt
322 threadably extends through ball mount portion 317 from first side 320
through to
second side 321 above attachment point 323 of receivable shaft 316 on second
side 321.
The upwardly angled two thirds portion 342 of ball mount portion 317 is
attached to
receivable shaft 316 on second side 321 leaving an adequate space above it for
movement
eliminating bolt hole 355 and for movement eliminating bolt 322 to threadably
pass
through without interference from receivable shaft 316. Movement eliminating
bolt 322 is
positioned horizontally through ball mount portion 317, is positioned parallel
to receivable
shaft 316, and includes backup nut 335 for locking the adjustment of movement
eliminating bolt 322 in relation to ball mount portion 317 and against front
face 311 of
tubular portion 310. Ball mount portion 317 is comprised of flat bar steel 340
having two
thirds portion 342 of the total length angled upward at about 65 degrees from
horizontal
1/3 portion 344. Horizontal 1/3 portion 344 has throughhole 330 for
installation of trailer
ball 325. Trailer ball 325 comprises coupler first portion 326, shaft boss
327, threaded
shaft 328, and shaft nut 329. Ball mount portion 317 includes movement
eliminating bolt
hole 355 having female threads 356 about inner periphery 357 and movement
eliminating
bolt 322 comprises male threads 358 about outer periphery 359 for threadably
coupling
movement eliminating bolt 322 through movement eliminating bolt hole 355 of
ball mount
portion 317 to contact front face 311 of drawbar receiver 308.
[045]
Coupler first portion 326, shaft boss 327, and threaded shaft 328 are linearly
and
integrally formed and shaft nut 329 is designed to be threadably coupled to
threaded shaft
328. It should be noted that the coupler second portion is the ball socket of
the trailer
tongue in all embodiments. Threaded shaft 328 is adapted to be inserted
through
throughhole 330 of ball throughhole end 319 and rigidly attached by threading
shaft nut
329 onto threaded shaft 328 and tightening. The outside dimension of
receivable shaft 316
is sized such that it is able to be slideably inserted into tubular portion
310 of second end
309 of receiver 305 and locked in place via lateral lock pin 332. Lateral lock
pin 332 is
insertable through a plurality of laterally deposed and aligned lateral lock
pin holes 333 in
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Docket No: GEM107-1CA
14
tubular portion 310 and in receivable shaft 316. Movement eliminating bolt 322
is able to
be threadably adjusted to contact front face 311 of tubular portion 310 of
second end 309
of receiver 305 when movement eliminating trailer hitch ball-mount system 300
is in an
assembled condition and installed on a towing vehicle and a trailer, to
eliminate the lateral
and vertical movement of drawbar 315 within receiver 305 to stabilize any
swaying motion
during travel which increases the safety factor of towing a trailer.
[046] Drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating systems 100, the drawbar
and
hitch receiver movement eliminating clamp 200, and the movement eliminating
trailer
hitch ball-mount system 300, may be sold as kits 150, 250, and 350 comprising
the
following parts for kit 150: at least one drawbar portion 115 having movement
adjustment
portion 117 with movement adjustment nut 118; at least one trailer mount 129;
and at least
one set of user instructions.
[047] Drawbar and hitch receiver movement eliminating clamp 200 may comprise
the
following parts for kit 250: at least one clamp portion 225; and at least one
set of user
instructions.
[048] Movement eliminating trailer hitch ball-mount system 300 may comprise
the
following parts for kit 350: at least one drawbar 315 having ball mount
portion 317 with
movement eliminating bolt 322, backup nut 335; and at least one set of user
instructions.
[049] The kits have instructions such that functional relationships are
detailed in relation to
the structure of the different embodiments of invention (such that the
invention can be
used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner). The three embodiments,
drawbar and
hitch receiver movement eliminating systems 100, drawbar and hitch receiver
movement
eliminating clamp 200, and movement eliminating trailer hitch ball-mount
system 300,
may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and
shapes for a wide
assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be
appreciated that,
under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference,
user
preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available
materials,
technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for
example,
including more or less components, customized parts, different color
combinations, parts
may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.
[050] FIG. 4 is a rear view of a towing vehicle with an embodiment of a
drawbar and hitch
receiver movement eliminating system 100 affixed to (mounted to) the towing
vehicle 900
(such as, to a bumper system 902 of the towing vehicle 900).
CA 2980761 2017-09-29
Docket No: GEM107-1CA
[051] Upon
reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate
circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences,
marketing
preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological
advances, etc.,
other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders
within above-
mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or
excluding certain
maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.
[052] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and
numerous
modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to
achieve
substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced
within the spirit
and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is
to enable the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the
scientist,
engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or
legal terms or
phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and
essence of the
technical disclosure of the application.
CA 2980761 2017-09-29
