Multi-function anti-rotational/anti-theft hitch ball assembly
Patent No. US8376387 (titled "Multi-function anti-rotational/anti-theft hitch ball assembly") on Sep 17, 2008. The application was issued on Feb 19, 2013.
What is this patent about?
'387 is related to the field of trailer hitch assemblies, specifically those that address the problems of hitch ball rotation during installation/removal and theft prevention. The background art reveals a need for a single, cost-effective solution that combines anti-rotation and anti-theft features, while also avoiding interference with other hitch accessories.
The underlying idea behind '387 is to use a removable retaining bracket that interlocks with both the hitch ball and the ball mount platform. This bracket has a shaped cavity that matches the hitch ball flange, preventing rotation. The bracket's design allows it to remain attached to the ball mount even when the hitch ball is fastened, providing a secure and integrated solution.
The claims of '387 focus on a hitch ball assembly comprising a ball mount platform, a removable rigid retaining bracket, and a hitch ball. The retaining bracket has a body with a blind bore cavity shaped to conform to the hitch ball flange and downwardly depending sides that engage the ball mount platform. The hitch ball's shank extends through the bracket and platform, ensuring the bracket remains attached when the ball is fastened.
In practice, the retaining bracket is placed on the ball mount platform, aligning its throughbore with the platform's throughbore. The hitch ball shank is then inserted, with the flange engaging the bracket's shaped cavity. Tightening the fastener secures the assembly, with the bracket preventing rotation. This design differs from prior approaches that use customized hitch ball shapes or press-fit pins, which can increase manufacturing costs or interfere with other accessories.
The invention also includes a method of interlocking the hitch ball to the ball mount platform. This involves placing the retaining bracket on the platform, aligning the throughbores, inserting the hitch ball shank, and attaching a fastener. The torque applied to the shank is transferred to the platform via the bracket, maintaining the bracket's position until the hitch ball is removed. This provides a simple and effective way to achieve both anti-rotation and anti-theft functionality in a single assembly.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical Landscape
In the late 2000s when ’387 was filed, trailer hitch technology was typically implemented using standard cylindrical ball shanks that relied on friction or external trailer tongue pressure to prevent rotation during installation. At a time when anti-theft and anti-rotational features were commonly treated as separate mechanical assemblies, hardware constraints made it non-trivial to integrate these functions without using customized, non-cylindrical ball flanges or permanent press-fit pins that often interfered with the mounting of secondary towing accessories.
Prosecution Position
The examiner allowed the application because the prior art did not contain a trailer hitch assembly featuring a rigid retaining bracket with a specific set of physical characteristics. Specifically, the prior art failed to show a bracket with a rectangular channel that is open at both the front and bottom, combined with a top surface containing a non-circular hole designed to match the shape of a hitch ball flange. While other systems used similar brackets, they were either not rigid, lacked the open-ended channel design, or did not utilize a multi-diameter internal cavity to prevent the hitch ball from rotating.
Claims
The patent has 6 claims, with claims 1, 3, and 5 being independent. Independent claims 1 and 3 are directed to a hitch ball assembly and a removable rigid retaining bracket, respectively. Independent claim 5 is directed to a method of interlocking a hitch ball to a ball mount platform. The dependent claims (2, 4, and 6) generally specify that the retaining bracket is metallic.
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US8376387
- Application Number
- US12211924A
- Filing Date
- Sep 17, 2008
- Publication Date
- Feb 19, 2013
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents