Swing-Away Trailer Hitch/Coupler and Method of Manufacturing

Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to a hitch assembly for trailers, in particular the boat trailer market, wherein the hitch can be rotated or swung-away allowing for easy storage by reducing the overall storage size of trailer.

Most garages are only 23 feet in length, but the usable space is less than that. Many customers when buying a boat sometimes must sacrifice and buy a smaller boat to ensure that it fits in the garage since the trailer is always larger than the boat for towing purposes. Customers have been known to take drastic and expensive measures such as enlarging their garage space so their expensive investment could be stored indoors. Some are even forced to buy a smaller boat.

One popular option to shorten a trailer's length in the tongue area is called a pull-out tongue. It is a sleeved-design consisting of a male hitch and female tongue; the male hitch slides into the female tongue of the trailer. The two are held together by one or two pins depending on the design. This design has several disadvantages of which includes the cumbersome lifting of a heavy object, the male and female fit will get sloppy over time, and when a brake coupler is included in the design, brake failure may occur because a quick disconnect fitting is used The quick disconnects may allow dirt particles and air to enter the brake line every time it is disconnected.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,423 to Roberts discloses a tubular hitch sandwiched between top and bottom plates. Holes through the hitch and the plates are aligned with one another and the tubular casing is inserted through the holes. Thereafter, the ends of the tubular casings are "swedged" or expanded by pressing bullet shaped pins into opposite ends of the casings. The swedging effect securely fastens the components. Finally, pins are inserted through the casings to mount the swing away hitch on the trailer.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,742 to Sanders discloses a tongue or drawbar of a boat trailer which is severed intermediate its ends; and the cut ends are then releasably hinged together by a pair of spaced, parallel hinge pins, either of which can be withdrawn to permit the forward end of the drawbar to be swung about the remaining pin, and rearwardly into an inactive position which effectively shortens the overall length of the drawbar, so that the associated trailer can be readily stored in a conventional garage. The hinge mechanism comprises a pair of tubular members designed to be slid over the cut ends of the draw-bar, and then to be bolted and/or welded to the associated drawbar section. Confronting ends of the hinge members have thereon two sets of cooperating hinge barrels, which releasably support the two hinge pins about spaced, vertical axes adjacent opposite sides, respectively, of the drawbar.

All of the systems mentioned above have in one way or another has its benefits and flaws. There is still a need for a swing away system that is easy to operate, build, and just as important aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

In summary, it is the object of this invention for trailers to offer a swing-away hitch that is easy to rotate to maximize storage capabilities, simple to build, aesthetically pleasing and at the same time offer the strength and durability required for transport.

The hitch assembly is mounted to the base of the tongue of the trailer or at the apex where the two frame rails meet. At this point, the tongue is sandwiched by two support plates with holes that are vertically aligned to each other. The pivoting arm is formed by welding two tubular sleeves vertically, that are parallel and are on opposite sides at the end of the actuator cover. Specially formed support gussets are welded to the tube and cover for strength and aesthetics. The pivoting arm is received between the two support plates where the corresponding holes of the plates are aligned with the tubular sleeves. Pins are inserted to lock the pivoting arm in place. One pin acts as the pivot point while the other is the release. By releasing a pin, the other pin acts as a hinge and rotates the hitch into the folded position next to the frame rail of the trailer. Pin placements are interchangeable allowing rotation of the swing-away hitch to either side.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the swing-away hitch mounted to the tongue of a trailer in a towing position;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top planar view of the invention with the swing-away hitch rotated to the storage position;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the swing-away hitch;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the mounted hitch assembly; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of the swing-away hitch;

FIG. 6 illustrates a second perspective view of the second embodiment of the swing-away hitch.

FIG. 1 illustrates the present invention designated by the numeral 1 including the front sectional of a trailer 2, and a swing-away tongue or pivoting member 3 mounted to swing-away hitch assembly 4. The trailer section 2 is constructed in an "A" shape with side supports 5, 6 meeting at an apex and rigidly attached to the main tongue of the trailer 7. The side supports can be constructed with either a rigid material of tube or channel made of steel, aluminum or the like.

The swing-away hitch assembly 4 consists of two outer support plates 13, 14 which are mounted by welding or the like on top and bottom and extended beyond the main trailer tongue 7. The trapezoidal plates are made from a rigid flatbar. A hole is placed at each corner of the widest point of the plate (see FIG. 2). The corners of the plates are rounded for safety and match the radius of the holes. The top plate 13 holes 15, 17 align vertically with holes 16, 18 of the bottom plate 14.

The swing-away hitch 3 consists of an actuator cover 8 modified by welding tubular sleeves 9, 10 on opposite sides, flushed with the rear of the cover. Formed gussets 11, 12 are welded to the tubes 9, 10 and cover 8 for support and aesthetics. Within the actuator cover would lie an actuator/coupler that would attach itself to the tow vehicle (not shown). The gussets comprise formed pieces of flat metal.

The swing-away hitch 3 is sandwiched between the plates 13, 14 with the tubes 9, 10 aligning itself vertically with the holes of the plates 15, 16, 17 18. Tube 9 would align with holes 15, 16 and receives a pivot pin 21. A washer 23 resides between tube 9 and plate 14 acting as a shim allowing the swing-away hitch to be rotated without rubbing against plate 14. Hole 17, tube 10 and hole 18 receives a positioning pin 22 secured by a cotter pin 20 for quick releasability.

FIG. 2 consists of a planar view of the invention in a storage mode. Once the positioning pin (not shown) has been released. The swing-away hitch 3 pivots via the pivoting pin 21 and rotates to the rear.

Construction of the invention is as follows. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the pivoting arm comprised of the actuator cover 8. Two tubular sleeves 1" o.d. with 9/16" i.d. are welded flush to the end of the cover on opposite sides to each other. The gussets are formed to match the dimensions of the radius of the tube sleeves and are welded both to the sleeves, 9, 10 and cover 8. The weld lines are grounded flush for a clean appearance.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective of the swing-away hitch assembly. The plates 13, 14 are made using a 3/8" by 5" flatbar cut to a trapezoidal shape and holes 11/16" are punched or drilled at the leading corner's edge. For safety and aesthetic reasons, the corners of the plates are rounded. The main trailer tongue 7 is sandwiched between plates 13, 14 via a clamp (not shown) for a temporary hold. Plates 13, 14 protrude 1/2" beyond the tongue. In FIG. 1 the swing-away hitch 8 is supported between plates 13. 14 and is flush to the main trailer tongue 7. Once holes 15, 16, 17, 18 are aligned with the tubular sleeves 9, 10 the 5/8" pins 21, 22 are inserted and plates 13, 14 are welded to the main tongue 7. The clamp is removed.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the swivel system. Piece number 20 is a UFP actuator cover comprised of a sleeve member 20. Piece number 22 is a tubular member or arm that is sized to fit within the sleeve member 20. The tubular member could be a 3 inch by 4 inch tubing having a six inch length.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the tubular member 22 mounted within the sleeve member 20 to collectively form a pivoting member 24. The tubular member 22 is fixedly attached to the sleeve member 20 such as through a weld line 26. Two round tubings 25 are attached to the tubular member 22 of the pivoting member 26 through a weld. The tubings 25 are positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the pivoting member. A gusset 28 is mounted between each tubing 25 and the pivoting member 24. A weld connects the gussets 28 to each tubing 25 and to the pivoting member 24. As shown in FIG. 6, the tubings 25 are sized to receive a bolt 7 and a removable pin 8.