Trailer hitch systems and methods

摘要

A hitch system comprises a housing, a hitch plate, and an actuator system. The housing is secured to a hitch post, and the housing defines a housing opening and a housing chamber. The hitch plate is rotatably attached to the housing, and the hitch plate defines a first ball opening. The actuator system displaces the hitch plate relative to the housing such that the hitch system operates in an unhitched configuration in which the first ball opening is aligned with the housing opening and a hitched configuration in which the first ball opening is not aligned with the housing opening. A ball portion is inserted into the housing chamber and removed from the housing chamber when the hitch system is in the unhitched configuration. The ball portion is substantially secured within the housing chamber when the hitch system is in the hitched configuration.

主权项

1. A hitch system for coupling a hitch post to a ball portion comprising:
a housing secured to the hitch post, the housing defining a housing ball opening, a housing chamber, and at least one housing lock opening; a hitch plate attached to the housing, the hitch plate defining a hitch plate ball opening and at least one hitch plate lock opening, the hitch plate being supported for rotation relative to the housing between
an unhitched configuration in which the hitch plate ball opening is aligned with the housing ball opening,a hitched configuration in which the hitch plate ball opening is not aligned with the housing ball opening;an actuator system for displacing the hitch plate relative to the housing, the actuator system comprising
an actuator supported by the housing, the actuator defining an actuator axis,a first cam member defining a first cam surface and a lock cavity, the first cam member being rigidly secured to the actuator for movement along the actuator axis,a lock member supported at least partly within the lock cavity for movement relative to the first cam member along the actuator axis, anda second cam member defining a second cam surface and rigidly secured to the hitch plate; wherein operation of the actuator to displace the first cam member in a first direction along the actuator axis causes
the first cam surface of the first cam member to engage the second cam surface of the second cam member to rotate the hitch plate from the unhitched configuration to the hitched configuration, andwhen the hitch system is in the hitched configuration, the lock member extends at least partly within the at least one housing lock opening and the at least one hitch plate lock opening, thereby preventing further rotation of the hitch plate relative to the housing; wherein operation of the actuator to displace the first cam member in a second direction along the actuator axis withdraws the lock member from the at least one housing lock opening and the at least one hitch plate lock opening, thereby allowing the hitch plate to rotate from the hitched configuration to the unhitched configuration; wherein the ball portion is insertable and removable from the housing chamber when the hitch system is in the unhitched configuration; and the ball portion is substantially secured within the housing chamber when the hitch system is in the hitched configuration.