LIFT UNIT FOR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING TRAILER HITCH

摘要

The lift unit for a weight distributing trailer hitch includes a fixed mounting bracket secured to the trailer tongue and a chain lift bracket that pivots on the mounting bracket to raise and lower a chain for flexing and unflexing a spring bar that distributes weight between the towing vehicle and the trailer with the spring bar in the flexed position. A locking pawl rotatably connected to the lift bracket has a lower arm portion for engagement with a detent in the fixed mounting bracket to releasably latch the lift bracket in a raised position. The locking pawl also includes an upper arm projection. The locking pawl is connected to the lift bracket with the pawl upper arm projection positioned adjacent a tool engagement finger on the lift bracket that is slidably engaged by a tool such as a pipe to aid in raising and lowering the chain lift bracket. Upon engagement of the tool with the tool engagement finger, the tool also engages the upper arm projection of the pawl to rotate the lower arm portion away from engagement with the detent in the mounting bracket and unlatch the lift bracket to lower the chain and unflex the spring bar.