| 摘要 |
The present invention features an energy-absorbent, hitching mechanism for towing trailers and other vehicles by pickup trucks or other tow vehicles. This is a mechanism of the universal type, in which energy absorption is achieved for all transverse and orthogonal forces, including force vectors in the vertical, lateral and longitudinal axes, i.e., the X, Y and Z axes of movement. The hitching mechanism has a housing for receiving a hitch ball that is attached to a tow vehicle. The ball is free to move within a chamber of the housing, subject to cushion forces described below, in any orthogonal direction, i.e., along the X, Y and/or Z axes. The housing chamber contains an energy-absorbent, dome-shaped pad that cushions the hitch ball. When the ball presses against the pad from any direction, the energy of any transverse force is absorbed by the pad, which expands into at least part of the housing chamber. A slide bar that is supported by the housing engages the neck portion of the ball, anchoring the ball for movement within the padded housing chamber. The slide bar is locked against slidable movement by a spring-biased locking pin, with the spring-biasing forcing the pin to seat within a detent hole in the housing, after it has passed through the slide bar. The locking pin is pulled upward against the biasing to release the slide bar, which in turn can be slid outwardly to release the shank of the hitch ball.
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