Quick connect hitch assembly

Claim 2

A hitch assembly for coupling first and second vehicles for towing, said hitch assembly comprising: a bar member adapted to be mounted on the first vehicle in substantially horizontal extension therefrom, said bar member having a notch defined therein; a body member adapted to be mounted on the second vehicle, said body member having a substantially hollow interior and an open end for receiving said bar member; at least one substantially straight guide post on said body member; a sleeve received on said guide post for sliding movement axially thereon; a latch element carried on said sleeve for movement therewith between a hitching position projecting into the interior of said body member at a location to register with said notch in a manner to retain said bar member hitched to said body member within the latter, and a release position displaced from said notch; and resilient means for biasing said latch element to the hitching position, said bar member having a free end portion formed to engage a cooperating surface of said latch element in camming fashion to automatically displace the latter from its hitching position as the bar member is entering said body member, with said resilient means effecting automatic movement of said latch element to the hitching position in registration with said notch when the bar member reaches a fully inserted position within the body member.

Claim 3

A hitch assembly as set forth in claim 1, including means for rigidly locking said latch element in its hitching position.

Claim 4

A hitch assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a tapered end on the free end portion of said bar member and a curved surface on said latch element providing said cooperating surface thereof.

Claim 5

A hitch assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a lever pivotally coupled with said body member and operable to effect linear movement of said sleeve to move said latch element between the hitching and release positions in response to pivotal movement of said lever, said resilient means acting on said lever to urge same in a pivotal direction to bias said latch element to the hitching position.

Claim 6

A hitch assembly as set forth in claim 1, including: a mounting plate for said body member adapted to be mounted to the second vehicle; means connecting said body member with said mounting plate for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis; and means resiliently urging said body member toward a preselected position about said axis.

Claim 7

A hitch assembly as set forth in claim 4, including: a rigid locking element; and means for securing said locking element against said lever to prevent movement of said latch element away from the hitching position.

Claim 8

A hitch assembly for coupling first and second vehicles for towing, said hitch assembly comprising: a bar member adapted to be mounted on the first vehicle in substantially horizontal extension therefrom, said bar member having a notch defined therein; a body member adapted to be mounted on the second vehicle, said body member having a substantially hollow interior and an open end for receiving said bar member and presenting an opening; a latch element mounted on said body member for linear movement in said opening between a hitching position projecting through said opening into the interior of said body member at a location to register with said notch in a manner to retain said bar member hitched to said body member within the latter, and a release position displaced from said notch; and resilient means for biasing said latch element to the hitching position, said bar member having a free end portion formed to engage a cooperating surface of said latch element in camming fashion to automatically displace the latter from its hitching position as the bar member is entering said body member, with said resilient means effecting automatic movement of said latch element to the hitching position in registration with said notch when the bar member reaches a fully inserted position within the body member, a lever pivotally coupled with said body member and operable to effect linear movement of said latch element between the hitching and release positions in response to pivotal movement of said lever, said resilient means acting on said lever to urge same in a pivotal direction to bias said latch element to the hitching position.

Claim 9

A hitch assembly for coupling first and second vehicles for towing, said hitch assembly comprising: a bar member adapted to be mounted on the first vehicle in substantially horizontal extension therefrom, said bar member having a notch defined therein; a body member adapted to be mounted on the second vehicle, said body member having a substantially hollow interior and an open end for receiving said bar member and presenting an opening; a latch element mounted on said body member for linear movement in said opening between a hitching position projecting through said opening into the interior of said body member at a location to register with said notch in a manner to retain said bar member hitched to said body member within the latter, and a release position displaced from said notch; and resilient means for biasing said latch element to the hitching position, said bar member having a free end portion formed to engage a cooperating surface of said latch element in camming fashion to automatically displace the latter from its hitching position as the bar member is entering said body member, with said resilient means effecting automatic movement of said latch element to the hitching position in registration with said notch when the bar member reaches a fully inserted position within the body member, a lever pivotally coupled with said body member and operable to effect linear movement of said latch element between the hitching and release positions in response to pivotal movement of said lever, said resilient means acting on said lever to urge same in a pivotal direction to bias said latch element to the hitching position.

Claim 10

A hitch assembly as set forth in claim 7, including: a rigid locking element; and means for securing said locking element against said lever to prevent movement of said latch element away from the hitching position.