Abstract: A tailgate hitch sensor system is installed by mounting a housing around the end of a receiver tube on the back of a hitch, and then plugging the system into both the OEM passenger side tailgate locking mechanism and the OEM driver side tailgate locking mechanism. A magnetically operated reed switch is positioned at the top of the housing, and a cover supporting a magnet is pivotally hinged to the housing so the cover has a normally closed position covering the receiver tube. When the cover is closed, the tailgate operates normally. When the cover is open, the electrical circuit for at least one stage of lowering the tailgate is de-activated.

Abstract: A tow bar assembly has a shank portion for attachment to the towing vehicle hitch, a pivot joint on a trailing end of the shank, and two arms extending from the pivot joint for attachment to the towed load. A stowage block on the shank includes two transversely oriented slots, for receiving a tab on the arms and thereby hold the arms in a transverse, horizontal stowage position. The arms each telescope between extended and retracted positions. A latch, having a retention shaft with a handle, automatically engages to lock the arm in the extended position when the trailing end of the arm is pulled to the extended position. The retention shaft has a shape which, depending on its rotational position as controlled by the handle, either allows the telescoping or interferes with the telescoping, locking the arm in the extended position.

Abstract: A hitch tightener is used around the lip of a hitch receiver tube and a shank inserted into the hitch receiver tube. The hitch tightener has a U-bolt with two threaded legs, and a crossbar with throughholes for the legs of the U-bolt, positioned so the crossbar and the U-bolt encircle the shank and the receiver tube lip. A standard threaded nut holds the crossbar onto one of the legs, and a cam lock lever is pivotally attached on the other leg by a threaded trunnion nut. When the cam lock lever is pivoted from its opened position to its closed position, it moves the crossbar toward the connecting portion of the clamp component, tightening the hitch tightener around shank and lip.

Abstract: A hitch tightener is used around the lip of a hitch receiver tube and a shank inserted into the hitch receiver tube. The hitch tightener has a U-bolt with two threaded legs, and a crossbar with throughholes for the legs of the U-bolt, positioned so the crossbar and the U-bolt encircle the shank and the receiver tube lip. A standard threaded nut holds the crossbar onto one of the legs, and a cam lock lever is pivotally attached on the other leg by a threaded trunnion nut. When the cam lock lever is pivoted from its opened position to its closed position, it moves the crossbar toward the connecting portion of the clamp component, tightening the hitch tightener around shank and lip.

Abstract: A bike rack is mountable from a traditional receiver hitch and utilizes at least one of the two pedal crank arms of the bike for securing and supporting the bike. The pedal crank arm is received in a pedal crank receiver which tightens to the pedal crank arm and holds the pedal crank arm in a set rotational position. The pedal crank receiver is connected to a main shank of the bike rack for supporting the weight of the bike from the receiver hitch. The bike rack also includes a cradle supporting the bottom bracket shell of the bike, and a second support structure which holds the bike at a location spaced from the pedal crank receiver, both connected to the main shank.

Abstract: A tow bar assembly has a shank portion for attachment to the towing vehicle hitch, a pivot joint on a trailing end of the shank, and two arms extending from the pivot joint for attachment to the towed load. A stowage block on the shank includes two transversely oriented slots, for receiving a tab on the arms and thereby hold the arms in a transverse, horizontal stowage position. The arms each telescope between extended and retracted positions. A latch, having a retention shaft with a handle, automatically engages to lock the arm in the extended position when the trailing end of the arm is pulled to the extended position. The retention shaft has a shape which, depending on its rotational position as controlled by the handle, either allows the telescoping or interferes with the telescoping, locking the arm in the extended position.

Abstract: A tailgate hitch sensor system is installed by mounting a housing around the end of a receiver tube on the back of a hitch, and then plugging the system into both the OEM passenger side tailgate locking mechanism and the OEM driver side tailgate locking mechanism. A magnetically operated reed switch is positioned at the top of the housing, and a cover supporting a magnet is pivotally hinged to the housing so the cover has a normally closed position covering the receiver tube. When the cover is closed, the tailgate operates normally. When the cover is open, the electrical circuit for at least one stage of lowering the tailgate is de-activated.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing mechanical shock and vibration in a downhole tool includes a frustum-shaped sleeve configured to be disposed between the downhole tool and another downhole component. The frustum-shaped sleeve is made of a mechanical shock absorbing material and includes a central axis, a radially inner surface, and a radially outer surface. The radially inner surface or the radially outer surface of the frustum-shaped sleeve includes a pyramidal frustum-shaped surface with four or more circumferentially adjacent sides. The downhole tool or the downhole component has a pyramidal frustum-shaped surface configured to mate with the pyramidal frustum-shaped surface of the frustum-shaped sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting sensitive electronics in a downhole tool from mechanical shock and vibration. The apparatus includes a frustum-shaped sleeve configured to be disposed between the downhole tool and another downhole component through which a mechanical shock may travel to the downhole tool. The mechanical shocks may result in axial, radial, and/or rotations stress on the downhole tool. The frustum-shaped sleeve is disposed on one part of an interconnection pair made of a mating plug and a mating receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting sensitive electronics in a downhole tool from mechanical shock and vibration. The apparatus includes a frustum-shaped sleeve configured to be disposed between the downhole tool and another downhole component through which a mechanical shock may travel to the downhole tool. The mechanical shocks may result in axial, radial, and/or rotations stress on the downhole tool. The frustum-shaped sleeve is disposed on one part of an interconnection pair made of a mating plug and a mating receptacle.