Abstract: A draw bar/hitch bar includes a top wall, bottom wall, first side wall, second side wall, first end and second end. The first end defines an included angle with one of the walls of between substantially 65-85°. That one wall projects beyond the opposite wall at the first end by about 1.27-2.54 cm. The draw bar/hitch bar may be connected into the receiver box of a trailer hitch receiver assembly by inserting a first projecting edge of the draw bar/hitch bar into the receiver box, pivoting the draw bar/hitch bar so as to insert a second, opposite edge into the receiver box and seating the draw bar/hitch bar fully into the receiver box.

Abstract: A receiver bracket for mounting to a square or rectangular bumper of a recreational or similar vehicle. The receiver bracket is designed to accept various racks or other accessories of limited weight, with a maximum of about 200 pounds. The receiver bracket is highly symmetrical, allowing mounting of the square tube either below or above the supporting bumper in a horizontal orientation. Alternatively, the receiving bracket can be mounted to the bumper with the square tubing in a vertical orientation.

Abstract: An under-bed mounting system installed beneath a cargo bed floor of a vehicle includes both a male pin and a female receptacle. A releasable locking mechanism is defined between the pin and the receptacle to permit installation and removal of desired components such as a fifth wheel hitch. The pin including opposing first and second ends and an intermediate portion, a groove being disposed within said intermediate portion and including a stem and a base portion. A portion of the receptacle is received within said groove, selectively contacting said stem during installation and contacting at least the base portion after said installation. In one embodiment, the groove of the pin is generally L-shaped, the receptacle including a rod that is selectively received in the groove. In a second embodiment the pin is a scissor clamp with opposing jaws pivotable about a common hinge. The jaws engage the inner periphery of the receptacle.

Abstract: An adapter operable to connect a hook or chain double clevis to a tubular trailer hitch receiver. Certain embodiments are double-ended to permit either attachment of a larger D-ring to one end, or a hook or clevis to the opposite end.

Abstract: A retractable gooseneck trailer hitch mechanism for mounting in a bed in a pickup truck. The mechanism has a housing with a generally vertical opening therein which receives a hitch member. The housing has a generally vertical slot therein through which a portion of the hitch member extends outwardly therethrough. A cam having an arcuate face is pivotally coupled with the housing and is rotatable between a first and second position. A linkage assembly is coupled with the cam and permits a user of the mechanism to move the cam between its first and second positions from a location remote to the hitch member. When the cam is in its first position, the hitch member is in a lowered or retracted position. To move the hitch member to a raised or use position, the user rotates the cam from its first position to the second position via the linkage assembly.

Abstract: A high strength trailer hitch. The hitch is affixed to the rear of a towing vehicle. The apparatus includes a frame having a transversely extending tubular structural member extending between a first end and a second end and having a front, a rear, a bottom, and a top. A rearwardly extending first tubular receiving member is provided with its forward end affixed to the rear of the transverse tubular structural member. A second tubular receiving member is provided mounted below the first tubular receiving member. An upper forward portion of the second tubular receiving member is affixed below the transverse structural member. A first and a second tubular tow bar inserts are provided in said first and said second tubular receiving members, respectively. A first strengthening stay and a second strengthening stay are affixed between the rearward end of tow bar inserts and the transverse tubular member, to provide high strength against lateral movement of the first and second tow bar inserts.

Abstract: Bodies for hook lift shuttles and other roll-off loaders are fitted with trailer towing hitches, such as fifth wheels and hitch balls, so that when one of these bodies is loaded onto a shuttle or loader, the shuttle or loader can be used temporarily as a tractor for a trailer.

Abstract: An under-bed mounting system installed beneath a cargo bed floor of a vehicle includes both a male pin and a female receptacle. A releasable locking mechanism is defined between the pin and the receptacle to permit installation and removal of desired components such as a fifth wheel hitch. The pin including opposing first and second ends and an intermediate portion, a groove being disposed within said intermediate portion and including a stem and a base portion. A portion of the receptacle is received within said groove, selectively contacting said stem during installation and contacting at least the base portion after said installation. In one embodiment, the groove of the pin is generally L-shaped, the receptacle including a rod that is selectively received in the groove. In a second embodiment the pin is a scissor clamp with opposing jaws pivotable about a common hinge. The jaws engage the inner periphery of the receptacle.

Abstract: A swinging article carrier assembly includes a mounting arm for securing to a vehicle, a swing arm pivotally secured to the mounting arm and a base pivotally secured to the swing arm. An article carrier is held on that base.

Abstract: A device that enables a forklift beam to transport trailers or other mobile vehicles whereby a trailer hitch attachment is secured to a hollow shaft at one end of the device and a forklift beam on a forklift vehicle is secured to a hollow shaft at the other end of the device. When both the forklift beam and the trailer hitch are secured to the device, a mobile vehicle or trailer may be secured to the trailer hitch and transported via the forklift. The device may also receive a generic elongated beam in place of the trailer hitch such that the forklift can be used to lift heavy objects for transport such as combustion engines by securing a rope or chain to the engine and then securing the chain or rope around the beam.

Abstract: A towing device is provided including a bracket (12) and an elongate hitch rod (14). The bracket (12) includes a longitudinal bore (34) and one or more pins (36) oriented transverse to the longitudinal bore (34). An end portion of each pin extends partially into the longitudinal bore. The hitch rod (14) includes a cylindrical shaft (50) and a clevis (52) connected to the shaft's distal end. The clevis (52) is attached to the shaft (50) in a manner that weights the shaft in a desired orientation. The shaft (50) includes at least one groove (60) with a spiral portion (62) and a notch (64). The spiral portion (62) extends from the shaft's proximal end and ends with the notch (64). During use, the transverse pin (36) engages the notch (64), thereby locking the rod (14) with the bracket (12). The weighted orientation of the shaft encourages this engaged arrangement.

Abstract: A towing device for vehicles is connected with a connection pin for a holding on the vehicle body and a hook-in eye connected with the pin, the connection pin having a fastening section as well as a lug part forming the hook-in eye. In a towing position and in an inoperative position, the connection pin is held in a support part of the vehicle body so that it cannot be lost, and, in the towing position, the connection pin with the fastening section can be fixed in a tension-resistant and pressure-resistant manner in a holding element of the support part and, in the inoperative position, can be fixed in the holding element by way of a locking device arranged adjacent to the hook-in eye.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a receptacle mounted at a predetermined location for storing various tow hitch apparatuses and assemblies. Behind the mounting surface, the area may be hollow such as a standard dwelling wall or solid such as a brick or concrete wall found in a basement. Furthermore, the invention may be mounted on a floor or wall of a vehicle storage compartment. The dimensions of the invention are such that it can in one embodiment receive the standard two inch male connector and in other embodiments receive other standard male portions of a tow hitch apparatus. In particular, the invention is designed to receive the various racks that have become popular for carrying sports equipment. These rigid racks attach to the standard trailer hitch receptacle found on many vehicles.

Abstract: A quick-release attachment device having a receiver assembly mountable in a concealed position under the rear fender of a motorcycle, the device being useful for quickly connecting and disconnecting load-supporting apparatus such as, for example, a trailer hitch, carrier platform, golf club carrier, or the like. The concealed receiver assembly desirably embodies two laterally spaced, longitudinal support members attachable to the motorcycle frame in a position that is hidden by the rear fender, a transverse support member interconnecting the longitudinal support members, and a downwardly inclined receiver member depending from the transverse support member to receive an upwardly inclined, projecting portion of a load-supporting apparatus that is insertable into the receiver member.

Abstract: A bicycle trailer hitch employs an adjustably positioned universal hitch ball. The bicycle trailer hitch attaches to a hitch receiver mounted on the bicycle frame and encompasses the rear tire of the bicycle. The trailer hitch slides into the hitch brackets and is secured by clevis pins. Height adjustments between the hitch and the trailer are made with two “L” shaped brackets. The lower bracket has the ball joint attached. The trailer tongue is attached to the ball joint.

Abstract: A carrier frame for a spring cushion truck hitch includes first side mounting plates and a transverse load-resisting tube connected between the mounting plates. The stiffener extends laterally beyond the first plate and includes second side plates which connect the frame of the hitch to the truck frame, so that the carrier frame can be removed from the hitch and the hitch re-used on a different truck having a different frame configuration.

Abstract: A trailer hitch for attachment to a towing vehicle comprises an elongated cross-beam which is secured to the frame of the vehicle and which has a hitch receiver extending rearwardly therefrom at the center thereof. The hitch receiver is adapted to removably receive an elongated tow bar therein to enable the vehicle to tow a trailer or the like. A tow bar support is secured to the cross-beam for removably receiving and supporting the tow bar therein when the tow bar is removed from the hitch receiver so that the longitudinal axis of the tow bar is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cross-beam.

Abstract: A removable underlift T-bar support accessory for tow trucks with underlift T-bars for lifting and towing a fifth wheel trailer or a goose neck trailer. The underlift T-bar comprises a boom connected to a crossbar having two legs. The accessory mounts on the underlift T-bar and provides a fifth wheel hitch assembly or a hitch ball at an appropriate working elevation thereby enabling the lifting and towing of a fifth wheel trailer or a goose neck trailer by a tow truck equipped with an underlift T-bar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus, including a combination linch-pin stowage adapter, for positioning a ball mount member of most class 2, 3, & 4 trailer hitches in both an operating and non operating retracted position on a trailer hitch receiver mounted underneath a vehicle is shown.

Abstract: A high strength hitch. The hitch is affixed to the rear of a towing vehicle. The apparatus includes a frame having a transversely extending tubular structural member extending between a first end and a second end and having a front, a rear, a bottom, and a top. A rearwardly extending first tubular receiving member is provided with its forward end affixed to the rear of the transverse tubular structural member. A second tubular receiving member is provided mounted below the first tubular receiving member. An upper forward portion of the second tubular receiving member is affixed below the transverse structural member. A strengthing bottom plate is provided below and affixed to the second tubular receiving member. The bottom plate also has an upwardly extending forward portion which is affixed to the front of the transverse structural member.