BACKGROUND

Related Field

The present invention relates generally to towing equipment and apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to trailer hitch apparatuses.

Related Art

Conventional trailer hitches are deficient with regard to security measures and space requirements. Conventional trailer hitches typically provide security measures consisting of mating components. For example, the towed vehicle may have a fixed ball hitch receiver meant to mate with a ball hitch attached to the towing vehicle. An insert may be placed within the ball hitch receiver to deter unwanted mating. However, a conventional trailer hitch can still be stolen if there is no insert within the ball hitch receiver or it is removed. Likewise, mating components may be irregularly shaped totems meant to mate with one another in order to lock and unlock a conventional trailer hitch. These irregularly shaped mating components are meant to discourage theft or unwanted coupling of a towed vehicle. However, a conventional trailer hitch employing a mating component security scheme can still be stolen if the thief possesses the commensurate mating component. Therefore, there is a need for a towing attachment assembly having more fortified security measures. The present invention is preferable over conventional trailer hitches, as it employs two levels of protection. A removable towing coupler that when removed does not allow coupling of the towing and towed vehicles, and a locking mechanism that allows for complete lockout of the towed vehicle hitch receiver such that there can be no unwanted coupling. Thus, the present invention provides greater security and eases the user's fears of unwanted coupling and theft of the trailer hitch.

Another benefit of the present invention over conventional trailer hitches is its configurability. Conventional trailer hitches are also deficient in that they comprise fixed components, providing little or no user options as to configurability. InFIG. 1, it can be seen that the conventional trailer hitch1000is fixed to a towing vehicle such that it cannot be removed when the towed vehicle is parked or decoupled from the towing vehicle. The conventional trailer hitch1000ofFIG. 1employs fixed components having the non-configurable dimensions to engage the hitch coupler of the towing vehicle to the towed vehicle. However, when decoupled, the conventional trailer hitch1000still necessitates the same large spatial footprint. Such a configuration as that depicted inFIG. 1is very inefficient when the conventional trailer hitch1000is not in use and requires significantly more space to store the trailer when not in use. Thus, conventional trailer hitches are typically deficient with regard to portability and compact-ability. For example, in Applicant's experience, there is often little or no maneuverability when attempting to couple two vehicles with a conventional trailer hitch. Indeed, conventional trailer hitches create a relatively large spatial footprint of the towed vehicle. Therefore, there is a need for a removable towing hitch assembly comprising interchangeable and configurable components rather than fixed components.

The present invention allows for wider array of potential towing configurations over conventional trailer hitches. To this end, the towing attachment assembly of the present invention can be configured in any spatial direction. This broader array of towing configurations allows more flexibility in how the towed and towing vehicles are coupled. Thus, there are fewer situations wherein there is no suitable towing configuration. Further, the towing attachment assembly of the present invention may be configured to a more advantageous length. Therefore, the present invention is advantageous over conventional trailer hitches because of its reduced spatial footprint when uncoupled. This reduced spatial footprint simplifies storage of the towed vehicle while not in use, decreases storage and lot costs that may be related to the size of the towed vehicle, and simplifies access to the towed vehicle.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A towing attachment assembly and methods for using a towing attachment assembly are disclosed.

In accordance with one aspect, a towing attachment assembly is provided. The towing attachment assembly of various embodiments comprises a removable towing coupler. The removable towing coupler of various embodiments defines a hitch receiver end and a hitch coupling end. The hitch receiver end of various embodiments is configured to be removably nested within a hitch receiver of a towed vehicle, and defines a set of towing coupler openings. The set of towing coupler openings of various embodiments align with a set of hitch receiver openings when the hitch receiver end is nested within the hitch receiver of the towed vehicle, and receive a towing coupler lock therethrough when aligned with the set of hitch receiver openings. The hitch coupling end of various embodiments comprises a selectively dis-engageable coupling mechanism. The selectively dis-engageable coupling mechanism of various embodiments is configured to be selectively dis-engaged from the removable towing coupler and to be coupled with a trailer hitch of a towing vehicle. The removable towing coupler of various embodiments comprises a towing coupler lock that secures the hitch receiver end within the hitch receiver. The towing coupler lock of various embodiments comprises a hitch pin that is inserted within the set of towing coupler openings and the set of hitch receiver openings when the set of towing coupler openings and the set of hitch receiver openings are aligned. The towing coupler lock comprises a locking portion that engages the hitch pin such that the hitch pin cannot be removed from the set of towing coupler openings and the set of hitch receiver openings without first disengaging the locking portion.

In some embodiments, the locking portion is a locking clip that engages a groove defined on the hitch pin such that the hitch pin cannot be removed from the set of hitch receiver openings and the set of towing coupler openings without first disengaging the locking portion.

In some embodiments, the locking portion is a keyed lock that engages a groove defined on the hitch pin such that the hitch pin cannot be removed from the set of hitch receiver openings and the set of towing coupler openings without first disengaging the locking portion.

In some embodiments, the towing coupler lock is inserted within the set of hitch receiver openings while the hitch receiver is evacuated in order to prevent insertion of a towing apparatus within the hitch receiver.

In some embodiments, the selectively dis-engageable coupling mechanism is chosen from the group consisting of a ball hitch, a pintle hitch, a weight distribution hitch, a gooseneck hitch, and a 5thwheel hitch.

In some embodiments, the set of towing coupler openings extends along at least a majority of a length of the removable towing coupler, thereby allowing a user to alter a relative length of the removable towing coupler.

In some embodiments, the towing attachment assembly further comprises a couplable jack receiving portion, wherein the couplable jack receiving portion receives a couplable jack and is oriented intermediate to the hitch receiver end and the hitch coupling end and extends outwardly from a lateral aspect of the removable towing coupler.

In some embodiments, the towing attachment assembly further comprises a couplable jack that is removably coupled to the removable towing coupler.

In some embodiments, the towing attachment assembly further comprises a couplable jack lock that secures the couplable jack to the removable towing coupler.

In some embodiments, the couplable jack is selectively rotatable when the couplable jack is coupled to the removable towing coupler.

In some embodiments, the couplable jack is selectively rotatable in a range of at least 180° relative to the removable towing coupler.

In some embodiments, the couplable jack is selectively anchorable in at least one orientation of 0°, 90°, or 180° relative to the removable towing coupler.

In accordance with one aspect, a method of using a towing attachment assembly is provided that includes the steps of aligning a hitch receiver end of a removable towing coupler with a hitch receiver of a towed vehicle such that the removable towing coupler may be nested within the hitch receiver. The method further includes inserting the hitch receiver end of the removable towing coupler into the hitch receiver of the towed vehicle so that the hitch receiver end is removably nested within the hitch receiver of the towed vehicle, and so that a set of towing coupler openings defined by the removable towing coupler are aligned with a set of hitch receiver openings defined by the hitch receiver. The method further includes inserting a towing coupler lock within the set of towing coupler openings and the set of hitch receiver openings, when the set of towing coupler openings and the set of hitch receiver openings are aligned, in order to secure the hitch receiver end within the hitch receiver.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of inserting the towing coupler lock within the set of hitch receiver openings while the hitch receiver is evacuated in order to prevent insertion of a towing apparatus in the hitch receiver.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of altering a relative length of the removable towing coupler. In various embodiments, altering the relative length comprises selecting a pair of towing coupler openings from the set of towing coupler openings. In various embodiments, the pair of towing coupler openings are defined at a desired length along a length of the removable towing coupler. In various embodiments, altering the relative length comprises aligning the pair of towing coupler openings with the set of hitch receiver openings. In various embodiments, altering the relative length comprises inserting the towing coupler lock within the pair of towing coupler openings and the set of hitch receiver openings when the pair of towing coupler openings and the set of hitch receiver openings are aligned.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of dis-engaging a first selectively dis-engageable coupling mechanism from the removable towing coupler and engaging a second selectively dis-engageable coupling mechanism with the removable towing coupler.

In some embodiments, the first dis-engageable coupling mechanism and the second dis-engageable coupling mechanism are chosen from the group consisting of a ball hitch, a pintle hitch, a weight distribution hitch, a gooseneck hitch, and a 5thwheel hitch.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of engaging a couplable jack engaging portion of a couplable jack with a couplable jack receiving portion of the removable towing coupler thereby removably coupling the couplable jack to the removable towing coupler.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of selectively rotating the couplable jack in a range of at least 180°.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of selectively anchoring the couplable jack in at least one selective anchoring orientation of 0°, 90°, or 180°, relative to the removable towing coupler. In various embodiments, selectively anchoring comprises aligning a set of couplable jack receiving portion openings with a set of couplable jack engaging portion openings. In various embodiments, selectively anchoring comprises inserting a couplable jack lock within the couplable jack receiving portion openings and the couplable jack engaging portion openings when the couplable jack receiving portion openings and the couplable jack engaging portion openings are aligned.

In accordance with another aspect, a removable towing coupler is provided. The removable towing coupler of various embodiments defines a hitch receiver end, an opposing proximal end, and a couplable jack receiving portion. The hitch receiver end of various embodiments is configured to be removably nested within a hitch receiver of a towed vehicle. The hitch receiver end of various embodiments defines a set of towing coupler openings. The set of towing coupler openings of various embodiments align with a set of hitch receiver openings when the hitch receiver end is nested within the hitch receiver of the towed vehicle. The set of towing coupler openings receive a towing coupler lock therethrough when aligned with the set of hitch receiver openings. The couplable jack receiving portion of various embodiments receives a couplable jack, and is oriented intermediate to the hitch receiver end and the proximal end, and extends outwardly from a lateral aspect of the removable towing coupler. The removable towing coupler of various embodiments comprises a couplable jack. The couplable jack of various embodiments is received by the couplable jack receiving portion in a way that permits selective rotation of the couplable jack.

