FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to trailer hitch assemblies for vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A need exists for an improved trailer hitch ball mount assembly for vehicles which (a) provides 2, 3, or more different ball sizes for pulling different trailers, (b) is easily transferable, by hand, from one size ball to another without the need for tools, (c) provides a height adjustment which can also be easily operated by hand to adapt the hitch to the height of the trailer and the height of the vehicle, (d) provides manual safety locks for locking the selected ball and the selected height in place, and (e) can be placed in a less obstructive stowed position when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the needs identified above. In one aspect, there is provided a ball mount apparatus for hitching a trailer to a vehicle wherein the ball mount apparatus preferably comprises: (a) a support block; (b) a rotatable block which has a longitudinal axis and is rotatably connected to the support block such that a forward face of the rotatable block faces a rearward face of the support block; (c) two or more hitch balls which extend radially from the rotatable block; (d) a locking pin which extends longitudinally through the rotatable block, the locking pin being longitudinally reciprocatable between a forward locking position and a rearward retracted position; and (e) a biasing element positioned in the rotatable block which biases the locking pin toward the forward locking position.

When the locking pin of the ball mount apparatus is in the rearward retracted position, the rotatable block is preferably rotatable between at least a first rotational position and a second rotational position. When the rotatable block is in the first rotational position and the biasing element moves the locking pin to the forward locking position, a first hole in the rearward face of the support block preferably receives a forward portion of the locking pin, which prevents the rotatable block from rotating with respect to the support block, and holds a first one of the hitch balls in an orientation for use. When the rotatable block is in the second rotational position and the biasing element moves the locking pin to the forward locking position, a second hole in the rearward face of the support block preferably receives the forward portion of the locking pin, which prevents the rotatable block from rotating with respect to the support block, and holds a second one of the hitch balls in an orientation for use.

In another aspect, there is provided a ball mount apparatus for hitching a trailer to a vehicle wherein the ball mount apparatus preferably comprises: (a) a trailer hitch shank having a forwardly extending shank insert, which is insertable into a vehicle trailer hitch receiver, and a vertically extending drop bar at a rearward end of the trailer hitch shank; (b) a block assembly having a longitudinal axis; and (c) at least one hitch ball which extends from the block assembly. The block assembly is preferably connected to the drop bar such that, when the block assembly is positioned at a lower end of the drop bar, the block assembly is rotatable between (a) a towing position in which the block assembly extends rearwardly from the drop bar and (b) a stowed position in which the block assembly extends forwardly from the drop bar.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those in the art upon examining the accompanying drawings and upon reading the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments.

