Multiple hitch assembly
A height adjustable multiple hitch assembly including a shank hitch channel platform and a tow mount member with a base block configured for squared alignment within the channel having opposed flanges with aligned pairs of side holes, the block blasé having a plurality of through holes for engaged coupling with corresponding aligned side holes by a fastening member to thereby reduce the movement between the hitch platform and tow mount member that may be enhanced by a dampener member attached to a rear planar surface of the block base or a recessed column of the channel member.
1 . A multiple hitch assembly for hitching a tow accessory to a vehicle, comprising:
a hitch platform having
a shank tube member with an elongate end portion configured for telescoped coupled engagement within a receiver tube attached to the tow vehicle,
a channel member having a recessed column disposed between a pair of opposed flanges, wherein the shank tube member is affixed to a back surface of the recessed column such that the channel member is longitudinally disposed along a substantially perpendicular axis opposite the elongate end portion of the shank tube,
a plurality of paired side holes transversely aligned in the opposed flanges;
a tow mount member having a block base configured for slidable correspondence within the opposed flanges and recessed column of the channel member, wherein the block base has a rear surface disposed between opposed side walls having a planar portion, and a receiver end opposite to the rear surface, wherein the receiver end includes a plurality of tow accessory mounts, and wherein at least one through hole is disposed through the block base, wherein the at least one through hole is positioned such that aligned correspondence with a selected pair of the paired side holes of the flange members positions one of a plurality of tow accessory mounts in an upward facing use position; and
at least one fastening member configured for coupling the at least one through hole of the block base between the paired side holes of the channel member, wherein coupled engagement of the fastening member with at least one of the plurality of paired through holes and paired side holes squarely aligns the block base within the channel member such that at least a portion of the side walls and at least a portion of the planar portion of the rear surface of the block base are simultaneously compressed against a corresponding abutted surface of the opposed flanges and recessed column of the channel member.
2 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tow accessory mounts includes at least two hitch receiver balls of differing diameters.
3 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least two hitch receiver balls of differing diameters comprises three hitch receiver balls of differing diameters.
4 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of tow accessory mounts further comprises a hook member, a step member or a pintle hook.
5 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the block base is dimensioned such that the planar portion of the rear surface is perpendicularly disposed between outer surfaces of opposed side walls, and wherein the plurality of paired through holes are in paired alignment such that the planar portion of the rear surface is compressed against the recessed column of the channel member when the locking member is in coupled engagement with the tow vehicle.
6 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 2 , wherein the rear surface further comprises a recessed portion.
7 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the planar portion is perpendicularly disposed atop a pair of aligned rails longitudinal to the opposed sidewalls of the block base and wherein the at least one through hole are a pair of aligned through holes disposed in the aligned rails.
8 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein no portion of the block base extends beyond a top end and a bottom end of the channel member when the fastening member is in coupled engagement.
9 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein a dampener member is affixed upon at least a portion of the rear surface.
10 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 9 , wherein the dampener member is affixed to at least a portion of the planar portion.
11 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a dampener member affixed to at least a portion of the recessed column such that the dampener member is compressed upon the planar portion of the rear surface of the block base when the fastening member is in coupled engagement.
12 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 9 , wherein the dampener member is affixed with at least one screw.
13 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the dampener member is affixed by adhesion, fusion or coating.
14 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the dampener member is detachably affixed.
15 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a dampener material affixed to at least a portion of the planar portion and wherein the portion is an area extending from a center of the rear surface to within 1 inch of an upper edge, within 1 inch of a lower edge or at least a portion within 1 inch of the opposed side walls.
16 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 15 , wherein the dampener material includes a hollow portion.
17 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear surface includes non-planar portions.
18 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 7 , further comprising two clip pins and the plurality of paired through holes are two pairs of paired through holes disposed perpendicularly through aligned rails.
19 . A multiple hitch assembly for hitching a tow accessory to a vehicle, comprising:
a hitch platform having
a shank tube member with an elongate end portion configured for telescoped coupled engagement within a receiver tube attached to the tow vehicle,
a channel member having a recessed column disposed between opposed flanges, wherein the shank tube member is affixed to a back surface of the recessed column such that the channel member is longitudinally disposed along a substantially perpendicular axis opposite the elongate end portion,
a plurality of paired side holes transversely aligned in the opposed flanges;
a tow mount member having a block base configured for slidable correspondence within the opposed flanges and recessed column of the channel member, wherein the block base has a planar rear surface and a receiver end opposite to the planar rear surface, wherein the receiver end includes a plurality of tow accessory mounts radially disposed in different directions from a pedestal, and wherein a plurality of through holes are disposed through the block base, wherein the plurality of through holes are configured such that aligned correspondence with the side holes of the flange members positions an-one of the plurality of tow accessory mounts in an upward facing use position;
at least one fastening member configured for coupling at least one of the plurality of through holes of the block base with corresponding paired side holes of the channel member, wherein coupled engagement of the fastening member with at least one of the plurality of through holes and corresponding paired side holes squarely aligns the block base within the channel member such that side walls and the planar rear surface are simultaneously compressed against corresponding opposed surfaces of the opposed flanges and recessed column of the channel member whereby no portion of the block base extends beyond a top end and a bottom end of the channel member when the fastening member is in coupled engagement; and
a dampener member affixed along at least a portion of the recessed column such that squared coupling of the at least one fastening member with the through hole of the block base between the paired side holes compresses the dampener member against the planar rear surface of the block base.
20 . The multiple hitch assembly of claim 19 , wherein the dampener member is affixed by adhesion, fusion or coating.