Adjustable towing hitch assembly
View Patent ↗Receivers are attached to motor vehicles to tow a variety of objects such as trailers. Due to the variety of makes and models of motor vehicles, several different sized receivers are required to fit most motor vehicles. The present receiver, however, provides adjustability in at least three directions. This adjustability means that one receiver can fit many different makes and models of vehicles.
1. A receiver for mounting to a frame of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a main frame member including a cross member, a first end, a second end and a midpoint;
a first selectively positionable mounting flange having a length and a height perpendicular to its length and capable of telescopically extending from said first end, said first mounting flange having a first series of anchoring apertures;
a second selectively positionable mounting flange having a length and a height perpendicular to its length and capable of telescopically extending from said second end, said second mounting flange having a second series of anchoring apertures; and
a pair of mounting brackets, each of said pair of mounting brackets includes a mounting skirt for engaging the frame of the motor vehicle, a first set of mounting apertures, and a second set of mounting apertures a spaced distance from said first set of mounting apertures, whereby said first set of mounting apertures are aligned with either of said first and second anchoring apertures to allow said mounting brackets to be secured to said main frame member in a first position and said second set of mounting apertures are aligned with either of said first and second anchoring apertures to allow said mounting brackets to be secured to said main frame member in a second position
wherein, said mounting apertures and said anchoring apertures are arranged to provide adjustability of said pair of mounting brackets along said height and said length of said first and second mounting flanges.
2. The receiver of claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of mounting brackets includes two planar surfaces extending substantially perpendicular to one another.
3. The receiver of claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of mounting brackets includes a portion having an L-shaped cross section including a first planar surface and a second planar surface substantially perpendicular to one another.
4. The receiver of claim 1 , wherein said pair of opposed mounting brackets are mounted outboard of said mounting flanges.
5. The receiver of claim 1 , wherein said pair of opposed mounting brackets are mounted inboard of said mounting flanges.
6. The receiver of claim 1 , further including fasteners for securing said pair of mounting brackets to said mounting flanges by extending said fasteners through said series of anchoring apertures and either of said first set of mounting apertures or said second set of mounting apertures.
7. The receiver of claim 1 , wherein said mounting brackets are reversible so that said mounting skirts extend inwardly, toward each other or outwardly, away from each other.
8. The receiver of claim 1 wherein said pair of mounting brackets are nontubular and are secured directly between said main frame member and the frame of the motor vehicle.
9. The receiver of claim 1 , wherein said main frame member includes a round cross section.
10. The receiver of claim 1 , further including an accessory receiver carried on said cross member.
11. The receiver of claim 10 , wherein said accessory receiver is mounted to said cross member at said midpoint.
12. The receiver of claim 11 , wherein said accessory receiver is a hitch receiver box.
13. A receiver for mounting to a frame of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a main frame member including a cross member, a first end, and a second end;
a first selectively positionable mounting flange having a length and a height perpendicular to its length and having a first tube extending therefrom that telescopically engages said first end so that said first mounting flange is telescopically extendable from said first end, said first mounting flange having a first series of anchoring apertures;
a second selectively positionable mounting flange having a length and a height perpendicular to its length and having a second tube extending therefrom that telescopically engages said second end so that said second mounting flange telescopically extends from said second end, said second mounting flange having a second series of anchoring apertures; and
a pair of mounting brackets, each of said pair of mounting brackets including a mounting skirt for engaging the frame of the motor vehicle, a first set of mounting apertures, and a second set of mounting apertures a spaced distance from said first set of mounting apertures, whereby said first set of mounting apertures are aligned with either of said first and second anchoring apertures to allow said mounting brackets to be secured to said main frame member in a first position and said second set of mounting apertures are aligned with either of said first and second anchoring apertures to allow said mounting brackets to be secured to said main frame member in a second position
wherein, said mounting apertures and said anchoring apertures are arranged to provide adjustability of said pair of mounting brackets along said height and said length of said first and second mounting flanges.
14. The receiver of claim 13 , wherein said second position is horizontally fore or aft of said first position, raised or lowered vertically of said first position, or a combination thereof.
15. The receiver of claim 14 , wherein said cross member includes a third set of mounting apertures and a forth set of mounting apertures, said first tube includes an anchoring aperture, and said second tube includes at least one anchoring aperture, whereby said first set of mounting apertures are aligned with either of said first and second anchoring apertures to allow said mounting flanges to be selectively secured to said main frame member.
16. The receiver of claim 15 , further including fasteners for securing said first and second mounting flanges to said cross member by extending said fasteners through said series of anchoring apertures and either of said first set of mounting apertures or said second set of mounting apertures.
17. The receiver of claim 16 , wherein said fasteners connect to a bolt plate on the interior of the first and second extension tubes.
18. The receiver of claim 17 , wherein said apertures in said tubes is oblong.