IP Library Granted Patent US 8,960,706
Granted Patent B2
US 8,960,706 · App. 13/769,555 · Granted Feb 24, 2015

Towing ball mount merchandising and displaying arrangement

Inventors: Winston Breeden (Chagrin Falls, OH); Thaddeus T. Brej (Rocky River, OH)
Assignee: Winston Products LLC
A47F7/00B60D1/52G09F21/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,960,706
App. No.
13/769,555
Granted
Feb 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A towing ball mount merchandising and displaying arrangement. The arrangement includes a ball mount that includes a tongue portion having an aperture for receiving a securing portion of a hitch ball and that includes a mounting portion for insertion into a receiver located upon a vehicle. The mounting portion has an aperture there through for receiving a securing member to retain the mounting portion within the receiver located upon the vehicle. The arrangement includes a removable support member extending through the aperture of the mounting portion of the ball mount. The support member has portions that extend to protrude from each of two sides of the mounting portion. The portions of the support member that protrude provide contact areas for engagement with members of a merchandising display such that the ball mount is suspendable relative to the merchandising display upon the support member.

Claims (28)

1. A towing ball mount merchandising and displaying arrangement, the arrangement including:

a ball mount including a tongue portion having an aperture for receiving a securing portion of a hitch ball and including a mounting portion for insertion into a receiver located upon a vehicle, the mounting portion having an aperture there through for receiving a securing member to retain the mounting portion within the receiver located upon the vehicle; and

a removable support member extending through the aperture of the mounting portion of the ball mount, the support member having portions that extend to protrude from each of two sides of the mounting portion, the portions of the support member that protrude provide contact areas for engagement with members of a merchandising display such that the ball mount is suspendable relative to the merchandising display upon the support member;

wherein the support member includes at least one holder portion interacting with the mounting portion of the ball mount to resist removal of the support member from the ball mount, and the least one holder portion includes at least one flange segment that is sized to friction-fit into the aperture of the mounting portion.

2. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the support member includes at least one spacer portion interacting with the mounting portion of the ball mount to retain the support member at a position relative to the ball mount with the portions extending to protrude from each of two sides of the mounting portion.

3. The arrangement as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the spacer portion includes at least one flange that is sized to prohibit entry of the flange into the aperture of the mounting portion.

4. The arrangement as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the at least one flange is a single, annular flange.

5. The arrangement as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the at least one flange is a plurality of partially annular flanges.

6. The arrangement as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the mounting portion of the ball mount has a plurality of lobes when viewed in cross-section, with the lobes having curved surfaces, the plurality of partially annular flanges have curved contours mate within the curved surfaces of at least some of the lobes.

7. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the at least one flange segment is part of at least one flange that is sized to friction-fit into the aperture of the mounting portion.

8. The arrangement as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the at least one flange is a single, annular flange.

9. The arrangement as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the at least one flange includes a plurality of raised segments spaced from each other.

10. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion of the ball mount has a square cross-section.

11. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion of the ball mount has a plurality of lobes when viewed in cross section.

12. The arrangement as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the mounting portion of the ball mount is hollow.

13. The arrangement as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the lobes having curved surfaces, the support member includes at least one spacer portion to retain the support member at a position relative to the ball mount with the portions extending to protrude from each of two sides of the mounting portion, and the spacer portion having curved contours interacting with the curved surfaces of at least some of the lobes.

14. A towing ball mount merchandising and displaying arrangement, the arrangement including:

a ball mount including a tongue portion having an aperture for receiving a securing portion of a hitch ball and including a mounting portion for insertion into a receiver located upon a vehicle, the mounting portion having an aperture there through for receiving a securing member to retain the mounting portion within the receiver located upon the vehicle; and

a removable support member extending through the aperture of the mounting portion of the ball mount, the support member having portions that extend to protrude from each of two sides of the mounting portion, the portions of the support member that protrude provide contact areas for engagement with members of a merchandising display such that the ball mount is suspendable relative to the merchandising display upon the support member;

wherein the support member includes two parts, the first part includes an elongate shaft for extending through the aperture of the mounting portion of the ball mount, the first part also including a first spool integrally molded within the shaft, the second part includes a second spool that is removably attachable to the shaft.

15. The arrangement as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the ball mount is located between the first and second spools.

16. The arrangement as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the portions that extend to protrude from each of two sides of the mounting portion are located outboard of the first and second spools.

17. The arrangement as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the portions that extend to protrude from each of two sides of the mounting portion and located outboard of the first and second spools allow use for engagement with members of a merchandising display spaced for use with a relatively larger sized ball mount.

18. A merchandising display including:

a plurality of support members; and

a plurality of towing ball mount merchandising and displaying arrangements, each arrangement including:

a ball mount including a tongue portion having an aperture for receiving a securing portion of a hitch ball and including a mounting portion for insertion into a receiver located upon a vehicle, the mounting portion having an aperture there through for receiving a securing member to retain the mounting portion within the receiver located upon the vehicle; and

a removable support member extending through the aperture of the mounting portion of the ball mount, the support member having portions that extend to protrude from each of two sides of the mounting portion, the portions of the support member that protrude provide contact areas for engagement with respective support members such that the ball mount is suspended within the merchandising display upon the respective support members.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2022
From: TOWSMART LLC
To: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 059842/0683 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2020
From: SUPER G CAPITAL, LLC
To: WINSTON PRODUCTS LLC; SMART STRAPS, LLC; TOWSMART, LLC; CARGO SMART, LLC; CLEVELAND CLEANING PRODUCTS, LLC; MAKE 'EM ALL LLC
Reel/Frame 053363/0066 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2019
From: SMART STRAPS, LLC
To: CHEMICAL BANK, A DIVISION OF TCF NATIONAL BANK
Reel/Frame 050292/0415 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 28, 2019
From: WINSTON PRODUCTS LLC; SMART STRAPS, LLC; TOWSMART, LLC; CARGOSMART, LLC; CLEVELAND CLEANING PRODUCTS, LLC; MAKE 'EM ALL LLC
To: SUPER G CAPITAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 048175/0823 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2013
From: BREEDEN, WINSTON; BREJ, THADDEUS T
To: TOWSMART LLC
Reel/Frame 030039/0894 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 12949184 · Nov 18, 2010
Provisional Application 61262279 · Nov 18, 2009
Related Publication 20130161276A1 · Jun 27, 2013