IP Library Granted Patent US 9,505,280
Granted Patent B2
US 9,505,280 · App. 14/685,421 · Granted Nov 29, 2016

Trailer hitch structure

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,505,280
App. No.
14/685,421
Granted
Nov 29, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A trailer hitch connected to rear frames has, on each side, a fixed member fixed to a rear end surface of the corresponding rear side frame. The rear surfaces of the fixed plates are connected to each other by a cross member. A hitch support for supporting a hitch ball is provided at the center of the cross member. A front surface upper portion of each of the fixed members is supported by an arm of a fixed bracket fixedly installed to the corresponding rear frame, so as to swing freely in a longitudinal direction.

Claims (24)

1. A trailer hitch structure, comprising:

a rear frame disposed on each side of a vehicle body in a widthwise direction and extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; and

a trailer hitch that is connected to the rear frames and has a pair of fixed members fixed to the rear frames, a cross member connecting the fixed members to each other, and a hitch support fixed to the cross member,

wherein a fixed bracket is provided in a rear portion of each of the rear frames in a fixed manner,

wherein the fixed brackets support the respective fixed members in such a manner that the fixed members swing freely in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body,

wherein each of the fixed brackets has a main body fixed to a bottom of the corresponding rear frame and a hinge arm extending rearward and supporting the corresponding fixed member while being offset upward with respect to the main body, and

wherein a lower portion of each of the hinge arms is set as an impact absorbing region.

2. The trailer hitch structure according to claim 1 , wherein the impact absorbing region is set in each of the rear frame.

3. The trailer hitch structure according to claim 1 , wherein an impact absorbing stay that connects a lower portion of each of the fixed members and the bottom of the corresponding rear frame to each other is set as the impact absorbing region.

4. The trailer hitch structure according to claim 1 , wherein each of the fixed members is connected to the corresponding fixed bracket by a load regulating member that allows the fixed member to swing at a load equal to or greater than a predetermined load.

5. The trailer hitch structure according to claim 2 , wherein each of the fixed members is connected to the corresponding fixed bracket by a load regulating member that allows the fixed member to swing at a load equal to or greater than a predetermined load.

6. The trailer hitch structure according to claim 3 , wherein each of the fixed members is connected to the corresponding fixed bracket by a load regulating member that allows the fixed member to swing at a load equal to or greater than a predetermined load.

7. A trailer hitch structure, comprising:

a rear frame disposed on each side of a vehicle body in a widthwise direction and extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; and

a trailer hitch that is connected to the rear frames and has a pair of fixed members fixed to the rear frames, a cross member connecting the fixed members to each other, and a hitch support fixed to the cross member, wherein

a fixed bracket is provided in a rear portion of each of the rear frames in a fixed manner, and

the fixed brackets support the respective fixed members in such a manner that the fixed members swing freely in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body,

wherein each of the fixed brackets includes a hinge arm extending rearward and supporting the corresponding fixed member, and

a lower portion of each of the hinge arms is set as an impact absorbing region.

8. The trailer hitch structure according to claim 7 , wherein the impact absorbing region is set in each of the rear frames.

9. The trailer hitch structure according to claim 7 , wherein an impact absorbing stay that connects a lower portion of each of the fixed members and a bottom of the corresponding rear frame to each other is set as the impact absorbing region.

10. The trailer hitch structure according to claim 7 , wherein each of the fixed members is connected to the corresponding fixed bracket by a load regulating member that allows the fixed member to swing at a load equal to or greater than a predetermined load.

11. The trailer hitch structure according to claim 8 , wherein each of the fixed members is connected to the corresponding fixed bracket by a load regulating member that allows the fixed member to swing at a load equal to or greater than a predetermined load.

12. The trailer hitch structure according to claim 9 , wherein each of the fixed members is connected to the corresponding fixed bracket by a load regulating member that allows the fixed member to swing at a load equal to or greater than a predetermined load.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 12, 2017
From: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: SUBARU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042624/0886 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2015
From: FURUKAWA, TOSHIYA
To: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 035407/0854 →