Ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer

1. A ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer, comprising:

a ball portion for interfacing with a ball configured to couple with a tongue of a trailer;

a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle; and

a load measurement device associated with the hitch portion,

wherein the hitch portion is configured to pivot relative to the hitch receiver about a fulcrum in response to a downward force on the ball, the hitch receiver resisting rotation of the hitch portion about the fulcrum thereby inducing a load on the hitch portion, wherein the fulcrum is defined by an interface between a bottom side of the hitch portion and the hitch receiver, and

wherein the load measurement device is configured to determine a magnitude of the downward force on the ball based on the load on the hitch portion.

2. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the load measurement device comprises:

a reservoir having a fluid and a piston disposed therein, wherein the piston is configured to interface with the hitch receiver and affect a pressure of the fluid as a result of the downward force on the ball; and

a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the reservoir.

3. The ball mount of claim 1 , further comprising a display configured to indicate the magnitude of the downward force.

4. The ball mount of claim 3 , wherein the display is associated with the ball portion.

5. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the hitch portion comprises a fulcrum feature on the bottom side of the hitch portion configured to form the fulcrum.

6. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the load measurement device comprises a load cell.

7. The ball mount of claim 6 , wherein the load cell comprises a strain gage load cell, a mechanical load cell, a hydraulic load cell, a pneumatic load cell, or combinations thereof.

8. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the load measurement device comprises a strain gage disposed on an outer surface of the hitch portion.

9. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the load measurement device comprises an interface portion configured to interface with the hitch receiver.

10. The ball mount of claim 9 , wherein the interface portion is located at a top side of the hitch portion.

11. The ball mount of claim 9 , wherein the interface portion is located at a bottom side of the hitch portion.

12. The ball mount of claim 11 , wherein the interface portion is located at a proximal end of the hitch portion.

13. The ball mount of claim 9 , wherein the interface portion is located at a distal end of the hitch portion.

14. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the load measurement device comprises a strain gauge disposed on a recessed surface of the hitch portion.

15. The ball mount of claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter to communicate the magnitude of the downward force on the ball to a remote display.

16. The ball mount of claim 15 , wherein the transmitter communicates with the remote display via wires.

17. The ball mount of claim 15 , wherein the transmitter communicates with the remote display wirelessly.

18. A method of displaying tongue weight of a trailer, comprising:

providing a ball mount as recited in claim 15 ;

engaging a hitch portion of the ball mount with a hitch receiver on a vehicle;

engaging a ball portion of the ball mount with a tongue of the trailer; and

connecting the ball mount to a remote display.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the connection with the remote display is a wired connection.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the connection with the remote display is a wireless connection.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the remote display is a mobile device.

22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the remote display is located inside of the vehicle.