Hitch stinger with flat surface wedges
A hitch-mounted load carrier includes a connecting member configured to be inserted into a hitch receiver and a locking mechanism coupled to the connecting member and configured to secure the connecting member inside the hitch receiver. The locking mechanism includes a first actuator disposed in an interior of the connecting member, a second actuator opposite the first actuator disposed in the interior of the connecting member and coupled to the first actuator by a shaft, and a first wedge disposed at least partially in the interior of the connecting member. A first surface of the first wedge contacts the first actuator and a second surface of the first wedge contacts the second actuator. The first and second actuators are configured to radially translate the first wedge.
1. A hitch-mounted load carrier, comprising:
a connecting member configured to be inserted into a hitch receiver; and
a locking mechanism coupled to the connecting member and configured to secure the connecting member inside the hitch receiver, the locking mechanism comprising:
a first actuator disposed in an interior of the connecting member;
a second actuator opposite the first actuator disposed in the interior of the connecting member and coupled to the first actuator by a shaft; and
a first wedge disposed at least partially in the interior of the connecting member,
wherein a first surface of the first wedge contacts the first actuator and a second surface of the first wedge contacts the second actuator, and
wherein the first and second actuators are configured to radially translate the first wedge.
2. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 1 , further comprising a second wedge disposed at least partially in the interior of the connecting member, wherein the first and second actuators are configured to radially translate the second wedge.
3. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 2 , wherein the second wedge is disposed orthogonal to the first wedge.
4. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 2 , wherein a first surface of the second wedge contacts the first actuator and a second surface of the second wedge contacts the second actuator.
5. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the first wedge is disposed at a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first wedge and the second surface is disposed at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first wedge.
6. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 5 , wherein the first angle is between 20 degrees and 70 degrees.
7. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 5 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are equal.
8. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 5 , wherein a surface of the first actuator is disposed at a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft and the first angle of the first actuator is complementary to the first angle of the first wedge.
9. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 4 , wherein the first surface of the second wedge is disposed at a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second wedge and the second surface of the second wedge is disposed at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second wedge.
10. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is fixed within the interior of the connecting member.
11. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the second actuator is configured to translate along a length of the shaft.
12. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the shaft is threaded.
13. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first wedge protrudes through a first aperture in the connecting member in a locked configuration.
14. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 1 , wherein in a locked configuration the first wedge contacts an interior surface of the hitch.
15. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 2 , wherein the first and second wedges radially translate synchronously.
16. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 2 , wherein the first and second wedges comprise stainless steel.
17. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first wedge comprises a first flange configured to engage an interior surface of the connecting member to retain the first wedge within the connecting member.
18. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is symmetric.
19. The hitch-mounted load carrier of claim 18 , wherein the first actuator is a truncated square pyramid.
20. A locking mechanism for a hitch-mounted load carrier, comprising:
an actuation assembly comprising a shaft;
a first wedge comprising a first surface contacting the actuation assembly and a second surface contacting the actuation assembly; and
a second wedge comprising a first surface contacting the actuation assembly and a second surface contacting the actuation assembly,
wherein the actuation assembly is configured to radially translate the first and second wedges.
21. The locking mechanism of claim 20 , wherein the first surface of the first wedge is a first distal region and the second surface of the first wedge is a second distal region opposite the first distal region.
22. The locking mechanism of claim 21 , wherein a distance between the first surface and the second surface of the first wedge is greater than about 30 mm.
23. The locking mechanism of claim 20 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises a first actuator coupled to a second actuator by the shaft.
24. The locking mechanism of claim 20 , wherein in a locked configuration the first and second wedges are disposed at a greater radial distance from the shaft than in an unlocked configuration.
25. The locking mechanism of claim 20 , wherein the hitch-mounted load carrier is a hitch-mounted bicycle carrier.