Hitch apparatus and method
View Patent ↗An apparatus having a hitch arm having a cross beam. The cross beam has a first end and a second end. A first hitch member is adjacently coupled to the first end. A second hitch member is adjacently coupled to the second end. A hitch receiver is coupled to the cross beam. A first hitch frame is rotatably coupled to the first hitch member A second hitch frame is rotatably coupled to the second hitch member. A first extender is coupled to the first hitch frame and the first hitch member. A second extender is coupled to the second hitch frame and the second hitch member.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a hitch arm having:
a cross beam having a first end and a second end;
a first hitch member adjacently coupled to the first end;
a second hitch member adjacently coupled to the second end; and
a hitch receiver coupled to the cross beam;
a first hitch frame rotatably coupled to the first hitch member;
a second hitch frame rotatably coupled to the second hitch member;
a first extender coupled to the first hitch frame and the first hitch member; and
a second extender coupled to the second hitch frame and the second hitch member;
wherein the first hitch member is couplable to the first hitch frame by a first locking actuator, and wherein the second hitch member is couplable to the second hitch frame by a second locking actuator.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hitch arm is comprised of a metal alloy.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hitch receiver comprises a ball mount.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first extender and second extender comprise a pneumatic system.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first extender and second extender comprise a hydraulic system.
6. A system comprising:
a mobile vehicle having a vehicle frame;
a hitch apparatus coupled to the vehicle frame, the hitch apparatus having:
a hitch arm having:
a cross beam having a first end and a second end;
a first hitch member adjacently coupled to the first end;
a second hitch member adjacently coupled to the second end; and
a hitch receiver coupled to the cross beam;
a first hitch frame rotatably coupled to the first hitch member;
a second hitch frame rotatably coupled to the second hitch member;
a first extender coupled to the first hitch frame and the first hitch member; and
a second extender coupled to the second hitch frame and the second hitch member;
wherein the first hitch member is couplable to the first hitch frame by a first locking actuator; and wherein the second hitch member is couplable to the second hitch frame by a second locking actuator.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the hitch arm is comprised of a metal alloy.
8. The system of claim 6 wherein the hitch receiver comprises a ball mount.
9. The system of claim 6 wherein the first extender and second extender comprise a pneumatic system.
10. The system of claim 6 wherein the first extender and second extender comprise hydraulic system.
11. A method comprising:
coupling a hitch apparatus to a vehicle frame, the hitch apparatus having:
a hitch arm having:
a cross beam having a first end and a second end;
a first hitch member adjacently coupled to the first end;
a second hitch member adjacently coupled to the second end; and
a hitch receiver coupled to the cross beam;
a first hitch frame rotatably coupled to the first hitch member;
a second hitch frame rotatably coupled to the second hitch member;
a first extender coupled to the first hitch frame and the first hitch member; and
a second extender coupled to the second hitch frame and the second hitch member;
and wherein the first hitch member is couplable to the first hitch frame by locking actuators; and wherein the second hitch member is couplable to the second hitch frame by locking actuators;
coupling a ball mount to the hitch receiver;
activating the first extender and second extender such that the hitch arm rotates away from the first hitch member and second hitch member;
aligning the hitch receiver to a trailer coupler;
activating the first extender and second extender such that the hitch arm rotates toward the first hitch member and second hitch member;
coupling the ball mount to the trailer coupler.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first extender and second extender comprise a pneumatic system.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first extender and second extender comprise a hydraulic system.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the hitch apparatus is comprised of a metal alloy.