IP Library Granted Patent US 10,960,718
Granted Patent B2
US 10,960,718 · App. 16/253,384 · Granted Mar 30, 2021

Weight distribution system

Inventors: Richard W. McCoy (Granger, IN); Marvin Hanson (Edwardsburg, MI)
Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
B60D1/247B60D1/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,960,718
App. No.
16/253,384
Granted
Mar 30, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A weight distribution system is shown and described. The weight distribution system may include a spring arm configured to be operatively engaged between plate members of a ball mount, and a pin member inserted into the spring arm, the pin member configured to secure the spring arm with the ball mount. The weight distribution system may also include an attachment mechanism configured to selectively place the spring arm in mechanical communication with a towed vehicle.

Claims (35)

1. A weight distribution system comprising:

a ball mount comprising:

an upper member configured to have a hitch ball secured thereto;

a lower engagement body;

a spring arm operatively engaged with the lower engagement body, the lower engagement body comprising first and second plate members wherein the first plate member extends rearwardly further than the second plate member; and wherein the spring arm is operatively engaged between the first and second plate members of the ball mount, the spring arm directly loading on the first plate member creating a friction load in the ball mount dampening sway forces and wherein the spring arm is directly engaged with the second plate member; and

a pin member securing the spring arm with the lower engagement body.

2. The weight distribution system of claim 1 wherein the pin pivotally attaches the spring arm with the lower engagement body.

3. The weight distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising an attachment mechanism configured to selectively place the spring arm in mechanical communication with a towed vehicle wherein the spring arm is directly attached with the ball mount between the pair of plate members.

4. The weight distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the spring arm being operatively engaged with the lower engagement body is free of a trunnion.

5. The weight distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the spring arm being operatively engaged with the lower engagement body is free of a bushing.

6. The weight distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising a clip securing the pin member with the spring arm and lower engagement body in a generally vertical position relative to the ball mount.

7. A weight distribution system comprising:

a ball mount adapted to be mounted to a hitch of a towing vehicle, the ball mount comprising;

an upper member capable of having a hitch ball secured thereto;

a lower engagement body;

a spring arm operatively engaged with the lower engagement body the lower engagement body comprising upper and lower plates, the upper plate extending a greater distance rearwardly than the lower plate the spring arm operatively inserted into the ball mount between the upper and lower plates, the spring arm directly loading on the upper plate creating a friction load in the ball mount dampening sway forces and wherein the spring arm is directly engaged with the lower plate member; and

a pin inserted into the spring arm and the ball mount, the pin operatively securing the spring arm directly with the ball mount.

8. The weight distribution system of claim 7 , wherein the spring arm is pivotally attached with the ball mount.

9. The weight distribution system of claim 7 further comprising an attachment mechanism configured to selectively place the spring arm in mechanical communication with a towed vehicle.

10. The weight distribution system of claim 9 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a shoe bracket engaging the spring arm with the towed vehicle.

11. The weight distribution system of claim 10 , further comprising an engaging member selectively secured with the shoe bracket, the engaging member configured to circumscribe at least a portion of the spring arm.

12. The weight distribution system of claim 7 , further comprising a clip, the clip selectively engaged with the pin member selectively securing the spring arm with the ball mount.

13. The weight distribution system of claim 7 , wherein the spring arm being operatively engaged with the lower engagement body is free of a trunnion.

14. The weight distribution system of claim 7 , wherein the spring arm being operatively engaged with the lower engagement body is free of a bushing.

15. A weight distribution system comprising:

a ball mount adapted to be mounted to a hitch of a towing vehicle, the ball mount comprising an upper member and a lower engagement body, wherein the lower engagement body comprises first and second plate members;

a spring arm operatively engaged between the first and second plate members of the lower engagement body, wherein the first plate member extends a greater distance rearwardly than the second plate member, the spring arm directly loading on the first plate member creating a friction load in the ball mount dampening sway forces and wherein the spring arm is directly engaged with the second plate member; and

a pin inserted into the spring arm and the first and second plate members, the pin member operatively securing the spring arm with the ball mount.

16. The weight distribution system of claim 15 , wherein the spring arm is pivotally attached between the first and second plate members.

17. The weight distribution system of claim 15 , further comprising an attachment mechanism selectively placing the spring arm in mechanical communication with a towed vehicle.

18. The weight distribution system of claim 15 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises:

a shoe bracket engaging the spring arm with the towed vehicle; and

an engaging member selectively secured with the shoe bracket, the engaging member configured to circumscribe at least a portion of the spring arm.

19. The weight distribution system of claim 18 , wherein the spring arm is selectively in contact with a friction pad positioned in the shoe bracket.

20. The weight distribution system of claim 19 , wherein the spring arm is in mechanical communication with the towed vehicle through a force applied to the friction pad by the spring arm.

Assignments (3)
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 18, 2025
From: AIRTEX INDUSTRIES, LLC; AIRTEX PRODUCTS, LP; APC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC; APC PARENT, LLC; ASC INDUSTRIES, INC.; AUTOLITE OPERATIONS LLC; AVM EXPORT, INC.; BPI ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC; BPI EC, LLC; BPI HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL, LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC CHINA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC INDIA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC LLC; CARDONE INDUSTRIES, INC.; CARRAND COMPANIES, INC.; CARTER CARBURETOR HOLDINGS, LLC; CARTER CARBURETOR, LLC; CARTER FUEL EXPORT, INC.; CARTER FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.; CWD HOLDING, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS I, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II, LLC; CWD, LLC; DALTON CORPORATION; DALTON CORPORATION, KENDALLVILLE; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, ASHLAND; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, STRYKER MACHINING FACILITY CO.; DALTON CORPORATION, WARSAW MANUFACTURING FACILITY; EAGLE CASTING, LLC; EAGLE MACHINING, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP INTERMEDIATE, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP, LLC; FRAM GROUP IP LLC; FRAM GROUP OPERATIONS LLC; FRAMAUTO HOLDINGS, LLC; FUEL FILTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GLOBAL REMAN VENTURES, LLC; HEATHERTON HOLDINGS, LLC; HOPKINS ACQUISITION, INC.; HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION; HORIZON EURO FINANCE LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL COMPANY LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; IBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; INTERNATIONAL BRAKE INDUSTRIES, INC.; JASPER ACQUISITION CORP.; JASPER RUBBER PRODUCTS, INC.; KTRI HOLDINGS, INC.; KTRI OFFSHORE HOLDINGS, LLC; LONGMAN ENTERPRISES, INC.; PHNX ACQUISITION CORP.; PREMIER MARKETING GROUP, LLC; PYLON MANUFACTURING CORP.; PYLON SOUTH BEND, INC.; QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE, L.L.C.; QUALIS ENTERPRISES, LLC; QUALITOR ACQUISITION INC.; QUALITOR AUTOMOTIVE, LLC; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY H, INC.; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY S, INC.; QUALITOR, INC.; REMAN MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC; SDC TX, LLC; SMART CHOICE, LLC; SPECIALTY PUMPS GROUP, INC.; STRONGARM, LLC; TAE BRAKES, LLC; TAE CHINA HOLDINGS, INC.; TMD INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; TMD MEXICO LLC; TOLEDO MOLDING & DIE, LLC; TRANSPORTATION AFTERMARKET ENTERPRISE, LLC; TRICO HOLDING CORPORATION; TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION; TRICO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; TRIDONEX USA LLC; UCI ACQUISITION HOLDINGS (NO. 4) LLC; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS PARENT, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL, LLC; UCI PENNSYLVANIA, INC.; UCI-AIRTEX HOLDINGS, INC.; UNITED COMPONENTS, LLC; UNIVERSAL AUTO FILTER LLC; VIPER ACQUISITION I, INC.; VIPER ACQUISITION, INC.; WALBRO LLC; WALBRO MIDCO LLC; WEM US CO.
To: GLAS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 071674/0688 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2021
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; C.P. WITTER LIMITED; WESTFALIA-AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: ATLANTIC PARK STRATEGIC CAPITAL FUND, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055262/0949 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2020
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
To: ENCINA BUSINESS CREDIT, LLC
Reel/Frame 052183/0590 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13834043 · Mar 15, 2013
Related Publication 20190152280A1 · May 23, 2019