Adjustable Height Hitch Apparatus with Lanyard Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lunette ring hitch apparatuses are difficult to rotate in the field due to the press-fit of the tapered shaft to the trailer frame and often have rusted nuts that are hard to loosen, making height adjustments challenging, especially in military towing applications.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable height hitch apparatus with a base and elongated shaft secured to the trailer frame, featuring a height adjustment member with fasteners and lanyards to securely position the coupling apparatus at various elevations, preventing axial rotation and facilitating easy adjustment without tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional lunette ring hitch apparatus uses a press-fit tapered shaft to the trailer frame, then the coupling is secure and stable, but the hitch apparatus becomes difficult to rotate for height adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the hitch apparatus into separate functional components: a base portion that remains fixed to the trailer frame, and a height adjustment member that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the secure mounting function to be separated from the adjustment function, enabling easy height changes without affecting the secure coupling of the base to the frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a dynamic height adjustment mechanism where the height adjustment member can be positioned at multiple discrete vertical positions along the base. This allows the system to transition from a static fixed-height design to a dynamic adjustable-height design, enabling operators to change the coupling height as needed without rotating or disassembling the entire apparatus.
2Reliability
If a conventional lunette ring hitch apparatus uses a rusted nut to secure the shaft, then the connection is durable, but the nut becomes difficult to loosen for adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the adjustment function from the traditional nut-and-bolt securing mechanism. Instead of using a rusted nut that requires loosening, the design employs a separate height adjustment member with apertures that accept removable fasteners. This allows the durable connection to be maintained through proper fastening while enabling easy adjustment by simply removing and repositioning the fasteners at different aperture locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary fastening system using removable fasteners (such as pins or clips) that engage with apertures in the height adjustment member. This intermediary mechanism replaces the traditional rusted nut, providing both durable connection when fastened and easy adjustment when unfastened, without requiring corrosion-prone threaded connections.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hitch apparatus allows height adjustment, then the adaptability to different towing scenarios is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a nested structure where the height adjustment member is positioned within or alongside the base portion, and the coupling apparatus is nested within the height adjustment member. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional elements to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, reducing the overall footprint and structural complexity while maintaining the height adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds vertical dimensionality to the hitch apparatus design by incorporating multiple apertures at different vertical positions along the height adjustment member. This allows height adjustment in the vertical dimension without requiring complex rotational or lateral adjustment mechanisms, simplifying the overall device structure while providing adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable height hitch apparatus for a trailer includes a base having opposite first and second end portions. An elongated shaft extends outwardly from the base first end portion, and an elongated height adjustment member is attached to the base second end portion. A coupling apparatus, such as a lunette ring, is supportable by the height adjustment member via one or more fasteners at any of a plurality of elevations. The height adjustment member is configured to provide height adjustment for the coupling apparatus of at least about eight inches.