| US 7,431,321 B2 | ||
| Trailer hitch assembly | ||
| Eric M. Terpsma, Holland, Mich. (US); David O. Roe, Grand Haven, Mich. (US); Richard T. Polanic, Hudsonville, Mich. (US); and Rudolph A. Bahnsen, Zeeland, Mich. (US) | ||
| Assigned to SAF-Holland, Inc., Holland, Mich. (US) | ||
| Filed on May 27, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/855,108. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/473652, filed on May 28, 2003. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0239077 A1, Dec. 02, 2004 | ||
| Int. Cl. B60D 1/04 (2006.01); B60D 1/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 280—514 [280/504; 280/491.2; 280/491.5; 280/414.1; 285/187; 285/231; 285/906; 285/917; 285/223; 285/913; 285/910; 285/233; 285/234; 285/351; 138/145; 138/146; 277/585] | 37 Claims |
| 1. A trailer hitch assembly, comprising:
a receiver portion adapted to operably couple with a towing vehicle and including a cylindrically-shaped cavity;
a cylindrically-shaped bushing member received within the cavity of the receiver portion; and
a hitch portion adapted to operably couple with a towed vehicle and including a cylindrically-shaped shaft pivotally received
within the bushing member, wherein at least a selected one of the bushing member and the shaft at least in part comprises
a material that substantially eliminates the need for using a separately applied lubricant during use of the trailer hitch
assembly, the bushing members comprise a self-lubricating material; and
wherein the cavity of the receiver portion is defined in part by an inner wall, and wherein at least a select one of the wall
of the cavity and the shaft comprises a corrosion resistant material.
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