Elongate receiver tube and method of making the same

Abstract

A receiver tube for a trailer hitch assembly including a hollow metal tube stock wherein the receiving end thereof is provided with a cold formed reinforcing flange formed of the outermost end of the tube stock is folded upon itself.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An elongate receiver tube for a trailer hitch assembly comprising: 
 a hollow elongate tube having an internal rectangular cross-section and having a first end adapted to receive a trailer hitch bar having a complimentary outer rectangular cross-section, the first end of said tube having an integral reinforcement construction wherein the first end of said tube is provided with an outwardly extending fold formed of substantially two thicknesses of the tube, wherein the outermost end portions are folded against one another by a cold forming process to form a peripheral outwardly extending fold at the first end of said tube, the cold forming process includes the use of a clamp to hold an unfolded portion of the tube and wherein the entire cross-section of the clamp is rectangular, the fold having an inner dimension which is substantially the same as an inner dimension of said tube and an outer dimension greater then an outer dimension of said tube.    
     
     
         2 . The receiver tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the fold has a flat face spaced from the first end formed against an outer wall of the clamp.  
     
     
         3 . The receiver tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the fold has a substantially rounded outer surface.  
     
     
         4 . An elongate receiver tube for a trailer hitch assembly comprising: 
 a hollow elongate tube having an internal rectangular cross-section and an external rectangular cross-section, said tube having a first end adapted to receive a trailer hitch bar having a complimentary outer rectangular cross-section to be slidably received in the internal rectangular cross-section of said tube, the first end of said tube having an outwardly extending flange portion formed by a cold forming process, the flange portion formed wholly outside of a clamping structure, wherein a side of the flange facing away from the first end abuts a wall of the clamping structure which is external of the clamping structure, the flange provided with an outwardly extending fold formed of substantially two thicknesses of the tube, the flange portion having an inner dimension which is substantially the same as an inner dimension of said tube and an outer dimension greater then an outer dimension of said tube.    
     
     
         5 . The receiver tube according to  claim 4 , wherein the flange portion has a substantially rounded outer surface.  
     
     
         6 . An elongate receiver tube for a trailer hitch assembly comprising: 
 a hollow elongate tube having an internal rectangular cross-section and an external rectangular cross-section, said tube having a first end adapted to receive a trailer hitch bar having a complimentary outer rectangular cross-section to be slidably received in the internal rectangular cross-section of said tube, the first end of said tube having a fold with a substantially rounded outer surface, the fold formed by a cold forming process wherein a clamping structure with an internal surface having a rectangular shape over its entire length is used, the flange portion formed wholly outside of the internal surface of the clamping structure, the fold formed of substantially two thicknesses of the tube, the flange portion having an inner dimension which is substantially the same as an inner dimension of said tube and an outer dimension greater then an outer dimension of said tube.    
     
     
         7 . The receiver tube according to  claim 6 , wherein a side of the fold facing away from the first end has a flat face formed against a wall of the clamping structure, the wall being external of the clamping structure.