Trailer hitch assemblies and related methods

Abstract

A trailer hitch assembly sized and shaped to fit within a trailer hitch receptacle, wherein the trailer hitch assembly includes a first tubular element and a second tubular element. Each tubular element has an angled end, wherein the angled ends of the first tubular element and the second tubular element are complementary to each other. The trailer hitch assembly may further include at least one guide to assist in aligning the first tubular element with the second tubular element along the angled ends. The trailer hitch assembly may further include an actuator configured to engage both the first tubular element and the second tubular element and to diagonally displace the first tubular element relative to the second tubular element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A trailer hitch assembly, comprising:
 two hitch members, each hitch member of the two hitch members having an angled end, wherein the angled ends of the two hitch members are configured to complementarily align one with another;   an actuator configured to engage both of the two hitch members and to displace the two hitch members relative to one another;   a first hole in a side wall of one of the two hitch members; and   a second hole in a side wall of the other of the two hitch members, the first hole and the second hole configured to be aligned when the two hitch members are aligned along the angled ends of the two hitch members and to receive a security pin simultaneously through both the first hole and second hole.   
     
     
         2 . The trailer hitch assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one guide projection disposed within at least one of the two hitch members. 
     
     
         3 . The trailer hitch assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one guide projection comprises at least two guide projections. 
     
     
         4 . The trailer hitch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises:
 an elongated bolt extending axially through a first hitch member of the two hitch members and at least partially into a second hitch member of the two hitch members, the elongated bolt having a head end and a threaded end; and   a nut mount disposed within the second hitch member and having a threaded hole configured to receive the threaded end of the elongated bolt.   
     
     
         5 . A method of forming a trailer hitch assembly, comprising:
 forming two hitch members having complementary angled ends, wherein the two hitch members are configured to align together along the complementary angled ends;   forming a hole in a side wall of each of the two hitch members;   attaching at least one guide projection to an interior surface of at least one of the two hitch members; and   attaching a ball mount to one of the two hitch members.   
     
     
         6 . The method of forming a trailer hitch assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 forming a first actuator hole through the ball mount;   forming a second actuator hole through a nut mount, the second actuator hole having an enlarged portion;   securing the nut mount to the interior surface of one of the two hitch members and aligning the second actuator hole of the nut mount axially with the first actuator hole of the ball mount;   positioning a nut within the enlarged portion of the second actuator hole of the nut mount;   inserting an elongated bolt through the first actuator hole in the ball mount; and   engaging the elongated bolt with the nut.   
     
     
         7 . The method of forming a trailer hitch assembly of  claim 5 , wherein forming two hitch members having complementary angled ends comprises cutting a single rectangular hitch member from a first edge of the single rectangular hitch member to a second, diagonally opposite edge of the single rectangular hitch member at an acute angle relative to a line defined by the first edge of the single rectangular hitch member along a longitudinal length of the single rectangular hitch member. 
     
     
         8 . The method of forming a trailer hitch assembly of  claim 5 , wherein attaching at least one guide projection to an interior surface of at least one of the two hitch members comprises attaching at least one guide projection to both of the two hitch members. 
     
     
         9 . The method of forming a trailer hitch assembly of  claim 5 , wherein attaching at least one guide projection to an interior surface of at least one of the two hitch members comprises attaching two guide projections to the interior surface of one of the two hitch members.