US 12,403,840 B2
Vehicle hitch mountable device for lifting objects
Kevin Wall, Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Kevin Wall, Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Feb. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/109,869.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/317,826, filed on Mar. 8, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0286442 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 9/06 (2006.01); B66F 3/44 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 9/06 (2013.01) [B66F 3/44 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device (10,20) for lifting one or more objects, the device comprising:
at least a pair of arms (100) configured to receive one or more objects;
a horizontal bar (200) coupled with the pair of arms (100);
a slide bar (300) coupled with the horizontal bar (200), wherein the slide bar (300) is configured to be displaced with respect to a housing (400,400′) between a retracted state and an elongated state;
a threaded rod (500) configured to pass within the slide bar (300) and the housing (400, 400′); wherein the threaded rod (500) is configured to be rotated in the clockwise direction and the anticlockwise direction; and rotation of the threaded rod (500) displaces the slide bar (300) with respect to the housing (400,400′);
wherein the housing (400, 400′) comprises a threaded rod arrangement (408, 408′) configured to couple the threaded rod (500) with a distal end of the housing (400, 400′);
an insert (700) coupled with the housing (400,400′), wherein the insert (700) is configured to be engaged to a hitch receiver of a vehicle; and
wherein the threaded rod arrangement (408, 408′) comprises a threaded shaft collar (481), a thrust plain bearing (482), a top lifting plate (483), and a thrust ball bearing (484).
 
11. A device (10, 20) for lifting one or more objects, the device comprising:
at least a pair of arms (100) configured to receive one or more objects;
a horizontal bar (200) coupled with the pair of arms (100);
a slide bar (300) coupled with the horizontal bar (200), wherein the slide bar (300) is configured to be displaced with respect to a housing (400,400′) between a retracted state and an elongated state;
a threaded rod (500) configured to pass within the slide bar (300) and the housing (400,400′); wherein the threaded rod (500) is rotatable in clockwise direction and counterclockwise direction;
wherein the threaded rod (500) is configured to be rotated by an electric actuator;
wherein the rotation of the threaded rod (500) displaces the slide bar (300) with respect to the housing (400,400′);
an insert (700) coupled with the housing (400,400′), wherein the insert (700) is configured to be engaged to the hitch receiver of a vehicle;
a wedge (209) on an inner surface of a bottom wall (204) of the horizontal bar (200); and
wherein the wedge (209) limits the displacement of the slide bar (300) and further provides secure locking of the slide bar (300) in the retracted state to prevent rattles during transit of the object using the device (10, 20).