US 12,134,287 B1
Load measuring hitch assembly for measuring loads applied by a trailer on a tow vehicle
Morgan McAllister, Lindon, UT (US)
Assigned to Weigh Safe, LLC, Lindon, UT (US)
Filed by Weigh Safe, LLC, Lindon, UT (US)
Filed on Feb. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/681,562.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/153,730, filed on Feb. 25, 2021.
Int. Cl. B60D 1/24 (2006.01); B60D 1/06 (2006.01); G01L 5/13 (2006.01)
CPC B60D 1/248 (2013.01) [B60D 1/065 (2013.01); G01L 5/136 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A load measuring hitch assembly, comprising:
a body portion operable to facilitate coupling the load measuring hitch assembly to a tow vehicle;
at least one load cell operable to measure force in at least one measurement axis; and
a ball portion having a ball operable to facilitate coupling the load measuring hitch assembly to a trailer, the ball portion and the body portion being coupled to one another via the load cell and a pin slot joint, the pin slot joint providing relative motion between the ball portion and the body portion in a rotational degree of freedom about a first axis and a translational degree of freedom along a second axis, the first and second axes being orthogonal to one another,
wherein the rotational and translational degrees of freedom between the ball portion and the body portion facilitate transfer of a force to the load cell in the at least one measurement axis, thereby facilitating determining a magnitude of at least one of a vertical or a horizontal force acting on the ball.