US 12,138,973 B2
Methods and apparatus for a dual reacting, single load sensing element coupled to a hitch receiver
Andrew Niedert, New Hudson, MI (US); Kevin Stanton Giaier, Sylvan Lake, MI (US); Elliott Pearson, Shelby Township, MI (US); Anton Rogness, Dearborn, MI (US); Johannes Gießibl, Amerang (DE); and Chad Reed, Ypsilanti, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US); and Methode Electronics, Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US); and Methode Electronics, Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/170,371.
Application 18/170,371 is a division of application No. 16/987,089, filed on Aug. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,607,919.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/884,982, filed on Aug. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0191859 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. B60D 1/24 (2006.01); B60D 1/48 (2006.01)
CPC B60D 1/248 (2013.01) [B60D 1/485 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed, cause one or more processors to:
determine a location of a hitch ball of a hitch of a vehicle;
determine a load condition of the hitch based on the location and data received from a sensor of a first pin of the hitch, the hitch including a second pin, the first pin to react loads in a first direction and a second direction, the second pin to react loads in the first direction; and
in response to the load condition satisfying an alert threshold, alert a user of the load condition.