The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 30, 2020
Filed:
Feb. 21, 2018
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Erlanger, KY (US);
Herb Meingast, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Daniel Mount, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Kyle A. Banner, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
David C. Smith, Plymouth, MI (US);
Peter D. Susi, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., Erlanger, KY (US);
Abstract
A towing hitch receiver structure for a vehicle is disclosed. The towing hitch receiver structure includes a torsion tube; and a receiver structure mounted to the torsion tube at a center position between both ends. The receiver structure supports a receiver tube positioned below the torsion tube. The receiver structure includes a pair of side receiver plates, each plate having an opening that encircles the outer cross-section of the torsion tube and is secured to the torsion tube by a weld. The side plates are parallel to each other and to the receiver tube in the lengthwise direction. Because the receiver plates make up each side of the receiver structure, the torsion tube is allowed to bend freely. Provided the arrangement of side receiver plates, the hitch structure can be made using thinner, lighter weight parts.