Douglas Lee Howe

US Patent:

20180015796, Jan 18, 2018

Filed:

Jul 18, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/212382

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Douglas Lee Howe - Grosse Ile MI, US
Daniel J. McCarthy - Northville MI, US
Chih Yu Lin - Canton MI, US
Andre Kunynetz - Windsor, CA

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60D 1/155
B60D 1/06

Abstract:

The disclosed inventive concept provides a trailer hitch arrangement for use with a drawbar that is adaptable to universally use a high strength conventional hitch pin. Particularly, a reducing pin sleeve is fitted into the hitch pin hole of the drawbar. The inner diameter of the reducing pin sleeve is less than the hitch pin hole conventionally formed in the drawbar while the inner diameter of the reducing pin sleeve is the same as that of the receiver. When the drawbar is fitted into the receiver, the reducing pin sleeve is captured therein, thus preventing side-to-side movement relative to the drawbar. The disclosed inventive concept allows vehicle owners having a standard 3″ receiver trailer hitch which conventionally includes a ⅝″ hitch pin hole to safely and effectively handle above 20,000 lbs. trailer rating by insertion of the hitch pin sleeve into the ″ hitch pin hole provided in the drawbar.

US Patent:

20150054257, Feb 26, 2015

Filed:

Aug 26, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/010295

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Marwan Ahmad ELBKAILY - Canton MI, US
John Martin KNITTEL - Canton MI, US
Douglas Lee HOWE - Grosse Ile MI, US

Assignee:

FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60D 1/24

US Classification:

280480

Abstract:

A flexible tow hook assembly for a vehicle. That assembly generally includes a front rail enclosing an inner region, a through-bolt assembly, and a cable. The through-bolt passes through and secured to the front rail section, and a support structure provides structural support to the front rail at an area where the through bolt is secured to the same. The cable is substantially flexible and a tie area is attached to the cable to form a figure-eight. The cable has a smaller loop, extending around the through-bolt, and a larger loop extending from the end of the front rail. The through-bolt may extend through the front rail vertically or horizontally. The support structure may be provided by an overlap area where rail members overlap, or by mounting plates secured to the surface of the front rail at the position where the through bolt extends through the same.