Anti-rotational hitch ball

Abstract

A hitch assembly that includes an anti-rotation mechanism. The hitch assembly generally includes a hitch ball, a ball mount, and a fastener. The invention is directed to a mechanism for preventing rotation of either the hitch ball or the fastener relative to the ball mount. The anti-rotation mechanism of the present invention provides an engagement means for interlocking sections of the hitch ball or fastener with the ball mount, thereby blocking rotation of the hitch ball or fastener relative to the ball mount.

1 . A hitch assembly comprising: 
 a ball mount;    an aperture defined within the ball mount for receiving the hitch ball;    a recessed portion extending from the aperture;    a hitch ball having a surface that extends into the recessed portion of the aperture to prevent rotational movement of the hitch ball relative to the ball mount, the hitch ball includes a shank portion with a threaded portion that is axially spaced apart from the portion of the hitch ball that extends into the recessed portion of the ball mount by an unthreaded shank portion; and    wherein the ball mount has an upper side surface and a lower side surface and a thickness defined between the upper side surface and the lower side surface; and wherein the aperture passes through the entire thickness and the recessed portion passes only partially through the thickness.    
   
   
       2 . The hitch assembly of claim  0  wherein the hitch ball includes a ball portion and a flange portion and the flange portion is disposed between the ball portion and the portion of the hitch ball that extends into the recessed portion of the ball mount.  
   
   
       3 . A hitch assembly comprising: 
 a hitch ball;    a ball mount comprising:    an aperture through which a portion of the hitch ball is received and secured;    a recessed portion extending from the aperture that is shaped to receive a conformingly shaped portion of the hitch ball to prevent rotation of the hitch ball relative to the ball mount, wherein the recessed portion extends only partially into a thickness of the ball mount; and    wherein the hitch ball includes a shank portion with a threaded portion that is axially spaced apart from the conformingly shaped portion of the hitch ball by an unthreaded portion of the shank.    
   
   
       4 . The hitch assembly of  claim 3  wherein the hitch ball includes a ball portion and a flange portion and the flange portion is disposed between the ball portion and the conformingly shaped portion.  
   
   
       5 . A hitch ball for assembly with a ball mount that defines an aperture and a recess that extends from the aperture and extends only partially into a thickness of the ball mount, the hitch ball comprising: 
 a ball portion;    an anti-rotational portion connected to the ball portion and sized for insertion into the ball mount recess such that the anti-rotation portion engages a surface defined by the ball mount recess; and    a shank portion extending from the anti-rotational portion, the shank portion includes a threaded portion that is axially spaced apart from the anti-rotational portion by an unthreaded portion of the shank.    
   
   
       6 . The hitch ball of  claim 5  further comprising a flange portion disposed between the ball portion and the anti-rotational portion.  
   
   
       7 . A hitch assembly comprising: 
 a hitch ball;    a ball mount;    an aperture defined within the ball mount for receiving the hitch ball;    a recessed portion extending directly from the aperture; wherein a surface of the hitch ball extends into the recessed portion of the aperture to prevent rotational movement of the hitch ball relative to the ball mount;    wherein the ball mount has an upper side surface and a lower side surface and a thickness defined between the upper side surface and the lower side surface; and wherein the aperture passes through the entire thickness and the recessed portion passes only partially through the thickness; and    wherein the hitch ball includes a shank portion with a threaded portion that is axially spaced apart from the portion of the hitch ball that extends into the recessed portion by an unthreaded portion of the shank.    
   
   
       8 . The hitch assembly of  claim 7  wherein the hitch ball includes a ball portion and a flange portion and the flange portion is disposed between the ball portion and the conformingly shaped portion.  
   
   
       9 . A hitch assembly comprising: 
 a hitch ball;    a ball mount comprising: 
 an aperture through which a portion of the hitch ball is received and secured;  
 a recessed portion extending directly from the aperture that is configured to engage a portion of the hitch ball to prevent rotation of the hitch ball relative to the ball mount;  
 wherein the recessed portion extends only partially into a thickness of the ball mount; and  
 wherein the hitch ball includes a shank portion with a threaded portion that is axially spaced apart from the portion of the hitch ball that engages the recessed portion by an unthreaded portion of the shank.  
   
   
   
       10 . The hitch assembly of  claim 9  wherein the hitch ball includes a ball portion and a flange portion and the flange portion is disposed between the ball portion and the conformingly shaped portion.  
   
   
       11 . A hitch assembly comprising: 
 a hitch ball;    a ball mount comprising: 
 an aperture through which a portion of the hitch ball is received and secured;  
 means for inhibiting rotation of the hitch ball with respect to the ball mount; and  
   wherein the hitch ball includes an engagement surface that engages the means for inhibiting rotation and the hitch ball includes a shank portion with a threaded portion that is axially spaced apart from the engagement surface by an unthreaded portion of the shank.    
   
   
       12 . The hitch assembly of  claim 11  wherein the hitch ball includes a ball portion and a flange portion and the flange portion is disposed between the ball portion and the engagement surface.