Trailer Hitch Mounting Assembly

Abstract

An assembly for attaching a trailer hitch to a vehicle includes a cross beam to which cast parts are attached using fasteners to eliminate welded joints and their associated expense and failure modes. The components mounted on the cross beam include attachment fittings positioned at the ends of the cross beam and a hitch receiver mounted between the cross beam ends. The hitch receiver has a girth through which the cross beam extends.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly for mounting a trailer hitch to a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
 a cross beam having first and second ends oppositely disposed;   a first attachment fitting mounted on said first end of said cross beam;   a second attachment fitting mounted on said second end of said cross beam, said first and second attachment fittings adapted to attach said cross beam to said vehicle;   a hitch receiver mounted on said cross beam between said first and second ends thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said hitch receiver comprises a receptacle adapted to receive said trailer hitch. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said hitch receiver comprises a girth having first and second ends attached to said receptacle, said girth surrounding said cross beam. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said hitch receiver comprises a chain plate, said chain plate defining first and second holes therethrough, said holes being positioned on opposite sides of said receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said hitch receiver is attached to said cross beam using a plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said hitch receiver is formed of cast metal. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said cross beam comprises a hollow tube defining a bore. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said hollow tube has a rectangular cross section. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said first attachment fitting comprises:
 a first plug received within said bore at said first end of said cross beam;   a first flange extending perpendicularly from said first plug, said first flange defining a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for attaching said cross beam to said vehicle.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said first attachment fitting is attached to said cross beam using a plurality of fasteners extending through said hollow tube and said first plug. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said first attachment fitting is formed of cast metal. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said second attachment fitting comprises:
 a second plug received within said bore at said second end of said cross beam;   a second flange extending perpendicularly from said second plug, said second flange defining a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for attaching said cross beam to said vehicle.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said second attachment fitting is attached to said cross beam using a plurality of fasteners extending through said hollow tube and said second plug. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said second attachment fitting is formed of cast metal. 
     
     
         15 . A kit for constructing an assembly for mounting a trailer hitch to a vehicle, said kit comprising:
 a cross beam having first and second ends oppositely disposed;   a first attachment fitting mountable on said first end of said cross beam;   a second attachment fitting mountable on said second end of said cross beam, said first and second attachment fittings adapted to attach said cross beam to said vehicle;   a hitch receiver mountable on said cross beam between said first and second ends thereof.   
     
     
         16 . The kit according to  claim 15 , wherein said hitch receiver comprises a receptacle adapted to receive said trailer hitch. 
     
     
         17 . The kit according to  claim 15 , wherein said cross beam comprises a hollow tube defining a bore. 
     
     
         18 . The kit according to  claim 17 , wherein said first attachment fitting comprises:
 a first plug adapted to be received within said bore at said first end of said cross beam;   a first flange extending perpendicularly from said first plug, said first flange defining a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for attaching said cross beam to said vehicle.   
     
     
         19 . The kit according to  claim 17 , wherein said second attachment fitting comprises:
 a second plug adapted to be received within said bore at said second end of said cross beam;   a second flange extending perpendicularly from said second plug, said second flange defining a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for attaching said cross beam to said vehicle.   
     
     
         20 . A method of making an assembly for mounting a trailer hitch to a vehicle, said method comprising:
 mounting a hitch receiver onto a cross beam;   mounting a first attachment fitting to a first end of said cross beam;   mounting a second attachment fitting to a second end of said cross beam.