Spring bar coupling device for a weight distributing trailer hitch

Abstract

A spring bar coupling device is described for coupling a spring bar of a weight distributing trailer hitch to a trailer frame. The spring bar coupling device can include a spring bar support operable to interface with and support a spring bar of a weight distributing trailer hitch. The spring bar support can have a vertical support arm having a first coupler opening, and a lower spring bar stop extending from the vertical support arm to provide a lower interface for the spring bar. The spring bar coupling device can also include a channel bracket having at least two opposing walls defining a vertically oriented channel operable to receive the vertical support arm, and a second coupler opening in at least one of the two walls. The first and second coupler openings can be configured to be aligned with one another at a first coupling location when the vertical support arm is located at least partially within the vertically oriented channel. In addition, the spring bar coupling device can include at least one coupler operable to extend into the first and second coupler openings to couple the spring bar support to the channel bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spring bar coupling device for coupling a spring bar of a weight distributing trailer hitch to a trailer frame, comprising:
 a spring bar support operable to interface with and support a spring bar of a weight distributing trailer hitch, the spring bar support having
 a vertical support arm having a first coupler opening, and 
 a lower spring bar stop extending from the vertical support arm to provide a lower interface for the spring bar; 
   a channel bracket having at least two opposing walls defining a vertically oriented channel operable to receive the vertical support arm, and a second coupler opening in at least one of the two walls, wherein the first and second coupler openings are configured to be aligned with one another at a first coupling location when the vertical support arm is located at least partially within the vertically oriented channel; and   at least one coupler operable to extend into the first and second coupler openings to couple the spring bar support to the channel bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 1 , wherein the second coupler opening comprises a plurality of second coupler openings configured to provide multiple coupling locations with the first coupler opening to provide different lower spring bar stop locations for interfacing with the spring bar. 
     
     
         3 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 2 , wherein the first coupler opening comprises a plurality of first coupler openings to provide at least a second coupling location with the plurality of second coupler openings to couple the spring bar support to the channel bracket at multiple locations simultaneously. 
     
     
         4 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 1 , wherein the first coupler opening comprises a plurality of first coupler openings configured to provide multiple coupling locations with the second coupler opening to provide different lower spring bar stop locations for interfacing with the spring bar. 
     
     
         5 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupler comprises at least one of a bolt, a pin, a rod, a shaft, a clip, or a screw. 
     
     
         6 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom end of the vertical support arm is operable to provide a lateral interface for the spring bar. 
     
     
         7 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a lateral side stop extending upward from an end of the lower spring bar stop opposite the vertical support arm to provide a lateral interface for the spring bar. 
     
     
         8 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 7 , wherein the lateral side stop is removably coupled to the lower spring bar stop. 
     
     
         9 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 8 , wherein a lower portion of the lateral side stop extends through an opening in the lower spring bar stop. 
     
     
         10 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 8 , wherein the lateral side stop is removably coupled to the lower spring bar stop by at least one of a bolt, a pin, a rod, a shaft, a clip, or a screw. 
     
     
         11 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 8 , further comprising an upper spring bar stop extending toward the vertical support arm from the lateral side stop. 
     
     
         12 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame coupling bracket to facilitate coupling the channel bracket to a trailer frame. 
     
     
         13 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 12 , further comprising a fastener, wherein the frame coupling bracket and the channel bracket each comprise a fastener opening configured to receive the fastener such that the fastener secures the frame coupling bracket and the channel bracket to opposite sides of the trailer frame. 
     
     
         14 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 13 , wherein a head of the fastener is associated with the channel bracket. 
     
     
         15 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener opening of the channel bracket is formed in a base wall between the at least two opposing walls forming the channel. 
     
     
         16 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 15 , wherein the head of the fastener comprises a round head and a square neck, and the fastener opening of the channel bracket is configured to interface with the square neck to prevent the fastener from rotating when torqued. 
     
     
         17 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 16 , wherein the head of the fastener provides clearance for positioning the vertical support arm within the channel. 
     
     
         18 . The spring bar coupling device of  claim 13 , wherein the fastener opening comprises a top fastener opening and a bottom fastener opening, and the fastener comprises a first fastener and a second fastener, wherein the top fastener opening is configured to position the first fastener on a top side of the trailer frame and the bottom fastener opening is configured to position the second fastener on a bottom side of the trailer frame. 
     
     
         19 . A weight distributing trailer hitch system, comprising:
 a trailer frame;   a weight distributing trailer hitch having a spring bar; and   a spring bar coupling device as in  claim 1  coupling the spring bar to the trailer frame.   
     
     
         20 . A method for distributing weight between a trailer and a tow vehicle, comprising:
 coupling a weight distributing trailer hitch to a tow vehicle, the weight distributing trailer hitch having a hitch ball and a spring arm;   coupling a tongue of a trailer to the hitch ball, the trailer having a trailer frame; and   coupling the spring bar to the trailer frame with a spring bar coupling device as in  claim 1 .