This application claims the benefit of U. S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/423, 840 filed November 5,2002.

Technical Field The present invention relates generally to the vehicle accessory field and, more particularly, to an accessory/mounting assembly or adapter useful in mounting vehicle accessories to a vehicle through the trailer hitch receiver port of a trailer hitch receiver assembly.

Background of the Invention Today's active lifestyles place some significant demands on both individuals and their vehicles. Many vehicles must be able to transport substantial cargo for family road trips. Other vehicles are used to haul bulky equipment to work, transport household or garden items and/or carry

equipment and supplies for long camping weekends. No matter what type of vehicle an individual drives, there never seems to be enough room for everything needed or sufficient hours in a day to complete multiple trips.

In an effort to address the demands now being placed on individuals and their vehicles by more active lifestyles, Cequent Towing Products, Inc. 's predecessor Reese Products, Inc. developed the Dual Port System equipment for carrying various useful accessories on a vehicle.

Such accessories include, for example, bike carriers, open cargo carriers, closed cargo carriers, motorcycles carriers, lifts, transformer tables and the like.

The Dual Port System accessories have been specifically developed for two-point mounting for stability and are made for mounting on a receiver assembly with two spaced receivers to accommodate this two- point mounting. Many vehicles are equipped with standard trailer hitch receiver assemblies that do not include the dual receivers necessary for mounting the Dual Port System accessories. The present invention provides an accessory mounting assembly that will receive and hold Dual Port System accessories and adapt them for mounting into the single trailer hitch receiver box of a standard trailer hitch receiver assembly.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, an accessory mounting assembly is provided comprising

a mounting bar, a first cross member carried on the mounting bar and a second cross member carried on the mounting bar a spaced distance from the first cross member. The mounting bar includes a pair of aligned apertures that are particularly adapted to receive a connecting pin for securing the mounting bar in the receiver box of a standard trailer hitch receiver assembly.

The first cross member includes a first mounting flange having a first series of spaced fastening apertures. Similarly, the second cross member includes a second mounting flange having a second series of spaced fastening apertures. The first and second cross members are substantially parallel and the first and second mounting flanges are substantially coplanar. In this way the cross member and flanges provide a stable base for receiving and holding an accessory. Fasteners may be secured through the accessory and the fastening apertures in the flanges in order to complete a secure connection between the accessory and the accessory mounting assembly.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the first cross member includes an aperture receiving an end of the mounting bar. The end of the mounting bar is open and exposed to effectively provide a receiver for connection of additional accessories if desired.

Similarly, the second cross member also includes an aperture. That aperture receives an intermediate portion of the mounting bar to aid in anchoring the second cross member in position.,

In the following description there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention that is illustrative of one of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Brief Description of the Drawings The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain certain principles of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an accessory, the accessory mounting assembly of the present invention and a standard trailer hitch receiver assembly of the type that is secured to a vehicle; and Figure 2 is a detailed cross sectional view illustrating the securing of the mounting bar of the accessory mounting assembly in the receiver box of a trailer hitch receiver assembly utilizing a tightener.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Detailed Description of the Invention Reference is now made to the drawing figures illustrating the accessory mounting assembly 10 of the present invention for mounting an accessory 12 to a standard trailer hitch receiver assembly 14. As illustrated, the trailer hitch receiver assembly 14 includes a cross member 16 formed from tubular steel or other high strength material. Flanges 18 of the material are welded or otherwise connected to the ends of the cross member 16. Mounting brackets 20 are secured to the flanges 18 by cooperating nut and bolt fasteners 22 or other appropriate means.

Each of the mounting brackets 20 includes a mounting flange 24 incorporating a series of apertures 26. The apertures 26 in the flanges 24 are aligned with cooperating apertures in the frame of a vehicle to which the trailer hitch receiver assembly 14 is to be mounted. Cooperating nut and bolt fasteners 28 are then utilized to secure the trailer hitch receiver assembly 14 in position on the vehicle frame.

As further illustrated in Figure 1, the trailer hitch receiver assembly 14 includes a receiver box 30 having a reinforced lip 32. Opposing sidewalls 34 of the receiver box 30 include pin receiving apertures 36, the function of which will be described below. A chain plate 38 and a reinforcement plate 40 may be provided to furnish additional rigidity and provide a high strength connection between the receiver box 30 and the cross member 16.

The accessory mounting assembly 10 includes an elongated mounting bar 50. A first or proximal end 52 of the bar 50 is received in the receiver box 30 of the trailer hitch receiver assembly 14. A pair of aligned apertures 54 (only one shown in the drawing figure) are provided in opposing sidewalls of the mounting bar 50. When the mounting bar 50 is properly seated in the receiver box 30, the apertures 54 in the mounting bar are aligned with the apertures 36 in the receiver box. A connecting pin 56 is then inserted through the apertures and a pin clip 58 is then engaged in a groove on the end of the pin to complete a secure connection and anchor the accessory mounting assembly 10 in the receiver box 30.

A first cross member 60 is mounted to the second or distal end of the mounting bar 50. More specifically, the first cross member 60 includes a central aperture 62 sized and shaped to receive the mounting bar 50. As should be appreciated, the end 64 of the mounting bar is exposed and open. Accordingly, the end 64 may function as a receiver for receiving and mounting other, additional accessories if desired.

A second cross member 66 is also carried on the mounting bar 50 a spaced distance from the first cross member 60. The second cross member 66 also includes an aperture 68 that is sized and shaped to receive the hitch bar 50. The two cross members 60,66 may be secured to the mounting bar by welding, appropriate fasteners such as cooperating nuts and bolts or any other appropriate means (not shown).

The first cross member 60 includes a first mounting flange 70 which includes a first series of spaced fastening apertures 72. Similarly, the second cross member 66 includes a second mounting flange 74 including a second series of spaced fastening apertures 76. As should be appreciated, the first and second cross members 60,66 may be mounted substantially parallel to each other along the mounting bar 50 and the first and second mounting flanges 70,74 may be substantially coplanar. In this way the cross members 60, 66 and mounting flanges 70,74 function to provide a stable base for receiving the accessory 12.

As illustrated, the accessory 12 is an open cargo carrier. It should be appreciated, however, that substantially any other type of foreseeable vehicle accessory may be mounted to the accessory mounting assembly 10 of the present invention including but not limited to closed cargo carriers, transport trays, bike racks, ski racks, ski board racks, motorcycle carriers, lifts, displaceable tables, work platforms or the like. More particularly, the accessory 12 may be secured to the accessory mounting assembly 10 by positioning the accessory so that mounting apertures 80 in the frame 82 of the accessory are aligned with the apertures 72,76 in the first and second mounting flanges 70,74. Cooperating bolt and nut fasteners 84 are then utilized to securely connect the accessory 12 in position on the accessory mounting assembly 10.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the accessory mounting assembly 10 may include an optional tightener,

generally designated by reference numeral 86, to positively secure the mounting assembly 10 in the receiver box 30 and prevent rattling. Such a tightener is described in detail in pending U. S. Patent Application serial no. 09/981,515, filed October 16,2001 and entitled"Hitch Bar Tightener", the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the tightener 86 has a body including an intermediate section 88 and a pair of projecting mounting lugs 90. Each projecting mounting lug 90 forms an included angle with the intermediate section 88 of between 0-35 degrees and more typically 10-30 degrees.

A channel 92 is provided in the intermediate section 88. The channel 92 opens in a direction away from the projecting mounting lugs 90 and together with the mounting lugs provides the body with an overall, substantially W-shape. The sidewalls 94 of the channel 92 and the proximal ends of the mounting lugs 90 come together to form a pair of spaced shoulders 96. It should further be appreciated that each of the projecting mounting lugs 90 includes a beaded tip 98 at a distal end thereof. As will be described in greater detail below, the shoulders 96 and the beaded tips 98 function together to provide secure and stable mounting of the tightener 86 within the mounting bar 50.

More specifically, it should be appreciated that the mounting bar 50 is formed from square tubular steel material and, as such, includes a lumen or tubular opening 100. The tightener 86 is adapted to be mounted within the lumen 100 of the mounting bar 50. The tightener 86 is formed from aluminum which is a fairly soft material that allows the projecting

mounting lugs 90 to be positioned to form an included angle of between 0 - 35 degrees with the intermediate section 88 of the tightener so as to provide a span between the beaded tips 98 of the mounting lugs necessary to snugly engage the upper and lower walls 102,104 of the mounting bar 50. The tightener 86 may be positioned in the lumen 100 of the mounting bar 50 by driving in place with a hammer or any other appropriate means until the threaded aperture 106 in the intermediate section 88 is directly aligned with the apertures 54 in the sidewall of the mounting bar 50. As the tightener 86 is driven into place in the lumen 100, the beaded tips 98 are flattened against the upper and lower walls 102,104 of the mounting bar 50. The inherent resiliency of the aluminum material ensures good contact and a secure friction fit is provided by the concentration of forces along the line of the beaded tips 98.

With the tightener 86 seated in the lumen 100 as described, the mounting bar 50 may now be inserted into the receiver box 30 of the trailer hitch assembly 14. Specifically, the end of the mounting bar 50 is aligned with and inserted into the cavity defined by the receiver box 30 until the apertures 54 in the mounting bar 50 are aligned with the apertures 36 in the sidewalls of the receiver box. The threaded mounting bolt 108 is then inserted into the aligned apertures 54,36 and the threaded aperture 106. More particularly, the threaded mounting bolt 108 includes an enlarged head 110 at a first end preferably in the form of a hexagonal bolt head. The second end of the mounting bolt 108 includes a frustoconical tip 112 to aid in locating the bolt in the aperture 36, and an adjacent

groove 114.

When the threaded mounting bolt 108 is properly aligned and located in the aperture 36 in the first sidewall of the receiver box 30, it may then be pushed through the aperture 54 in the first sidewall of the mounting bar 50, the threaded aperture 106 in the intermediate section 88 of the tightener 86 and the apertures 54 and 36 in the opposite sidewalls of the mounting bar and receiver box, respectively, until the threaded portion 116 of the mounting bolt 108 engages the threaded aperture 106 of the tightener. At this point the bolt 108 is tightened by turning clockwise. A wrench may be used to engage the hexagonal head 110 of the bolt in order to complete the connection.

If the tightener 86 is not already secured in the lumen 100 of the mounting bar 50 with the shoulders 96 butting against the sidewall of the mounting bar, initial tightening of the bolt 108 causes the tightener to become seated in the mounting bar with the shoulders 96 tightly engaging the sidewall 118. The shoulders 96 provide two engagement lines which concentrate the frictional holding force to further tightly and positively secure the tightener 86 in the lumen 100 with the threaded aperture 106 aligned with the apertures 54 in the mounting bar 50. Continued tightening of the mounting bolt 108 causes the mounting bar 50 to be drawn tightly against the sidewall 119 of the receiver box 30. In this position any potential for the mounting bar 50 rattling in the receiver box 30 is virtually eliminated. When the mounting bolt 108 is properly seated as disclosed, a pin clip 120 is then positioned over the groove 114 on the

second end of the mounting bolt to complete a secure connection of the mounting bar 50 in the receiver box 30 of the trailer hitch assembly 14.

In summary, numerous benefits result from employing the concepts of the present invention. The accessory mounting assembly 10 includes first and second cross members 60,66 that provide a stable and secure platform for the mounting of an accessory 12. The mounting bar 50 allows that accessory to be conveniently and securely mounted in the receiver box 30 of a standard trailer hitch receiver assembly 14. This is true even if the accessory has been specifically designed for two-point mounting such as the Dual Port System accessories that have been developed by Cequent Towing Products, Inc. 's predecessor, Reese Products, Inc.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description.

It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled. The drawings and preferred embodiment do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims and their fair and broad interpretation in any way.