An ATV hitch with two elevated swivel joints
A trailer-vehicle hitch assembly for off-road vehicles that stacks a vertical revolute joint above a horizontal revolute joint, with yokes and pins linking the two and attachment fittings for the vehicle and trailer. It mounts above the axles via a vertical member that raises the joints and connects to the trailer through a goose-neck or angled tongue; intended for ATVs and other off‑road vehicles that need greater articulation.
(57) What the patent covered
The main independent claim required a vehicle attachment, a vertical member rising from that attachment, a vertical revolute joint on the vertical member with a yoke on its knuckle, a trailer attachment with a horizontal revolute joint and a yoke on its knuckle, and one or more pins joining the two yokes. In short: two orthogonal revolute joints (one vertical, one horizontal) joined by yokes and pins and mounted on a raised vertical member between vehicle and trailer fittings.
The distinctive part: Raising two orthogonally oriented revolute joints above axle height and linking them by yokes and pins so the trailer can rotate relative to the vehicle.
Novelty 3/5. Stacking two simple swivel joints to give extra degrees of rotation is a straightforward improvement to common ball, pintle, and drawbar hitches rather than an entirely new class of coupling. Those conventional hitches already provided single-axis rotation; this patent combined two orthogonal revolute joints in an elevated arrangement.
Making it
Welded steel frame for the vertical member and vehicle tongue, machined or forged knuckle/yoke assemblies, press-fit or greased pin joints, and final assembly with common fasteners and retaining clips.
Materials: Stamped or welded steel tubing (vertical member), Forged or machined steel yokes and knuckles, Steel pins/clevis pins with retaining clips, Optional plated hardware (zinc/galvanic)
Manufacturability 4/5. Multiple simple metal parts (tube, plates, yokes, pins) requiring standard shop tooling: tube forming/cutting, welding, machining or forging of bearing knuckles and assembly; no electronics but some close fits on pin/bore interfaces.
Is anyone buying?
This design, or something very close to it, is on sale now. Typical retail price: $185–$367. Multiple sellers offer articulating hitch solutions; Lock N Roll articulating hitches have hundreds of reviews on major retailer sites; Ambush Swivel Hitch lists 460+ in stock and has active product listings.
- Lock N Roll Articulating Trailer Hitch for 2" Receivers - Vehicle... · etrailer$367.23
- Lock N Roll Articulating Channel Tongue Trailer Coupler - 2"... · etrailer$192.04
- Ambush Swivel Hitch · Ambush Skid Houses (Ambush)$269.00
This demand check was run with a web search in the week of Oct 5, 2026. Listings change often, so treat it as a starting point for your own research.
Who buys it: ATV/UTV owners and small trailer makers
Before you make it
We didn't find any related continuation or divisional patents still in force, although that doesn't rule out design patents, trademarks or unrelated patents covering the same product.
Practical issues include ensuring pin shear strength and bearing clearances for heavy loads, corrosion protection for exposed pins, and compatibility with vehicle receiver sizes; patent has lapsed so no legal advice implied.
Owners occasionally revive lapsed patents (about 1.5% are), and this page is a research lead rather than legal advice, so get a freedom-to-operate opinion before you manufacture anything.