A vehicle hitch device is provided wherein a draft body having a hollow and a notch therein from an open end thereof, is pivotally connected with draft thrust transmission means, for the latter pivotally to reach hitching and release positions. Presser and biasing means, affording rectilinearly movable presser means slidably within the hollow of the draft body, and biasing means, has recessed contact structure of the presser means adjacent to the open end of the draft body, for the head of a stemmed head member to be pressed into the open end of the draft body against bias of the biasing means while the draft thrust transmission means is in a hitch release position and the head of a stemmed head member contacts the presser means in the recess of the contact structure of the presser means, causing the presser means to retract and the stem of a stemmed head member to be in the notch. Contact structure of the draft thrust transmission means is recessed and is adapted to contact the head of a stemmed head member during pivotal movement of the draft thrust transmission means from a hitch release position to hitching position in favor of having the presser means retract, and the recess in the contact structure of the draft thrust transmission means, in the hitching position of the latter, is adapted to receive the head of a stemmed head member which also is within the recess in the contact structure of the presser means and is pressed by the presser means under bias of the biasing means and has a stem in the notch.
The end connector assembly (12) for a gas spring (44) enables the connector body to be connected with and disconnected from a ball (14) on the end of a ball stud (16) by relatively moving the connector body (26) and ball along a path generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gas spring (44) to which the connector body (26) is connected. The ball (14) enters the connector body (26) through an opening (32) in the body's front surface, that is, the surface generally perpendicular to the gas spring's longitudinal axis. A slot in the body's bottom surface, that is, the surface facing the ball (14), accommodates the shaft portion (22) of the ball stud (16), adjacent the ball (14), as the ball moves into or out of the connector body (26) through the opening (32). A retainer clip is connected with the connector body (26) and is selectively movable between a first or open position where the ball may be admitted into or withdrawn from the connector body (26) and a second or closed position where the ball is secured within the connector body by the retainer clip (62).
