초록 ▼

A device for preventing unauthorized intentional uncoupling or accidental uncoupling of a trailer from a towing vehicle. The threaded shaft of the ball slides through an upper housing allowing the upper housing to contain the shoulder of the ball so that the ball and upper housing can be mounted to

A device for preventing unauthorized intentional uncoupling or accidental uncoupling of a trailer from a towing vehicle. The threaded shaft of the ball slides through an upper housing allowing the upper housing to contain the shoulder of the ball so that the ball and upper housing can be mounted to a tow bar by inserting the threaded shaft of the tow ball through the aperture in a tow bar and then screwing a flanged nut onto the threaded shaft. A lower housing is then placed around the flanged nut and bolted to the upper housing so that the tow bar and the flanged portion of the flanged nut are sandwiched between the upper and lower housings. There is a yoke which encircles the shank of the tow ball, the dimensions of which make it impossible for it to slide over the ball. There is a locking hat which is placed over the trailer tongue ball socket having legs extending vertically downward allowing it to be locked to the yoke. Once in locked position, the trailer hitch cannot be disengaged without first unlocking and removing the locking hat. The locking hat and yoke do not limit the inherent rotation of the socket about the ball.

대표청구항 ▼

A safety and anti-theft locking device for use with ball and socket type couplings as may be used in the coupling of a tongue of a trailer to a towing vehicle tow bar comprising: a. a tow ball characterized by a ball, a shank, a shoulder, a threaded shaft and a nut therefore; b. a yoke means having

A safety and anti-theft locking device for use with ball and socket type couplings as may be used in the coupling of a tongue of a trailer to a towing vehicle tow bar comprising: a. a tow ball characterized by a ball, a shank, a shoulder, a threaded shaft and a nut therefore; b. a yoke means having a central bore therethrough and through which rests the shank, the diameter of said bore being large enough to loosely encircle said shank but smaller than the diameter of said ball thereby not allowing said yoke means to be removed over said ball so that said yoke means will rotate freely about said shank in conjunction with the trailer tongue; c. a locking hat means placed over the trailer tongue and removably affixed to said yoke means so that when said locking hat means is coupled to said yoke means the ball socket of the trailer tongue cannot become disengaged from said ball and said locking hat means will rotate about said ball in unison with the ball socket.