초록 ▼

A self latching trailer coupler includes a housing having a downwardly oriented ball receiver for receiving a head of a hitch ball and a latch member mounted in the housing which is moveable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the latch member prevents the hitch ball from bein

A self latching trailer coupler includes a housing having a downwardly oriented ball receiver for receiving a head of a hitch ball and a latch member mounted in the housing which is moveable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the latch member prevents the hitch ball from being withdrawn from the ball receiver. The latch member automatically moves into the closed position upon insertion of the head of the hitch ball into the ball receiver and retains the latch member in the closed position. A lock assembly is mounted in the housing and is selectively engageable to lock the latch member in the closed position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A coupler for connecting a trailer to a hitch ball on a towing vehicle, said coupler comprising: a) a housing having a downwardly oriented ball receiver for receiving a head of a hitch ball;b) latch means mounted in said housing and including a latch member moveable between open and closed positi

1. A coupler for connecting a trailer to a hitch ball on a towing vehicle, said coupler comprising: a) a housing having a downwardly oriented ball receiver for receiving a head of a hitch ball;b) latch means mounted in said housing and including a latch member moveable between open and closed positions, in said closed position a portion of said latch member extending beneath the head of a hitch ball received in said ball receiver,c) self-latching means for automatically moving said latch member into said closed position upon insertion of the head of a hitch ball into said ball receiver and retaining said latch member in said closed position; andd) a lock assembly mounted in said housing and including a locking member selectively engageable with said latch means to lock said latch member in said closed position. 2. The coupler as in claim 1 wherein said latch member is a cylindrical latch pin laterally moveable within a latch pin receiver formed in said housing between said open and closed positions. 3. The coupler as in claim 2 wherein said self-latching means includes said latch pin receiver having a kidney shape with a lower lobe and an upper lobe, said latch pin positioned in said lower lobe in said closed position and positioned in said upper lobe in said open position, said receiver sized and shaped to allow a hitch ball to push said latch pin from said closed position in said lower lobe into said upper lobe as the hitch ball is inserted into said ball receiver and to allow said latch pin to drop back into said closed position in said lower lobe once a widest part of the hitch ball has moved past said lower lobe, said latch pin thereafter trapped in said lower lobe by said hitch ball such that any separating force attempting to draw the hitch ball out of said ball receiver will push said latch pin downwardly and more firmly into said lower lobe. 4. The coupler as in claim 2 wherein said locking member of said lock assembly is selectively engageable with said latch pin when said latch pin is in said closed position. 5. The coupler as in claim 1 wherein said latch member is generally L-shaped and includes an upper leg positioned to be engaged by a top of a hitch ball inserted into said ball receiver and a lower leg extending downwardly from said upper leg, said latch member pivotally connected to said housing such that said lower leg pivots into said ball receiver below a widest part of the hitch ball when said latch member is in said closed position and pivots clear of said hitch ball when said latch member is in said open position. 6. The coupler as in claim 5 wherein said latch means further includes an operating shaft selectively moveable into engagement with said latch member when said latch member is in said closed position to prevent said latch member from moving into said open position. 7. The coupler as in claim 6 wherein said operating shaft is rotatably mounted and includes a cam surface engageable with a cam follower on said lower leg of said latch member, said operating shaft rotatably moveable between a latched position wherein said cam surface urges said lower leg into said closed position and an unlatched position wherein said cam surface allows said latch member to move freely between said open and closed positions. 8. The coupler as in claim 7 wherein said latch means further includes a latch member spring acting on said latch member and urging said cam follower against said cam surface, said latch member thereby applying pressure against said cam surface and creating resistance to rotation of said operating shaft. 9. The coupler as in claim 8 wherein said self-latching means includes: a) an operating shaft spring acting on said operating shaft and urging said operating shaft toward said latched position, andb) said operating shaft is further rotatable into an armed position wherein upon the top of the hitch ball contacting said upper leg of said latch member, said cam follower will pivot away from said cam surface and release sufficient pressure acting against said cam surface for said operating shaft spring to overcome said resistance to rotation of said operating shaft and move said operating shaft into said latched position. 10. The coupler as in claim 9 wherein said locking member of said lock assembly is selectively engageable with said operating shaft when said operating shaft is in said latched position. 11. The coupler as in claim 6 wherein said operating shaft is longitudinally slidable between an inward latched position wherein said operating shaft extends behind said lower leg of said latch member when said latch member is in said closed position and blocks movement of said latch member toward said open position and an outward unlatched position wherein said latch member can move past said operating shaft and into said open position. 12. The coupler as in claim 11 and further including an operating shaft spring urging said operating shaft into said latched position. 13. The coupler as in claim 12 wherein said operating shaft includes a generally L-shaped groove having a longitudinal leg and a circumferential leg, said groove slidably receiving a pin extending inward from said housing, said pin moving freely along said longitudinal leg as said operating shaft is moved between said latched and said unlatched positions, in said unlatched position said operating shaft being rotatable as said pin moves into said circumferential leg, wherein when said pin is in said circumferential leg said pin prevents said operating shaft from moving into said latched position. 14. The coupler as in claim 13 wherein said self-latching means includes: a) a tapered surface on said operating shaft proximate an inner end thereof, said tapered surface positioned to be engaged by a rearward face of said lower leg of said latch member when said operating shaft is in the unlatched position and rotated such that said pin is in said circumferential leg of said groove;b) biasing means for urging said operating shaft to rotate in a direction which moves said pin toward said longitudinal leg of said groove; andc) said circumferential leg of said groove having a notch which receives said pin, engagement of said pin in said notch preventing the biasing means from rotating said operating shaft; whereind) as a hitch ball enters said ball receiver said hitch ball pushes against said lower leg of said latch member causing said latch member to push against said tapered surface on said operating shaft and thereby causes an outward longitudinal movement of said operating shaft as said latch member moves into said open position, the outward movement of the operating shaft dislodging said pin from said notch and allowing said biasing means to rotate said operating shaft until said pin aligns with said longitudinal leg of said groove in an armed position of said operating shaft wherein said inner end of said operating shaft bears against a side surface of said latch member; ande) as said hitch ball continues into said ball receiver said top of said hitch ball engages said upper leg of said latch member and pivots said latch member into said closed position, said operating shaft moving automatically into said latched position under the force of the operating shaft spring as said lower leg of said latch member clears said operating shaft. 15. The coupler as in claim 14 wherein said locking member of said lock assembly is selectively engageable with said operating shaft when said operating shaft is in said latched position. 16. The coupler as in claim 14 and further including an operating lever connected to said operating shaft for use in selectively sliding and rotating said operating shaft. 17. The coupler as in claim 16 wherein said operating lever is upwardly positioned when said pin is in said circumferential leg of said groove and the weight of said operating lever provides said biasing means. 18. The coupler as in claim 14 wherein said biasing means includes a torsional spring acting on said operating shaft. 19. A coupler for connecting a trailer to a hitch ball on a towing vehicle, said coupler comprising: a) a housing having a downwardly oriented ball receiver for receiving a head of a hitch ball;b) a generally L-shaped latch member having an upper leg positioned to be engaged by a top of a hitch ball inserted into said ball receiver and a lower leg extending downwardly from said upper leg, said latch member pivotally connected to said housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position, said lower leg pivoting into said ball receiver below a widest part of the hitch ball when said latch member is in said closed position and pivoting clear of said hitch ball when said latch member is in said open position;c) an operating shaft longitudinally slidable between an inward latched position wherein said operating shaft extends behind said lower leg of said latch member when said latch member is in said closed position and blocks movement of said latch member toward said open position and an outward unlatched position wherein said latch member can move past said operating shaft and into said open position, said operating shaft including a generally L-shaped groove having a longitudinal leg and a circumferential leg, said groove slidably receiving a pin extending inward from said housing, said longitudinal leg of said groove moving freely along said pin as said operating shaft is moved between said latched and said unlatched positions, in said unlatched position said operating shaft being rotatable to receive said pin into said circumferential leg of said groove, wherein when said pin is in said circumferential leg said pin prevents said operating shaft from moving longitudinally into said latched position;d) a spring biasing said operating shaft longitudinally inward toward said latched position; ande) an operating lever connected to said operating shaft for use in selectively sliding and rotating said operating shaft to move said shaft between said latched and unlatched positions. 20. The coupler as in claim 19 and further including: a) a tapered surface on said operating shaft proximate an inner end thereof, said tapered surface positioned to be engaged by a rearward face of said lower leg of said latch member when said operating shaft is in the unlatched position and rotated such that said pin is in said circumferential leg of said groove;b) biasing means for urging said operating shaft to rotate in a direction which moves said longitudinal leg of said groove toward said pin; andc) said circumferential leg of said groove having a notch which receives said pin, engagement of said pin in said notch preventing the biasing means from rotating said operating shaft; whereind) as a hitch ball enters said ball receiver said hitch ball pushes against said lower leg of said latch member causing said latch member to push against said tapered surface on said operating shaft and thereby causes an outward longitudinal movement of said operating shaft as said latch member moves into said open position, the outward movement of the operating shaft dislodging said pin from said notch and allowing said biasing means to rotate said operating shaft until said longitudinal leg of said groove aligns with said pin in an armed position of said operating shaft wherein said inner end of said operating shaft bears against a side surface of said latch member; ande) as said hitch ball continues into said ball receiver said top of said hitch ball engages said upper leg of said latch member and pivots said latch member into said closed position, said operating shaft moving automatically into said latched position under the force of the operating shaft spring as said lower leg of said latch member clears said operating shaft. 21. The coupler as in claim 20 and further including a lock assembly mounted in said housing and including a locking member selectively engageable with said operating shaft to lock said latch member in said closed position. 22. The coupler as in claim 21 wherein said operating lever is upwardly positioned when said pin is in said circumferential leg of said groove and the weight of said operating lever provides said biasing means. 23. The coupler as in claim 21 wherein said biasing means includes a torsional spring acting on said operating shaft. 24. The coupler as in claim 23 wherein a single spring acts as both said torsional spring and as said spring biasing said operating shaft longitudinally inward toward said latched position. 25. The coupler as in claim 20 and further including a tension spring connected between said upper leg of said latch member and said housing, said tension spring biasing said latch member toward said closed position. 26. The coupler as in claim 25, wherein when said operating shaft is in said armed position with said inner end of said operating shaft bearing against said side surface of said latch member, the force of said operating shaft bearing said side surface of said latch member is sufficient to resist the force of said tension spring and retain said latch member in said open position. 27. A coupler for connecting a trailer to a hitch ball on a towing vehicle, said coupler comprising: a) a housing having a downwardly oriented ball receiver for receiving a head of a hitch ball;b) a latch member having an upper portion positioned to be engaged by a top of a hitch ball inserted into said ball receiver and a lower portion extending downwardly from said upper portion, said latch member pivotally connected to said housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position, said lower portion pivoting into said ball receiver below a widest part of the hitch ball when said latch member is in said closed position and pivoting clear of said widest part of the hitch ball when said latch member is in said open position;c) an operating shaft advanceable between a latched position, an unlatched and set position and an armed position;d) means for urging said operating shaft to move from said unlatched and set position to said armed position and means for urging said operating shaft to move from said armed position to said latched position;e) in said latched position, said operating shaft is positioned relative to said latch member to prevent movement of said latch member out of said closed position; in said armed position, said latch member extends in said open position and blocks said operating shaft from moving to said latched position; in said unlatched and set position, a catch restrains said operating shaft from moving to said armed position and said operating shaft blocks said latch member from moving completely to the open position;f) with said operating shaft in said unlatched and set position, advancement of a hitch ball head past the lower portion of said latch member completely advances said latch member to said open position and releases said catch allowing said operating shaft to be urged to said armed position; with said operating shaft in said armed position, advancement of a hitch ball head into engagement with said upper portion of said latch member pivots said latch member to said closed position and out of engagement with said operating shaft such that said operating shaft is urged to said latched position. 28. The coupler as in claim 27 further comprising a handle connected to said operating shaft and engageable for moving said operating shaft from said operating shaft from said latched position to said unlatched and set position. 29. The coupler as in claim 27 further comprising a lock assembly mounted in said housing and including a locking member selectively engageable with said operating shaft when said operating shaft is in said latched position to lock said latch member in said closed position. 30. The coupler as in claim 27 wherein said means for urging said operating shaft to move from said unlatched and set position to said armed position and said means for urging said operating shaft to move from said armed position to said latched position comprises a torsional spring acting on said operating shaft.