Patent ID: 11958323
Assignee: U-HAUL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  E | IPC B  E

Claim 4:
5. A coupler lock device for use with a self-latching trailer coupler, wherein the coupler lock device comprises:
a housing defining an enclosure for receiving at least a portion of a release lever positioned on top of a trailer coupler;
wherein the trailer coupler is configured so that as it is lowered onto a hitch ball mounted to a tow vehicle, the release lever moves (i) from a lowered position to a raised intermediate position that permits the hitch ball to be inserted into the coupler socket, and (ii) then back to the lowered position that retains the hitch ball in the coupler socket, whereby the trailer coupler is coupled to the tow vehicle;
wherein the trailer coupler release lever also is configured so that the retained hitch ball can be released by manually moving the release lever to a raised release position that releases the hitch ball from retention in the coupler socket; and
wherein the housing comprises a top panel, two opposing side panels, an opening configured to allow the housing to be positioned over the release lever, and a closure panel movable between:
an open position wherein the housing can be positioned over and removed from the trailer coupler; and
a closed position wherein, when the housing is positioned over the trailer coupler, the closure panel restricts removal of the housing from the trailer coupler whether or not hitch ball is inserted into the coupler socket; and

wherein the housing top panel portion defines an enclosure that is configured so that, when the housing is secured on the trailer coupler, the housing top panel portion (i) accommodates the release lever when it is in the lowered position, (ii) restricts movement of the release lever to the raised intermediate position, and (iii) restricts movement of the release lever to the release position.