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

Claim 0:
1. A coupler lock device for use with a self-latching trailer coupler, the coupler lock device comprises:
a housing comprising:
an opening configured to allow the housing to be secured on a self-latching trailer coupler;
wherein the self-latching trailer coupler includes:
a coupler socket adapted to receive a hitch ball, wherein the coupler socket includes a bottom socket opening that allows the insertion of the hitch ball into the coupler socket;
a ball clamp assembly including a ball clamp disposed on a lower portion of a release lever shaft and a release lever coupled to an opposing upper portion of the release lever shaft, wherein the release lever is movable between a closed position and an open position;
 wherein the ball clamp assembly is configured so that: (i) when the release lever is in the closed position and as the hitch ball is inserted into the coupler, the ball clamp assembly moves upward to an intermediate position, and as the hitch ball becomes seated in the coupler socket the ball clamp assembly will automatically move downward to a latched position wherein the ball clamp retains the hitch ball within the coupler socket; and (ii) when the release lever is in the open position, the hitch ball can be removed from or inserted into the coupler socket;

a housing top panel portion defining a cavity configured so that, when the housing is positioned over the trailer coupler, the housing top panel portion receives at least a portion of the release lever when it is in the closed position and prevents seating of the hitch ball in the coupler socket by restricting upward movement of the ball clamp assembly to the intermediate upper position when the hitch ball is inserted into the coupler; and
a housing closure member 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, it can be secured to the trailer coupler to restrict removal of the housing from the trailer coupler when the hitch ball is affixed to a tow vehicle and is inserted into the coupler socket.