Patent ID: 6857652
Filing Date: 2005-02-22
Classification: B60D

Abstract:
1. A cover for a trailer coupler having a coupler means mounted on the forward portion of a longitudinally extending member of a trailer, said coupler means being adapted to be attached to a ball trailer hitch on a towing vehicle and including an inverted cup portion for receiving the ball hitch, said cup portion having a periphery, said trailer coupler and said ball hitch each presenting geometrically complex outer surfaces, said cover comprising: an elongated, hollow tubular shield formed from flexible material, said shield having a longitudinal fore and aft axis, a forward end, an aft end, a top, a bottom, port and starboard sides, said forward end having a forwardly extending upper portion defining a pouch for receiving the inverted cup portion therein, said pouch having a downwardly directed opening defined in a bottom side thereof, said downwardly directed opening having a periphery adapted to fit snugly around the periphery of said inverted cup portion, a lower portion of said forward end having a forwardly directed opening defined therein, said forwardly directed opening having a periphery adapted to fit snugly around the ball trailer hitch when said trailer coupler is attached to the ball trailer hitch, said aft end having a rearwardly directed aft opening defined therein, said aft opening having a periphery adapted to fit around the longitudinally extending member of the trailer, said shield being internally sized to receive said forward portion of said member of said trailer and said coupler means mounted thereon, whereby the peripheries of the openings of said shield are sealingly engagable with the geometrically complex outer surfaces of said trailer coupler and said ball hitch so that said cover provides a substantially weather resistant enclosure for said trailer coupler when said trailer coupler is attached to said ball hitch.