Gooseneck trailer coupler

A coupler comprised of a coupler housing having a first opening formed therein. The opening has a concave cavity. A cylindrical socket is formed within the housing. A second opening in the housing communicates with the cylindrical socket. A lock ring is provided, the lock ring having a cylindrical portion and an arm portion extending therefrom. The cylindrical portion of the lock ring is disposed within the cylindrical socket in the housing with the arm portion extending from the housing through the second opening. An opening is formed through the cylindrical portion of the lock ring. The cylindrical portion of the lock ring is rotatable in the cylindrical socket wherein the lock ring is movable between a first position wherein the opening in the lock ring is aligned with the concave cavity to allow a tow ball to be inserted into the concave cavity through the opening in the lock ring and a second position wherein the opening is not in alignment with the concave cavity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a coupler device, and more particularly, to a coupler device for connecting a trailer to a ball-type hitch on a towing vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of coupling devices have been developed for providing connection between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. Such connections often include a shaft-mounted, ball-type hitch, conventionally referred to as a tow ball that is generally attached to the towing vehicle. A coupler attached to the towing vehicle cooperates with the tow ball to complete the connection.

One known type of towing hitch uses a long, vertical sheathing having a coupler attached to the lower end thereof. This type of hitch is sometimes known as a “gooseneck” or “neck over” coupler.

The present invention relates to an improved coupler device for connecting a gooseneck trailer hitch to a ball-type hitch on a towing vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a coupler for securing a trailer to a vehicle having a tow hitch ball. The coupler is comprised of a coupler housing having a first opening formed therein. The opening has a concave cavity for receiving a tow ball. A cylindrical socket is formed within the housing. A second opening in the housing communicates with the cylindrical socket. A lock ring is provided, the lock ring having a cylindrical portion and an arm portion extending therefrom. The cylindrical portion of the lock ring is disposed within the cylindrical socket in the housing with the arm portion extending from the housing through the second opening. An opening is formed through the cylindrical portion of the lock ring. The cylindrical portion of the lock ring is rotatable in the cylindrical socket wherein the lock ring is movable between a first position wherein the opening in the lock ring is aligned with the concave cavity to allow a tow ball to be inserted into the concave cavity through the opening in the lock ring and a second position wherein the opening is not in alignment with the concave cavity.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a coupler for securing a trailer to a vehicle having a tow hitch ball. The coupler is comprised of a first coupler section comprised of a generally concave cavity for receiving a tow ball, a cylindrical socket larger than the cavity communicating with the concave cavity and an opening extending to one side of the cylindrical socket. A plate-like lock ring is provided, the lock ring having a circular portion with an opening therethrough and an arm portion extending to one side of the circular portion. The circular portion of the lock ring is dimensioned to be matingly received within the cylindrical socket with the arm portion extending through the opening. The lock ring is rotatable in the socket between a first position wherein the opening in the lock ring is aligned with the concave cavity to allow a tow ball to be inserted therein through the opening, and a second position wherein the opening is out of alignment with the concave cavity. A second coupler section is attached to the first housing section to capture the lock ring in the cylindrical socket.

An advantage of the present invention is a coupler device for connecting a trailer to a towing vehicle.

Another advantage of the present invention is a coupler device as described above that releasably secures the coupler device to a tow ball.

Another advantage of the present invention is a coupler device as described above having a locking mechanism that automatically locks into a tow ball retaining position when the locking mechanism is in a locked position.

Another advantage of the present invention is a coupler device as described above that requires minimal effort to connect and disconnect the coupler to a tow ball.

Another advantage of the present invention is a coupler device as described above that has a rugged, simple construction.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is a coupler device as described above that may be attached to a tubular, cylindrical or rectangular shank of a gooseneck-towing hitch.

These and other advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment taken together with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting same,FIG. 1shows a towing vehicle12and a towed vehicle14connected by a “gooseneck” or “neck over” towing hitch22.

An elongated, vertical sheathing member24is attached to towed vehicle14and extends downward therefrom. Sheathing member24is tubular in shape, and is typically formed from a cylindrical or rectangular steel pipe. The sheathing member may be designed to be capable of telescoping (not shown) to allow extension and contraction thereof. A coupler30, best seen inFIG. 2, is provided for attachment to the lower end of sheathing member24to connect sheathing member24and towed vehicle14to a tow hitch ball (tow ball)28, best seen inFIG. 3, that is mounted to the bed of towing vehicle12. Tow ball28has a spherical portion28aand a neck portion28b.

Broadly stated, coupler30is comprised of a housing40, a lock ring150that is movable within housing40, and a locking element180.

Housing40is comprised of a first housing section50and a second housing section100. First housing section50has a flat, plate portion52and a central dome portion54that project upwardly from plate portion52. Dome portion54has an internal, spherical bottom surface56that defines a generally spherical concave cavity58, best seen inFIG. 3. Plate portion52has an upper planar surface52athat surrounds dome portion54. An outer wall62and an inner wall64extend downwardly from plate portion52. Outer wall62extends about a major portion of the periphery of plate portion52. Inner wall64is disposed within outer wall62and defines a cylindrical socket66, best seen inFIG. 5, beneath plate portion52and dome portion54. In the embodiment shown, inner wall64is joined to outer wall62and defines an opening72beneath plate portion52, best seen inFIGS. 4 and 5. Opening72extends to one side of cylindrical socket66. As best seen inFIG. 3, cylindrical socket66communicates with concave cavity58. Outer wall62is formed to include spaced-apart fastener lugs82. In the embodiment shown, four (4) fastener lugs82are formed about the periphery of first housing section50. Lugs82have apertures84formed therethrough to receive fasteners, as shall be described below. A notch68, best seen inFIG. 4, is formed in plate portion52adjacent opening72.

Second housing section100, best seen inFIG. 2, includes a generally rectangular plate portion102, and an outer wall104and an inner wall106that extend upwardly from plate portion102. Outer wall104includes spaced-apart fastener lugs112disposed about the periphery of second housing section100. Fastener lugs112have apertures114formed therethrough. Fastener lugs112are disposed on second housing section100to be in registry with fastener lugs82on upper housing section50. Inner wall106forms a circular socket opening122in second housing section100. As best seen inFIG. 3, inner wall106has a frusto-conical inner surface124.

Second housing section100is dimensioned to be attached to first housing section50. In the embodiment shown, conventional bolts132, nuts134and lock washers136are used to secure first housing section50to second housing section100. As illustrated in the drawings, bolts132extend through apertures84,114in fastener lugs82,112of housing sections50,100. As best seen inFIG. 3, socket opening122in second housing section100is aligned with concave cavity58in first housing section50along an axis, designated “A” in the drawings. Socket opening122in second housing section100is dimensioned similarly to concave cavity58in first housing section50. In this respect, housing40has a vertically oriented axis “A” and a recessed socket with a downwardly directed socket opening122for receiving a tow ball. Frusto-conical surface124on second housing section100defines a throat into conical cavity58, through which a tow ball may be inserted in a conventionally known manner.

Referring now toFIG. 2, lock ring150is best seen. Lock ring150includes a flat, circular portion152and an arm portion154that extends to one side of circular portion152. Circular portion152has a circular aperture156formed therein. Aperture156has dimensions similar to socket opening122of second housing section100and concave cavity58in first housing section50.

Arm portion154is dimensioned to extend from the flat, circular portion152. Arm portion154has a free end154a that includes spaced-apart, upwardly extending brackets162. A slot164, best seen inFIGS. 4 and 5, is formed in arm portion154.

Locking element180is an elongated member having a handle portion182at one end and a locking tab or finger portion184at the other end. Locking element180further includes spaced-apart side walls186that are disposed between tab or finger portion184and handle portion182. Locking element180is mounted to arm portion154of lock ring150by a pin192that extends through brackets162on arm portion154and walls186on locking element180. A biasing element196biases locking element180toward a position, best seen inFIG. 3, wherein tab or finger portion184extends into slot164in arm portion154of lock ring150. In the embodiment shown, biasing element196is a coil spring that surrounds pin192.

Spring196has a first end196athat engages arm portion154and a second end196bthat engages handle portion182of locking element180.

The position shown inFIG. 3represents a locked position, as shall be described in greater detail below. A safety pin212is provided to secure locking element180in the locked position shown inFIG. 3. Safety pin212extends through holes in walls186of locking element180and brackets162in arm portion154of lock ring150, which holes align when locking element180is in the locked position, as shown inFIG. 3. Safety pin212includes a latch wire214attached to one end of saftey pin212. Latch wire214includes a clasp216formed at the free end thereof to capture the free end of safety pin212, when safety pin212is used to lock locking element180in the locked position.

First and second housing sections50,100, lock ring150and locking element180are preferably formed by casting. In one preferred embodiment, each component is formed of at least 10/45 medium carbon steel. Casting permits tight tolerance to be cast into each of the foregoing components.

Coupler30shall now be further described with respect to the use and operation thereof. Coupler30is designed for attachment to the lower end of sheathing member24. As schematically illustrated inFIG. 3, the lower end of tubular, sheathing member24is attached to housing40preferably by welding. As indicated inFIG. 3, the wall portion of sheathing member24surrounds and receives dome portion54of first housing section50. Planar surface52aof first housing section50provides a flat surface for abutting engagement with the lower end of tubular, sheathing member24. Sheathing member24is welded to first housing section50, as illustrated inFIG. 3.

Lock ring150is movable within coupler housing40between a first, tow-ball receiving position and a second, tow-ball locking position.

When lock ring150is in the second, locked position, tab portion184of locking element180extends through notch68in first housing section50and extends into slot164in arm portion154of lock ring150, as shown inFIG. 3. In this position, the movement of lock ring150is prevented by engagement of locking element180with first housing section50. In other words, notch68in plate portion52of first housing section50captures locking element180thereby preventing rotation of lock ring150within coupler housing40. To release lock ring150, safety pin212must be removed and handle182of locking element180pivoted downwardly until tab portion184is above upper surface52aof plate portion52of first housing section50.

Referring toFIG. 4, lock ring150is shown in the first position, wherein circular aperture156in lock ring150is aligned with concave cavity58in first housing section50. In this position, aperture156is also aligned with socket opening122in second housing section100. With lock ring150in the first position, a tow ball may be received within housing40of coupler30. Once a tow ball is within coupler housing40, i.e., within concave cavity58, lock ring150is rotated to a second, locked position, as illustrated inFIG. 5. In this second, locked position, aperture156in circular portion152of lock ring150has moved to a position wherein one side of aperture156in circular portion152of lock ring150restricts socket opening122in coupler housing40. In other words, aperture156in lock ring150is shifted to one side of the opening in coupler housing40, thereby confining spherical portion28aof tow ball28to concave cavity58in first housing section50. The present invention thus provides a compact, rigid coupler30for connecting a gooseneck coupler to a tow hitch.

The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purposes of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.