Tow coupling system and method

Variations of a tow coupling system are disclosed. In one variation, a coupler guide having at least one side panel configured to guide a coupler to a desired position with respect to a ball of a tow vehicle, also includes a top panel, rear panel, or intermediate panel. In one variation, the tow coupling system includes a coupler guide having at least one side panel which is configured such that a bottom side thereof will be positioned above an operatively connected ball. In one variation, the tow system includes an apparatus for operatively connecting a coupler to a ball of a tow vehicle, including a rod which is operatively connected to both the coupler and a vertical adjustment device which acts upon the rod to raise and lower the coupler. A tow coupling kit including both a coupler guide and an apparatus for connecting to a ball of a tow vehicle is also disclosed, as is a method of manufacturing a tow coupling system.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to a coupling system for operatively connecting two or more vehicles.

2. Background Art

Tow coupling systems, particularly those used with passenger vehicles to tow a trailer, typically comprise a ball operatively connected to one vehicle (usually the towing vehicle) and a cup for connecting to the ball, which is typically attached to a tow bar of the towed vehicle (e.g., trailer). In use, such systems typically require an operator to move the tow vehicle in such a manner that a ball thereof (or other mating component) is close to an estimated location of the cup (or other mating component) of the vehicle to be towed. Such systems then require that the operator then secure the towing vehicle, exit the vehicle, and physically connect the towing vehicle to the towed vehicle using the tow coupling system.

Traditional systems, as described above, pose a number of difficulties for an operator, including requiring the operator to exit the vehicle, creating a potentially dangerous situation, and the physical manipulation of the towed vehicle in forming the connection, which may require significant physical effort on the part of the operator. Furthermore, because such systems are most effective when the two vehicles are properly disposed with respect to one another, damage may occur from unintended contact between the vehicles, as an operator attempts to align the two vehicles. Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved tow coupling system.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention comprises a coupler guide, including at least one side panel configured to guide a coupler to a desired position with respect to a ball, and at least one additional panel selected from a top, rear, or intermediate panel. One or more of the panels may be hinged and/or flexible, and the guide may comprise a single unitary body, and/or have an elliptical cross-section that will advantageously ‘funnel’ or otherwise guide a coupler to a desired position. A base member may also be included, and the coupler guide may be configured to pivot.

In one embodiment, the invention comprises a coupler guide having at least one side panel that is configured such that a portion of a bottom portion thereof will be disposed above an operatively connected ball. Such a configuration advantageously allows for a more precise guiding of a coupler to a desired position over a ball, while minimizing interference with any lateral movement of the coupler and attached components.

In one embodiment, the invention comprises a coupler and vertical adjustment device (VAD), both operatively connected to a rod. The VAD may be activated in a number of ways, and functions to extend and retract the rod, relative to the coupler, such that the distance between the coupler and a supporting surface, such as the ground, may be varied. A switch may be included to activate the VAD, and the switch may be triggered in any manner, including a predetermined interaction with a coupler guide. Such embodiments advantageously facilitate and automate aspects of the process of coupling a coupler with a ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “coupler” means any device operatively connected to an object to be towed, and configured to operatively connect to a ball or other device disposed on and/or operatively connected (or connectable) to a tow vehicle such that the tow vehicle will be operatively connected to the object to be towed. A coupler may be of any type known in the art, including but not limited to, a trailer tongue and various components thereof, such as a ball cup.

As shown inFIG. 1, in one embodiment the invention comprises a coupler assembly on a vehicle to be towed (hereinafter “trailer”), including a coupler102operatively connected to the trailer (connection represented at104), and a rod106operatively connected to the coupler102such that the rod106may be extended and retracted (relative to the operative connection104) using a vertical adjustment device (“VAD”)108. The VAD108, when activated, will increase and/or decrease the distance D between the coupler102and the ground G. Other configurations known in the art for providing at least partial support to a trailer may be substituted for the rod106and acted upon by the VAD108to effect a change in the distance D between the coupler102and the ground G.

In use, activation of a switch112operatively connected to the VAD108will result in a lowering of the coupler102. The operative connection between switch112and VAD108may be mechanical, electrical, wireless and/or any combination thereof. The VAD108may also be configured to raise the coupler102when desired. Furthermore, the switch112need not be activated physically, but may instead be electronically activated, for example remotely by an operator, or due to proximity to a second element. In embodiments where the switch112does not require physical activation, the switch112need not protrude or otherwise form a physically-displaceable member. Furthermore, the switch112may be disposed anywhere on the trailer and/or tow vehicle (including integration into the VAD108), depending on the characteristics and/or configuration of a particular embodiment.

Once activated, the VAD108acts upon the rod106to lower the coupler102onto the ball100. Once the coupler102has been lowered onto the ball100, the VAD108may continue to act upon the rod106so that the rod106is raised to a desired level such that there is a desired distance between the lower end of the rod106(including any components attached thereto, such as wheels), and the ground G.

The VAD108may also act upon the rod106until the rod106is completely raised, or raised to a predetermined height, and may also act upon the rod106until the rod106is extended such that a predetermined distance D is achieved and/or a predetermined load is supported by the rod106. Any approach known in the art may be used to determine and/or set the range of movement of the rod106. In one embodiment, the VAD108will be set to repeatedly effect a predetermined range of movement of the rod106. In one embodiment, each activation of the switch112will cause an alternating activation of the VAD108(e.g., a first activation results in a raising of the rod106and a second activation results in a lowering of the rod106).

The VAD108may comprise any mechanism or combination of mechanisms known in the art that is able to act upon the rod106such that the distance D may be adjusted. Such mechanisms include, but are not limited to, one or more motors. The VAD108and/or rod106may be of any configuration known in the art, and furthermore may be configured to facilitate a desired interaction therebetween. The VAD108may be powered by any means known in the art.

As shown inFIGS. 1-2, in one embodiment, the invention comprises a coupler guide110configured to align a coupler102over a ball100operatively connected to a tow vehicle (not shown). The coupler guide110may also be configured to activate a switch112. The operative connection of the ball100to the tow vehicle may utilize a drawbar101, may be through direct connection to a bumper of the tow vehicle, or may comprise any other configuration known in the art. Although various novel embodiments of coupler assemblies are disclosed herein, embodiments of the coupler guide110may also be used to align traditional coupler configurations over a ball100.

As shown inFIG. 2, in one embodiment, the coupler guide110may comprise a number of alignment elements. Such elements may include side members A and one or more top members B. The side members A and top member B may be connected by intermediate members C which may also play a role in alignment of the coupler102, and/or may help prevent penetration of outside elements (water, dust, etc.) into the coupler guide110. The side members A will be angled to align the coupler102over the ball100and the top member B, if present, may have a sloped orientation so that a switch112disposed on a coupler102will contact the top member B once the coupler102is in a predetermined position with respect to the ball100. A rear member R may also be included, and may function as a barrier to outside elements and/or to prevent over-shooting of the ball100by the coupler102, thereby advantageously preventing damage to the tow vehicle. Although described as separate members herein, various elements of the coupler guide110may be configured as a single unitary body, so long as a desired functionality is maintained.

The coupler guide110may also comprise a base member114for operatively connecting the coupler guide110to the tow vehicle, drawbar101, and/or ball100. The base member114may be of any configuration, including but not limited to, the width of the coupler guide110, or a width just sufficient to form a desired operative connection. Members A,B,C, and R may each be of any desired size, shape, orientation, and/or configuration known in the art, and may be operatively connected to each other by any means known in the art. Furthermore, any combination of members may be formed as a unitary body. The coupler guide110may operatively connect to the tow vehicle by any means known in the art.

As shown inFIG. 3, one embodiment of the coupler guide110may be configured to have an elliptical cross-section. Such a configuration may advantageously “funnel” the coupler102into the coupler guide110until a predetermined placement is achieved, and/or contact is made between a switch112disposed on the coupler102and an interior surface of the coupler guide110. Such a configuration may also include a base member114. The coupler guide110may also have any other desired configuration sufficient to guide a coupler102to a desired position and/or activate a switch112.

As shown inFIG. 4, in one embodiment the coupler guide110comprises a plurality of side members A which may operatively connect to a rear member R, or may operatively connect directly to each other (forming a “V”, “U” or any other guiding shape when viewed from above). The coupler guide110may also include at least one top member B. When used with embodiments of a coupler assembly as described herein, the top member B may function to activate a switch112operatively connected to a coupler102. The embodiment ofFIG. 4is also advantageously configured such that the side members A used to guide the coupler102are disposed a sufficient distance above the ball100so that once the coupler102is operatively connected to the ball100, the coupler102will be disposed below the side members A, advantageously allowing the coupler an unobstructed lateral movement when operatively connected to the ball100. This permits a more precise guiding of the coupler102due to a potentially narrower angle of the side members A without sacrificing lateral mobility when the coupler102is operatively connected to the ball100.

As shown in the top-down view ofFIG. 5, in one embodiment the raised placement of the side members A, as previously discussed, will advantageously permit increased freedom of lateral movement of the coupler102and trailer, once the coupler102is lowered onto the ball100. As shown, the coupler102and its operative connection to the trailer may freely rotate about the ball100without obstruction by the raised side members A. Furthermore, the coupler guide110may be operatively connected to the tow vehicle and/or a drawbar101thereof by any means known in the art. In one embodiment, the operative connection between coupler guide110and tow vehicle may comprise a pivot116or similar mechanism which will permit a desired rotation of the coupler guide110. In one embodiment, such a pivot116will be biased to align the coupler guide110over the ball100, thereby advantageously aligning it with the coupler102and more effectively aligning the coupler102with the ball100.

As shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 6, the coupler guide110may comprise two or more side panels A (possibly formed as a unitary body), and may also include a top panel B. The operative connection of the top panel B may optionally include a hinge element118to advantageously permit pivoting of the top panel B. Pivoting may allow the top panel B to be displaced or flex when contacted by the coupler102, and may also allow the top panel B to pivot downwardly such that the coupler102will be prevented from disconnecting from the ball100, once the two are operatively connected. The hinge element118may be of any type known in the art, and may be lockable, releasable, and/or resettable, based upon various factors and/or operative interaction/initiation. Once the coupler102is operatively connected to the ball100, the coupler102will be disposed such that it is positioned below the two or more side panels A, thereby advantageously permitting greater freedom of lateral movement of the coupler102and trailer, while permitting a narrower and more precise configuration of the guide elements of the coupler guide110.

As previously discussed, the coupler guide110may also be configured to have a desired range of pivot when operatively connected to the ball100(e.g., through a drawbar101or bumper). Furthermore, although the embodiment ofFIG. 6is shown with a VAD108, such an embodiment may be used with any suitable configuration of coupler102and/or trailer. As previously discussed, in certain embodiments, a physical switch112is optional, and the VAD108may be activated remotely, based on certain interactions with one or more guide elements (e.g., A, B), manually, and/or by any other means known in the art.

In one embodiment, one or more of the alignment elements (e.g., A, B, C, and/or R) may be configured to flex and/or may include a flexible operative connection to the coupler guide110. Such configurations advantageously are more resistant to damage due to interactions with the coupler102and may also be more effective in aligning the coupler102with the ball100. Such embodiments may also be utilized with a self-powered and/or self-steering trailer, which may be configured to move and/or align itself based on feedback initiated by contact with one or more members of the coupler guide110or a predetermined proximity thereto. The mechanism by which such a trailer would be motorized and/or steered may be of any type known in the art.

In one embodiment, contact with a member (A and/or B) of the coupler guide110may initiate movement of any one or more members (A and/or B) thereby further guiding the coupler102into proper alignment with the ball100and/or locking the coupler102once it is operatively connected to the ball. For example, in one embodiment, a predetermined contact with a member of the coupler guide110will result in a lowering of the top member B such that it will prevent the coupler102from rising off of the ball100once the two are operatively connected. In one embodiment, a predetermined contact with a member of the coupler guide110will result in an inward displacement of at least one side member A such that the side member A will be positioned over the ball100and thereby prevent decoupling of the coupler102and ball100. The mechanisms by which these functions occur may be of any type known in the art, and may also include a delay feature in order to permit sufficient lowering of the coupler102by the VAD108prior to movement of the target member.

Furthermore, where one or more members (A and/or B) are moveable and/or flexible, such movement and/or flexion may be utilized to trigger a switch112which will activate the VAD108to initiate a raising or lowering of the coupler102. For instance, contact with such a member will initiate a predetermined movement which will result in activation of the switch112, which may be disposed in any suitable location. Alternatively, any activation of the VAD108may be operator-initiated and/or remotely controlled.

The various elements described herein may be of any type, shape, size, and/or configuration known in the art. Furthermore, the various elements described herein may comprise any material and/or combination of materials known in the art. In one embodiment, the guide elements as described herein may be non-planar and may also be configured to each include a plurality of planar surfaces of varying orientations.

Although described with reference to a tow vehicle and trailer, the embodiments described herein may be used to operatively connect any two objects, including but not limited to the cars of a train, and/or with any marine or airborne objects. Where the two objects to be operatively connected may be subject to differing forces and/or orientations (e.g., as may occur between two or more water-borne objects), it may be desirable to include one or more additional pivot and/or flexion interfaces in the coupler assembly or somewhere along the operative connection between the coupler assembly and an operatively connected object.

In one embodiment, the invention comprises a method of manufacturing a coupler guide110. The method comprises operatively connecting a plurality of side panels A such that they are configured to guide a coupler102to a predetermined position. In one embodiment, the method comprises configuring at least one element of the coupler guide110according to any of the configurations described herein.

In one embodiment, the coupler guide110may be configured to operatively connect to a ball100separately from a tow vehicle, such that the combination coupler guide110and ball100may be (permanently or reversibly) operatively connected to the tow vehicle as a single apparatus.