Abstract:
A selectively remotely actuated coupler which comprises a coupler for trailers, automatic locking mechanism to secure said trailer to a towing vehicle ball, a remotely actuated release assembly for unlocking said automatic locking mechanism attached to said trailer and powered by a battery. The coupler comprising an automatic locking means connected to said trailer for locking said trailer to said ball hitch as said trailer is lowered onto said ball hitch, a selectively activated unlocking means connected to said trailer for releasing said ball hitch from said trailer, and a remote control in communication with said unlocking means for selectively activating said unlocking means. It is further contemplated that said locking mechanism provides a manual release handle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    Priority is claimed from provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60/216,057 filed on Jul. 5, 2000, and incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to trailer couplers. More particularly, the present invention is a new and improved trailer coupler that automatically locks in place when attached, provides for a visual inspection that coupler is locked into position, and can be remotely unlocked for release.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Known Prior Art  
           [0005]    Many coupling devices have been developed for providing a connection between a towing vehicle and a trailer. Typically, a spherical ball is mated to a socket receiver in a male-female style trailer hitch. A popular variety uses a long, vertical sheathing attached to a female portion of the coupler, often referred to as gooseneck or neckover couplers. These types of couplers are often mated to a ball hitch mounted to a vehicle, such as pick-up trucks, in the middle of the vehicle&#39;s bed as opposed to a ball hitch generally located on the end of the vehicle near or on the rear bumper.  
           [0006]    In operation, a trailer with a gooseneck attachment is positioned over the ball mounted in the bed of the vehicle and then lowered onto the ball. The socket receiver should, generally, have a slightly larger diameter than the ball so that the receiver fully engages or mates with the ball. Generally, once the trailer is mated to the vehicle, a separate manual operation must be performed to insure that the ball is locked into the receiving socket so that the receiver is no longer free to disengage from the ball.  
           [0007]    In the prior art, when a ball is mounted in the middle of the bed of a pickup, the operator must get into the back of the vehicle to perform the manual operation of locking the coupler.  
           [0008]    Due to the configuration of most towing vehicles, this requires the operator to climb over the side of the bed or attempt to climb up the back gated portion where the trailer is now positioned. This practice leads to potential for an injury to the operator. Furthermore, when the operator desires to remove the trailer from the towing vehicle, the operator must once again climb into the bed of the vehicle to unlock the coupler for disengagement.  
           [0009]    Also, it is not uncommon in the prior art for the operator, who has lowered the receiver onto the ball, to believe that the coupler is locked in when the opposite is true. Unfortunately, this leads to potentially dangerous situations where the trailer disengages while being towed.  
           [0010]    Some of these shortcomings in the prior art also similarly apply to conventional trailer hitches mounted on the rear of a vehicle without a gooseneck assembly. Furthermore, in the prior art standard trailer hitches that use a mating system of a ball attached to the rear of a vehicle such as behind or on the rear bumper often require the locking mechanism to also act as a supporting function and sometimes even a pulling function. These configurations may be extremely difficult to operate and require substantial effort to lock or unlock.  
           [0011]    Furthermore, many of these prior art hitches may be placed in a latched configuration but a separate manual operation is required to lock the device in the latched configuration. If a person fails to take the extra step of locking the device, then a potentially dangerous situation may exist.  
           [0012]    Thus, there is a need for a self locking trailer coupler which provides for an automatic locking, a visual indicator that the coupler is locked in position, and a remote release for unlocking said coupler.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    In general, the present invention is a new and improved trailer coupler which is spring loaded so that, when the ball slides into the receiver socket, it is locked into position with a visual indicator that the receiver is locked onto the ball. The present invention also provides a means to remotely unlock the receiver from the ball.  
           [0014]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in this application to the details of construction and to the arrangement so the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
           [0015]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.  
           [0016]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved trailer coupler which automatically locks in place on the receiver when the coupler is lowered on the receiver.  
           [0017]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved trailer coupler which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.  
           [0018]    An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved trailer coupler which is of a more durable and reliable construction than that of the existing known art.  
           [0019]    Still another object to the present invention to provide a new and improved trailer coupler which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such economically available to the buying public.  
           [0020]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved trailer coupler which provides some of the advantages of the prior art, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.  
           [0021]    Yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved trailer coupler which is remotely actuated to release the coupler off the receiver without the need of the operator to physically access the coupler.  
           [0022]    Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved trailer coupler with a locking mechanism which may work on gooseneck couplers as well as standard ball hitches attached to the rear of a vehicle.  
           [0023]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved trailer coupler which uses a mechanical advantage of spring loading and multiple plates for latching and locking hitches in place.  
           [0024]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference would be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention with a partial cut away of the bed of a towing vehicle.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view with a partial cut-away showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the reverse side of a preferred embodiment of elements in FIG. 2.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in a locked configuration with a partial cutaway.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in a locked configuration.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in an unlocked configuration with a partial cutaway.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in an unlocked configuration.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to FIG. 1, reference numeral  10  designates a preferred embodiment of a new and improved trailer coupler system in accordance with the current invention. Coupler system  10  is generally adapted to be used with conventional trailers  12  including fifth wheelers. A preferred embodiment is for trailers  12  of the type including a gooseneck  14 , possessing a generally substantially vertical extending column  16 , and a generally vertically axially reciprocal jack  18  actuated by a manual hand crank  20  to selectively support the gooseneck  14  when the trailer is not engaged to a towing vehicle  22 .  
         [0034]    Towing vehicle  22  can be but is not limited to a pick-up truck. As in conventional trailer hitches of this type a standard substantially spherical trailer ball hitch  24  is mounted in an upstanding manner through a floor  26  of a cargo bed  28  of the towing vehicle  22 .  
         [0035]    It is further contemplated that coupler system  10  may also be used on trailers  12  without the gooseneck  14  that generally attach to rear  30  of the towing vehicle  22  with mounted ball hitch  24 . It is also further contemplated that coupler system  10  could be retrofitted to existing trailers  12  as well as installed during the manufacture of trailer  12 .  
         [0036]    Referring to the drawings and FIGS. 2 and 2A in particular, coupler system  10  generally comprises a trailer coupler  32  generally comprising a housing  34  having a recessed socket  36  with a downwardly directed socket opening  38  for receiving ball hitch  24 . Housing  34  generally includes top aperture  40 , bottom aperture  42 , and clean out access port  44  which will be discussed in greater detail below. Housing  34  may be attached to the gooseneck  14  by welding, bolting, or the like. Housing  34  may also be incorporated into trailer  12  or attached to trailer  12  without a gooseneck  14  such as but not limited to trailers  12  that attach to the rear  30  of the towing vehicle  22 .  
         [0037]    Coupler system  10  further includes an automatic locking means  46  which generally includes a retractable latching plate  48  in communication with a spring assembly  50 . Plate  48  is spring biased such that plate  48  generally cooperates with socket  36  to couple or trap ball hitch  24  in socket  36  which will be discussed below in greater detail. Spring assembly  50  may generally include two springs  52  and  54 , but may be constructed with one or more. Spring assembly  50  should allow for ball hitch  24  to pass and exit socket  36  when trailer  12  is lowered or raised such that springs  52  and  54  compress as ball hitch  24  passes. The force of ball hitch  24  pushes or retracts plate  48  and thereby compresses spring assembly  50  such that after the width of ball hitch  24  passes, spring assembly  50  pushes out such that plate  48  cooperates with socket  36  to hold ball hitch  24  in socket  36 .  
         [0038]    Automatic locking means  46  further includes locking mechanism  56  which generally includes tab  58  with spring  60  which may be positioned in member  62  along with spring assembly  50  and portion of latch plate  48 . Member  62  may be removably attached to housing  34  by conventional means such as but not limited to pins  64  and  66  through apertures  68  and  70 . Member  62  may further include aperture  72  which will be discussed in greater detail below.  
         [0039]    Automatic locking means  46  may further include pin assembly  74  with pin  76  pull handle  78 , aperture  80  for placing a safety pin  82  which will also be discussed in greater detail below, spring assembly  84  which that biases pin  76  in a downward direction and further generally includes a retention positioning piece  86 . Pin  76  is generally positioned in housing  34  top aperture  40  and member  62  aperture  72 .  
         [0040]    Referring to the drawings and FIGS. 3 and 3A in particular, locked configuration  88  generally refers to pin  76  passing through or entering housing  34  bottom aperture  42  such that plate  48  may not retract by limiting plate  48  travel direction and thus trapping ball hitch  24  in socket  36 .  
         [0041]    Again referring to then drawings and FIGS. 4 and 4A specifically, unlocked configuration  90  generally refers to pin  76  in an upward position such that pin  76  is blocked from entering housing aperture  42  by tab  58  thus allowing plate  48  to move freely back and retract. In the unlocked configuration  90 , pin  76  may not enter housing  34  bottom aperture  42  while tab  58  blocks the passageway of pin  76 . In FIGS. 4 and 4A, plate  48  is generally shown in a retracted position for purposes of illustration although the ball hitch  24  is not entered into socket  36 .  
         [0042]    Pin assembly  74  may further include a visual indicator  92  which may be color coded, such as but not limited to green, for a visual confirmation that the coupler  32  is in locked configuration  88 . Pin  76  may further include groove or grooves  94  which may be colored coded in the recessed area of groove  94  so that the color will not be scraped off as pin  76  travels from the locked configuration  88  to the unlocked configuration  90 .  
         [0043]    Furthermore, housing  34  may further include safety pin  82  receiver  95  such that as the coupler  32  is in the locked configuration  88 , safety pin  82  may thread through pin  76  and housing  34  so that pin  76  is trapped in a locked configuration  88 . Pin  76  may also further include indenture  96  for adding further structural integrity when pin  76  is in the locked configuration  88 . Coupler  32  is preferably constructed from metal or other durable material capable of handling associated forces with towing trailer  12 .  
         [0044]    Another preferred embodiment includes clean out access port  44  in housing  34  which allows dirt, grit, water and other foreign debris to be drained, blown out or removed from locking mechanism  56  member  62 . Still another preferred embodiment adds a theft deterrent assembly (not depicted) wherein a separate lock may be added such as but not limited to threading a bolt of a lock through pin  76  and into to receiver  95 . Other such theft deterrent assemblies may include locking pins or travel restrictor which prevent pin  76  from disengaging housing  34  bottom aperture  42 .  
         [0045]    Once again referring to FIG. 1, still another preferred embodiment of coupler system  10 , coupler  32  is in communication with remote control assembly  98  for moving pin  76  from a downward locked configuration  88  to an upward unlocked configuration  90 . Remote control assembly  98  generally includes a motor  100  or other device such as but not limited to an air cylinder, solenoid or vacuum cylinder which mechanically lifts pin  76 . A remote control activator  102  is in communication with motor  100  and may be positioned on trailer  12  or towing vehicle  22 . Communication may be hard wired or wireless. Power source  104  for motor  100  may be wired from towing vehicle  22  or attached to trailer  12  and may be a car battery or other such conventional battery.  
         [0046]    Once again referring to the drawings and FIG. 5 in particular, in another preferred embodiment not fully depicted, coupler  32  generally comprises a dual pin construction  106  with a top plate  108 , a middle plate assembly  110 , a bottom plate  112 , and a locking mechanism  114 .  
         [0047]    Top plate  108  is generally planar with a preferred embodiment of a rectangular shape but not limited to such. A preferred embodiment of top plate  108  has multiple apertures. In the center of top plate is aperture  116  for engaging ball hitch  24 . Aperture  118  is generally located between first comer and second corner and aperture  120  is likewise generally located between third comer and fourth comer. Apertures  118  and  120  are provided for a preferred embodiment of locking mechanism  114 .  
         [0048]    Top plate  108  is generally attached to the gooseneck  14  at attachment point where receiver ball cap is provided to form the socket  36 . Ball cap may be attached to top plate  108  or attached to interior of gooseneck  14  . Ball cap generally carries the weight of the trailer  12  and is positioned to fit firmly onto ball hitch  24 .  
         [0049]    The middle plate assembly  110  generally comprises two locking mechanisms  56  such that as previously described above in a preferred embodiment. Plates  122  and  124  generally perform the same function as plate  48  but work in conjunction to trap ball hitch  24  from two opposing points.  
         [0050]    A preferred embodiment of locking mechanism  114  generally comprises a first bracket  126 , a second bracket  128 , a first spring loaded locking pin  130 , a second spring loaded locking pin  132 , and a release assembly  134 . Locking mechanism  114  first bracket  126  and second bracket  128  each generally comprise a “U” shape attached to top plate  108  such as but not limited to by welding. First bracket  126  and second bracket  128  generally include apertures.  
         [0051]    Release assembly  134  generally comprises a manual release lever  136  with a preferred embodiment attached to first spring loaded locking pin  130  and second spring loaded locking pin  132 . Release lever  136  extracts the locking pins  130  and  132  from engaging the bottom plate  112  by pulling locking pins  130  and  132  generally upward which in turn moves locking pins  130  and  132  into the unlocked position. In a preferred embodiment, release lever  136  generally has a handle portion  137 , a first rocking point  138  generally resting on or near first bracket  126  and a second rocking point  140  generally resting on or near on second bracket  128  . Rocking points  138  and  140  provide leverage when handle portion  137  is depressed. Manual release lever  136  generally attaches with first spring loaded locking pin  130  at a pivot and attaches with second spring loaded locking pin  132  at a pivot.  
       IN OPERATION  
       [0052]    As trailer  12  is desirably positioned behind towing vehicle  22 , coupler  32  is aligned over receiver ball hitch  24  positioned on the floor  26  in cargo bed  28  of towing vehicle  22  or rear  30  of towing vehicle for non-gooseneck  14  trailers  12 . Trailer  12  is generally lowered so that coupler  32  engages receiver ball hitch  24  in socket  36 , such as but not limited to lowering trailer  12  by hand crank  20 .  
         [0053]    As coupler  32 , in the unlocked configuration  90 , engages ball hitch  24  through socket opening  38 , ball hitch  24  pushes or retracts plate  48  by compressing spring assembly  50 . After ball hitch  24  passes plate  48 , plate  48  spring assembly  50  pushes out such that plate  48  cooperates with socket  36  to hold ball hitch  24  in socket  36 .  
         [0054]    During the pushing back or retracting of plate  48 , tab  58  is also pushed backward freeing pin assembly  74  such that pin  76  drops and is pushed downward by spring assembly  84  such that pin  76  may enter housing  34  bottom aperture  42 . In this position, plate  48  is no longer able to freely retract.  
         [0055]    To reset coupler  32  back to an unlocked configuration  90 , user manually lifts pin  76  from housing  34  bottom aperture  42  compressing spring assembly  84  of pin assembly  74 . As pin  76  moves upward, spring  60  of tab  58  slides across bottom aperture  42  such that pin  76  is resting on tab  58 . The locking mechanism  56  is now loaded such that pushing back or retracting plate  48  will then automatically activate and lock when ball hitch  24  enters socket  36 .  
         [0056]    The lifting of pin  76  may also be remotely accomplished by remote control assembly  98  such that user activates remote control activator  102  which communicates to motor  100  to retract pin  76 .  
         [0057]    Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.