Abstract:
A bumper has an elastic body shaped to fit on a conventional trailer coupler to prevent damage to the coupler to a towing vehicle during attachment of the coupler to a ball-type hitch on the vehicle. The body has side flanges with longitudinal grooves for receiving coupler lateral flanges and a transverse strap joined to the side flanges to retain the body on the coupler and prevent removal of the bumper when the coupler is attached to the ball-type hitch.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/409,375 filed Sep. 10, 2002. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to bumpers for conventional trailer couplers to protect the trailer towing vehicle from damage, such as dents and scratches, during the connecting of a ball hitch on a vehicle to a trailer coupler. The bumper is an impact absorbing resilient cushion having a bulbous shaped body that covers the quad-hemispherical forward end of a trailer coupler. An electric plug receptacle boot in the side of the bumper is adapted to protectably receive the electric plug of a trailer electric light system when the trailer is not in use. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Trailer hitch assemblies incorporating a ball on a vehicle and a trailer having a tongue with a bulbous hollow receptacle for receiving such ball on the vehicle are well known. The bulbous receptacle on the tongue of the trailer and associated locking mechanism are generally referred to as the trailer coupler. The structural design of a trailer coupler has become standardized. Geresy (U.S. Pat. No. 3,237,969) discloses the standard trailer coupler design which is fabricated from metal plate material. As depicted by Geresy, the standard design includes a bulbous hollow for receiving the ball on a vehicle for connection thereto. Further, the wall of the bulbous hollow continues around the front and sides on the bottom side of the coupler to form a lateral marginal flange which extends beyond the bulbous hollow to form the perimeter of the trailer coupler. 
   The conventional trailer coupler can cause extensive damage to a vehicle when backing up to a trailer coupler for connecting a trailer to that particular vehicle. For example, when a vehicle is being backed up to a trailer, the operator of the vehicle cannot see the trailer coupler which is obscured by the vehicle. Thus, unless the operator always has an additional person giving direction, the operator must guess the distance to backup. This many times leads to contact between the trailer coupler and the back of the vehicle. This contact causes damage to paint on the vehicle, bumper and/or license plate on many occasions. This problem is further complicated by the operator having to guess the appropriate height of the coupler prior to backing under the trailer. The proper height can vary with the grade on which the vehicle and trailer are positioned. Thus, improper height can lead to contact between the standard trailer coupler and readily damaged portions of the vehicle, such as the vehicle bumper, tail gate, license plate, trunk lid or plastic lighting covers. 
   Although some trailer hitch bumpers have been developed, only one has been developed to date to protect against metal-to-metal contact between the trailer coupler and the vehicle when backing underneath the trailer coupler for connection with the vehicle. 
   DeVries in U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,494 discloses a guard for a trailer coupler having a generally U-shaped member that protects against damage from metal to metal contact between only the lateral marginal flange of the trailer and the vehicle. 
   Liland et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,559 discloses a protective guard for a trailer hitch housing having an impact absorbing body covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the longitudinal end portion of a trailer hitch housing. It is possible that this guard could fall off, as its primary means of attachment is an adhesive disposed between the guard body and the outer surface of the coupler. If the guard does fall off, it has no means of retention. This design also has no provisions for a plug receptacle boot for protectably receiving a trailer lighting plug. 
   Young et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,770 discloses a decorative cover for the end of a draw bar and a towing hitch cover which protects the draw bar when the draw bar is not in place. This design does not address the problems associated with contact between the coupler of the trailer, but rather the vehicle portion of the hitch assembly. 
   Beckerer, Jr. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,968 discloses a protective cover for a trailer hitch which fits over the ball of the trailer. The cover is designed to protect operators from injury when they hit their leg on the ball on the vehicle when a trailer is not attached thereto. The design could be not utilized to protect against damage associated with the frontal portion of the coupler contacting the vehicle when being attached thereto. 
   Silver in U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,848 discloses a trailer accessory for protectably receiving trailer plugs. The base is secured to the tongue with a connection member including threaded fasteners which engage first and second end slots of a crossbar and first and second inboard slots of the base. This design could not be utilized to protect against damage associated with the frontal portion of the coupler contacting the vehicle when being attached thereto. The design cannot be utilized to protect against damage associated with the frontal portion of the coupler contacting the vehicle when being attached thereto. 
   Geisler in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,854 discloses a protective covering system for trailer light connectors. The protective covering system is characterized by a body, a cap, and an optional holder. The body has a lower flexible portion with a slit for easily attaching and detaching the trailer light protective covering system to the trailer. In the preferred embodiment, the lower part of the flexible body has a slit that allows the device to be easily attached and detached from the wiring harness. In other embodiments, the system is attached to the trailer or towing vehicle in a number of places and in a number of ways. The design could not be utilized to protect against damage associated with the frontal portion of the coupler contacting the vehicle when being attached thereto. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,427, dated Jul. 10, 1990, to Linnea H. Pearson, details an “Electrical Trailer Connector Retainer.” The retainer is designed for use with an electrical wire connector of the type commonly used to provide electrical connection to a trailer device from the electrical system of a towing vehicle. The device is permanently mounted either on the bumper of the towing vehicle or the tongue of the trailer and permits the electrical wire connector used for transferring electrical power to the trailer from the electrical supply system of the towing vehicle, to be retained when not in use and to be made available for electrical connection when needed. While this device prevents the connector from dragging on the ground, it does not protect the connector from rain, mud, snow, dust and other environmental hazards. This device is permanently fixed directly to the towing vehicle or to the trailer itself, and is not easily removable or relocatable. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,828 dated Jul. 14, 1992, to Chaunice L. Bass, details a rewind trailer light connector which includes a rewind housing connected to a vehicle frame or trailer tongue and fitted with a spring-loaded rewind mechanism for storing electrical wiring and the connector or connector receptacle. While this device can provide some protection for the wiring, it does little to protect the actual receptacle from exposure to adverse elements and is also fairly complicated, having numerous moving parts, and is relatively expensive. It also is mounted directly to the towing vehicle or to the trailer itself. This device, therefore, is also not easily removable or relocatable. Furthermore, the rewind mechanism itself is exposed to the elements, causing it to fail, negating its protective properties. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,209 dated to Jan. 10, 1995, to Carroll H. Converse, Jr. (the &#39;209 patent), details a trailer light connector enclosure which discloses a box-like enclosure for containing a trailer light connector and the attached wiring which allows both the trailer connector and wiring to be protected. However, the protective device taught by the &#39;209 patent, like the others detailed above, requires a permanent or semi-permanent attachment to the vehicle or trailer. The &#39;209 device is not easily removed once installed or easily relocated to another trailer and may necessitate the purchase of several devices, one for each trailer or vehicle. In addition, one preferred embodiment taught by the &#39;209 patent is secured to the towing vehicle or the trailer by an adhesive strip. This type of adhesive strip may be prone to failure after extended periods of time and exposure to water and other adverse environmental conditions. 
   The need exists for a trailer coupler bumper which protects against damage from metal-to-metal contact or metal-to-vehicle contact between any part of the frontal portion of the trailer tongue coupler not only the lateral marginal flange. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is a bumper for a trailer coupler which prevents or reduces damage due to contact between the trailer coupler and vehicle when the vehicle is being connected to a trailer via the coupler. The bumper is designed to be used in conjunction with standard 1⅞- and 2-inch trailer couplers, the design of which has become standardized. The standardized design of a trailer coupler includes a bulbous hollow having a side wall which angles from a generally vertical direction to a horizontal direction to form a lateral marginal flange extending beyond the perimeter of the vertical wall of the bulbous hollow. The front of the trailer coupler is the portion of the coupler which contacts a vehicle when backed under the coupler. The bumper is specifically designed to fit over the frontal portion of the trailer coupler to provide a cushion between the vehicle and the trailer coupler and thus, prevent damage to the vehicle when the vehicle bumps the trailer protected with the bumper. The bumper has one or more plug receptacle boots for protectably receiving one or more standard styles of trailer lighting plugs and braking electrical connectors. 
   The bumper has a semi-hemispherical shaped body having a convex curved front portion joined to rearwardly directed side portions. The body has a concave inside wall around a pocket having a size and shape to engage the outer surface of the bulbous portion of a conventional trailer coupler. Side flanges are joined to lower portions of the side walls. The side flanges project outwardly from the side walls and extend rearwardly from the front portion of the body. Each side flange has a linear longitudinal groove having an inside opening adapted to accommodate a side flange of the trailer coupler. The front portion of the body does not have a flange that extends over the curved front flange of the trailer coupler. The forward part or nose of the front portion of the body projects forwardly of the front flange. The side portions of the body have inwardly and rearwardly inclined inside walls adapted to engage opposite sides of the trailer coupler. A transverse elastic band or strap joined to the rear ends of the flanges biases the side portions toward each other to firmly retain the body on the trailer coupler. The strap also prevents the bumper from separating from the trailer coupler when attached to a ball-type hitch on a vehicle. The band does not impede the functioning of the latching foot of the trailer coupler. The body, side flanges, and band are a one-piece elastomeric material, such as polyurethane or rubber member. 
   Boots having inside pockets are joined to the outside of the side portions of the body. Each pocket has a lower opening to allow an electric plug to be placed in the pocket. One boot has a generally rectangular pocket to accommodate a conventional flat plug connected to the electric wires leading to the tail and brake lights of the trailer. The other boot has a cylindrical pocket to accommodate a tubular RV electric plug or connector. One alternative embodiment of the body has only the boot with the rectangular pocket. Another embodiment of the body has side portions without boots for holding electric plugs. 
   The bumper addresses the problems associated with contact and subsequent damage due to contact between the frontal portion of the trailer coupler and the intended towing vehicle. The bumper prevents this contact by fully covering the generally bulbous shape member of the ball receiver of the trailer coupler as well as enclosing its side lateral marginal flanges. 
   The bumper has a larger surface area in which to distribute the energy and stresses of the impact, as it covers the whole frontal surface of the trailer coupler. This reduces the chance of damage to the intended towing vehicle and extends the life of the bumper by removing the bulk of the stress from the portion of the bumper covering the lateral flange, and distributing it over the whole front surface of the trailer coupler. 
   The bumper is easily installed by the consumer or trailer owner. It is positioned so the open back end of the bumper is aligned with the front of the trailer coupler, then it is pushed over the trailer coupler until the front of trailer coupler impacts the inner wall of the mating portion of the bumper. 
   The bumper does rely on frictional fit, but has a strap that acts as a tether while the trailer is hitched over the ball of the towing vehicle. The strap prevents the bumper from becoming separated from the trailer coupler. The strap also creates another area of capture due to friction fit, thus creating two separate zones of friction fit. Having the strap eliminates the need for the user to remove the bumper at any time. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a trailer coupler bumper of the invention mounted on a conventional ball-type trailer coupler; 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the bumper of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of left side of the bumper shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the right side of the bumper shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the bumper of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of the bumper of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the bumper of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along line  10 — 10  of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a first modification of the trailer coupler bumper of  FIG. 1  mounted on a conventional ball-type trailer coupler; 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the bumper of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a bottom plan view of the bumper of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of the left side of the bumper of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 16  is a side elevational view of the right side of the bumper of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a front elevational view of the bumper of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 18  is a rear elevational view of the bumper of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 19  is a sectional view taken along line  19 — 19  of  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 20  is a sectional view taken along line  20 — 20  of  FIG. 17 ; 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a second modification of the trailer coupler of  FIG. 1  mounted on a conventional ball-type trailer coupler; 
       FIG. 22  is a sectional view taken along line  22 — 22  of  FIG. 21 ; 
       FIG. 23  is a top plan view of the bumper of  FIG. 21 ; 
       FIG. 24  is a bottom plan view of the bumper of  FIG. 21 ; 
       FIG. 25  is a side elevational view of the left side of the bumper of  FIG. 21 ; 
       FIG. 26  is a side elevational view of the right side of the bumper of  FIG. 21 ; 
       FIG. 27  is a front elevational view of the bumper of  FIG. 21 ; 
       FIG. 28  is a rear elevational view of the bumper of  FIG. 21 ; 
       FIG. 29  is a sectional view taken along line  29 — 29  of  FIG. 23 ; and 
       FIG. 30  is a sectional view taken along line  30 — 30  of  FIG. 27 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention which may be embodied in various systems. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of skill in the art to variously practice the invention. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , a bumper  10  mounted on the front portion of a conventional ball-type trailer coupler  11  is used to reduce impact damage to a towing vehicle when the coupler is being attached to a ball-type hitch on the towing vehicle. Coupler  11  has a channel shaped housing  11  joined to a quad-hemispherical front end  13 . Housing  11  and  13  has a continuous outwardly directed lateral flange  9  reinforcing the bottom portions of the housing  11  and front end  13 . Flange  9 , shown in  FIG. 2 , projects in a forward direction and can contact a bumper of a towing vehicle and thereby damage the bumper. A lever  14  connected to a locking foot  15  mounted on housing  12  holds foot  15  in retaining relation with the ball  20  of a ball-type hitch. A latch  16  pivotally mounted on lever  14  holds the lever  14  in a lock position. Trailer couplers are conventional devices used with 1⅞- and 2-inch ball sizes. 
   Bumper  10  has a body  17  that fits on conventional ball-type trailer couplers. Body  17  has a front convex curved front portion  18  joined to rearwardly directed side portions  19  and  21 . Outwardly directed lateral horizontal flanges  22  and  23  are joined to side portions  19  and  21 . The front portion does not have a lateral flange. As shown in  FIG. 2 , front portion  18  extends forward of flange  9  of coupler  11  so as to absorb impact forces applied to bumper  10  and coupler  11 . Body  17  has a rearwardly and downwardly inclined back wall  24  and a transverse strap or band  26  connected to rear portions of the flanges  22  and  23 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8  and  18 . Strap  26  is an elastic member that biases the bumper on housing  11  and front end  13  of coupler  11 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , strap  26  is behind ball  20  whereby bumper  11  cannot be removed from coupler  11  when it is connected to ball  20 . 
   Front portion  18  of body  17  has a concave inside wall  27  surrounding a pocket  28 , shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9  and  10 , for generally the quad-hemispherical end  13  of coupler  11 . Wall  27  has a curved shape that is complementary to the curved shape of end  13 . The top of wall  27  has a transverse projection or rib  30  that extends into a top recess in coupler  11 . Side portions  19  and  21  of body  17  has inside walls  29  and  31 , shown in  FIG. 10 , adapted to engage the side walls of channel member  12  and sides of front portion  13  of coupler  11 . Strap  26  retains inside walls  29  and  31  in firm engagement with channel member  12  and front portion  13 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 10 , the rear sections of inside walls  29  and  31  have recesses  32  and  33  to accommodate the heads of the pivot pin for the ball locking foot  15 . Returning to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  9 , flanges  22  and  23  have inside horizontal grooves or slots  34  and  36  for accommodating the side flanges of coupler  11  to retain bumper  10  on coupler  11 . Opposite ends of grooves  34  and  36  are open to allow bumper  10  to be placed on coupler  11 . The side flange of coupler  11  fits in grooves  34  and  36  and extends past the forward ends of flanges  22  and  23 . The front flange or lip of coupler  11  is located under body portion  18 . The bottom of the front flanges of coupler  11  is not covered with a bumper or flange. This prevents bumper material from being pushed into the coupler pocket when attempting to connect coupler  11  to the hitch ball  20 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  6  and  8 , a first boot  38  joined to side portion  19  of body  17  has a generally rectangular pocket  38  with a bottom opening  41 . Pocket  39  has a size and shape for storing a generally parallelepiped shaped trailer light and brake plug (not shown). The boot  38  can be positioned in different locations on body  11 . The light plug is inserted through bottom opening  41  into pocket  39 . The walls of boot  38  engage the plug to retain the plug in pocket  39 . A second boot  42  attached to side portion  21  of body  17  has a cylindrical pocket  43  with a bottom opening  44 . Pocket  43  has a size and shape to store a cylindrical RV electric light and brake plug or connector (not shown). 
   The bumper  10  is preferably manufactured as a one-piece member utilizing an injection molding process. A preferred material of construction is a polyurethane, such as a thermoplastic polyurethane. In a preferred embodiment, the bumper  10  is manufactured at least in part from polyurethane. It is recognized that other polymeric materials and methods of manufacture could be utilized to produce bumper  10  and still be within the scope of the present invention. For example, the bumper  10  could be fabricated from standard plastic or rubber stock, and formed either by the manufacturer or customer. Alternatively, a form could be utilized to build layers onto, in a dip molding process, utilizing such materials as vinyl plastisol. Thermoplastic elastomers and natural or synthetic rubber compounds could be utilized. The bumper  10  could also be free-poured into a casting utilizing a two-part polyurethane and an open mold. The selection of a high-pressure molding process in conjunction with a polyurethane is preferred based on the performance of the part and the cost of manufacture. 
   A first modification of the bumper, indicated generally at  100 , is shown in  FIGS. 11 to 20 . The parts of bumper  100  that correspond to the parts of bumper  10  have the same reference numbers with the prefix  1 . Bumper  100  has one boot  138  joined to side portion  122  of body  117 . Boot  138  has a generally rectangular pocket  139  for accommodating a flat electrical plug or connector. The function and advantage of bumper  100  are identical to bumper  10  except for the second boot. 
   A second modification of the bumper, indicated generally at  200 , is shown in  FIGS. 21 to 30 . The parts of bumper  200  that correspond to the parts of bumper  10  have the same reference numbers with the prefix  2 . Body  217  has side portions  219  and  221  that are not joined to boots for accommodating electrical plugs or connectors. Bumper  200  has laterally symmetrical structures and appearance. 
   New characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing description. It will be understood, however, that this disclosure is only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of scope, size and arrangement of parts, without exceeding the scope of the invention. The invention is defined in appended claims.