Abstract:
A gooseneck coupler for engaging a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle is described. The coupler includes an outer tube having apertures that is moveable relative to an inner tube secured to a base plate. A locking plate is pivotally secured to the base plate, wherein the locking plate and base plate both include alignable locking pin apertures. A locking assembly includes a handle and a locking pin that is insertable into the locking pin apertures. A support bracket is secured to the inner tube. The support bracket includes a stop portion and a spacer portion that aligns the locking pin into the locking pin apertures. The coupler also includes set screws locatable through the apertures, wherein the set screws are tightened onto the inner tube to prevent movement of the outer tube. The set screws function as a visual indicator that the outer tube has been over extended.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally related to a coupler for securing a trailer to a towing vehicle and, more particularly, to a gooseneck coupler. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many vehicles are designed to transport freight, goods, merchandise, personal property, and other such cargo. Often, such vehicles may be arranged to tow a trailer by attaching the trailer to the towing vehicle, such as through the use of a hitch assembly. The towing industry has developed a number of methods and apparatuses for securing or engaging the towed vehicle or trailer to the towing vehicle, such as a truck. 
     There are many different types of trailer hitches in the art that may be attached to the towing vehicle in a variety of ways, depending on the type of hitch. Some of the most common types of hitches include gooseneck, fifth wheel, front mount, and the like. Typically, trailers may be connected to the towing vehicle by way of a hitch assembly including a ball hitch or member secured to the towing vehicle and a ball socket coupling mechanism on the towed vehicle or trailer that mounts over the ball and thereby allows for the trailer to pivot behind the towing vehicle. 
     Numerous types of hitch balls have been developed to be attached to the bumper or other rear portion of a towing vehicle. The trailer or towed vehicle may be equipped with a coupler mechanism to be attached to the towing vehicle by placing the coupler mechanism over the hitch ball and securing the coupler to the hitch ball. Similar apparatus using hitch receivers attached to the rear of the towing vehicle and drawbars may be used to secure trailers to towing vehicles. 
     Some trailers may be designed to carry heavy loads. Connecting such a trailer to a ball hitch on a bumper of a towing vehicle, however, may be impractical. When a trailer load is heavy as compared to the weight of the towing vehicle, applying the trailer load over the rear axle of the towing vehicle may create a more desirable towing condition. In addition, such an arrangement may put much of the force of the trailer load onto structural members of the towing vehicle, such as the frame, whereby the hitch ball may be located in the truck bed. 
     There are generally two arrangements for securing a trailer to the bed of a towing vehicle—a fifth wheel hitch and a gooseneck hitch. A fifth wheel hitch may be utilized with towed vehicles having a king pin, which may be part of a pin box attached to the towed vehicle. Fifth wheel hitches may generally be attached in a bed of a truck or directly to the frame of the truck in a more permanent manner, whereby tools may generally be required to remove fasteners and other connectors to install or uninstall a fifth wheel hitch to the bed of a towing vehicle. A gooseneck hitch may be utilized with a towed vehicle having a gooseneck coupler that may generally be coupled to a hitch ball that may be located in the bed of the towing vehicle. The hitch ball may typically be permanently secured to the frame or bed of the towing vehicle. 
     The trailer coupler often has a socket portion that is sized and shaped to receive the hitch ball. The gooseneck coupler may engage the hitch ball to pivotally couple the trailer to the towing vehicle. The gooseneck coupler to hitch ball connection may allow for relative movement between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle as the towing vehicle makes turns, traverses uneven or rough terrain, and passes along inclining and declining roadways. The hitch ball member may be removed or lowered to a stowed position below the bed to ensure that the use of the bed is not substantially hindered by the presence of the ball. 
     The gooseneck coupler typically may include a manually operated clamping arrangement which may retain the ball member in the socket and, thus, the towed vehicle to the towing vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     A gooseneck coupler for engaging a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle is described. The gooseneck coupler may include an outer tube telescopically moveable relative to an inner tube, wherein the inner tube may be secured to a base plate. The gooseneck coupler may also include a locking plate, a locking assembly and a support bracket. The locking plate may be pivotally secured to the base plate, wherein the locking plate and the base plate may both include alignable locking pin apertures. The locking assembly may include a handle and a locking pin, wherein the locking assembly may be located adjacent the inner tube and the locking pin may be insertable into the locking pin apertures. The support bracket may be secured to the inner tube, wherein the support bracket may include a stop portion and a spacer portion. The spacer portion may align the locking pin into the locking pin apertures. The outer tube may rest upon the stop portion when in a retracted position. The handle may also rest upon the stop portion when in an unlocked position. 
     The outer tube of the gooseneck coupler may also include at least two apertures. The gooseneck coupler may include at least two set screws. The set screws may be locatable through the at least two apertures of the outer tube. The at least two set screws may be tightened onto the inner tube to prevent movement of the outer tube relative to the inner tube. The set screws may also function as a visual indicator when the outer tube may be over extended. The set screws may not tightly evenly against the inner tube when the outer tube is extended beyond a height of the inner tube. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Objects and advantages together with the operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a gooseneck coupler in a non-limiting example according to the present teachings in an unlocked position. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the gooseneck coupler of  FIG. 1  in a locked position. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a partial cross-sectional side view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a partial cross-sectional side view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a partial cross-sectional front view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a partial cross-sectional front view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the gooseneck coupler of  FIG. 1  in an extended position. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the gooseneck coupler of  FIG. 1  in an over extended position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the invention. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     A gooseneck coupler  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 . The gooseneck coupler  10  may be configured to engage a towing vehicle (not shown), such as a truck, and a towed vehicle, such as a trailer (not shown). The gooseneck coupler  10  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration. The gooseneck coupler  10  may include an outer tube  12 , an inner tube  14 , a locking plate  24  and a support bracket  42 . 
     The outer tube  12  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally cylindrical or rectangular tubular configuration ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The outer tube  12  may be located at any appropriate position on the gooseneck coupler  10 , such as outside of and surrounding the inner tube  14 . For example, the outer tube  12  may be of a slightly interior dimension than an exterior dimension of the inner tube  14 . 
     The inner tube  14  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally cylindrical or rectangular tubular configuration ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). For example, the inner tube  14  may be of a correspondingly similar shape as that of the outer tube  12 . The inner tube  14  may be located at any appropriate position on the gooseneck coupler  10 , such as located within a portion of the outer tube  12 . For example, the inner tube  14  may be of a slightly smaller exterior dimension than an interior dimension of the outer tube  12 . 
     The gooseneck coupler  10  may also include a base plate  16 . The base plate  16  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally ovular configuration ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The base plate  16  may be located at any appropriate position on the gooseneck coupler  10 , such as adjacent an end of the inner tube  14 , such as a lower end. The inner tube  14  may be secured to the base plate  16  by any appropriate means, such as by welding or the like. 
     The base plate  16  may include an opening  18  and a locking pin aperture  28  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The opening  18  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as a generally circular shape ( FIGS. 3-6 ). The opening  18  may be located at any appropriate position on the base plate  16 , such as at an approximate central location on the base plate  16 . The opening  18  may provide access to a socket  20  ( FIGS. 3-6 ). 
     The socket  20  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally semi-spherical shape ( FIGS. 3-8 ). For example, the socket  20  may be of a shape and size to receive a hitch ball  22  therein ( FIGS. 3-8 ). The socket  20  may be located at any appropriate position on the gooseneck coupler  10 , such as adjacent the opening  18  of the base plate  16  and the lower end of the inner tube  14  ( FIGS. 3-6 ). The socket  20  may be secured to the base plate  16  by any appropriate means, such as by welding or the like. While the base plate  16  and socket  20  may be shown as separate components, it is to be understood that the base plate  16  and socket  20  may be fabricated as a single integral piece and should not be limited to that show or described herein. 
     The locking pin aperture  28  of the base plate  16  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally circular shape ( FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  6 ). The locking pin aperture  28  may be located at any appropriate position on the base plate  16 , such as adjacent a first side  15  of the base plate  16 . 
     The locking plate  24  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally ovular or rectangular configuration ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). For example, the locking plate  24  may be of a similar shape and size as that of the base plate  16 . The locking plate  24  may be located at any appropriate position on the gooseneck coupler  10 , such as adjacent base plate  16 . For example, the locking plate  24  may be located below the base plate  16  ( FIGS. 1-8 ). 
     The locking plate  24  may include a hitch ball opening  26  and a locking pin aperture  27  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The hitch ball opening  26  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally circular shape. For example, the hitch ball opening  26  may be of a similar shape and size as that of the opening  18  in the base plate  16 . The hitch ball opening  26  may be located at any appropriate position on the locking plate  24 , such as at an approximate central location on the locking plate  24 , whereby the hitch ball opening  26  may generally align with the opening  18  in the base plate  16  ( FIGS. 3-6 ). 
     The locking pin aperture  27  of the locking plate  24  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally circular shape. The locking pin aperture  27  may be located at any appropriate position on the locking plate  24 , such as adjacent the first side  15  of the base plate  16  and alignable with the locking pin aperture  28  of the base plate  16  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). 
     This alignment of the opening  18  in the base plate  16  and the hitch ball opening  26  of the locking plate  24  may provide an entrance for the hitch ball  22  to enter into the socket  20  of the inner tube  14  ( FIGS. 3-6 ). The hitch ball  22  of the towing vehicle may generally be located within and abut the socket  20  during engagement of the gooseneck coupler  10  and a towed vehicle. 
     The gooseneck coupler  10  may also include a base spacer  30  and a fastener  32  ( FIGS. 5  and  6 ). The base spacer  30  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally rectangular bracket. The base spacer  30  may be located at any appropriate position on the gooseneck coupler  10 , such as located between the base plate  16  and the locking plate  24 . The base plate  16 , locking plate  24  and base spacer  30  may all include an aperture (not shown), whereby they may be secured to one another by the fastener  32  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The fastener  32  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration that may provide for a pivotal relationship between the base plate  16  and the locking plate  24 . 
     The gooseneck coupler  10  may include a base bracket  34  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 ). The base bracket  34  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally sideways C-shaped configuration ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). For example, the base bracket  34  may include an upper portion  36  and a lower portion  40 , whereby the lower portion  40  includes an opening  41  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The base bracket  34  may also include an aperture  38  ( FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  6 ). The aperture  38  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally circular shape. The aperture  38  may be located at any appropriate position on the base bracket  34 , such as at an approximate central location on the upper portion  36 . 
     The base bracket  34  may be located at any appropriate position on the gooseneck coupler  10 , such as generally surrounding the first side  15  of the base plate  16  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 ). For example, the lower portion  40  of the base bracket  34  may be located between the base plate  16  and the locking plate  24 , whereby the opening  41  in the lower portion  40  may provide access to the locking pin aperture  27  of the locking plate  24  ( FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  6 ). 
     The support bracket  42  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally L-shaped configuration ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The support bracket  42  may be located at any appropriate position on the gooseneck coupler  10 , such as adjacent the lower end of the inner tube  14 . The support bracket  42  may be secured to the inner tube  14  by any appropriate means, such as by welding or the like. The support bracket  42  may include a stop portion  44  and a spacer portion  46  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 ). 
     The stop portion  44  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally rectangular shape ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The stop portion  44  may be located at any appropriate position on the support bracket  42 , such as generally parallel to the base plate  16  and generally extending perpendicularly outward from the inner tube  14  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     The spacer portion  46  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally rectangular shape ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 ). The spacer portion  46  may be located at any appropriate position on the support bracket  42 , such as generally perpendicular to the stop portion  44  and the base plate  16 . The spacer portion  46  may also extend generally perpendicularly outward from the inner tube  14 , whereby the stop portion  44  and the spacer portion  46  form the general L-shape of the support bracket  42  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     The stop portion  44  and spacer portion  46  of the support bracket  42  may be of any appropriate shape or size. For example, the stop portion  44  and spacer portion  46  may be of a specified width ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 ). This width may provide a specified amount of spacing from the inner tube  14  to the locking pin  52  to thereby align the locking pin  52  into the proper position for the locking pin  52  to lock the base plate  16  and locking plate  24  to one another ( FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  6 ). 
     In addition, the stop portion  44  and spacer portion  46  may be of specified lengths ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The stop portion  44  of the support bracket  42  may be of a first length that may serve as a stop for the outer tube  12  when the outer tube  12  is fully retracted over inner tube  14  ( FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  6 ). The spacer portion  46  of the support bracket  42  may be of a second length. 
     The gooseneck coupler  10  may also include a locking assembly  50  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 ). The locking assembly  50  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration. The locking assembly  50  may be located at any appropriate position on the gooseneck coupler  10 , such as located adjacent the lower end of the inner tube  14  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 ). The locking assembly  50  may include locking pin  52 , a pin housing  54  and a spring  56  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 ). 
     The locking pin  52  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally cylindrical shape ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 ). The locking pin  52  may be located at any appropriate position on the locking assembly  50 . The pin housing  54  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally cylindrical configuration ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 ). The pin housing  54  may be located at any appropriate position on the gooseneck coupler  10 , such as adjacent the spacer portion  46  of the support bracket  42  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 ). The pin housing  54  may be secured to the support bracket  42  by any appropriate means, such as by welding or the like. The spring  56  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration. The spring  56  may be located at any appropriate position on the locking assembly  50 , such as adjacent and below the pin housing  54 . 
     The locking assembly  50  may also include an upper handle  58  and a lower handle  60  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 ). The upper handle  58  and lower handle  60  may generally be parallel to one another and extend generally perpendicularly away from the locking pin  52  portion. The support bracket  42  may function as a hold-open positioning device for the upper handle  58  ( FIGS. 1 and 5 ). The stop portion  44  may allow the upper handle  58  of the locking assembly  50  to rest upon the stop portion  44 , whereby the stop portion  44  may be used as a hold-open position for the locking pin  52  against a bias of spring  56 . The hold-open function may allow a user to release locking assembly  50  while maintaining locking pin  52  in an unlocked position. 
     The overall shape of the support bracket  42  may allow it to function as a stop, a hold-open device and as a spacer. The shape of the support bracket  42  and the location at which the support bracket  42  is placed on the inner tube  14  may allow the support bracket  42  to achieve this multi-purpose function. The support bracket  42  may function as a stop when the outer tube  12  is in a lowered or retracted position that may prevent compression or collapse of the gooseneck coupler  10  ( FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  6 ). The support bracket may also function to limit the distance outer tube  12  may collapse onto inner tube  14  in the event of a dynamic (unintended) collapse. The support bracket  42  may also function as a spacer to locate the position of the locking pin  52  or locking pin guide  54  ( FIGS. 2 and 6 ). The support bracket  42  may simplify the locking assembly  50  for the gooseneck coupler  10 , thereby reducing material required, and providing several functions as described above. 
     The outer tube  12  may include at least one aperture  62  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). For example, the outer tube  12  may include any appropriate number of apertures  62 , such as two, three, four, etc. In a non-limiting example, the outer tube  12  may include a pair of apertures  62 . The apertures  62  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally circular shape. The apertures  62  may be located at any appropriate position on the outer tube  12 , such as vertically aligned and spaced along the outer tube  12  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7  and  8 ). 
     The gooseneck coupler  10  may also include at least one set screw  64  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7  and  8 ). For example, there may be any appropriate number of set screws  64 , such as two, three, four, etc. In a non-limiting example, the gooseneck coupler  10  may include a pair of set screws  64 . The set screws  64  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration. The set screws  64  may be located at any appropriate position on the gooseneck coupler  10 , such as aligned and located partially within the apertures  62  of the outer tube  12  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
     The outer tube  12  may include a mounting nut  66  located around each aperture  62  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). For example, there may be any appropriate number of mounting nuts  66 , such as two, three, four, etc. In a non-limiting example, the gooseneck coupler  10  may include correspondingly similar number of mounting nuts  66  as there are apertures  62 . The mounting nuts  66  may be secured to the outer tube  12  by any appropriate means, such as by welding or the like. The mounting nuts  66  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration. The mounting nuts  66  may be located at any appropriate position on the outer tube  12 , such as located around each aperture  62 . 
     Each set screw  64  may utilize a fastener or nut  68  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7  and  8 ). Any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration of nut  68  may be utilized, such as a lock nut, jam nut or the like. For example, there may be any appropriate number of nuts  68 , such as two, three, four, etc. In a non-limiting example, the gooseneck coupler  10  may include a correspondingly similar number of nuts  68  as there are set screws  64  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7  and  8 ). The nuts  68  may be located at any appropriate position on the gooseneck coupler  10 , such as aligned with each set screw  64 . The set screw  64  and nut  68  may be threaded into the outer wall of the inner tube  14  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). The set screws  64  may tighten against the inner tube  14  of the gooseneck coupler  10 , whereby the set screw  64  may lock the outer tube  12  and inner tube  14  together. 
     The set screws  64  may also function as an over-extension indicator of the outer tube  12 . For example, the gooseneck coupler  10  may include an over-extension indicator via at least two set screws  64 . The pair of set screws  64  may function as a visual indicator to the user that the outer tube  12  of the gooseneck coupler  10  has extended past an intended maximum extension range by utilizing the relative location of the set screws  64  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
     When the inner tube  14  is positioned correctly inside the outer tube  12 , the set screws  64  may relatively evenly tighten against the inner tube  14  to lock the tubes together ( FIG. 7 ). If the outer tube  12  has been positioned beyond the proper range of full extension (over extended), the set screws  64  will not tighten properly or evenly and the user will know something is not correct. This difference will let the user know something has not been set up correctly. In a non-limiting example, if the outer tube  12  has extended too far away from the base plate  16 , an upper set screw  64  will be able to be threaded further into the center of the outer tube  12  ( FIG. 8 ). This will cause the user to notice a visual difference between the position of the upper and lower set screws  64  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
     In typical gooseneck couplers that do not utilize a load bearing pin, the set screws  64  may have been placed near the bottom of the inner tube  14 . This may allow the outer tube  12  to be extended beyond its intended extension limit. Placing the top set screw  64  higher on the outer tube  12 , the top set screw  64  may serve as an indicator of over-extension. Lower positioned set screws  64  may not be able to indicate over-extension of the outer tube  12   
     Although the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments disclosed, but that the invention described herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter.