Abstract:
A trailer hitch is disclosed which eliminates the need for safety chains. The trailer hitch includes a locking device which is selectively pivotally secured to the tongue of a trailer or the hitch ball coupler assembly at the forward end of the tongue or to both the hitch ball coupler assembly and the tongue. The locking device is selectively movable between locked and unlocked positions. When the locking device is in its locked position, the locking device prevents the disconnection of the hitch ball coupler assembly from the hitch ball.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 14/042,805 filed Oct. 1, 2013, entitled TRAILER HITCH. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a trailer hitch and more particularly to a trailer hitch which eliminates the need for safety chains. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Because of the danger of trailers becoming detached from the pulling vehicle, some state governments require auxiliary safety attachments when a trailer is being pulled. A customary safety device usually involves a pair of safety chains which extend between the trailer tongue or coupling assembly to the hitch or frame of the pulling vehicle. The connection of the safety chains may be awkward and difficult. Further, the safety chains sometimes become disconnected. Additionally, the safety chains drag on the roadway. The invention disclosed in the co-pending patent application represents a vast improvement in the trailer hitch art. The instant invention represents a further improvement in the trailer hitch art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A trailer hitch is disclosed for connecting a trailer to the hitch drawbar of a pulling vehicle such as a truck, pickup, tractor, etc. The hitch drawbar has a rearward end and an upper surface. A hitch ball is secured to the rearward end of the drawbar. The hitch ball includes a threaded shank which extends downwardly through an opening formed in the drawbar. A lock washer embraces the threaded shank of the hitch ball below the drawbar and a nut is threadably mounted on the threaded shank of the hitch ball to secure the hitch ball to the drawbar. 
     A hitch ball coupler assembly is secured to the forwardly extending tongue of the trailer. The hitch ball coupler assembly includes a socket portion having an interior socket for receiving the ball of the hitch ball therein. A conventional locking device locks the socket portion to the ball of the hitch ball. A safety locking device, having a forward end and a rearward end, is pivotally secured to the tongue of the trailer and is selectively movable between locked and unlocked positions. In the locked position, the forward end of the safety locking device is positioned below the lower end of the shank of hitch ball and the rearward end of the safety locking device is pinned or otherwise locked to the tongue of the trailer to maintain the safety locking device in the locked position. The safety locking device, when in the locked position, prevents the socket portion of the hitch ball coupler assembly from moving upwardly with respect to the hitch ball thereby preventing the disconnection of the trailer from the hitch ball. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved trailer hitch. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a trailer hitch which eliminates the need for safety chains. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a trailer hitch including a safety locking assembly which prevents the separation of the trailer from the drawbar. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a trailer hitch of the type described which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the trailer hitch of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the safety locking device of this invention in its unlocked position; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view illustrating the safety locking device of this invention in its unlocked position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the safety locking device of this invention in its locked position; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view illustrating the safety locking device of this invention in its locked position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The numeral  10  refers to a hitch drawbar which may be fixed to the frame of the rearward end of a towing vehicle or which may be secured to the rearward end of a tube  12  which is selectively received in a conventional receiver which is secured to the frame of the towing vehicle. For purposes of description, drawbar  10  will be described as having a rearward end  14 , and an upper surface  16 . Drawbar  10  has an opening  18  formed therein adapted to receive the externally threaded shank  20  of a hitch ball  22  including a ball portion  24 , neck  26  and base portion plate  28 . Threaded shank  20  is received in opening  18  and is retained therein by a lock washer  30  and nut  32  in conventional fashion. To this point, the drawbar  10  and hitch ball  22  are conventional in design. 
     The numeral  34  refers to a tongue which extends forwardly from a trailer in conventional fashion. The numeral  36  refers to a coupler assembly which is secured to the forward end of tongue  34  and which extends forwardly therefrom. Coupler assembly  36  is conventional in design and includes a hitch ball socket  38  and a locking device  40 . To this point the coupler assembly  36  is conventional in design. 
     The safety locking device of this invention is referred to by the reference numeral  42 . Device  42  is elongated and box-like or channel shaped as will now be described. Device  42  includes a vertically disposed first side wall member  44  having a central portion  46 , a rearwardly extending upper end portion  48  and a forwardly extending lower end portion  50 . Device  42  also includes a vertically disposed second side wall member  52  which is horizontally spaced from side wall member  44 . Side wall member  52  includes a central portion  54 , a rearwardly extending upper end portion  56  and a forwardly extending lower end portion  60 . As seen, side wall members  44  and  52  are positioned on opposite sides of the trailer tongue  34  and coupler assembly  36 . Side wall members  44  and  52  are pivotally secured to coupler assembly  36 , about a horizontal axis, by pin or bolt  62  as seen in  FIG. 1 . Although the drawings illustrate that the pin  62  extends through the coupler assembly  36 , pin  62  could extend through tongue  34  rearwardly of the rearward end of coupler assembly  36 . Further, if the forward end of tongue  34  extends considerably forwardly in coupler assembly  36 , pin  62  could extend through coupler assembly  36  and the forward end of tongue  34 . 
     Device  42  also includes an upper or top wall member  64  which is secured to the rearwardly extending upper end wall portions  48  and  56  of side wall members  44  and  52  respectively and which extends therebetween over the upper end of tongue  34  and coupler assembly  36 . Device  42  further includes a lower or bottom wall member  66  which is secured to the forwardly extending lower end portions  50  and  58  of side wall members  44  and  52  respectively and which extends therebetween below the lower end of tongue  34  and coupler assembly  36 . Side wall members  44  and  52  and the wall members  64  and  66  could be of one-piece construction if so desired. A stop plate  68  is secured to the inner sides of side wall members  44  and  52  and extends therebetween below tongue  34  and coupler assembly  36 . Tongue  34  has an ear or bracket  70  secured thereto which extends upwardly therefrom. Bracket  70  has a pin opening  72  formed therein. Although bracket  70  is shown in the drawings as being secured to tongue  34 , bracket  70  could be secured to the rearward end of coupler assembly  36  if so desired. The top wall member  64  of locking device  42  has a slot or opening  74  formed therein which is configured to receive the bracket  70  therein respectively when the locking device  42  is in the locked position. Top wall member  64  has a pair of spaced brackets or ears  76  and  78  secured thereto which extend upwardly therefrom. Brackets  76  and  78  have pin openings  80  and  82  formed therein respectively. When locking device  42  is in the locked position, a pin  84  is extended through the brackets  76 ,  70  and  78  to maintain the locking device  42  in the locked position. When the locking device  42  is in the locked position of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , bottom wall  66  will be closely positioned below the lower end of the threaded shank  20  of the hitch ball  22  to prevent the coupler assembly  36  from moving sufficiently upwardly with respect to the hitch ball  24  which would otherwise cause the disconnection of the coupling device  36  from the hitch ball  24 . 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.