Patent Publication Number: US-2007108732-A1

Title: Pintle hitch lock

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the invention.  
      The present invention relates to trailer hitch locks, and, more particularly, to a pintle hitch lock.  
      2. Description of the related art.  
      Trailers are known, such as military trailers, construction trailers, rental trailers, horse trailers, cargo trailers, boat trailers, recreational vehicle travel trailers and the like, which are pulled by a tow vehicle such as a truck. In order to connect the trailer to the tow vehicle, the trailer can have a tongue with pintle hitch including a pintle ring, which is sometimes also known as a lunette eye. The tow vehicle can have a corresponding pintle hook which connects to the pintle ring. It is sometimes necessary to disconnect the trailer from the tow vehicle, to travel separately in the tow vehicle for various purposes or to park the tow vehicle in a separate area, and thereby leave the trailer unattended and/or unconnected. Under such circumstances, a security device which can inhibit connection to the trailer hitch can be advantageous in that such a security device can inhibit an unauthorized entity from easily connecting to the trailer with another tow vehicle, and thereby absconding with the trailer.  
      A protective lock assembly is known which is mounted within a hitch which is part of a trailer tongue. The hitch is in the form of a ring and the protective lock assembly includes a first plate seated on the upper surface of the hitch ring, where extending from the plate is a post or tongue which extends from the plate at a given distance. One outer end of the tongue is provided an element for allowing engagement of a shackle or lock bolt of lock. One disadvantage of this protective device is that it is relatively complex and expensive to manufacture. Another disadvantage is that if the hitch ring is removed from the trailer and replaced with another ring, the protective lock assembly is also thereby removed.  
      Another locking device is known which can be inserted within an eye of a pintle ring to prevent the theft of a trailer, and which includes a lower base portion with a locking portion and an upper lock portion which includes a flat mounting base to which is mounted a commercially available shank lock. This protective device is also relatively complex and expensive to manufacture, and has the additional disadvantage that if the hitch ring is removed from the trailer and replaced with another ring, the protective lock assembly is also thereby removed.  
      What is needed in the art is pintle hitch lock which is a simpler and more cost effective design, and which connects to the trailer tongue and through the hitch ring.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides a pintle hitch lock which is a simple and cost effective design which connects to the trailer tongue and through the hitch ring.  
      The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a pintle hitch lock for locking a trailer hitch including a trailer tongue with a pintle ring. The pintle hitch lock includes a jam configured for mounting through the pintle ring. A clasp is connected to the jam, and the clasp is configured for connection to the trailer tongue. A pin is insertable through the clasp.  
      The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a trailer with a trailer tongue which has a pintle ring and a pintle hitch lock connected to the trailer tongue. The pintle hitch lock includes a jam mounted through the pintle ring. A clasp is connected to the jam, and the clasp is connected to the trailer tongue. A pin is inserted through both the clasp and the trailer tongue.  
      The invention comprises, in yet another form thereof, a method of locking from use a pintle ring on a trailer, the method including: providing a pintle hitch having a jam configured for mounting through the pintle ring; a clasp connected to the jam; and a pin insertable through the clasp; inserting the jam through the pintle ring; and connecting the clasp to the tongue.  
      An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a security device which inhibits an unauthorized entity from connecting to the trailer with another tow vehicle.  
      Another advantage of the present invention is that it is a simpler and more cost effective design to manufacture.  
      Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it connects to the trailer tongue and through the hitch ring.  
      Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is not disabled by removing the hitch ring.  
      Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it minimizes the use of machined parts and thereby reduces cost.  
      Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it can use a readily available padlock and therefore does not require a complex locking mechanism. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective fragmentary view of an embodiment of a trailer including a pintle hitch lock according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective fragmentary view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the pintle hitch lock of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is an fragmentary side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the pintle hitch lock of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the pintle hitch lock of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the pintle hitch lock of the present invention;  
       FIGS. 8-11  are perspective views showing a method of manufacture of the pintle hitch lock of  FIG. 7 ; and  
       FIG. 12  is a side view of another embodiment of the pintle hitch lock of the present invention. 
    
    
      Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a trailer  10  which generally includes a trailer tongue  12  which has a pintle ring  14 , and a pintle hitch lock  16  is connected to pintle ring  14 .  
      Trailer  10  can be, for example, a military trailer, a construction trailer, a rental trailer, a horse trailer, a cargo trailer, a boat trailer, a recreational vehicle travel trailer and the like, which are pulled by a tow vehicle such as a truck (not shown). Trailer  10  can include other elements such as a chassis, at least one axle connected via a suspension to the chassis with wheels connected to the axle(s), and a body connected to the chassis. The body can include other elements such as doors, stalls, fixtures, etc., as are known and appropriate for the type of trailer. Trailer tongue  12  is typically connected to the trailer chassis. Pintle ring  14  can connect to a corresponding pintle hook (not shown) on a tow vehicle. Trailer tongue  12  can have an adjustment channel  18  for adjustably connecting pintle ring  14  to tongue  12 , thereby allowing pintle ring  14  to be adjusted for proper vertical position relative to the pintle hook on the tow vehicle. Adjustment channel  18  can have a first plate  20  with a first plurality of holes  22  and an opposing second plate  24  with a second plurality of holes  26 . Pintle ring  14  can be connected to adjustment channel  18  with fastener  27 .  
      Pintle hitch lock  16  includes a jam  28  mounted through pintle ring  14 . A clasp  30  is connected to jam  28 , and clasp  30  can be connected to trailer tongue  12 . A pin  32  is inserted through both clasp  30  and trailer tongue  12 .  
      Pin  32  includes a first end  34  and a second end  36 . First end  34  can have a stop  38 , and second end  36  can have an aperture  40 . Pin  32  is mounted through one of holes  22  and one of holes  26 . When pin  32  is inserted into adjustment channel  18 , stop  38  can be on an outside  42  of first plate  20 , for example, and aperture  40  can be on an outside  44  of second plate  24 . Alternatively, when pin  32  is inserted into adjustment channel  18 , stop  38  can be on outside  44  of second plate  24  and aperture  40  can be on an outside  42  of first plate  20 . A padlock  46  can be inserted through aperture  46  to hold pin  32  on adjustment channel  18 , and thereby hold jam  28  within pintle ring  14 . Padlock  46  can be a keyed lock or combination lock, or alternatively, other locks can be used such as cable locks and the like. Pin  32  can also include handle  47  to facilitate the insertion and release of pin  32  into adjustment channel  18  and clasp  30 .  
      A plate  48  connects jam  28  with clasp  30 . Jam  28  can be a rectangular tube or a rectangular bar, for example. Jam  28  can extend from plate  48  at an angle  50  of approximately 90°, although other angles between 0° and 180° are possible. Clasp  30  can be a rectangular tube, for example. Plate  48 , jam  28  and clasp  30  can be fabricated and welded together, for example.  
      In use, the present invention provides a method of locking from use a pintle ring  14  on a trailer  10 , the method including: providing a pintle hitch lock  16  having a jam  28  configured for mounting through pintle ring  14 , a clasp  30  connected to jam  28 , and a pin  32  insertable through clasp  30 ; inserting jam  28  through pintle ring  14 ; and connecting clasp  30  to trailer tongue  12 . The method of the present invention can further include the step of mounting pin  32  through one of holes  22  and one of 26 holes, and clasp  30 . The method of the present invention can further include the step of connecting padlock  46  to pin  32 .  
      In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , pintle hitch lock  52  includes plate  54  which connects jam  56  with clasp  58 . Jam  56  can be a circular tube or a circular bar, for example. Jam  56  can extend  10  from plate  54  at an angle  60  of approximately 90°, although other angles between 0° and 180° are possible. Clasp  58  can be a circular tube, for example. Pintle hitch lock  52  further includes pin  32  and padlock  46 . Plate  54 , jam  56  and clasp  58  can be fabricated and welded together, for example. Jam  56  can include an end  61 , shown in dashed line, which is flat, cone shaped, bullet shaped or pointed, rounded or other shapes, as can other embodiments of the jam.  
      In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , pintle hitch lock  62  is shown in a form suitable for a casting manufacture of pintle hitch lock  62 . Pintle hitch lock  62  includes plate  64  which connects jam  66  with clasp  68 . Jam  66  can be a circular tube or a circular bar, for example. Jam  66  can extend from plate  64  at an angle  70  of approximately 90°, although other angles between 0° and 180° are possible. Clasp  68  can be a u-shaped or other shaped ring, for example. Pintle hitch  20  lock  62  further includes pin  32  and padlock  46 . Hole  71  in jam  66  can be elongated to fit different sized locks or pins, and/or hole  71  can be off-center.  
      In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , pintle hitch lock  72  is shown in a form suitable for a bent/rolled forming of pintle hitch lock  72 . Pintle hitch lock  72  includes plate  74  which connects jam  76  with clasp  78 . Jam  76  can be a circular tube or a rectangular tube, for example. Jam  76  can extend from plate  74  at an angle  80  of approximately 90°, although other angles between 0° and 180° are possible. Clasp  78  can be a circular tube or a rectangular tube, for example. Pintle hitch lock  72  further includes pin  32  and padlock  46 .  
       FIGS. 8-11  show the sequence of forming pintle hitch lock  72  from an L-shaped piece of sheet metal  82 . In  FIG. 9 , jam  76  is formed. In  FIG. 10 , plate  74  is bent over one end of jam  76 . In  FIG. 10 , clasp  78  is formed at the other end of plate  74 .  
      In general, either the clasp or the jam can be a variety of cross-sectional shapes including circular, rectangular, polygonal, elliptical, oblong, other shapes or combinations thereof. Further, the jam can be a solid cross-section or hollow. Typical materials of the present invention can include steel, stainless steel, aluminum, other metals, carbon fiber, Kevlar, composites or combinations thereof. The construction of the present invention using aluminum materials can include the techniques of casting, bending/rolling, fabricating and welding, for example. The construction of the present invention using steel materials can include the techniques of casting, forging, bending/rolling, fabricating and welding, for example. Metals, particularly steel, used in manufacturing the present invention can be heat treated. Further, the present invention can be hard coated and anodized to improve corrosion resistance and resistance to cutting, for example, or other surface finishes.  
       FIG. 12  shows another embodiment where the pintle hitch lock of the present invention includes plate  86  connected to both jam  88  and clasp  90 . Pintle ring  14  is connected to a trailer tongue of a trailer. Jam  88  is inserted into the inside diameter of pintle ring  14 . Pin  32  is inserted into holes in both jam  88  and clasp  90 , and padlock  46  is locked onto pin  32 , as was previously described, thereby locking the pintle hitch lock to pintle ring  14  and obstructing pintle ring  14  from connection to a pintle hitch.  
      While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.