Patent ID: 12240282

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This application relates in general to an article of manufacture for providing a trailer aid, and more specifically, to an article of manufacture for providing a lunette ring trailer hitch lock according to the present invention.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.

In describing embodiments of the present invention, the following terminology will be used. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a needle” includes reference to one or more of such needles and “etching” includes one or more of such steps. As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It further will be understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and “including” specify the presence of stated features, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps or components. It also should be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions and acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality and acts involved.

The terms “worker,” and “user” refer to an entity, e.g., a human, using an article of manufacture for providing a lunette ring trailer hitch lock associated with the invention. The term used herein refers to one or more users.

The term “invention” or “present invention” refers to the invention being applied for via the patent application with the title “Mean Dog Trailer Theft Defender Lunette Lock.” Invention may be used interchangeably with lock.

In general, the present disclosure relates to an article of manufacture for providing a lunette ring trailer hitch lock. To better understand the present invention,FIG.1illustrates a prior art example of a lunette ring trailer hitch coupled to a mounting bracket for use with the present invention. A lunette ring trailer hitch100attaches to larger trailers (not shown) to permit items such as chippers, generators, dumpsters, and similar trailered devices weighing between 25,000 lbs. and 50,000 lbs. to be towed from one location to another. A mounting bracket102attaches to a flat vertical surface on the trailer using screws, bolts, and similar mechanical coupling mechanisms through a base bracket element. The mounting bracket102has a series of parallel mounting holes107a-nrunning along a pair of side bracket elements108a-bthat extend perpendicular to the base bracket element. A lunette ring103is placed between the pair of side bracket elements and aligns one or more through-holes in the lunette ring103with matching pairs of parallel mounting holes107a-b. A bolt105a-bpasses through the pair of side bracket elements108a-band the through-holes in the lunette ring103to be secured by a nut104a-bon an outer end of the bolts105a-b. The lunette ring103may be coupled to a hitch (not shown) mounted onto a vehicle to tow the trailer.

As shown inFIG.1, the bolts105a-bengage a sequential pair of parallel mounting holes107a-nto place the lunette ring103at a desired height on the trailer. The lunette ring103may be located in a number of different positions by using the sequential pair of parallel mounting holds107a-nat various locations within the mounting bracket102. For a lock to successfully protect a trailer having a lunette ring103of this type, the lunette ring103must be secured to prevent it from being mounted onto a hitch and towed away and the bolts105a-band mating nuts104a-bused to attach the lunette ring103to the mounting bracket102must be protected. The lunette ring lock200of the present invention addresses both of these vulnerabilities in ways not addressed in prior solutions.

FIGS.2a-billustrate example embodiments of an article of manufacture for providing a lunette ring trailer hitch lock and its component parts according to the present invention.FIG.2ashows the lunette ring lock200is constructed using a set of component parts shown inFIG.2a, including: a blocking tube mounting angle201, a locking pin202, a puck lock holder203, a top plate204, a front plate205, a pin head tube206, a rectangular blocking tube207, a rectangular blocking tube top plate208, and a bottom plate209. A commercially available puck lock210is used to secure the lunette ring lock200in place about a trailer as disclosed herein. Each of these components are described in more detail below in regard toFIGS.5a-h.

Because the locking pin202passed through the top plate204and the bottom plate209to locked into place with the puck clock210on one end of the locking pin202and the opposite end of the clocking pin202engages the bottom plate209to prevent the locking pin202from being removed, one of ordinary skill recognizes that the locking pin202may be inserted both from the bottom plate209and then the top plate203as well as from the top plate203and then through the bottom plate209to place the puck lock210either on top of the lock when installed onto a lunette ring or on the bottom of the lock under the bottom plate209. If the puck lock210would require the puck lock holder203to be switched with the pin head tube206to allow a key221to be inserted into the puck lock210when it is locked in place. In all other respects, the lunette ring lock200operates identically regardless of whether the puck lock210is installed on the top or the bottom of the lunette ring lock200. For completeness,FIG.2billustrates the arrangements of the lunette ring lock200with the puck lock is positioned on the bottom of the lunette ring lock200. One of ordinary skill will also recognize that the puck lock holder203may be oriented to have the puck lock210accept a key221in any direction.

FIGS.3a-billustrate top and bottom perspective views of an article of manufacture for providing a lunette ring trailer hitch lock according to the present invention.FIG.3ashows a rear, top view of the lunette ring lock with all of the components combined into a single apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the components are made from galvanized steel that may be welded together to combine the parts ofFIG.2ainto the lock shown inFIGS.3a-b. As seen from the rear of the lunette ring lock200, the top plate204and bottom plate209are joined together to create a lunette ring enclosure211that may be placed upon the lunette ring103. In a preferred embodiment, the top plate204and bottom plate209are sized to enclose the lunette ring103while being closely positioned about the sides of the lunette ring103.

The lunette ring lock200slides onto a lunette ring103once connected to the mounting bracket102. The lunette ring enclosure211is large enough to permit the top plate204and the bottom plate209to cover the entire lunette ring103as these top and bottom plates slide backward until a pair of notches212a-nin a rear edge of the top and bottom plates engage and surround the portions of the pair of side elements108a-nof the mounting plate102including the pair of bolts105a-band nuts104a-b.

The rectangular mounting tube207is coupled to the blocking tube mounting angle201that is itself coupled to an outside surface of the top plate204. The rectangular blocking tube207is configured to be positioned above the pair of notches212a-nin the top plate204and the bottom plate209such that the rectangular blocking tube207extends upward and is configured to be positioned directly in front of the mounting bracket102. The rectangular blocking tube207is wide enough to prevent anyone from accessing screws or bolts (not shown) coupling the mounting bracket102to the trailer. The rectangular blocking tube207is shown extending away from the top plate204to block access within the mounting bracket102on one side of the lunette ring103. This arrangement with the top plate oriented on a top side of the lunette ring103allows the rectangular blocking tube207to block a top portion of the mounting bracket102. Such an arrangement is useful when the lunette ring103is coupled to the mounting bracket102closer to a bottom of the mounting bracket102. When the lunette ring103is coupled near the top of the mounting bracket102, the lunette ring lock200may be installed onto the lunette ring103in an opposite orientation that places the rectangular blocking tube207downward from the top plate204on an underside of the lunette ring103. Of course, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a rectangular blocking tube207may be coupled to both the top plate204and the bottom plate209to have the rectangular blocking tube207extend in both directions from the lunette ring lock200.

The puck lock210is shown within the puck lock holder203when it is locked into place. In order for the puck lock210to be locked to the lunette ring lock200, the201locking pin202is inserted into through-holes204a,209ain the top plate204and bottom plate209when the lunette ring lock200has been placed over the lunette ring103. The locking pin202passes through the ring of the lunette ring103as it passes through the lunette ring lock200and a bottom surface of the locking pin202engages the bottom plate209about the through-hole209ato prevent the locking pin202from passing all of the way through the lunette ring lock200. The puck lock210is coupled to a top hole within the locking pin202once the hole is located above the top plate204. The puck lock210, when coupled to the locking pin202, prevents the locking pin202from being removed, and as such, secures the lunette ring lock200to the lunette ring103. The puck lock210is placed onto the locking pin202such that an opening for a key that operates the puck lock210, may be accessed though a gap203awithin the puck lock holder203.

FIG.3bshows bottom and front views of the lunette ring lock200. The pair of notches212a-bare seen in the bottom plate209and a bottom end of the locking pin202is seen installed into the lunette ring lock200to engage the puck lock210on the opposite side of the top plate204. A pin head tube206is coupled to an outside surface of the bottom plate209surrounding the bottom end of the locking pin202. The rectangular blocking tube207is shown extending downward behind the lunette ring lock200. A front plate205is shown along a front surface of the lunette ring lock200connecting the front edge of the bottom plate209to the front edge of the top plate204. The addition of the front plate205completes the lunette ring enclosure211that surrounds the lunette ring103when the lunette ring lock200is installed.

FIGS.4a-billustrate front and side views of the lunette lock installed onto a trailer hitch according to the present invention.FIG.4ashows a lunette ring lock200installed upon a trailer400. The mounting bracket102is coupled to the trailer flat vertical mounting surface401and the lunette ring lock200has been placed about the lunette ring103. The front plate205is seen below the top plate204. The puck lock holder203is coupled to the top plate204with the opening203aexposing a keyhole to the puck lock210. The rectangular blocking tube207is shown positioned in front of the mounting bracket102preventing access to mounting bolts or screws to the mounting bracket102.

FIG.4bshows a side view of the lunette ring lock200when installed onto a trailer400and about the lunette ring103. One side of the top plate204is visible with the rear edge of the top plate204surrounding a portion402of the mounting bracket102. As such, the nut104a-band bolt105a-bthat are used to couple the lunette ring103to the mounting bracket102are not accessible when the lunette ring lock200is installed. The top plate204surrounds the mounting bracket102as the pair of notches212a-nallow the pair of side bracket elements108a-bto extend into the lunette ring enclosure211pair of notches212a-nas the top plate204encloses the mounting bracket102, nuts104a-b, and bolts105a-b.

FIGS.5a-iillustrate each of the components used within a lunette lock according to the present invention. The components ofFIG.5a-hillustrate the shape and dimensions of the components within a preferred embodiment. Of course, the dimensions of these components may be scaled upward and downward as needed to enclose different sized lunette rings103. These dimensions are shown for example purposes and the present invention is intended to be defined solely within the limitations recited within the attached claims appended hereto.

FIG.5ashows the blocking tube mounting angle201is an L-shaped bracket having a bottom surface member501and a side surface member502. The bottom surface member501is coupled to the outside surface of the top plate204and is positioned adjacent to the notch212ain the top plate204. The side surface member502is coupled to the rectangular blocking tube207about one of the ends.

The bottom surface member501is 1.5 inches by 2.0 inches is size. The side surface member502is 2.0 inches by 2.5 inches tall. Both of these components are 0.25 inches thick. These components are made of galvanized steel and may be welded together. In other embodiments, the lunette ring lock200may be made of zinc-plated steel, as well as other similar metal materials.

FIG.5bshows the locking pin202with three components: a lock connecting top element511, a bottom coupling surface element512, and a central shaft element513. The lock connecting top element511includes a protruding surface515extending upward from the central shaft element513and a through-hole516for engaging the puck lock210. The lock connecting top element511extends above the top plate204within the puck lock holder203when the locking pin202is inserted into the lunette ring lock200. The puck lock210is placed onto the locking pin202with the puck lock210engaging the through-hole516to lock the locking pin202into place. The lock connecting top element5111.5 inches tall by 1.25 inches wide and 0.25 inches thick. The through hole516is centered in the lock connecting top element511having a diameter of 0.5 inches.

The bottom coupling surface element512provides a flat surface extending outward from the central shaft element213to engage the bottom plate209when the locking pin202is inserted into the lunette ring lock200. The central shaft element513is sized to match the diameter of the locking holes535in the top plate204and the locking hole591in the bottom plate209. As such the flat surface of the coupling surface element512extending around the central shaft element513engages the bottom plate209about the locking hole595to hold the locking pin202in place. The coupling surface element512is enclosed by the pin head tube206that is coupled to the bottom plate209around the through-hole595.

The bottom coupling surface element512includes a round base having a diameter of 1.63 inches and a height of 1.0 inches. The central shaft element513is a 1.0 in diameter cylindrical shaft centered in the round base of the bottom coupling surface element512. The remaining 0.63 inch provides a 0.315 inch coupling surface about the central shaft element513to engage the bottom plate209about its through hole595.

The central shaft element513connects the lock connecting top element511to the bottom coupling surface element512as it passes through the lunette ring enclosure211of the lunette ring lock200and the ring of the lunette ring103. The central shaft element513is sized to place the through-hole516of the locking pin202within the puck lock holder203at a height that permits the through-hole516to engage the puck lock210when the bottom coupling surface element512is in contact with the bottom plate209within the pin head tube206. The central shaft element513a 1.0 inch in diameter cylindrical shaft having a length of 4.75 inches.

FIG.5cshows that the puck lock holder203provides a lunette ring enclosure211about the puck lock210when coupled to the locking pin202. The puck lock holder203has an opening521on one side to permit access to a keyhole in the puck lock210to lock and unlock the puck lock210. The puck lock holder203is sized to surround the puck lock210to prevent access except through the opening521and is tall enough to cover the depth of the puck lock210. The puck lock holder203is made of galvanized steel that may be welded to the top plate204. The puck lock holder203is a 0.25 inch thick circular wall that is 1.5 inches tall having an inside diameter of 3.0 inches. The opening521provides a 1.60 inch opening on one side of the puck lock holder203that provides a 54° gap in the circular shape of the puck lock holder203.

FIG.5dshows that the top plate204has a top surface531, a pair of opposing sides532a-b, a notch212aabout a back edge and the through-hole535. The top surface531and the pair of opposing sides532a-bmay be made from a single piece of galvanized steel that contains a pair of parallel bends to create the pair of opposing sides532a-b. The top plate204is sized to completely surround the lunette ring103when the lunette ring lock200is installed, and thus the top plate204is sized to match the dimensions of the lunette ring103. The front edge of the top plate204is shaped to surround an outward end of the lunette ring103and to mate with the front plate205. The front surface of the top plate204is shown having three flat surfaces that match three flat surfaces of the front plate205. Of course, the front surface may also be round to match the shape of the lunette ring103and its outer edge in other embodiments. The pair of opposing sides532a-bare long enough to create the lunette ring enclosure211when the top plate204and bottom plate209are coupled together. The notch212ais sized to match the mounting bracket102and tightly enclose about the mounting bracket102.

The top plate204has the top surface531having an overall length of 9.0 inches and a width 8.0 inches. The pair of opposing sides532a-bare 6.5 inches wide by 4.0 inches tall extending downward from the bend in the top plate204that forms the pair of opposing sides532a-bfrom the top surface531. The pair of opposing sides532a-bbegin along the back edge of the top surface531extending forward to a point where the top surface301begins to turn toward the opposing side. InFIG.5d, the front edge of the top plate204is shown to have three straight lines that define an attachment edge to connect to the corresponding three flat surfaces of front plate205. As shown inFIGS.4a-b, the front edge of the top plate204and the corresponding front plate205may also be round in shape to connect the two sides of the top surface531to the front plate205between the pair of opposing sides532a-b. The combination of the top surface531, the pair of opposing sides532a-b, and the front plate205on three of its sides and the bottom plate209on the final side creates the lunette ring enclosure211that surrounds the lunette ring103when the lunette lock200is installed. The notch212athat engages the mounting bracket102is a 2.0 inch deep by 4.0 inch wide rectangular notch centered along the back edge of the top surface531. The through hole535is a 1.25 inch diameter hole through the top surface having a center point 6.13 inches from the back edge of the top surface531along a centerline running parallel between the pair of opposing sides532a-b.

FIG.5eshows the front plate205for coupling to the front edge of the top plate204with a top end of the front plate205welded to the front edge of the top surface531of the top plate204and a pair of side edges welded to the opposing sides532a-nof the top plate204. A bottom edge of the front plate205is welded to the bottom plate209to completely enclose a front side of the lunette ring lock200and create the lunette ring enclosure211that accepts the lunette ring103when the lunette ring lock200is installed. The front plate205has a length of 8.0 inches to match the front shape of the top plate204and the bottom plate209. The front plate205extends outward a width of 2.42 inches from is back edges. InFIG.5e, it is shown to have three rectangular panels having a center panel 1.84 inches wide. The pair of side panels extend back to the rear edge at a 45° angle.

FIG.5fshows that the pin head tube206provides an enclosing barrier about the locking hole595of the bottom plate209. The pin head tube206is sized to accept the locking pin202and completely surround the bottom coupling surface element512when it engages the bottom plate209. The pin head tube206is made of galvanized steel that may be welded to the bottom plate209. The pin head tube206is a 0.25 inch thick circular wall that is 1.5 inches tall having an inside diameter of 3.0 inches.

FIG.5gshows the rectangular blocking tube207that is placed in front of the mounting bracket102when the lunette ring lock200is installed. The rectangular blocking tube207is coupled to the blocking tube mounting angle201at one end that attaches to the top plate204. The opposite end of the rectangular blocking tube207extends outward from the top plate204to cover the front of the mounting bracket102. The rectangular blocking tube207is placed adjacent to the notch212ain the top plate204such that the rectangular blocking tube207may be positioned adjacent to the pair of side bracket elements108a-bof the mounting bracket102. An identical rectangular blocking tube207may be attached to the bottom plate209adjacent to its notch212busing a similar blocking tube mounting angle201should the mounting bracket102be blocked both above and below the lunette ring lock200.

FIG.5hshows that the rectangular blocking tube top plate208is a top plate coupled to the opposite end of the rectangular blocking tube207that is away from the top plate204. The rectangular blocking tube top plate208is sized to match the dimensions of the rectangular blocking tube207and is welded to the end of the rectangular blocking tube207to prevent access within the rectangular blocking tube207. A drain hole281may be located within the rectangular blocking tube top plate208to permit material and fluids to be drained from within the rectangular blocking tube207during both manufacture and use. The rectangular blocking tube207is a 7.25 inch long by 2.5 inch tall by 1.5 inch wide rectangular tube having a hollow center. The walls of the rectangular blocking tube207are 0.125 inches thick.

FIG.5ishows that the bottom plate208is an identical plate to the top surface531of the top plate204. The bottom plate208has an overall length of 9.0 inches and a width 8.0 inches. The pair of opposing sides532a-bare coupled to the sides of the bottom plat208to form the lunette ring enclosure211about the lunette ring103. Similar to the front edge of the top plate204, the bottom plate208is shown to have three straight lines that define an attachment edge to connect to the corresponding three flat surfaces of front plate205as shown inFIG.5i. As shown inFIGS.4a-b, the front edge of the bottom plate208and the corresponding front plate205may also be round in shape to connect the two sides of bottom plate208between the pair of opposing sides532a-b. The matching notch212bthat engages the mounting bracket102is a 2.0 inch deep by 4.0 inch wide rectangular notch centered along the back edge of the top surface531. The through hole535is a 1.25 inch diameter hole through the top surface having a center point 6.13 inches from the back edge of the top surface531along a centerline running parallel between the pair of opposing sides532a-b.

FIGS.6a-billustrate a lunette lock having a GPS tracking device according to the present invention.FIG.6ashows a lunette ring lock200installed upon a lunette ring103that is coupled to a mounting bracket102of the trailer401. The locking pin203is installed through the lunette ring enclosure211and is coupled to a puck lock210. In order to provide additional security to the trailer and its contents, the lunette ring lock200also includes a GPS tracking device601to provide an ability of determine a current location of the trailer401and the lunette ring lock200. The GPS tracking device601is shown coupled to an underside of the lunette ring200. The GPS tracking device601may also be located within the lunette ring200to reduce an ability to discover its presence. The GPS tracking device601may be separately installed within the trailer401itself as well.

FIG.6bshows the GPS tracking device601connectors to a monitoring system620. The GPS tracking device601includes a GPS receiver602, a 3G network transceiver603, and a battery604. The GPS receiver602is a self-contained GPS receiver circuit that receives position information from one or more GPS satellites615and outputs the position data to a network receiver. The 3G network transceiver603communicates with a wide area wireless communications network to connect to a monitoring computing system620over the Internet610. A 3G communications network transceiver603may be utilized as the amount of data needed to communicate a current position to the monitoring computer system620is low. Additionally, the 3G network transceiver603may communicate with the network at a reduced number of connections per minute to reduce power consumption of the GPS tracking device601. All of these components may be powered by an internal battery604which may include a rechargeable or a replaceable battery depending upon the usage of the tracking device. The monitoring computing system620may attempt to periodically check for the location of the GPS tracking device601or may await an operator initiated command to attempt to locate the trailer401in order to initiate communications with the GPS tracking device601to further reduce power consumption.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the present application, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of the invention. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in this application. In other words, any of the features mentioned in this application may be included to this new invention in any combination or combinations to allow the functionality required for the desired operations.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.