Patent ID: 7871098

Claim:
A coupler assembly for attaching a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the coupler assembly comprising: a body coupled to a tongue of the towed vehicle, the body comprising: a first recess; and a shoulder portion; and a cap pivotally coupled to the body on a first end of the cap and selectively moveable to move the coupler assembly between a closed position and an open position, the cap comprising: a second recess that forms a socket with the first recess; and an arm extending from a second end of the cap that engages the shoulder portion when the coupler is in the open position, wherein the engagement of the arm and the shoulder portion transfers force from the cap to the body when the towed vehicle is attached to the towing vehicle; wherein the arm imparts a force on the body in open position, and further wherein the force is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the coupler assembly defined between a center point of the socket and a center point of the tongue.