Patent ID: 8434735

Claim:
A bottom loading coupler comprising: a coupler body comprising a plurality of slots extending through a body sidewall of the coupler body and a plurality of interlocks, wherein each interlock is positioned in a corresponding slot in the body sidewall and pivotally coupled to the coupler body such that each interlock has an engaged position and a disengaged position with respect to the coupler body, wherein each interlock is biased to the disengaged position with a spring positioned between each interlock and the coupler body; a coupler sleeve formed from a first material and comprising a sleeve sidewall extending between an inner circumference, an outer circumference, an adapter end and a loading end, and a wear ring receiving channel formed in the inner circumference of the coupler sleeve proximate the adapter end, wherein the coupler sleeve is slidably positioned around the body sidewall of the coupler body; a wear ring formed from a second material, wherein the wear ring is disposed on the inner circumference of the coupler sleeve proximate the adapter end, the wear ring and the coupler sleeve forming an interlock retaining seat, wherein: the wear ring comprises an upper wear ring portion and a lower wear ring portion such that the wear ring is substantially L-shaped in cross section, wherein the lower wear ring portion of the wear ring is removably received in the wear ring receiving channel; the wear ring comprises a first end and a second end with a discontinuity between the first end and the second end such that the wear ring is elastically deformable to facilitate insertion and removal of the wear ring in the wear ring receiving channel; the coupler sleeve has a first, retracted position relative to the coupler body, wherein the interlocks are biased with the spring to the disengaged position and a head of each interlock is retained in the interlock retaining seat when the coupler sleeve is in the first, retracted position; and the coupler sleeve has a second, extended position relative to the coupler body, wherein the wear ring contacts and biases the interlocks to the engaged position when the coupler sleeve is in the second, extended position thereby preventing wear on an interior circumference of the coupler sleeve.