Patent ID: 8262122

Claim:
A coupler assembly for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle hitch ball, the coupler assembly comprising: a coupler housing having an interior that includes a coupler socket adapted to receive a hitch ball, wherein the coupler socket includes a bottom socket opening that allows the insertion of the hitch ball into the coupler socket; a ball clamp movably coupled to the coupler housing and movable within the housing toward and away from the coupler socket, wherein the ball clamp has a clamping portion adapted to retain the hitch ball within the coupler socket when the ball clamp is positioned toward the coupler socket in a hitch ball retention position; a housing guide member disposed within the coupler housing rearward of the coupler socket and projecting into the housing interior; and a ball clamp forward-facing guide surface that cooperates with the housing guide member to limit forward movement of the ball clamp toward the coupler socket; wherein the ball clamp is coupled to the coupler housing with a threaded member that is actuatable to move the ball clamp within the coupler housing toward and away from the coupler socket.