Patent ID: 7581746

Claim:
A trailer hitch coupling unit comprising: a hitch pin assembly comprising: a mounting plate configured to be mounted to a trailer, a hitch pin platform, said platform and said mounting plate having a ball and socket joint, rotatably coupling said platform to said mounting plate, a bull nose projecting from the platform, said bull nose having a groove, a first electrical connector mounted in an axially extending bore in said bull nose; and a hitch receiver assembly comprising: a bed plate configured to be mounted on a bed of the vehicle above a rear axle thereof, said bed plate having a first opening configured to received said bull nose, a locking plate mounted on said bed plate for axial movement between a hitch pin receiving position adjacent said bed plate, and a hitch locking position spaced from said bed plate, said locking plate having a second opening configured to receive said bull nose, an actuator operably connected to said locking plate for effecting said axial movement, a locking mechanism mounted on said locking plate, said locking mechanism comprising at least two locking arms mounted about said second opening, said locking arms pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position and are biased to said locked position, enabling ingress of said bull nose and preventing egress once the locking arms engage the groove on said bull nose, a lock release mechanism operably connected to said locking arms to effect unlocking movement of said locking arms and enabling egress of said bull nose, and a second electrical connector pivotally mounted on said locking plate and positioned to electrically couple with said first electrical connector upon said locking plate moving to said hitch locking position.