Patent ID: 7954840

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 defines 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 and that has a partially circumferential retaining rib; 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 that cooperates with the socket opening retaining rib 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 guide ramp disposed within the coupler housing rearward of the coupler socket and projecting toward the ball clamp, wherein the guide ramp slopes upward and forward toward the coupler socket; and a lateral guide member disposed on the ball clamp rearward of the guide ramp, wherein the ball clamp lateral guide member cooperates with the guide ramp to limit forward movement of the ball clamp toward the coupler socket.