Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a utility trailer security device for locking an unhitched utility trailer including a base, a top plate, a locking post, and a key lock to allow a person to lock and secure the hitch of an unhitched utility trailer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of this invention is to provide a way for a person to lock and secure the hitch of an unhitched utility trailer. Another object of this invention is to allow a person to keep an unhitched utility trailer from being stolen when the utility trailer is not hooked to a truck hitch. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention features a utility trailer security device comprising (a) a base  112  that can be releasably clamped to a tow ring  310 , (b) a set of prongs (or claws)  114  constructed from a spring wire member, said set of prongs fixedly attached to the circumference of said base  112 , wherein a free end  115  of each prong is used to clamp said base to said tow ring  310 , (c) a locking post  118  having a first end  119   b  and a second end  119   a , said second end  119   a  fixedly attached to a center of said base  112 , said locking post is inserted through an aperture  116   a  housed within a center of a top plate  116 , said top plate, said top plate sits on a top side of said tow ring  310 , (d) a key lock  120  comprising a locking pin mechanism  124 , said locking pin mechanism  124  is inserted through an aperture within said locking post  118   a  to lock said base  112  and said top plate  116  to one another and secure said tow ring  310  by preventing an insertion of a towing hook through the tow ring. The key lock  120  of the present invention is commonly known to one of ordinary skill (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,068, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein). 
     The present invention features a utility trailer security device comprising: a base  112 ; a first prong  114   a , second prong  114   b , and third prong  114   c , each prong being constructed from a spring wire member, each prong being fixedly attached to an edge of a circumference of said base, wherein a free end of each prong projects upward from the base and curls towards a center of the base, the prongs are used to clamp to said base to a tow ring; the first prong is longer than the second and third prong, the free end of the first prong forms a hook-shape effective for hanging the base when the second and third prongs are not snapped around the tow ring; a locking post having a first end and a second end, said second end fixedly attached to a center of said base, said first end has a hole  118   a ; a top plate with an aperture  116   a  disposed at a center of the top plate, wherein said locking post is inserted through the aperture, said top plate sits on a top side of said tow ring; and a key lock comprising a locking pin mechanism, said locking pin mechanism is inserted through an aperture within said locking post to lock said base and said top plate to one another and secure said tow ring. 
     In some embodiments, the base  112  is constructed from stainless steel. In some embodiments, the top plate  116  is constructed from stainless steel. 
     In some embodiments, there are three prongs  114   a ,  114   b  and  114   c , attached to the base. In some embodiments, the three prongs  114   a ,  114   b  and  114   c  are spaced about 120 degrees apart. In some embodiments, one of the prongs has a free end that is longer and has more of a hook shape than the other two prongs (see for example,  114   a  which has a longer free end than  114   b ). 
     Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a utility trailer security device including a base, a top plate, a locking post, and a key lock. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the utility trailer security device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side illustration of the utility trailer security device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front cross section view of the utility trailer security device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of the steps of how to attach the utility trailer security device of  FIG. 1  to a truck hitch. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , utility trailer security device  100  is shown comprising base  112 , set of prongs  114 , top plate  116 , locking post  118 , and key lock  120 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , set of prongs  114  comprises first prong  114   a , second prong  114   b , and third prong  114   c . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , locking post  118  comprises aperture  118   a . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , key lock  120  comprises aperture  122  and locking mechanism  124 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , base  112  is placed on the bottom side of a pintle-style tow ring  310  and secured around the ring using set of prongs  114  (see  FIG. 5 ). In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , top plate  116  is placed on the top of the tow ring  310  (see  FIG. 5 ). As a person places top plate  116  on top of the tow ring, locking post  118  is inserted through aperture  122 . A person can then place key lock  120  over locking post  118  and use a key to lock and secure top plate  116  to the top of the tow ring  310  (see  FIG. 5 ). In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , a locking pin mechanism is inserted through aperture  118   a  when key lock  120  is in a locked position. 
     In certain embodiments, base  112  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal (e.g., stainless steel), plastic, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, base  112  comprises a flat circular member having an outside diameter between about 3 inches and about 8 inches, for example 6 inches. In certain embodiments, base  112  comprises a thickness between about 0.2 inch and about 0.8 inch, for example 0.4 inch. In certain embodiments, set of prongs  114  comprises standard spring wire prongs known to one skilled in the art. In certain embodiments, top plate  116  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, top plate  116  comprises a flat circular member having an outside diameter between about 3 inches and about 8 inches, for example 6 inches. In certain embodiments, top plate  116  comprises a thickness between about 0.2 inch and about 0.8 inch, for example 0.4 inch. In certain embodiments, locking post  118  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, locking post  118  comprises a rectangular shaped member having a curved first end. In certain embodiments, locking post  118  comprises a length between about 1 inch and about 3 inches, for example 2 inches. In certain embodiments, locking post  118  comprises a width between about 0.75 inches and about 2 inches, for example 1 inch. In certain embodiments, locking post  118  comprises a thickness between about 0.2 inch and about 0.5 inch, for example 0.3 inch. In certain embodiments, key lock  120  comprises a standard pin locking mechanism known to one skilled in the art. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an exploded view of utility trailer security device  100  is shown comprising base  112 , set of prongs  114 , top plate  116 , locking post  118 , and key lock  120 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , set of prongs  114  comprises first prong  114   a , second prong  114   b , and third prong  114   c . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , top plate  116  comprise aperture  116   a . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , locking post  118  comprises aperture  118   a . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , key lock  120  comprises aperture  122  and locking mechanism  124 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a side view of utility trailer security device  100  is shown comprising base  112 , set of prongs  114 , top plate  116 , and key lock  120 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , base  112  is placed on the bottom side of a pintle-style tow ring  310  and secured around the ring using set of prongs  114 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , top plate  116  is placed on the top of the tow ring  310  (see  FIG. 5 ). As a person places top plate  116  on top of the tow ring, locking post  118  is inserted through aperture  122 . A person can then place key lock  120  over locking post  118  and use a key to lock and secure top plate  116  to the top of the tow ring  310  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a front cross section view of utility trailer security device  100  is shown comprising base  112 , top plate  116 , locking post  118 , and key lock  120 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , key lock  120  is inserted through aperture  118   a  when in a locked position. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , base  112  is plated on the bottom side of tow ring  310 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , top plate  116  is placed on the top side of tow ring  310 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , key lock  120  locks utility trailer security device  100  in place. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an illustration is shown of the steps of how to attach utility trailer security device  100  to tow ring  310 . First, a person can hook first prong  114   a  over the top of tow ring  310 . Second, a person can push base  112  in an upward direction until second prong  114   b  and third prong  114   c  attach over the top side of tow ring  310  and base  112  sits flat against the bottom of tow ring  310 . Third, a person can place top plate over the top side of tow ring  310 , inserting locking post  118  through aperture  116   a . Last, a person can place key lock  120  over locking post  118  and lock key lock  120  to secure utility trailer security device  100  to tow ring  310  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     The following the disclosures of the following U.S. Patents are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,068. 
     Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.

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