Locking device for trailer hitches and method therefor

US 20040134242A1
Filed: 06/24/2003
Published: 07/15/2004
Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A locking device adapted to secure to a coupler section of a trailer that has a hitch ball recess, comprising:

(A) a lock housing including a hitch ball element supported thereby that is sized and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the hitch ball recess of a coupler section of a trailer;

(B) a shackle member releasably securable to said lock housing to define a retain state, said shackle member including a bridge section that extends across said hitch ball element when in the retain state whereby said coupler section becomes non-removably trapped between said hitch ball element and said bridge section when in the retain state, said shackle member releasable from said lock housing to define a release state wherein said coupler section can be released from said hitch ball element; and

(C) a selectively lockable latch assembly disposed in said lock housing and operative to move between a latch state wherein said shackle member is latched in the retain state and an unlatch state wherein said shackle member may be moved to the release state.

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Abstract

A method and apparatus to secure the coupler section of a trailer provides a locking device that includes a lock housing having a hitch ball element to engage the recess in the coupler, a shackle member lockable to the housing and having a bridge section that spans the hitch ball element and, and a latch assembly to latch and unlatch the shackle member. The shackle member is shown to be U-shaped with legs that extend through and secure to the lock housing. The latch assembly provides a ratchet-type engagement to allow adjustable locking. A rotatable lock mechanism drives a cam based latch mechanism between a latch state and an unlatch state.

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38 Claims

1. A locking device adapted to secure to a coupler section of a trailer that has a hitch ball recess, comprising:
- (A) a lock housing including a hitch ball element supported thereby that is sized and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the hitch ball recess of a coupler section of a trailer;
  
  (B) a shackle member releasably securable to said lock housing to define a retain state, said shackle member including a bridge section that extends across said hitch ball element when in the retain state whereby said coupler section becomes non-removably trapped between said hitch ball element and said bridge section when in the retain state, said shackle member releasable from said lock housing to define a release state wherein said coupler section can be released from said hitch ball element; and
  
  (C) a selectively lockable latch assembly disposed in said lock housing and operative to move between a latch state wherein said shackle member is latched in the retain state and an unlatch state wherein said shackle member may be moved to the release state.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- - 2. A locking device according to claim 1 wherein said shackle member is generally U-shaped in configuration including a pair of spaced apart leg sections and a bridge section extending therebetween, each of said leg sections securable to said lock housing when in the retain state with said bridge section oriented across said hitch ball element.
  - 3. A locking device according to claim 1 wherein said shackle member includes at least one leg section supporting said bridge section and having a latch structure thereon and wherein said lock housing includes at least one passageway therein sized to receive said leg section when in the retain state, said latch assembly operative to engage said latch structure when in the latch state to prevent removal of said leg section from said lock housing.
  - 4. A locking device according to claim 3 wherein said latch structure is defined by a plurality of first latch teeth, said latch assembly including a latch block having at least one second latch tooth operative to engage a selected one of said first latch teeth when in the retain state.
  - 5. A locking device according to claim 4 wherein said latch block is biased toward the latch state.
  - 6. A locking device according to claim 5 wherein said first latch teeth and said second latch tooth define a ratchet engagement whereby said leg section may be inserted into but not removed from said locking housing when said latch mechanism is in the latch state.
  - 7. A locking device according to claim 4 including a plurality of second latch teeth on said latch block, said second latch teeth operative to engage selected ones of said first latch teeth when in the retain state.
  - 8. A locking device according to claim 1 wherein said latch assembly includes a latch mechanism and a lock mechanism mechanically linked to one another, said lock mechanism rotatable between first and second rotational positions thereby to move said latch mechanism between the latch and unlatch states.
  - 9. A locking device according to claim 8 wherein said latch mechanism includes a latch rod having a cam surface associated therewith and movable between first and second rod positions that respectively correspond to the latch and unlatch states, said lock mechanism including a cam element that interacts with the cam surface such that rotation of said lock mechanism between the first and second rotational positions acts to cause movement of said latch rod between the first and second rod positions.
  - 10. A locking device according to claim 9 wherein said latch rod includes a shaft portion and a head portion located at a first end of said shaft portion, said latch mechanism including a latch block located at a second end of said shaft portion opposite the first end portion thereof, said head portion having the cam surface formed therein, and including a spring positioned along said shaft portion that is operative to bias said latch rod toward the first position.
  - 11. A locking device according to claim 1 wherein said lock housing includes a body portion having a longitudinal throughway extending therethrough and a transverse bore intersecting the throughway with said hitch ball oriented generally orthoganally to the throughway and to the bore, and including an elongated tubular casing disposed in the throughway.
  - 12. A locking device according to claim 11 wherein said latch assembly includes a latch mechanism and a lock mechanism mechanically linked to one another, said latch mechanism disposed in said casing and said lock mechanism disposed in the bore.
  - 13. A locking device according to claim 11 wherein said shackle member includes at least one leg section supporting said bridge section and having a latch structure thereon, said casing including an exposed portion that projects exteriorly of said body portion and having a passageway formed therein sized to receive said leg section when in the retain state, said latch assembly operative to engage said latch structure when in the latch state to prevent removal of said leg section from said casing.

14. A locking device adapted to secure to a coupler section of a trailer, comprising:
- (A) a lock housing including a hitch ball element supported thereby that is sized and adapted to mate with a coupler section of a trailer, said lock housing having a pair of spaced-apart passageways extending therethrough;
  
  (B) a shackle member releasably securable to said lock housing to define a retain state, said shackle member including a pair of spaced-apart leg sections and a bridge section extending therebetween, said leg sections respectively configured to pass through the pair of passageways when in the retain state whereby said coupler section can be non-removably engaged between said hitch ball element and said bridge section, said shackle member releasable from said lock housing to define a release state wherein said coupler section can be engaged by and released from said hitch ball element;
  
  (C) a latch mechanism disposed in said lock housing and operative to move between a latch state wherein said shackle member is latched in the retain state and an unlatch state wherein said shackle member may be moved to the release state; and
  
  (D) a lock mechanism that is movable between a lock state to lock said latch mechanism in the latch state such that said shackle member is in the retain state and an unlock state to unlock said latch mechanism so that it may move to the unlatch state thereby allowing said shackle member to move to the release state.
- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24)
- - 15. A locking device according to claim 14 wherein at least one of said leg sections has a latch structure thereon, said latch mechanism operative to engage said latch structure when in the latch state to prevent removal of said leg sections from said lock housing.
  - 16. A locking device according to claim 15 wherein said latch structure is defined by a plurality of first latch teeth, said latch mechanism including at least one latch block having at least one second latch tooth operative to engage a selected one of said first latch teeth when in the retain state.
  - 17. A locking device according to claim 16 wherein said latch block is biased toward the latch state.
  - 18. A locking device according to claim 17 wherein said first latch teeth and each said second latch tooth define a ratchet engagement whereby said leg sections may be inserted into but not removed from said locking housing when said latch mechanism is in the latch state.
  - 19. A locking device according to claim 18 including a plurality of second latch teeth on said latch block, said second latch teeth operative to engage selected ones of said first latch teeth when in the latch state.
  - 20. A locking device according to claim 14 wherein each of said leg sections has a latch structure thereon, said latch mechanism operative to engage said latch structure when in the latch state to prevent removal of said leg sections from said lock housing.
  - 22. A locking device according to claim 14 wherein said lock mechanism is rotatable between first and second rotational positions thereby to move said latch mechanism between the latch and unlatch states.
  - 23. A locking device according to claim 22 wherein said latch mechanism includes a pair of latch rods each having a cam surface associated therewith and movable between first and second rod positions that respectively correspond to the latch and unlatch states, said lock mechanism including a cam element that interacts with the cam surfaces such that rotation of said lock mechanism between the first and second rotational positions acts to cause movement of said latch rods between the first and second rod positions.
  - 24. A locking device according to claim 23 wherein each said latch rod includes a shaft portion and a head portion located at a first end of said shaft portion, said latch mechanism including a latch block located at a second end of each said shaft portion opposite the first end portion thereof, said head portion having the cam surface formed therein, and including a spring positioned along each said shaft portion that is operative to bias the respective said latch rod toward the first position.

21. A locking device according to claim 21 wherein said latch structures are each defined by a plurality of first latch teeth, said latch mechanism including a pair of latch blocks each having at least one second latch tooth operative to engage a selected one of said first latch teeth when in the retain state.

25. A locking device adapted to secure to a coupler section of a trailer, comprising:
- (A) a lock housing including (1) a body portion having a longitudinal throughway extending therethrough and a bore intersecting the throughway, (2) an elongated tubular casing disposed in the throughway and including oppositely projecting casing sections located exteriorly of said body portion, each of said casing section having a spaced-apart passageway extending therethrough, and (3) a hitch ball element supported by said body portion and sized and adapted to mate with a coupler section of a trailer, said hitch ball element ball oriented generally orthoganally to the throughway;
  
  (B) a shackle member releasably securable in said casing to define a retain state, said shackle member including (1) a pair of spaced-apart leg sections each having a first latch structure thereon and (2) a bridge section extending between said leg sections, (3) said leg sections respectively configured such that a respective leg section will pass through a respective passageway when in the retain state whereby said coupler section can be non-removably engaged between said hitch ball element and said bridge section, said shackle member releasable from said casing to define a release state wherein said coupler section can be engaged by and released from said hitch ball element;
  
  (C) a latch mechanism disposed in said casing and operative to move between a latch state wherein said shackle member is latched in the retain state and an unlatch state wherein said shackle member may be moved to the release state; and
  
  (D) a lock mechanism disposed in the bore and mechanically linked to said latch mechanism, said lock mechanism movable between a lock state to lock said latch mechanism in the latch state such that said shackle member is in the retain state and an unlock state to unlock said latch mechanism so that it may move to the unlatch state thereby allowing said shackle member to move to the release state.
- View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
- - 26. A locking device according to claim 25 wherein said latch mechanism includes a latch core disposed within said casing and a pair of latch blocks received in and guided by said lock core, each said latch block having a second latch structure thereon operative to cooperate with a respective said first latch structure to latch said shackle member in the retain state.
  - 27. A locking device according to claim 26 wherein said latch blocks are biased into the latch state.
  - 28. A locking device according to claim 26 wherein said latch mechanism includes a pair of latch rods each having a shaft portion and a head portion located at a first end of said shaft portion and supporting a respective one of said latch blocks on a second end of said shaft portion, said latch rods received in and guided by said lock core.
  - 29. A locking device according to claim 28 wherein each said first latch structure is defined by a plurality of first latch teeth and wherein each of said second latch structures is defined by at least one second latch tooth.
  - 30. A locking device according to claim 29 including a spring element associated with each said latch rod that is operative to bias a respective latch block into the latch state such that said first and second latch teeth define a ratchet engagement whereby said leg sections may be inserted into but not removed from said casing when said latch mechanism is in the latch state.
  - 31. A locking device according to claim 28 wherein each of said latch rods has a cam surface associated therewith and is movable between first and second rod positions that respectively correspond to the latch and unlatch states, said lock mechanism being rotatable in the bore between first and second rotational positions, said lock mechanism including a cam element that interacts with the cam surface such that rotation of said lock mechanism between the first and second rotational positions acts to cause movement of said latch rod between the first and second rod positions.
  - 32. A locking device according to claim 31 wherein each of the cam surfaces is formed a lop-sided opening in said head portion of a respective cam rod and wherein said cam element is formed as a post having a length that projects through the openings, said cam element having a width and a thickness that are different from one another.
  - 33. A locking device according to claim 25 wherein said lock mechanism includes a rotatable lock member that is rotatable in the bore between first and second rotational positions and a rod cam that is mechanically linked to said lock member whereby rotation of said lock member acts to rotate said rod cam.
  - 34. A locking device according to claim 33 wherein at least one of said lock member and said lock core includes a limit stop structure to restrict rotation of said lock member such that said lock member can rotate between but not past said first and second rotational positions.
  - 35. A locking device according to claim 25 including a pair of cooperating housing cover members constructed to receive and mount said lock housing therein.

36. A method of securing a coupler section of a trailer that has a hitch ball recess, comprising:
- (A) engaging the hitch ball recess with a hitch ball element;
  
  (B) spanning a portion of said coupler section adjacent to the hitch ball element with a first portion of a shackle member in a manner such that said portion of said coupler member is positioned between said first portion of said shackle member and said hitch ball element;
  
  (C) adjusting said first portion of said shackle member to trap the portion of said coupler member non-removably between said hitch ball element and said first portion of said shackle member to define a locked state; and
  
  (D) lockably retaining a second portion of said shackle member relative to said hitch ball element such that said first portion of said shackle member is locked in the locked state.
- View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
- - 37. A method of securing a coupler section of a trailer according to claim 36 including the step of selectively releasing said second portion of said shackle member such that said first portion of said shackle member is unlocked and removable thereby permitting disengagement with said portion of said coupler section.
  - 38. A method of securing a coupler section of a trailer according to claim 36 wherein the step of adjusting said first portion of said shackle member is accomplished by a ratchet mechanism.

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Current Assignee
Philip W. Wyers
Original Assignee
Philip W. Wyers
Inventors
Wyers, Philip W

Granted Patent

US 7,121,121 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

70/14
CPC Class Codes

B60D 1/065   characterised by the hitch ...

B60D 1/60   Covers, caps or guards , e....

Y10T 70/40   Portable

Y10T 70/409   Shackles

Y10T 70/454   Removable

Y10T 70/459   Both legs engaged

Y10T 70/5876   Anchors

Y10T 70/5982   Accessories

Locking device for trailer hitches and method therefor

First Claim

0 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

44 Citations

38 Claims

Specification

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Locking device for trailer hitches and method therefor

First Claim

0 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

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Abstract

44 Citations

38 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links