Trailer lock
OwnerGreg Haber, Robert Haleyinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A trailer lock can be used as an anti-theft device to secure a mating feature of a trailer, such as a king pin, against unauthorized hookups by tractors. The trailer lock can include a base plate for mounting on a wall of the trailer; a swing bar pivotally connected to the base plate; and an engagement bar pivotally connected to the swing bar, which engagement bar includes an engagement feature, such as a ring, capable of fitting to the mating feature of the trailer. When the engagement feature is fitted to the mating feature of the trailer (for example, when a ring is placed over a king pin), it can prevent the mating feature from engaging a corresponding mating feature of a tractor, such as a fifth wheel.
Claims25
A trailer lock assembly comprising:
- a base plate mounted to a front exterior wall of a trailer by one or more fasteners;
- a swing bar pivotally connected to the base plate at a proximal end of the swing bar;
- a hollow engagement bar pivotally connected to the swing bar at a distal end of the swing bar, the hollow engagement bar comprising a ring capable of fitting to a king pin of the trailer;
- and
- a lock bar slideably coupled to and at least partially housed within the hollow engagement bar, the lock bar comprising an elongated portion and a yoke that fits within the ring of the hollow engagement bar.
A trailer lock comprising:
- a base plate capable of being mounted to a wall of a trailer;
- a first bar operably connected to the base plate;
- a hollow engagement bar pivotally connected to the first bar, the engagement bar comprising an engagement feature capable of fitting to a mating feature of the trailer;
- and
- a lock bar at least partially housed within the engagement bar, wherein the lock bar is slideably coupled to the engagement bar to permit the lock bar to slide along a length of an elongated portion of the engagement bar, the lock bar comprising a yoke located at a distal end of the lock bar.
A trailer lock kit comprising:
- A base plate capable of being mounted to a wall of a trailer;
- a swing bar capable of being pivotally connected to the base plate;
- a hollow engagement bar capable of being pivotally connected to the swing bar, the engagement bar comprising an engagement feature capable of fitting to a mating feature of the trailer;
- a lock bar capable of being at least partially housed within the engagement bar and slideably coupled to the engagement bar to permit the lock bar to slide along a length of an elongated portion of the engagement bar, the lock bar comprising an elongated portion having a distal end;
- and
- a yoke capable of being fastened to the distal end of the elongated portion of the lock bar.
A method of operating a trailer lock assembly that comprises a trailer lock, the trailer lock comprising a swing bar pivotally connected to a base plate mounted on a wall of a trailer, an engagement bar pivotally connected to the swing bar and comprising an engagement feature capable of fitting to a mating feature of a trailer, and a lock bar slideably coupled to the engagement bar, the method comprising:
- pivoting the swing arm with respect to the base plate;
- pivoting the engagement bar with respect to the swing arm to fit the engagement feature to the mating feature of the trailer;
- and
- sliding the lock bar with respect to the engagement bar to bring a portion of the lock bar in contact with the mating feature of the trailer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.