Automatically locking hitch

A hitch assembly for coupling a trailer to a tow vehicle comprising:

• a king ball including a base and a king pin extending vertically from a top surface of the base, the king pin including a ball positioned on a distal end opposite the base, the ball adapted to be pivotally received into a hitch of the trailer;
• a hitch block including a draw bar and a housing, the drawbar adapted to be horizontally inserted into a receiver mounted onto the tow vehicle, the housing including a throat adapted to receive the base of the king ball;
• and
• a locking mechanism adapted to automatically engage the king pin when the base of the king ball is inserted into the throat of the housing to secure the base of the king ball within the throat of the housing and locking the king ball and the hitch block together;
• wherein the base of the king ball includes a female 7-pin electrical connector mounted therein, and the housing of the hitch block includes a male 7-pin electrical connector mounted at the rear of the throat, further wherein when the base of the king ball is inserted into the throat of the housing the female 7-pin electrical connector engages the male 7-pin electrical connector.

A hitch assembly for coupling a trailer to a tow vehicle comprising:

• a king ball including a base and a king pin extending vertically from a top surface of the base, the king pin including a ball positioned on a distal end opposite the base, the ball adapted to be pivotally received into a hitch of the trailer;
• a hitch block including a draw bar and a housing, the drawbar adapted to be horizontally inserted into a receiver mounted onto the tow vehicle, the housing including a throat adapted to receive the base of the king ball;
• a female 7-pin electrical connector positioned within a pocket formed in the base of the king ball and connected to the wiring harness of the trailer, and a male 7-pin electrical connector mounted within the throat of the housing of the hitch block and connected to the wiring harness of the tow vehicle, wherein when the base of the king ball is inserted into the throat of the housing the female 7-pin electrical connector engages the male 7-pin electrical connector and the wiring harness of the tow vehicle is connected to the wiring harness of the trailer through the hitch assembly;
• a clip mounted on the hitch block with a breakable attachment and adapted to connect to an emergency brake cable of the trailer, wherein the emergency brake cable of the trader is mounted to one of the trader hitch or the king ball such that when the king ball is inserted into the throat of the housing assembly, the emergency brake cable automatically engages the clip to secure the emergency brake cable to the hitch block;
• a clip cable extending between and interconnecting the dip to the tow vehicle, wherein the dip is adapted to break free from the hitch block if the emergency brake cable pulls on the dip, further wherein if the king ball breaks free of the hitch block while the tow vehicle and the trailer are moving, the dip and the dip cable are adapted to pull the emergency brake cable of the trailer;
• a locking mechanism adapted to automatically engage the king pin when the base of the king ball is inserted into the throat of the housing to secure the base of the king ball within the throat of the housing and locking the king ball and the hitch block together,
• wherein the locking mechanism includes a jaw pivotally mounted in the housing and pivotable between a first jaw position, wherein the base of the king ball can be inserted into the throat of the housing assembly, and a second jaw position, wherein the jaw engages the king pin to prevent the base of the king ball from being removed from the throat of the housing assembly, the jaw is biased toward the first jaw position and adapted to automatically engage the king pin when the base of the king ball is inserted into the throat of the housing to secure the base of the king ball within the throat of the housing and lock the king ball and the hitch block together, and a wedge pivotally mounted in the housing and pivotable between a first wedge position, wherein the jaw is freely pivotable between the first and second jaw positions, and a second wedge position, wherein the wedge engages the jaw to lock the jaw in the second jaw position and in engagement with the king pin, the wedge is biased toward the second wedge position and is adapted to automatically engage the jaw after the jaw engages the king pin to lock the jaw in engagement with the king pin.