Single motion system for coupling a trailer hitch

A method of coupling a trailer hitch to a hitch ball, comprising:

• providing the hitch ball;
• providing the trailer hitch, the hitch including:
• a tube having a ball socket;
• a top plate connected to the tube, wherein the top plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive the hitch ball;
• a lower plate, wherein the lower plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive the hitch ball, and wherein the lower plate is connected to the top plate via first and second sidewalls, and the top plate, lower plate and first and second sidewalls form a space and
• a slide plate positioned within the space and configured to slide between the top plate and the lower plate, wherein the slide plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive the hitch ball, wherein the opening of the slide plate includes a first portion of the opening that allows the hitch ball to pass through the opening, and a second portion of the opening that does not allow the hitch ball to pass through the opening;
• wherein the slide plate is configured to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position enables the hitch ball to pass through the opening of the slide plate and the closed position prevents the hitch ball from passing through the opening in the slide plate;
• moving the slide plate to the open position;
• inserting the hitch ball into the ball socket;
• and
• moving the slide plate to the closed position.

A trailer hitch comprising:

• a tube having a ball socket;
• a top plate connected to the tube, wherein the top plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive a hitch ball;
• a lower plate, wherein the lower plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive a hitch ball, and wherein the lower plate is connected to the top plate via first and second sidewalls, and the top plate, lower plate and first and second sidewalls form a space;
• a slide plate positioned within the space and configured to slide between the top plate and the lower plate, wherein the slide plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive the hitch ball;
• wherein the slide plate is configured to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position enables the hitch ball to pass through the opening of the slide plate and the closed position prevents the hitch ball from passing through the opening in the slide plate, and wherein the slide plate includes a visual indicator when in the open position and wherein the visual indicator is not visible to a user when the slide plate is in the closed position;
• a handle;
• and
• a lever, wherein the lever has a first end portion connected to the handle and a second end portion connected to the slide plate, wherein the lever pivots about a lever pivot;
• wherein the handle is configured to move from the open position, that moves the slide plate to the open position, to the closed position, that moves the slide plate to the closed position;
• wherein the handle is configured to move from the closed position to the open position using a single motion;
• and
• wherein the opening of the slide plate includes a first portion of the opening that allows the hitch ball to pass through the opening, and a second portion of the opening that does not allow a hitch ball to pass through the opening, and the second portion of the opening of the slide plate is configured to contact the hitch ball on more than 180 degrees around the hitch ball.