Coupling element for trailer hitches

A device for coupling a hitch ring of a trailer tongue to a ball-type trailer hitch having a ball member and a neck of reduced cross-sectional dimension connecting said ball member to a towing vehicle, said device comprising:

• a. an elongated tubular member penetratingly insertable within the hitch ring for engaging the ball member of the hitch and for transmitting horizontally oriented forces from the hitch ring to the ball member, said tubular member having an inner chamber for receiving the ball member;
• b. a partially cutaway annular flange positioned on one end of said tubular member for receiving and partially circumscribing the neck, the cutaway portion of said flange forming a first orifice dimensioned to accomodate the nect but not the ball member, said flange having an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of said tubular member and an inner diameter less than the diameter of the ball member;
• c. a second orifice located in the wall of said tubular member coincident with opposed edges of said first orifice and communicating with said chamber, said second orifice being dimensioned to permit removal of the ball member from said chamber therethrough by relative lateral displacement between said tubular member and the hitch;
• d. first retaining means slidably locatable along the longitudinal axis of said tubular member and positionable around said tubular member adjacent said flange for closing off said second orifice and precluding lateral displacement of the ball member from within said chamber;
• and
• e. second retaining means removably locatable along the longitudinal axis of said tubular member for retaining the hitch ring adjacent said first retaining means and in a fixed relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular member.