Self aligning coupling apparatus

A self-aligning coupling apparatus for mounting on a vehicle comprising:

• a first housing arranged to be secured to the underside of the vehicle,
• a dual gimbal housing supported in said first housing for rotatable adjustment in horizontal and vertical directions,
• an elongated coupler member having front and rearward ends,
• said coupler member being slidably supported in said dual gimbal housing for rotatable and longitudinal adjustable movement with said gimbal housing for connection to a randomly located mating coupler member,
• a funnel-shaped guide arranged to be secured to the underside of the vehicle,
• said funnel-shaped guide having a large open front end facing said first housing and a smaller rearward end,
• said funnel-shaped guide being arranged to slidably receive the rearward end of said coupler member in its rotatably adjusted position and slidably guide the rearward end into the smaller end of the funnel-shaped guide for aligning the elongated coupler member longitudinally with the vehicle,
• said first housing including guide means therein that direct said coupler member slidably into said open front end of said funnel-shaped guide,
• and latch means associated with the smaller end of said funnel-shaped guide for securing the elongated coupler member in a coupled and aligned position.