Dual use trailer coupling
AssigneePremier Equipment, Inc.
InventorRocky A. Blacklaw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trailer coupling has a removable unitary coupler-receiving element that includes both a ball configured to receive a spherical cavity coupler and a cylindrical neck configured to receive a drawbar eye. A latch is movable about a vertical axis between a closed position, where it engages the coupler-receiving element, and prevents removal of the eye from the neck, and an open position where it is separated from the coupler-receiving element and permits use of the ball. A locking mechanism locks the latch in its closed position and holds it against free movement from its open position. A trigger located in a finger-receiving cavity in the latch releases the locking mechanism. Because the latch rotates about a vertical axis, it can have a low profile and not extend substantially above the ball in the orientation.
Claims6
A trailer coupling for receiving both a drawbar eye and a spherical cavity coupler comprising:
- (a) a body;
- (b) means for attaching said body to a towing vehicle;
- (c) said body including a rearwardly projecting arm;
- (d) a coupler-receiving element that extends upwardly from said arm, said coupler-receiving element including a lower cylindrical neck that receives a drawbar eye and an upper spherical ball that receives a spherical cavity coupler;
- (e) a latch pivotally mounted to said body for movement about a vertical axis between a closed position where it engages said coupler-receiving element and prevents displacement of the drawbar eye from said cylindrical neck and an open position where it is DISPLACER from said coupler-receiving element to permit a spherical cavity coupler to be placed on said spherical ball;
- and
- (f) wherein said latch includes means for holding said drawbar eye snugly against said arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.