Trailer coupling with friction damper

A trailer coupling comprising a housing, one wall of which forms a first part-spherical coupling surface, a movable coupling element which is movably mounted on the housing and which forms a second part-spherical coupling surface, a control lever pivotally mounted on the housing and operable by an operating handle connected with the control lever, said control lever being engageable with the movable coupling element for displacement of the movable coupling element between an open position, in which the movable coupling element is at a distance from the first coupling surface, and an engaging position, in which the coupling element is close to the first coupling surface, wherein at least one of the coupling surfaces carries friction material, and wherein resilient pre-loading means are arranged for constraining the movable coupling element into the engaging position with a pre-loading towards the first coupling surface, said pre-loading means being pivotally connected to an engaging point on the operating handle and pivotally connected to an engaging point on the housing, such that the pre-loading of the pre-loading means is transferred from the operating handle to the control lever and therefrom onto the movable coupling element when said coupling element is in said engaging position.