Self-latching trailer coupler

A self-latching coupler for hitching a trailing vehicle to a ballhead of a towing vehicle comprising, in combination:

• a housing having a forward portion that forms a socket to receive the ballhead, a rear portion of the housing being configured for attachment to a tongue of the trailing vehicle;
• a latching member carried in the housing and located to the rear of the socket;
• the latching member having a forward end shaped to receive the ballhead when inserted into the housing socket, the latching member also having a rear portion configured to cooperate with the housing to lock the latching member in place;
• guide means for mounting the latching member in the housing and providing respective released and latched positions for the latching member;
• the latching member in the released position being positioned with the shaped forward end disposed to open the socket and allow insertion of a ballhead, and in the latched position being positioned with the shaped forward end captively engaging the ballhead in the socket;
• means for locking the latching member in the latched position, the means being self-actuating upon translation of the latching member to the latched position, the locking means further including a plunger attached to the latching member;
• the guide means being arranged so that, with the latching member in the released position, a ballhead inserted into the socket translates the latching member to its latched position, and thereby actuating the locking means;
• and
• release means including a handle engageable for manual manipulation and having an operative end positioned to engage the locking plunger upon manual manipulation of the handle thereby to release the latching member from the latched position and allow withdrawal of the ballhead from the socket.

A self-latching coupler for hitching a trailing vehicle to a ballhead of a towing vehicle comprising, in combination:

• a housing having a forward portion that forms a socket to receive the ballhead, a rear portion of the housing being configured for attachment to a tongue of the trailing vehicle;
• a latching member carried in the housing and located to the rear of the socket;
• the latching member having a forward end shaped to receive the ballhead when inserted into the housing socket, the latching member also having a rear portion configured to cooperate with the housing to lock the latching member in place;
• guide means for mounting the latching member in the housing and providing respective released and latched positions for the latching member;
• the latching member in the released position being positioned with the shaped forward end disposed to open the socket and allow insertion of a ballhead, and in the latched position being positioned with the shaped forward end captively engaging the ballhead in the socket;
• means for locking the latching member in the latched position, the means being self-actuating upon translation of the latching member to the latched position, wherein the housing includes a backplate opposite the receiving socket and cooperating with the locking means;
• and
• the guide means being arranged so that, with the latching member in the released position, a ballhead inserted into the socket translates the latching member to its latched position, and thereby actuating the locking means.