Trailer coupler

A trailer coupler:

• comprising
• a base member having a forward open end and a rearward end, configured for attachment to a trailer;
• a pair of hitch capturing members, each including a forward hitch socket and a rearwardly extending arm slidably received for forward and rearward longitudinal movement within the base member;
• the arms including first and second cam surfaces;
• a first cam actuator on the base member positioned in slidable engagement with the first cam surfaces to spread the hitch capturing members laterally apart to a hitch receiving position responsive to forward movement of the hitch capturing members relative to the base member;
• a second cam surface actuator on the base member positioned for slidable engagement with the second cam surfaces to close the hitch capturing members laterally together to a hitch engaging position in response to rearward movement of the hitch capturing members relative to the base member;
• a hitch positioner member movably mounted to the hitch capturing members and spanning the hitch capturing members in the forwardly extended and open hitch receiving position;
• and
• the hitch positioner member being movably positioned with respect to at least one of the hitch capturing members and configured to move the hitch capturing members rearwardly in response to engagement by a rearwardly moving hitch.

A trailer coupler:

• comprising
• a tubular base having a forward open end and a rearward end, configured for attachment to a trailer;
• a pair of hitch capturing members, each including a forward hitch socket and a rearwardly extending arm slidably received for longitudinal movement within the tubular base;
• the arms including a first cam surface and a second cam surface;
• a first cam surface actuator on the tubular base positioned in slidable engagement with one of the cam surfaces to spread the hitch capturing members laterally apart at the forward hitch sockets to a hitch receiving position responsive to longitudinal movement of the hitch capturing members in a forward direction with respect to the tubular base;
• a second cam surface actuator on the tubular base positioned for slidable engagement with the second cam surfaces to move the hitch capturing members laterally together at the forward hitch sockets to a closed hitch engaging position responsive to longitudinal movement of the hitch in a rearward direction with respect to the tubular base;
• a positioner member mounted to at least one of the hitch capturing members and spanning the hitch capturing members in the forwardly extended and open hitch receiving position to engage a rearwardly moving hitch and move the at least one hitch capturing member rearwardly in response to the rearwardly moving hitch;
• and
• wherein the at least one hitch capturing member is connected to the remaining hitch capturing member such that rearward movement of the at least one hitch capturing member will cause similar movement of the other hitch capturing member.