Receiver lock
AssigneeFulton Performance Products, Inc.
InventorsTim Vander Koy, Sung Soo Kim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupler lock for securing a device within a sleeve of a vehicle hitch to prevent unauthorized removal of the device which can include a hitch ball insert, a cargo platform, bike carrier or similar accessory designed to be attached to the vehicle. The coupler lock includes a lock housing removably attached to one end of a lock bar configured to pass through apertures within the hitch sleeve and insert. The lock housing has a plurality of ball bearings radially movable in and out of an annular groove to lock and release the bar. A locking cup longitudinally movable within the lock housing in response to movement of the lock cylinder retains the bearings within the groove or releases the bearings from removal of the lock bar from the lock housing.
Claims20
A coupler lock adapted to lockingly connect an accessory insert within a sleeve of a vehicle hitch assembly, the sleeve and insert including alignable apertures, said coupler lock comprising:
- a. a lock pin having an enlarged end member, said lock pin configured to extend through the aligned apertures of the insert and sleeve to prevent removal of the insert from the sleeve;
- and
- b. a lock assembly detachably mountable to a first end of said lock pin to prevent withdrawal of said lock pin from the aligned apertures, said lock assembly including:
- (1) a lock housing, and
- (2) a locking mechanism extending from the lock housing, wherein the locking mechanism is manually depressible within the lock housing to shift said locking mechanism from an unlocked position to a locked position;
- wherein the lock assembly is manually manipulable to engage said locking mechanism and lockingly attach said lock assembly to said lock pin, said locking mechanism operable with a key to disengage said locking mechanism for removal of said lock assembly from said lock pin.
A coupler lock adapted to lockingly connect an accessory insert within a sleeve of a vehicle hitch assembly, the sleeve and insert including alignable apertures, said coupler lock comprising:
- a. a lock pin having an enlarged end member, said lock pin configured to extend through the aligned apertures of the insert and sleeve to prevent removal of the insert from the sleeve;
- b. a lock assembly detachably mountable to a first end of said lock pin to selectively prevent withdrawal of said lock pin from the aligned apertures, said lock assembly including
- (1) a lock housing,
- (2) a bearing cage mounted within said lock housing, said bearing cage having an axial bore for receiving said first end of said lock pin,
- (3) a plurality of lock bearings seated within a wall of said bearing cage, the lock bearings being radially movable between a locked position lockingly engaging said first end of said lock pin and an unlocked position releasing said first end for removal of said lock pin from said lock assembly,
- (4) a locking cup positioned within said lock housing in mating relationship with said bearing cage, said locking cup having an end wall and a cylindrical side wall such that said bearing cage is matingly received within said locking cup,
- (5) a locking mechanism longitudinally shiftable and manually depressible within the lock housing to move to a locked position thereby moving said locking cup so that said lock bearings are moved into locking engagement with said first end of said lock pin, said locking mechanism mechanically operable with a key to disengage said locking mechanism for movement to an unlocked position thereby moving said locking cup so that said lock bearings are.moved out of locking engagement with said first end facilitating withdrawal of said lock pin from said lock assembly, and
- (6) a spring biasing said locking mechanism and said locking cup towards said unlocked position.
A coupler lock adapted to lockingly connect an accessory insert within a sleeve of a vehicle hitch assembly, the vehicle hitch sleeve and accessory insert including alignable apertures, said coupler lock comprising:
- a. a lock pin having
- (1) a first end configured to extend through the aligned apertures of the accessory insert and vehicle hitch sleeve, and
- (2) an end member opposite the first end, the end member being configured to prevent its movement through the aligned apertures whereby the end member prevents removal of the accessory insert from the vehicle hitch sleeve;
- b. a lock assembly detachably mountable to the first end of the lock pin to prevent withdrawal of the lock pin from the aligned apertures, the lock assembly including:
- (1) a lock housing, and
- (2) a locking mechanism extending from the lock housing, wherein the locking mechanism is:
- (a) manually depressible within the lock housing to shift the locking mechanism from an unlocked position to a locked position wherein the lock assembly lockingly attaches to the lock pin, and
- (b) operable with a key to shift the locking mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position wherein the lock pin is removable from the lock assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.