Anti-release trailer connection

A system for use with a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a trailer connection mechanism configured to be mounted on the vehicle and configured for releasable connection to a trailer, the trailer connection mechanism comprising a release actuator configured to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer;
• a release assembly connected to the release actuator and configured to cause the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer upon receiving user input;
• and
• an anti-release mechanism connected to the trailer connection mechanism, the anti-release mechanism configured to detect a status of at least one of a transmission and a brake system of the vehicle, wherein the anti-release mechanism is further configured to prevent operation of the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer unless (a) the transmission is in Park, (b) the brake system is engaged, or both (a) and (b),
• wherein the anti-release mechanism is further configured to cause activation of a trailer brake on the trailer when (a) the transmission is in Park, (b) the brake system is engaged, or both (a) and (b).

A vehicle comprising:

• a chassis supported by a plurality of wheels;
• a drivetrain including an engine and a transmission operably coupled to transfer power to at least one of the wheels;
• a brake system connected to at least one of the wheels;
• a trailer connection mechanism mounted on the vehicle and configured for releasable connection to a trailer, the trailer connection mechanism comprising a release actuator configured to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer;
• a release assembly connected to the release actuator and configured to cause the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer upon receiving user input;
• and
• an anti-release mechanism connected to the trailer connection mechanism and the release assembly, the anti-release mechanism configured to detect a status of at least one of the transmission and the brake system of the vehicle, wherein the anti-release mechanism is further configured to prevent operation of the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer unless (a) the transmission is in Park, (b) the brake system is engaged, or both (a) and (b),
• wherein the anti-release mechanism further comprises a pneumatic valve configured to be activated when (a) the transmission is in Park, (b) the brake system is engaged, or both (a) and (b), to permit operation of the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer, and the anti-release mechanism further comprises a pneumatic inversion valve in communication with the release assembly and with the pneumatic valve, wherein the anti-release mechanism is configured such that activation of the pneumatic valve causes activation of the pneumatic inversion valve to permit operation of the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer, and
• wherein the pneumatic valve is further configured to be in communication with a trailer brake on the trailer, and wherein the anti-release mechanism is configured such that activation of the pneumatic valve is configured to cause the trailer brake to be engaged when (a) the transmission is in Park, (b) the brake system is engaged, or both (a) and (b).

A vehicle comprising:

• a chassis supported by a plurality of wheels;
• a drivetrain including an engine and a transmission operably coupled to transfer power to at least one of the wheels;
• a brake system connected to at least one of the wheels;
• a trailer connection mechanism mounted on the vehicle and configured for releasable connection to a trailer, the trailer connection mechanism comprising a release actuator configured to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer;
• a release assembly connected to the release actuator and configured to cause the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer upon receiving user input;
• and
• an anti-release mechanism connected to the trailer connection mechanism and the release assembly, the anti-release mechanism configured to detect a status of at least one of the transmission and the brake system of the vehicle, wherein the anti-release mechanism is further configured to prevent operation of the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer unless (a) the transmission is in Park, (b) the brake system is engaged, or both (a) and (b),
• wherein the anti-release mechanism is further configured to cause activation of a trailer brake on the trailer when (a) the transmission is in Park, (b) the brake system is engaged, or both.

A vehicle comprising:

• a chassis supported by a plurality of wheels;
• a drivetrain including an engine and a transmission operably coupled to transfer power to at least one of the wheels;
• a brake system connected to at least one of the wheels;
• a trailer connection mechanism mounted on the vehicle and configured for releasable connection to a trailer, the trailer connection mechanism comprising a release actuator configured to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer;
• a release assembly connected to the release actuator and configured to cause the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer upon receiving user input;
• and
• an anti-release mechanism connected to the trailer connection mechanism and the release assembly, wherein the anti-release mechanism further comprises a computer component connected to the transmission and the brake system and configured to detect a status of at least one of the transmission and the brake system, wherein the computer component is further configured to cause the anti-release mechanism to prevent operation of the release actuator unless (a) the transmission is in Park, (b) the brake system is engaged, or both (a) and (b).

A system for use with a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a trailer connection mechanism configured to be mounted on the vehicle and configured for releasable connection to a trailer, the trailer connection mechanism comprising a release actuator configured to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer;
• a release assembly connected to the release actuator and configured to cause the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer upon receiving user input;
• and
• an anti-release mechanism connected to the trailer connection mechanism, wherein the anti-release mechanism is configured to detect a status of both a transmission and a brake system of the vehicle, and wherein the anti-release mechanism is configured to prevent operation of the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer unless the transmission is in Park and the brake system is engaged.

A vehicle comprising:

• a chassis supported by a plurality of wheels;
• a drivetrain including an engine and a transmission operably coupled to transfer power to at least one of the wheels;
• a brake system connected to at least one of the wheels;
• a trailer connection mechanism mounted on the vehicle and configured for releasable connection to a trailer, the trailer connection mechanism comprising a release actuator configured to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer;
• a release assembly connected to the release actuator and configured to cause the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer upon receiving user input;
• and
• an anti-release mechanism connected to the trailer connection mechanism and the release assembly, wherein the anti-release mechanism is configured to detect a status of both the transmission and the brake system of the vehicle, and wherein the anti-release mechanism is configured to prevent operation of the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer unless the transmission is in Park and the brake system is engaged.

A system for use with a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a trailer connection mechanism configured to be mounted on the vehicle and configured for releasable connection to a trailer, the trailer connection mechanism comprising a release actuator configured to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer;
• a release assembly connected to the release actuator and configured to cause the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer upon receiving user input;
• and
• an anti-release mechanism connected to the trailer connection mechanism, wherein the anti-release mechanism further comprises a computer component configured to be connected to a transmission and a brake system and configured to detect a status of at least one of the transmission and the brake system, wherein the computer component is further configured to cause the anti-release mechanism to prevent operation of the release actuator unless (a) the transmission is in Park, (b) the brake system is engaged, or both (a) and (b).

A system for use with a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a trailer connection mechanism configured to be mounted on the vehicle and configured for releasable connection to a trailer, the trailer connection mechanism comprising a release actuator configured to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer;
• a release assembly connected to the release actuator and configured to cause the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer upon receiving user input;
• and
• an anti-release mechanism connected to the trailer connection mechanism, the anti-release mechanism comprising:
• a trailer supply valve configured to control a supply of pressurized air from the vehicle to the trailer;
• a pneumatic inversion valve in communication with the release assembly and with the trailer supply valve, wherein the anti-release mechanism is configured such that closing the trailer supply valve causes activation of the pneumatic inversion valve to permit operation of the release actuator to release the connection between the trailer connection mechanism and the trailer, and
• wherein the trailer supply valve is further configured to be in communication with a trailer brake on the trailer, and wherein the anti-release mechanism is configured such that closing the trailer supply valve is also configured to cause the trailer brake to be engaged.