Coupler lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9242522-B2
Application number	US-201414505714-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 3, 2014
Priority date	Oct 3, 2013
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

A coupler lock for attaching to a trailer hitch coupler. The hitch coupler has a socket. The coupler lock includes a locking bar and a plug member for receipt within the socket of the hitch coupler and supported by the locking bar. The coupler lock includes a base structure removably attached to the locking bar. The base structure includes a locking structure actuatable to lockingly retain the base structure attached to the locking bar so as to retain the plug member within the socket of the hitch coupler. The locking structure is positioned above the plug member with the base structure attached to the locking bar and the plug member retained within the socket of the hitch coupler.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupler lock for attaching to a trailer hitch coupler, the hitch coupler having a socket, the coupler lock including:
a locking bar having a general U-shape with first and second vertically extending locking ends, only one of the first and second vertically extending locking ends having teeth;
a plug member for receipt within the socket of the hitch coupler and supported by the locking bar; and
a base structure removably attached to the locking bar, the base structure including a curved central base portion and first and second apertures located at opposed ends of the central base portion, a curvature of the central base portion being downwardly concave so as to curve around the trailer hitch coupler, the base structure further including a locking structure located offset from a center of the central base portion and adjacent to the one of the first and second vertically extending locking arms having teeth, the locking structure including a key-actuated lock mechanism that extends horizontally so as to be actuatable and move a portion of the key-actuated lock mechanism into direct engagement within the teeth on the one of the first and second vertically extending locking arms having teeth to lockingly retain the base structure attached to the locking bar so as to retain the plug member within the socket of the hitch coupler, the locking structure being positioned above the plug member with the base structure attached to the locking bar and the plug member retained within the socket of the hitch coupler.

2. A coupler lock as set forth within claim 1 , wherein the plug member has a first configuration, the plug member is removable and replaceable with a different plug member of a second, different configuration.

3. A coupler lock as set forth within claim 1 , wherein the locking bar includes a central portion upon which the plug member is supported, and the first and second vertically extending locking ends are located at opposed ends of the central portion of the locking bar.

4. A coupler lock as set forth within claim 3 , wherein the first and second locking ends of the locking bar extend into the first and second apertures, respectively.

5. A coupler lock as set forth within claim 1 , wherein the plug member is removably secured to the locking bar by a fastener extending between a portion of the plug member and a portion of the locking bar.

6. A coupler lock as set forth within claim 1 , wherein the plug member includes two legs that straddle the locking bar.

7. A coupler lock as set forth within claim 1 , wherein the base structure, with the included locking structure, is generally above the hitch coupler with the base structure attached to the locking bar and the plug member retained within the socket of the hitch coupler.

8. A coupler lock as set forth within claim 1 , wherein the plug member is removably supported by the locking bar.

Assignees

• Winston Products Llc

Inventors

• Breeden Iii Winston
• Brej Thaddeus T
• Rathman David Edward Birn

Classifications

• B60D1/06

  Ball-and-socket hitches · CPC title

• B60D1/60 Primary

  Covers, caps or guards {, e.g. comprising anti-theft devices} · CPC title