Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02484300 2004-10-08
LOCKING ASSEMBLY FOR TRAILER HITCHES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to locks and more particularly, relates to
commercial
type locks and locks which may be utilized to secure trailer hitches and the
like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known in the art that trailers generally utilize ball type hitches
which
include a socket for receiving a ball. As a result, there are generally
accepted standards
in the industry and there are many vehicles which are equipped with a trailer
hitch ball
which is capable of being secured to an unattended trailer. Such trailer
thefts are
relatively common.
In order to prevent this theft, and particularly when the trailer is not
secured to the
proper vehicle, devices such as padlocks and chains have been utilized for
attaching the
trailer to an adjacent fixed object such as a post or the like. However, such
locking can
easily be defeated by use of bolt cutters and the like.
A similar problem arises even when the trailer is attached to its own vehicle.
In
order to prevent theft when unattended, cables and padlocks are typically used
for
providing a locking arrangement. Again, chain cutters can be utilized and/or
the lock can
easily be forced or picked.
It is known in the art that such a problem exists and there have been various
proposals for trailer hitch locks which can be secured to the trailer hitch
coupler to
prevent theft. Such devices must, at the same time, be easily secured and
removable to
allow the owner to quickly attach and remove the lock.
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SUMMIARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a locking
device
suitable for securing a trailer and which device is difficult to defeat while
at the same time
providing ease of use.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lock which may be
utilized in many different arrangements and which lock is suitable for
different purposes.
The present invention provides a locking assembly which comprises a f rst
housing
member designed to be secured to a second member having a recess therein, a
channel
extending through the housing member, an elongated inner component mounted in
the
channel, the inner component having an axially extending cavity therein, an
actuator
axially movable within the cavity, the actuator being operative to move a
locking
protrusion into locking engagement with the recess of the second member, and a
limiting
means designed to limit axial movement of the actuator within the cavity
between a
locked position and an unlocked position, a lock mounted interiorly of the
actuator the
lock being operative to move between a locked position and an opened position,
the lock
engaging the actuator and the inner component when in the locked position to
thereby
prevent axial movement of the actuatox, the lock engaging only the actuator
when in the
opened position to thereby permit axial movement of the actuator to the
unlocked
position.
In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking
assembly
comprising a housing member having a recess formed therein, a channel
extending
through the housing, the channel being in communication with the recess, an
elongated
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inner component mounted in the channel, the inner component having an axially
extending cavity therein, an actuator axially movable within the cavity, the
actuator being
operative to move a locking protrusion into the recess, a limiting means
designed to limit
axial movement of the actuator within the cavity between a locked position and
an
unlocked position, a lock mounted internally of the actuator, the lock being
operative to
move between a locked position and an opened position, the locking engaging
the
actuator and the inner component when in the locked position to thereby
prevent axial
movement of the actuator, the lock engaging only the actuator when in the
opened
position to thereby permit axial movement of the actuator to the unlocked
position.
The locking assembly of the present invention may be utilized with
commercially
available locks such as those marketed under the trademark ABLOY and which are
known for being of high security.
As set forth above, the locking assembly may take a form where a single
housing
member is utilized in conjunction with a trailer tongue or another embodiment,
there may
be provided first and second housing members which are secured together about
the hitch.
Different models will provide security for different configurations of
hitches.
As set forth above, the locking protrusion preferably comprises at least one
spherical member and in a preferred embodiment will provide a pair of such
spherical
members.
For extra security, the housing may include various inserts of hardened
material
such as a carbide portion. The locks may be formed of any suitable material
depending
upon the final use. Thus, they may be made of a stainless steel or
alternatively, of° a cast
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iron material. In some instances, the use of aluminum blocks coated with a
rigid
protective film by anadization may be suitable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
Figure I is a perspective exploded view of a ball hitch utilizing a locking
assembly
according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side exploded view of the arrangement of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side sectional view thereof;
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view showing the locking assembly in a lock
position
about a trailer hitch;
Figure 5 is a side elevatianal view of the arrangement of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a perspective exploded view of a second embodiment of a lacking
assembly as use with a fifth-wheel;
Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of the locking assembly of Figure 6 in a
locked
position.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a locking assembly
according to the present invention;
Figure 9a is a cross sectional view of the locking assembly of Figure 8 in a
locked
position;
Figure 9b is a cross sectional view of the locking assembly of Figure 8 in an
unlocked or opened position;
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Figure 10 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of a ~.ocking
assembly; and
Figure 11 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a locking assembly
according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters
thereto,
there is illustrated a locking assembly which is generally designated by
reference numeral
10. Locking assembly 10 is designed to be utilized in conjunction with a ball
hitch 12
having a ball 14 on the upper end thereof. Ball 14 has a recess 16 formed
therein with a
circular groove 18 formed within the interior walls extending about recess 16.
As is conventional, a trailer tongue 20 has a semi spherical portion 22 which
is
designed to sit on ball 14. A flange 24 extends about the end of tongue 20. A
locking
handle 26 is provided, in a known manner, to lock trailer tongue 20 onto ball
14.
Locking assembly 10 includes a housing 30 which has a channel 32 extending
therethrough. Housing 30 also includes a top flange portion 34 which partially
defines
an upper recess 36 sized and arranged such that it will fit about flange 24 of
trailer tongue
20. In the wall defining channel 32, there are provided screw threads 38.
An elongated inner component generally designated by reference numeral 40 is
designed to fit within channel 32. Elongated inner component 40 includes a
central
threaded portion 42 which is designed to screw threadedly engage threads 3 8.
At a first
end 44; there is provided an end wall 46 while a pair of apertures 48 are
provided in the
side wall proximate end wall 46. At a second end SO there is provided a non
screw-
threaded portion.
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Locking assembly 10 also includes an actuator generally designated by
reference
numeral 52. Actuator 52 has, at one end thereof, a conical portion 54.
Actuator 52 also
has an inner cavity 56 for reasons which will become apparent therein below.
Within the
side wall of actuator 52, there is provided a longitudinally extending groove
58. There
is also provided an aperture 60. In this respect, there is also provided an
inwardly
extending pin from the interior wall of elongated inner component 40.
A lock 64 of a known t~,~pe is utilized and which. has an outwardly extending
engaging member 66 which is extended outwardly by use of a key 68. In this
regard,
engaging member 66 extends outwardly for its full distance when in locked
position
while, when in unlocked position, extends only slightly outwardly.
A pair of spherical members 70 are located within elongated inner component 40
and are arranged to seat such that they partially extend through aperture 48.
In use, elongated inner component 40 is placed within channel 32 of housing 30
and secured therein by means of screw threads 42 on elongated inner component
40 and
threads 38 within channel 32. subsequently, actuator 52 is inserted within
elongated
inner component 40. Conical portion 54 is operative to move spherical members
70
outwardly through apertures 48.
Lock 64 is designed to fit within actuator S2 and in this respect, outwardly
extending engaging member 66 extends through aperture 60. In its fully
extended locked
position, engaging member 66 will pass through both actuator 52 and into
elongated inner
component 40. In its retracted position, engaging member 66 will only engage
actuator
52 such that actuator 52 may move axially within elongated inner component 40.
The
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range of movement is restricted by the engagement of pin 62 within groove 58.
Thus,
when in unlock position, key 68 may be used to pull lock 64 outwardly and
cause
disengagement of actuator 52 wi h spherical members 70 to permit unlocking
thereof. A
cover member 72 is provided to cover the key hole when not in use.
Turning to the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7, there is illustrated a locking
assembly for use with a hitch 74 as commonly used on a fifth-wheel.
Hitch 74 includes a bottom ring 76. In this embodiment, there is provided a
second
lock member 78 which is comprised of a housing 80 and a flange 82 which define
an
upper recess 84. Upper recess 84 is designed, with upper recess 36, to fit
about ring 76
as may be seen in Figures 6 and 7.
In this arrangement, second locking member 78 includes a lower recess 86
:having
a groove 88 formed therein. In this arrangement, actuator 52 is operative to
force
spherical members 70 into engagement with groove 88. A part from the above,
the
locking assembly operates in exactly the same fashion as previously described.
A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 8 and
9 and
which embodiment will now be briefly described. In this embodiment, the
locking
assembly is designated generally by reference numeral 110 and like reference
numerals
in the one hundred are utilized for like components.
The locking assembly 110 includes a main body portion 190 which is cylindrical
in configuration and having a recess to receive a hitch 174 as commonly used
on a
fifth-wheel. A side body portion 194 is also generally cylindrical in
configuration and is
formed integrally with main body portion 190. Within side body portion 194,
there is
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mounted a locking mechanism substantially as previously described except for
the use of
spherical members. Instead, an extended plunger 193 is utilized. As shown in
Figures
9a and 9b, carbide members 102 may be inserted in the body. The addition of
such
carbide members will add protection against the use of cutting tools to try to
defeat the
lock. As may be seen, the use of the locking assembly makes the trailer hitch
unaccessible and prevents the theft thereof. As will be readily understood,
the carbide
members 102 may be utilized in any of the locking assemlblies of the present
invention.
In Figure 9A, only one carbide member is shown, while in Figure 9B, additional
exterior
carbide members are provided.
Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment similar to that described with respect to
Figures 8 and 9 except that twc sides body portions 294; 296 extend from main
body
portion 290. Thus, two locking mechanisms may be provided to double the amount
of
time which could be required to defeat the lock.
In the embodiment of Figure 11, a main body portion 390 is provided with a
shell
398 thereabout. This embodiment could also utilize a double lock mechanism
similar to
that described with respect to Figure 10. The shell 398 is preferably of a
polyurethane
and is impact resistant. In the case of the double lock mechanism, the
arrangement would
provide protection for twice as long compared to the protection from a single
lock
mechanism. This arrangement also prevents or deters attempting the use of a
chain or a
modified hitching to remove the same.
It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of
illustration only and the changes and modifications may be made thereto
without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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