The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 04, 1976
Filed:
Aug. 27, 1975
Bernard R Weber, Elm Grove, WI (US);
Valley Tow-Rite, Lodi, CA (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for locking a coupling socket member in engagement with a mating ball member is disclosed. A ball retainer member is located within the coupling socket member and is movable from a lowered release position to a raised locked position. The ball retainer member is in engagement with the ball member in its raised position to lock the ball member to the coupling socket member. A latch bolt has a lower portion engaged with the ball retainer member and an upper portion which projects upwardly through an aperture in the coupling socket member. The upper end of the latch bolt has a notch formed therein. A cam lever overlies the aperture in the coupling socket member and has a pivot end pivotably attached to the latch bolt and an opposite free end. When the cam lever is pivoted from its release position to its locking position, it raises the bolt to move the ball retainer member from its lower release position to its raised locking position. A locking latch is provided which has a pivot end pivotably attached to the free end of the handle and an opposite free end adapted to overlie the upper end of the bolt. The locking latch has a preselected length so that upon pivoting of the handle to its locking position, the free end of the locking latch is aligned with the notch in the upper end of the latch bolt. A spring biases the locking latch toward the notch so that the free end of the locking latch snaps into engagement with the notch to lock the cam lever in its locking position. The locking latch can be manually actuated against the spring to disengage the free end of the locking latch from the notch and allow the cam lever to pivot to its release position, unlocking the coupling socket member from the ball member.