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:
Apr. 27, 1993
Filed:
Sep. 10, 1992
Michael S Hollis, Minden, LA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An improved trailer coupler is provided for a trailer having a forwardly extending tongue, which consists of a housing fixed on and extending forwardly from the tongue. A pair of opposed jaws are pivoted on vertical axes on the housing. Each jaw has an inner side formed with a spherical concavity for embracing a hitch ball and a surface for forcing said improved trailer coupler to align with a said hitch ball. A jaw locking bail has a bight portion with a finger tab to facilitate operation of the bail and a pair of side portions, each with an ear extension. The side portions are horizontally pivoted on the housing at the ear extensions at opposite sides of the housing. The ball is swingable forwardly and downwardly from an elevated retracted position to a horizontal jaw-locking position, wherein the side portions completely engage the outer sides of the jaws and the bight portion completely engages the forward ends of the jaws in the closed positions of the jaws. A closure compression spring is located inwardly at one horizontally pivoted ear extension for biasing the bail towards the jaw-locking position.