Trailer Coupler Rotary Clamp Locking for Secure Hitch Ball Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ball clamp couplers for trailers have drawbacks such as complex operation and lack of a secure secondary locking mechanism, making them difficult to use and unreliable for attaching to hitch balls on towing vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A trailer coupler design featuring a rotatable handle that moves a clamp between locked and unlocked positions using a rod and ramped surfaces, with a secondary locking feature provided by aligned tabs and a pin system, allowing for easy attachment and detachment while ensuring the coupler remains secure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flip-up trigger switch is used to move the clamp, then the coupler can be operated to lock and unlock the hitch ball, but the operation becomes complex and user-friendly interface is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional flip-up trigger mechanism by using a rotatable handle that moves in a circular motion rather than a linear flip motion. This inversion simplifies the user interface while maintaining the locking function, making the coupler easier to operate without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a rod as an intermediary element that connects the rotatable handle to the clamp mechanism. This intermediary translates the rotational motion of the handle into the linear motion required to move the clamp, simplifying the user interaction while managing the internal complexity through a clear mechanical translation mechanism.
2Reliability
If a conventional locking mechanism is used, then the coupler can secure the hitch ball, but there is no secondary locking feature to enhance security
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a secondary locking feature that is preliminarily positioned and activated automatically when the clamp engages the hitch ball. This preliminary action ensures enhanced security is already in place before the user completes the locking operation, providing redundant security without requiring additional user actions or complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the primary and secondary locking functions into a single integrated mechanism where the rotatable handle operation simultaneously engages both the main clamp lock and the secondary safety lock. This merging provides enhanced security through multiple locking points while avoiding the complexity of separate independent locking systems.
3Ease of operation
If the clamp is allowed to move freely in the channel, then the clamp can be positioned correctly for locking, but the clamp may move beyond the lower opening causing improper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions a stop element preliminarily within the channel at the appropriate location before the locking operation begins. This pre-positioned stop ensures that when the clamp is moved along the channel during the locking process, it will be automatically halted at the correct position, preventing over-travel beyond the lower opening and ensuring accurate positioning for reliable locking.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupler is provided for attachment to a trailer and for receiving and selectively locking onto a hitch ball of a towing vehicle. The coupler may include a coupler body to attach to the trailer. The coupler body may have a socket attached to the upper surface of the coupler body adjacent. A socket and an adjacent clamp may be provided for selectively locking onto the hitch ball. A handle may be disposed above the upper surface of the coupler body and operatively coupled to the clamp for selectively moving the clamp between a locked position and an unlocked position. The handle may be rotatable about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the coupler body. The handle may be connected to the clamp by a rod defining a long axis. The rod may include a pin that rides on a pair of ramped surfaces to convert a rotational movement of the handle to translational movement of the clamp between a locked position and an unlocked position.