Trailer Hitch Locking Arm Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional trailer hitch systems are prone to unintended uncoupling due to improper assembly, mismatched coupler and hitch ball sizes, loose fittings, and failure of latch mechanisms, posing safety risks and requiring cumbersome safety chains that can be ineffective and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A trailer hitch safety assembly featuring a locking arm that extends over the coupler and hitch to inhibit uncoupling, with a compact design that includes a mounting ring, base portions, and a locking arm that connects to prevent unauthorized separation, and an optional lock assembly for added security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional latch mechanisms with separate latch pins are used, then the coupler can be assembled, but the trailer may still become unhitched due to user error, improper fit, or component wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking arm, mounting ring, and base portions into an integrated safety assembly that works together as a unified system. The locking arm merges with the base portions through receptacles and pins to form a cohesive structure that prevents uncoupling, eliminating the need for separate safety devices and improving overall reliability while maintaining manageable complexity.
2Reliability
If safety chains are used to prevent trailer separation, then the trailer is secured after uncoupling, but the chains are bulky, cumbersome to install and store, and may drag on the ground causing fires or entanglement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the safety function from traditional ground-dragging chains and relocates it to an elevated locking arm assembly that engages with the coupler and hitch ball. This removes the harmful ground contact while maintaining the security function, and the compact assembly is much easier to install and store compared to bulky safety chains.
3Reliability
If the locking arm extends over the coupled trailer coupler and towing hitch, then uncoupling is inhibited, but the assembly becomes more complex with multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the safety assembly into distinct functional components: a locking arm for preventing uncoupling, mounting ring for attachment, and base portions for structural support. These segmented components connect through standardized receptacles and pins, allowing modular assembly that provides reliable uncoupling prevention while keeping individual components simple and manageable.
4Strength
If proper gauge and number of safety chains are selected based on trailer weight and load, then the chains can remain intact if trailer comes unhitched, but the selection and installation process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter from using flexible chains to a rigid locking arm structure that provides inherent strength without requiring complex selection based on weight and load parameters. The locking arm's structural design inherently provides the necessary strength to prevent uncoupling, eliminating the time-consuming process of calculating and selecting appropriate chain gauge and quantity.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer hitch safety assembly and a method of use for inhibiting uncoupling of a trailer coupler from a towing hitch. The trailer hitch safety assembly includes a mounting ring that is received on the shank portion of a towing hitch. The trailer hitch safety assembly also includes a base having first and second base portions that are releasably connected together around the mounting ring to retain the base on the shank portion. A locking arm releasably connects to the base and extends over the coupled trailer coupler and towing hitch to inhibit uncoupling of the trailer coupler from the towing hitch.