A secure trailer hitching post comprises: a) a body having an open top and a front opening and being adapted to be secured to a surrounding structure; b) a hitch ball assembly comprising a hitch ball plate positioned within and secured to the body and dividing the interior thereof into upper and lower portions, and a hitch ball; and c) a retainer assembly comprising a flat retainer plate and an apertured vertically depending tab received within a slot in the lower portion of the interior of the body. A sliding retaining shaft is positioned within apertures in the front of the body and the front of the slot, so that the retaining shaft may slide inward into the slot and through an aperture of the tab of the retainer assembly, thereby securing the tab within the slot and thereby securing the retainer assembly to the body. A coupler of a trailer is placed on the hitch ball and the retainer assembly placed within the top of the body with the tab received within the slot. The retaining shaft slides into the slot and through an aperture of the tab, and a locking mechanism engaged to prevent the retaining shaft from sliding out of the aperture, thereby securing the coupler of the trailer to the trailer hitching post and preventing unauthorized removal therefrom. The body may further comprise a horizontal channel bracket for receiving the lower edge of a garage door when the hitching post is placed on the ground and the garage door is closed.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims benefit of prior filed provisional Application No. 60/188,466 entitled "Secure trailer hitching post" filed Mar. 10, 2000 in the name of Bruce H. Bale, said provisional application being hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
A receptacle has a recess and a passageway. A ball extends upwardly for receiving thereon a hitch. The ball is secured with respect to a coupling plate. A projection is received within the recess. The projection has a passageway with a pin. A locking assembly has a fixed portion. The fixed portion has a sleeve. The sleeve is secured with respect to the coupling plate. A passageway extends through the coupling plate. A removable portion has a retaining bar. The removable portion has a portion adapted to be removably coupled with respect to the sleeve with a passageway and a pin.
A trailer hitch for resisting inadvertent separation of a trailer tongue coupler from a vehicle's hitch ball. The trailer hitch includes a sleeve, a retainer rotatably disposed within the sleeve and including: a rod rotatably disposed within the sleeve, a displacement member coupled to the rod and extending radially therefrom, and a retaining member coupled to the displacement member and resisting inadvertent separation of the trailer tongue coupler from the vehicle's hitch ball when the retaining member is axially disposed adjacent the vehicle's hitch ball. The sleeve includes a shaft coupler removably coupleable to the vehicle. Further, there is a hitch shaft substantially parallel to the sleeve. Also, the displacement member includes a bent rod and the retaining member includes a disk. Still more, the rod is rotatably coupled to the sleeve by a pair of apertures and a bolt.
A ball and ring hitch lock to reversibly obstruct a ball socket or ring of a trailer hitch in order to prevent the theft of an unhitched trailer. The ball and ring hitch lock comprises an upper plate and a base plate attached by means of a secure rachet type system. A male hitch anchor is attached to the base plate. The male hitch anchor is sized to fit into a ball or a ring type hitch.
A method and apparatus to secure the coupler section of a trailer provides a locking device that includes a lock housing having a hitch ball element to engage the recess in the coupler, a shackle member lockable to the housing and having a bridge section that spans the hitch ball element, and a latch assembly to latch and unlatch the shackle member. The shackle member is shown to be U-shaped with legs that extend through and secure to the lock housing. The latch assembly provides a ratchet-type engagement to allow adjustable locking. A rotatable lock mechanism drives a cam based latch mechanism between a latch state and an unlatch state.
A lock assembly for securing a trailer including a hitch ball, a lock housing, a lock washer and a nut. The lock housing is placed over the lock washer and nut to prevent the nut from turning. A threaded portion of the hitch ball is placed through a hole in the lock housing and through the lock washer and nut to secure the hitch ball. When a trailer coupler is locked to the ball portion of the hitch ball, the trailer and hitch ball are secure from theft.
