| 摘要 |
A coupling device for use on a towed vehicle, comprises: a body for receiving a ball of a ball-type hitch and a latch assembly for locking the ball in the front position of the body. The latch assembly may include a bracket connected to side portions of the body and a locking element supported by the bracket for movement between opened and closed positions. The locking element has a body with a bearing surface to engage the ball when in the locked position and a surface cooperating with a surface on the bracket. The cooperating surfaces are disposed at an angle relative to a line extending transversely to a lateral line bisecting the body. This angle is sufficient to permit lateral movement of the bearing surface away from the ball to disconnect the coupling device from the ball while being less than that angle which would cause the locking element to move toward the opened position when the ball re-engages the locking element in the negative loan condition. The coupling device may include a ball socket having a hemispherical surface to engage the ball, the hemispherical surface having an axis of symmetry disposed in a plane that bisects the coupling device body with the upper portion of the axis extending at an angle of approximately 20 DEG relative to an axis of symmetry extending through the ball toward the front portion of the coupling device body.
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