| 摘要 |
<p>SELF-CLOSING TRAILER COUPLER A coupler for a trailer and the like, the coupler having a body and cap hinged together at a front portion and closeable along parting faces and having an internal cavity formed by the body and the cap for the ball which is conventionally secured to either the trailer or the towing vehicle. The body forms a major portion of the ball cavity and includes a ball centering upper surface which extends substantially laterally across the upper surface of the cavity, forming a self-centering bearing surface for the ball. An automatic closing means is formed on a front portion of the cap and body wherein insertion of the ball into the ball cavity automatically closes the cap with respect to the body. The closing means includes a protrusion on the cap at an opposite side of the hinge where the cap encloses the ball cavity. The protrusion extends through an aperture in the body and projects into the ball cavity when the cap is in an open position. Placement of the ball within the ball cavity pushes the protrusion out of the cavity and the protrusion in turn exerts a closing force on the cap.</p> |
