AU754666B2 - Apparatus for and method of securing trailed vehicles - Google Patents

Description

1 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF SECURING TRAILED VEHICLES Technical Field This invention relates to apparatus for and method of inhibiting unauthorised trailing of a vehicle adapted to be trailed from a ball hitch assembly.

Background Art Trailed vehicles adapted to be trailed by a passenger vehicles and the like are prone to unauthorised use, including theft. This is due in part to the ease of which such trailed vehicles may be coupled to any towing vehicle provided with a suitable towing ball and towed away. This is particularly so when trailed vehicles are parked with the hitch assembly positioned for ready access to a towing vehicle.

Hitched trailed vehicles are also subject to unauthorised use due to the ease of unhitching the trailer from the towing vehicle and reconnecting it to a further vehicle.

The use of safety chains does not significantly deter such actions such chains are not provided for the purpose of preventing theft and are normally looped over a connecting 15 horn on the towing vehicle to form a quick connection fail safe thereto. In order to increase the security of such fail-safe connections, the safety chain may be padlocked to a towing vehicle. However the length of free chain necessary to accommodate .articulation between the vehicles facilitates ready access thereto by bolt cutters and the like and thus does not provide a significant deterrent to persons equipped with basic tools.

Summary of the Invention V The present aims to alleviate at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages o and to provide apparatus for and methods of securing trailed vehicles which will be reliable and efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in securing apparatus for inhibiting unauthorised trailing of a vehicle adapted to be trailed from a ball-hitch assembly, said apparatus including a housing assembly comprising: first and second parts, said parts being adapted to be located on opposite sides of a leading end portion of said hitch assembly and cooperate with each other in an operative position to define a hollow housing to accommodate and capture said leading nd portion of said hitch assembly, 2 said first and second parts further having location means adapted to cooperate in said operative position with each other and with towing means engageable with said hitch assembly; and locking means for preventing dislocation of said location means from said towing means.

Preferably the housing assembly has an upper portion which extends about a leading portion of the hitch assembly which encompasses the towing ball. However the hitch assembly could provide a dedicated complementary spigot member adapted to cooperate with the upper portion of the housing assembly for retaining the hitch assembly on the towing means. Furthermore, the location means may be provided to locate about a towing ball per se or with an assembly of a towing ball mounted on a drawbar of a towing vehicle.

The towing means typically comprises a towing bar and towing ball mounted thereon and the first and second parts suitably interlock in the operative position or pivot to the operative position at which the leading end portion of the hitch assembly 15 and the towing ball are effectively captured between the parts in a manner which precludes proper access to the towing ball or its securing means and which precludes separation of the hitch assembly and the towing ball and/or tow bar. For this purpose the first and second parts may be pivoted about an upper or lower pivot having a longitudinal axis relative to the towing means or about an upstanding axis such that the parts may be engaged about or disengaged from the opposite sides of the articulated linkage formed by a tow bar and coupled hitch assembly. In such embodiment it is preferred that the locking means be a padlock at a lower portion of the housing assembly and located in use between opposed side walls of the parts which prevent ready access to the hasp and/or locking mechanism of the padlock. It is also preferred 25 that the padlock be partially concealed by the opposed side walls and that the side walls be maintained in abutting relationship by engagement of the padlock such that they will form a restraint against pivotal separation of the parts in the event that the pivot connection therebetween is destroyed, further deterring unauthorised use of the trailed vehicle. Alternatively the locking means may comprise a lock of the type having a barrel and a pin which may be extended from the barrel. The barrel may be located on one part and the pin may be extendable to engage with a member on the other part when the parts are brought together in the operative position.

Preferably the upper rear portion of the engaged housing assembly is open to enable the leading end portion of the hitch assembly to enter the housing assembly and the lower front portion of the engaged housing assembly is open to enable the tow bar which supports the tow ball to extend forwardly thereof. It is also preferred that the opening to the upper rear portion of the engaged housing assembly is sufficiently wide and has sufficient vertical clearance with respect to the encompassed leading end to permit limited pivotal movement of the hitch assembly relative to the housing assembly for accommodating normal articulated movement during travelling. However if desired this pivotal movement may be restricted and further pivotal movement may be provided between the housing assembly and the encompassed tow bar mounting for the towing ball.

Suitably, the location means is adapted to locate about the towing ball and may comprise upper and lower recesses in the parts for location about vertically spaced parts of the towing ball. The towing ball suitably includes a base flange and mounting 15 shaft and in a preferred embodiment the location means of the housing assembly provides a locating aperture which engages snugly about and locates the housing assembly for pivotal movement about the base flange of the towing ball. The locating aperture may be defined by semi-circular recesses in the parts which cooperate to defined the locating aperture.

The housing assembly preferably further includes a lower socket defined by the first and second parts in the operative position which in use is substantially coaxial with the locating aperture for receiving the lower end of the threaded towing ball geese mounting shaft and which provides axial location for the housing assembly and a S.restraint against substantial pivotal lateral movement of the housing assembly. The 25 axial location of the housing assembly also provides a safety feature in that It prevents upward dislocation of the hitch from the towing ball while in motion.

The housing assembly may further include capture means for capturing a towing ball independent of a tow bar such that a hitch assembly may be secured with a towing ball therein to prevent its connection to a further tow bar mounted towing ball.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into S practical effect, reference will hereinafter be made to the accompanying drawings S which Illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and wherein:- FIG. 1 is a side view showing the securing apparatus in its operative securing position: FIG. 2 is a view of the two part securing apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 with the housing parts pivoted to a separated inoperative position; FIG. 3 is a rear end view of the securing apparatus; FIG. 4 is a plan view of the securing apparatus; FIG. 5 is an underside view of the securing apparatus; FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of one housing portion; FIG. 7 shows a towing ball secured in a freestanding towing hitch; FIG. 8 illustrates the means whereby the securing apparatus may capture a towing ball; FIG. 9 illustrates the towing ball per se adapted for capture by the securing apparatus; FIG. 10 illustrates a further adaption for the present invention; and FIG. 11 illustrates a further embodiment incorporating an alternate locking arrangement.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring initially to Figs. 1 to 6, it will be seen that the securing apparatus 10 is a two part housing having right and left hand housing parts 11 and 12 pivotally coupled together by a pin hinge 13 having an axis which extends horizontally and longitudinally with respect to the tow bar.

The housing parts 11 and 12 are substantially identical mirror images of one another which close together and abut in a plane through the centre line 14 to form an upper housing portion 15 which is open at the rear and a lower housing portion 16 which is open at the front. Each housing part has a base wall 18 which is adapted to rest upon the tow bar 20 and which is provided with a semi-circular cut-out 21 which engages closely about the base flange 22 of the towing ball 23.

A lower wall 25 of each housing part is spaced beneath the respective base wall 18 a sufficient distance to enable the threaded stem 26 of the towing ball to be accommodated between the walls 18 and 25. A peripheral flange 27 extends upwardly from the lower wall 25 to form a socket 28 which is concentric with the axis of the semi-circular cut-out 21. Side walls 30 extend from the upper housing portion beyond the base wall 18 and bottom wall 25 to provide a rigid enclosure which accommodates the leading end portion 40 of a towing hitch 39, only a portion of which is shown, with a small clearance, indicated by dimension C, between the returned wall portion 41 of the upper housing portion 15 and the upper face 42 of the hitch 39. This clearance enables the connected hitch to articulate about a horizontal axis for passage of coupled vehicles across crests and valleys.

The trailing edges 44 of the side walls 30 are cut-away at the upper housing portion 15 as illustrated to provide clearance for articulation of the towing hitch about the vertical axis of the towing ball to a limited extent of about 100 either side of a straight ahead position.

The side wall portions 45 between the base wall 18 and the lower wall 25 are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the supporting tow bar such that the housing 10 may pivot to a limit extent about a vertical axis. For this purpose the securing apparatus 10 is located for such pivotal motion by an upper bearing formed by engagement of the aperture 21 extending about the circular base flange 22 of the towing ball and by a lower location formed by engagement of the lower end of the stem 26 loosely in the socket 28. This pivotal motion extends the limits of pivotal movement of the hitch 39 relative to the tow bar 20 both in the left and right direction o5*e and rocking forward and rearward so that the access opening to the upper housing portion 15 may be limited to maintain a secure capture of towing hitches which may be utilised on a trailed vehicle. If desired the base of the socket 28 may be open to permit

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a long stem to pass therethrough. In such instances a further nut may be engaged on the stem to limit upward movement.

The lower extensions 50 of the side walls 30 support opposed apertured lugs 51 and .52 which are offset on the respective housings 15 and 16 so that they close across one another to bring the respective hasp apertures 53 into register with one another whereby the housing parts 15 and 16 may be locked together by inserting the hasp 54 of a padlock 39 through the aligned apertures 53. When a padlock 39 is so secured, the hasp 54 and upper portion of the padlock body is located between the lower side wall extensions 50. This arrangement enables the housing parts 11 and 12 to be locked together by a padlock 39 in such manner that a bolt cutter or the like cannot be easily inserted into the space between the side walls 50 to sever its hasp 54.

6 In use, after a towing hitch 39 has been connected to a towing ball 23 the housing parts 11/12 may be pivoted about their upper pivot 13 to spaced apart positions at which they may be located over the opposite side portions of the towing hitch 39 and the trailing end portion 19 of the tow bar 20 which supports the towing ball 23. The part recesses 21 and the socket parts 28 are then engaged about the base flange 22 and with the stem 26 so as to positively locate the securing apparatus about the ball 23 and tow bar 20 whereby the upper housing portions 15 extend about a sufficient portion of the leading end portion 40 of the hitch 39 to prevent its removal from the towing ball 23. The housing portions 15 and 16 may then be locked together by engaging the hasp of a padlock through the registering apertures 53. Thus removal of the securing apparatus is prevented and can be achieved only by unlocking of the padlock or by breaking the apparatus 10 which is suitably formed of steel for maximum strength and toughness, the side wall extensions 50 preventing access by a bolt cutter to the padlock hasp 54.

*0 The side walls 45 are also provided with upper and lower recesses 46/47 which may accommodate the end portions 43 of adapter plates 48 supported in spaced apart positions on the threaded stem 26 of a tow ball 23, as illustrated in Fig. 9, so that the housing parts 11/12 in the closed position may capture the tow ball 23 and secure it within a hitch 60 as illustrated in Fig. 8. Again a padlock 39 may be used to lock the housing parts 11 and 12 together and thus prevent unauthorised coupling of the trailed vehicle supporting the hitch 60 to a towing vehicle.

ooo o Thus it will be seen that the securing apparatus of the present invention may be used to capture the hitch assembly in its engaged position about a tow bar assembly whereby the trailer coupled thereby is prevented from being removed from an authorised vehicle or which may be used to capture a towing ball in a freestanding hitch to prevent the hitch being engaged with the tow bar assembly of an unauthorised vehicle.

As illustrated in Fig. 10 two flat disc halves 65 and 66 may be secured about the stem of an European style towing ball to adapt it for use with the present invention.

The materials used in the invention are suitably cast steel for the two halves of the securing apparatus 10 with a stainless steal pin acting as a pivoting pin for the pin hinge 13. Stainless steel washers are positioned between the hinge sections to preclude the entry of a cutting device separating the two halves at this point. The hinge consists of a central boss 55 on one part 12 supported between spaced bosses 56 on the other part 11 with the pin aperture being drilled from the front of the housings to half way into the back boss thus creating a blind hole.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 11 the lower parts of the housing are truncated and one housing part 12' is provided with a key operated plunger lock having an extendable pin 71 which may extend into an apertured block 72. The other housing part 11' includes an apertured lug 73 which when the housing parts 11' and 12' are brought together locates between the plunger lock 70 and block 72 to receive the pin of the lock 70 when it is extended, the outer end of the pin 71 extending into and being supported by the block 72. It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this Invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the *see broad scope and ambit of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

S S: too °o

Claims (14)

1. Securing apparatus for inhibiting unauthorised trailing of a vehicle adapted to be trailed from a ball-hitch assembly, said apparatus including a housing assembly comprising: first and second parts, said parts being adapted to be located on opposite sides of a leading end portion of said hitch assembly and cooperate with each other in an operative position to define a hollow housing to accommodate and capture said leading end portion of said hitch assembly, said first and second parts further having location means adapted to cooperate in said operative position with each other and with towing means engageable with said hitch assembly; and locking means for preventing dislocation of said location means from said towing means. 9 15 2. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said towing means includes a towing ball and wherein said location means of said first and second parts are adapted *to locate about said towing ball. o•

3. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said location means comprise upper and lower recesses in said parts for location about vertically spaced parts of said towing ball. oeo.

4. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said towing ball includes a base flange and mounting shaft and wherein said upper recesses define in said operative :i 25 position a locating aperture which engages snugly with and, locates the housing assembly for pivotal movement about, said base flange of the towing ball. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said upper recesses comprise semi-circular recesses in each said part.

6. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein said location means further define in said operative position a lower socket which in use is substantially coaxial with said locating aperture for receiving the lower end of said towing ball mounting shaft.

7. Securing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said locking means comprises a padlock engageable with respective locking lugs at a lower portion of said housing assembly.

8. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said locking lugs are offset and extend laterally from a respective outer side wall of each part of said housing assembly.

9. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said padlock is located in use between said opposite side walls to prevent ready access to the hasp and locking mechanism of said padlock. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said padlock is partially concealed by said opposite side walls and wherein said side walls in use are maintained ooo".:in abutting relationship by said padlock to form a restraint against separation of the first and second parts.

11. Securing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said locking means comprises a barrel and pin lock, said barrel being located on one said part and S.wherein said pin is extendable to engage with a member of the other part when the parts are brought together in said operative position.

12. Securing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper rear portion of said housing assembly is open to enable the leading end portion of the hitch assembly to enter the housing assembly.

13. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the opening to the upper rear portion of the housing assembly is sufficiently wide and has sufficient vertical clearance with respect to said leading portion of said hitch assembly to permit limited pivotal movement of the hitch assembly relative to the housing assembly for accommodating normal articulated movement during travelling.

14. Securing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said towing means includes a tow bar and wherein the lower front portion of the housing assembly is open to enable said tow bar to extend forwardly thereof Securing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said parts are connected for pivotal movement with respect to one another between said operative position and an inoperative position enabling release of said hitch assembly.

16. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said first and second parts are pivotally connected for movement laterally with respect to one another from their operative position.

17. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the pivot axis of said first and second parts comprises an axis extending generally longitudinally of said towing o• means.

18. Securing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said *0 O housing assembly includes capture means for capturing a towing ball independent of said towing means such that a hitch assembly may be secured with a towing ball therein to prevent its connection to a further tow bar mounted towing ball. i 25 19. Securing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said first and second parts define first and second substantially identical hollow housing portions which in said operative postiion define said hollow housing. Securing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.