AU2017100129A4 - A Trailer Lock - Google Patents

Abstract

A lock for vehicle trailers, the lock comprising a body having two arms and a base, a ball attachment means located on the base and a locking mechanism including a bolt extending between the two arms, wherein the bolt is held in place using a pin within at least one of the arms.

Description

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A TRAILER LOCK 2017100129 02 Feb 2017

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to locks and, more particularly, a lock adapted for vehicle trailers.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Vehicles can be used to tow camper trailers, boat trailers and standard trailers. However, the trailers are able to be easily towed away by thieves if the trailer hitch does not have a lock. Different designs of lock are available for trailers. However, most lock designs are only adapted to attach to one particular type of trailer hitch. For example, most trailers are hitched to vehicles using a ball mechanism. However, some other trailers do not use a ball mechanism and instead rely on a clamp, or a coupling pin. A lock is required that is adapted to be used with many different types of trailer hitch mechanisms.

[0003] Almost all locks can be broken by thieves using tools, such as an angle grinder, crowbar or sledge hammer. However, a lock is required which is takes an extended period of time for a thief to break and attracts attention to the thief during the breaking process. The object of the present invention is to provide a lock which may at least partially overcome at least one of the aforementioned problems or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0004] According to the present invention, there is provided a lock for vehicle trailers, the lock comprising: (a) a body having two arms and a base; (b) a ball located on the base for attaching a trailer to the lock; and (c) a locking mechanism including a bolt extending between the two arms, wherein the bolt is held in place using a pin within at least one of the arms.

[0005] Preferably, the lock includes an alarm which is activated if the lock is moved. In preferred forms of the invention, the ball is adapted to be removed from the body of the lock. It is preferred that the bolt includes an outer sleeve. Preferably, the alarm can send a message to a software application running on a device remote from the lock. The alarm can be activated or 2 deactivated using a software application running on a device remote from the lock. 2017100129 02 Feb 2017 [0006] The second arm may comprise a key mechanism. When a key is turned in the mechanism, a pin is raised which interfaces with a cylindrical recess in the bolt. The pin holds the bolt in position between the first arm and the second arm.

[0007] The sleeve may be used to increase the diameter of the bolt to provide a tight fit with a ball hitch. Preferably, the sleeve is able to spin freely on the bolt, which makes it exceedingly difficult to cut the bolt with an angle grinder. The sleeve thereby makes the lock more secure and difficult for thieves to remove.

[0008] The ball may be removed if the lock is to be attached to other forms of clamp, such as the block clamp or a pin clamp.

[0009] The ball may have a long Allan key nut which attaches the ball to the base of the lock. The ball can be removed with an Allan key. When the ball is removed, the ball may be replaced with a short Allan key nut because it holds the base plate onto the base of the lock.

[0010] Preferably, a base plate is used to hold an alarm within the first arm of the lock. The alarm may have a siren at its base, which is preferably powered by a battery. The alarm may be activated by a sensor, which can detect movement in the lock. In preferred forms of the invention, the alarm is armed by the bolt being pressed into a button on the first arm of the lock. The depression of the button exposes an internal hole within the first arm which sends a signal to the sensor in the alarm. The alarm emits a single beep noise when it is armed. Pressing the button again disarms the alarm, which then emits two consecutive beep noises. The alarm should be disarmed in situations where it is not required or would provide false alerts. These situations could include during packaging, transport or for demonstrations.

[0011] In preferred embodiments of the invention, the alarm includes a communications module which has the ability to transmit a signal to a software application running on an electronic device. The information transmitted by the alarm may include the time and date on which the alarm was triggered and may also include the location of the lock at that time. The alarm can also be remotely activated or deactivated using the software application. In some embodiments of the invention, the lock can be locked or unlocked using the software application.

[0012] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention. 3

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 2017100129 02 Feb 2017 [0013] Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: [0014] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the lock according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0015] Figure 2 is a side view of the locking mechanism of the lock of figure 1, wherein a bolt has been removed from the arms of the lock.

[0016] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lock of figure 1 showing components of the lock.

[0017] Figure 4 is a top perspective view of the lock of figure 1.

[0018] Figure 5 is a side view of the lock of figure 1 with the ball removed.

[0019] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a ball hitch for a trailer attached to the lock of figure 1.

[0020] Figure 7 is a perspective view of block hitch for a trailer attached to the lock of figure 1.

[0021] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a pin hitch attached to the lock of figure 1.

[0022] Figure 9 is perspective view of the base of the lock of figure 1, wherein the alarm has been removed from the first arm of the lock.

[0023] Figure 10 is a representation of a software application running on a mobile phone which indicates to the owner of the lock that the alarm has been activated.

DETAIDED DESCRIPTION

[0024] sFigure 1 shows a lock 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The lock 10 has a base 12, first arm 14 and a second arm 16. A bolt 18 passes through the second arm 16 and into the first arm 14. The second arm 16 comprises a key mechanism 18 (see figure 2). When a key 19 is turned in the mechanism 18, a pin 20 is raised which interfaces with a cylindrical recess 22 in the bolt 18. The pin 20 holds the bolt 18 in position between the first arm 14 and the second arm 16. 4 2017100129 02 Feb 2017 [0025] The lock 10 also has a ball 26 to allow a ball hitch 28 to be attached to the lock 10 (as shown in figure 6). The bolt 18 has a sleeve 24 (see figure 3) to increase the diameter of the bolt 18 to provide a tight fit with the ball hitch 28 (as shown in figure 6). The sleeve 24 is able to spin freely on the bolt 18, which makes it exceedingly difficult to cut the bolt 18 with an angle grinder. The sleeve 24 thereby makes the lock 10 more secure and difficult for thieves to remove.

[0026] The ball 26 can be removed if the lock 10 is to be attached to other forms of clamp, such as the block clamp 32 shown in figure 7 or a pin clamp 34 shown in figure 8. The sleeve 24 can be removed from the bolt 18 when the lock 10 is to be used on a block clamp 32 (because the hole in the block is too small to accommodate the diameter of the sleeve 24).

Sleeves of any diameter can be used to adapt the lock of the present invention for any application.

[0027] As shown in figure 4, the ball 26 has a long Allan key nut 34 which attaches the ball 26 to the base 12 of the lock 10. The ball 26 is shown removed from the base 12 in figure 5. The ball 26 can be removed with an Allan key 36 shown in figure 3. When the ball 26 is removed, it should be replaced with a short Allan key nut 38 because it holds the base plate 40 onto the base 12 of the lock 10.

[0028] Referring to figure 9, a base plate 40 holds an alarm 42 within the first arm 14 of the lock 10. The alarm 42 has a siren 44 at its base, which is powered by a battery 46. The alarm 42 is activated by a sensor 48, which can detect movement in the lock 10 (indicative of the lock 10 being tampered with by a thief). The alarm 42 is armed by the bolt 18 being pressed into a button 50 on the first arm 14 of the lock 10 (see figure 2). The depression of the button 50 exposes an internal hole (not shown) within the first arm 14 which sends a signal to the sensor 48 in the alarm 42. The alarm 42 emits a single beep noise when it is armed. Pressing the button 50 again disarms the alarm 42, which then emits two consecutive beep noises. The alarm 42 should be disarmed in situations where it is not required or would provide false alerts. These situations could include during packaging, transport or for demonstrations.

[0029] In some embodiments of the invention, the alarm 42 can include a communications module (not shown) which has the ability to transmit a signal to a software application 52 running on an electronic device 54 (see figure 10). The information transmitted by the alarm 42 could include the time and date on which the alarm 42 was triggered and may also include the location of the lock 42 at that time. The alarm 42 can also be remotely activated or deactivated using the software application 52. In some embodiments of the invention, the lock 10 can be 2017100129 02 Feb 2017 5 locked or unlocked using the software application 52.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

[0030] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ‘comprising’ and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0031] Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0032] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

[0033] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claims (6)

1. A lock for vehicle trailers, the lock comprising: (a) a body having two arms and a base; (b) a ball located on the base for attaching a trailer to the lock; and (c) a locking mechanism including a bolt extending between the two arms, wherein the bolt is held in place using a pin within at least one of the arms.

2. The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock includes an alarm which is activated if the lock is moved.

3. The lock of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ball is adapted to be removed from the body of the lock.

4. The lock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bolt includes an outer sleeve.

5. The lock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the alarm can send a message to a software application running on a device remote from the lock.

6. The lock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the alarm can be activated or deactivated using a software application running on a device remote from the lock.