AU601269B2

AU601269B2 - Trailer security device

Info

Publication number: AU601269B2
Application number: AU13188/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kenneth William Dickman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-03-18
Filing date: 1988-03-15
Publication date: 1990-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-15
Also published as: AU1318888A

Description

AUSTRALIA 601 9% COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodlged; Complete Spiecification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priorityip Related Art: 4 44 4 4 0 4 44 o 4 4~ 4444 44 4 4 4 4 44444 4 Name(s) of Applicanit(s): Address(es) of Applicant(s): Actual Inventor(s): APPLICANT'S CAP of P1 0921 KENNETH WILLIAM DICKMAN 14 Cresta Court, Rio Vists, Broadbeach Waters, Queensland 40128 Australia KENNETH WILLIAM DICKMAN 1 44 4 4 S 44 4 4~4444 4 4 t Address for Service is:, PHILLIPS, ORMONDE AND FITZ'PATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbouirne, Australia, 3000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: TRAILER SECURITY DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention, icluding the best method of performing it known to applicant(s), 1 19/3, 84

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1) 4i p TRAILER SECURITY DEVICE This invention relates to a device which can be used to secure a trailer and prevent the theft or unauthorised use of the trailer.

Various kinds of trailers are in common use including the relatively small domestic trailers used to move garden materials or household effects, boat trailers, camping trailers including caravans, and equipment trailers as used, for example, to transport mobile equipment such as air compressors from site to site. For all these types of trailers, the risk of theft or unauthorised use arises both when the trailer is disconnected from a towing vehicle or when a connected trailer and towing vehicle are left unattended. Boat trailers at launching ramps and caravans either at a camping site or in domestic storage are particularly subject to this risk.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which can be used to reduce the risk of theft or unauthorised use of a trailer, the device being simple to use and in particular allowing authorised removal of the trailer from the security device without difficulty.

The security device of the invention is intended for use in conjunction with a trailer coupling which incorporates a socket device and l2p' .which is adapted to be secured with the capacity for limited movement to a ball fitting within the socket of the trailer coupling. In normal use a coupling connected to the towing member of a trailer is coupled to a ball which is secured to a protruding tongue on the tow bar of a vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided a security device comprising a hood-like body portion adapted to substantially enclose a trailer coupling, a tow ball to which the trailer coupling is connected and the outer end of a tow bar tongue to which the tow ball is connected, A i sc o n n ec-tVir -CT r\ and a lockable means to prevent e of the trailer coupling/ the tow ball athondl w Yw r 4 -n~nnii 4-m 1ih P~~ri-riv urm-i np According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, thr body portion consists of a substantially box-like formation and has a set of opposing top and bottom walls, opposing front and rear walls, and a set of opposing side walls.

For ease of understanding the relative location of the essential components it will be convenient to describe this invention with reference to this box-like configuration. It is to be appreciated however that a boxlike configuration is not a critical feature of the present invention, merely one of convenient manufactue and description in the present specification. Other configurations such as a cylindrical or multi-sided I r GD

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body portion are also within the scope of the present invention.

A box-like body portion for the device of the invention will include a top wall, a bottom wall and two sets of opposed side walls. One set of opposed side walls conveniently defines opposed front and rear walls.

The relative terms "top", "bottom", "side", "front" and "rear" are used for convenience and to relate the position of the device to that in which it will be used. In this position, the "front" and "rear" walls can be considrred in relation the direction in which the trailer would be moved.

That is, the front wall may be considered to be the wall which would face forward when the trailer is moving in a forward direction when coupled to a vehicle.

The device of the invention further includes lockable means associated with the body portion and located and designed to prevent removal of the body portion from the position in which the body portion substantially encloses the coupling, tow ball and tow bar tongue. The form of the device can be modified for use either on a stationary or mobile ball mounting.

Thus, it is envisaged that fixed security points, such as posts, fitted with a protruding tongue member and having a tow ball secured to the tongue could be provided in locations such as parking areas adjacent to boat launching sites and in caravan parks, so that trailers disconnected from their towing vehicle could be attached to and secured by the use of the device of the present invention to the stationary mounting thereby provided. Alternatively, the device of the invention can be adapted for use in conjunction with a trailer secured to the tow bar and tow ball of a towing vehicle.

As the form of the security device can be varied in accordance with its proposed manner of use and in the light of the variations which can be made within the scope of the p esent invention, so can the orm of the j lockable means be varied:, In the following description, three embodiments of the present invention are described by way of example but it is to be S 30 appreciated that other configurations of body portion and lockable means can be employed within the present inventive concept.

According to one form of the present invention, there is provided a security device wherein the body portion includes a substantially open bottom wall and a substauitially open rear wall and a pivotable locking arm pivotably mounted near a rearward portion of the security device body, such that the pivotable locking arm is adapted to extend across the open portion of the rear wall and be secured to a corresponding rearward portion of a wall opposing the pivot site.

39 The device is thus adapted to be fitted over a coupling attached .f ,eesay th {e orino to a tow ball secured to the tongue of a vehicle tow bar or to a postmounted tongue as described above. If necessary, the lower portion of the front wall may be omitted or may define an aperture open on the bottom to accommodate the tongue to which the tow ball is secured. The substantially open rear wall of the body portion retains the upper portion of the wall as I a curtain member of sufficient depth to prevent removal of the trailer j coupling when the body portion has been locked in position as hereinafter described.

I The bottom wall of the body portion in this embodiment of the invention is preferably retained only in the form of flanges extending i inwardly from the bottom of the opposed side walls and the front wall. The rearward portion of one side wall flange preferably provides a location for the pivotal mounting of a locking arm which is adapted to extend across the open lower portion of the rear wall and to be secured at its free end to the rearward portion of the opposite side flange. The pivot site however, may conveniently be located near the rearward, bottom corner of a side wall, and secured to a similar location on an opposite side wall or side flange.

The locking arm may be secured by any appropriate means such as a padlock hasp passed between aligned holes in the free end of the locking 23 arm and in the outer portion of the side flange or side wall. When not secured to the side flange or side wall, the free end of the locking ann may be pivoted outwardly to allow the device to be fitted over the trailer coupling and the mounting to which the coupling is secured.

The side flanges and forward flange constituting the bottom wall of this form of the device preferably extend inwardly to such an extent that direct upward removal of the device is blocked by the trailer coupling and its associated tow ball and tow bar tongue even when the locking arm is not 4 secured in its closed position. If desired, the side walls and front wall may be extended dom:wardly below the flanges to prevent or hinder access to the tow ball securing nut when the device is in position.

Another enbodiment of the security device in accordance with the present invention is similar to the first embodiment just described.

However, in this second embodiment, the pivoted locking arm is replaced by a lockable security pin.

A further embodiment of the present invention provides a security device wherein the lockable means consists of a lockable security pin, removably insertabe through a bore rearwardly positioned in a side wall, such that the lockable security pin may extend through a correspondingly 39 positioned bore in the opposing side wall, and be secured in a locked GD -4- I I position.

According to one preferred aspect the security pin may be secured in a locked position by a locking mechanism rearwardly positioned on a side wall and the lockable security pin is adapted to be removabl, insertable through an aperture which extends through the locking mechanism and the associated side wall and pass through a correspondingly aligned pin hole in the opposite side wall.

The lowet portion of one side wall may be a convenient location for such a locking mechanism.

Preferably, the security pin extends through the hole in the shank of the tow ball to an aligned hole in the opposite side wall of the body portion.

The locking mechanism with which the security pin is associated i can thus be activated to hold the security pin within the device, thereby Spreventing removal of the device from the position in which it enclose!s the trailer coupling. The locking mechanism can also be operated to allow removal of the security pin when authorised removal of the security device and trailer coupling is required. The locking mechanism may conveniently be activated by use of a key operated mechanism.

According to a further preferred aspect, the security pin may be secured in a locked position by a padlock hasp inserted through a bore through one end of the pin extending beyond the device, and a retaining means, such as a larger diametered section of the pin at the other end, preventing complete passage of the pin through the device.

In a third, currently preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a security device wherein a mounting sleeve is pivotably connected below the bottom wall of the body portion such that the sleeve is adapted to form a close sliding fit around the tow bar tongue.

The mounting sleeve is pivotally connected to t'e bottom wall of the body portion by a bush connected to the sleeve and journalled axially to permit the passage of the threaded shank of the tow ball. The sleeve is formed opposite the bush with an aligned aperture permitting passage of the tow ball shank and the entry of the nut required to secure the tow ball shank to the tow bar tongue.

As in the embodiments previously described, the third embodiment has a substantially open rear wall to the body portion of the device thereby allowing the trailer coupling access to the tow ball which is substantially surrounded in use by the body portion. When using this embodiment of the 39 device, the mounting sleeve is first passed over the tongue member of the p'U:

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tow bar, the hole in the tongue member is aligned with the axis of the bush joining the body portion to the mounting sleeve and the shank of the tow ball is passed through these holes and the tow bar is secured within the body portion.

To assist in connecting the trailer coupling to the tow ball, the forward edge of the top wall is hinged to the upper edge of the front wall, allowing the top wall of the body portion to be opened in the manner of a hinged box lid. A locking means is provided to hold the top wall in its closed position to which it is moved after connection of the trailer coupling to the ball, and may comprise an appropriate locking mechanism securing a downwardly extending flange of the top wall against the associated side wall of the body portion. Preferably the locking mechanism is iassociated with a security pin which is adapted to be passed between aligned Sholes in downwardly directed flanges on both sides of the top wall and through holes in the upper portion of the opposite side walls, all of which i holes are aligned when the top wall is in its closed position. The locking mechanism may then be operated to retain the security pin and prevent opening of the top wall. The locking mechanism may, for example, be activated by use of a key operated mechanism.

A further preferred example of an appropriate locking means is by a padlock with a hasp that may be passed through aligned holes in at least one downwardly directed flange of the top wall and in the upper portion of the associated side wall.

The construction of the three alternative embodiments detailed above by way of example may be better appreciated from the accompanying drawings in which: Figures i, 2 and 3 are perspective sketches, generally from a I rearward position, of the three alternative embodiments, and Figure 4 is a rear elevation sketch, partly in section, of the third embodiment also S 30 indicating the location of the tow bar tongue and tow ball.

The devices of all three embodiments include front wall 1, top wall 2, and opposed side walls 3 and 4. In the device of Figure 1, front wall 1 has an aperture 5 at its lower portion allowing access for a tow bar tongue. The device of Figure 2 similarly provides access for a tow bar tongue through the space 6 which is left between the bottom of the front wall and the side walls 3 and 4.

Figure 1 shows the front %nd side flanges 7 making up the bottom wall of this embodiment. Locking arm 8 is pivotally mounted at 9 and can be 39 moved as indicated by arrow 10 into a closed position in which hole 11 in the outer end portion of locking arm 8 will be aligned with hole 12 in the U rearward portion of the left hand flange 7. As indicated above, appropriate locking means can then be used to hold the locking arm in its closed position. Curtain member 13 in Figures 1 and 2 prevents the removal of the trailer coupling when the device is in its operative position although the recess 14 allows the trailer coupling to ride upwardly on the tow ball as may be required in use.

Figure 2 illustrates the provision for locking means comprising aperture 15 in side wall 4 extending through locking mechanism 16 and aligned with aperture 17 in side wall 3. As illustrated, aperture 17 may be strengthened by formation in boss 18 which is secured to side wall 13. The V aligned apertures 15 and 17 allow the insertion or removal of a security pin 'not sbhown) which can be released or retained by operation of locking I mechanism 16 through keyhole 19.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 differs from that of Figures 1 and 2 in several respects. one major difference lies in the provision of bottom wall 20 and mounting sleeve 21 which is pivotally connected to bottom wall 20 through bush 22 which extends through an appropriate hole in bottom wall 20. In addition, top wall 2 of 23 the embodiment in Figures 3 and 4 is hinged at 23 between the junction of front wall 1 and top wall 2. Flange 24 which extends downwardly from top wall 2 is slotted at 25 to allow access to keyhole l91 which, with hole in flange 24 forms part of a similar locking mechanism to that illustrated V in Figure 2. The recessed area 26 in rear flange 27 attached to the top wall 2 serves the same purpose as theo recess 14 in curtain member 13 of the embodiments illustrated in Figures l and 2.

Figure 4 illustrates the security device as shown in F~igure 3, as it is likely tQ be in use. Tow ball 28 and threaded shank 29 pass through bush 22 and is secured in position by securing nut 30. Mounting sleeve 21 forms a close sliding fit over tow bar tongue 31. Top wall 2 is secured in a locked position by security pin 32 passing thrugch apentures 15' in flanges 24 that extend down from top wall 2. Boss 18 1 helps strengthen aperture 33.

Security pin 32 is locked in position by locking mechanism 16'.

The present invention thus provides a device which is simple in construction and hence in manufacture, is simple to use and. is versatile in Its application both to towing vehicles and fixed iecurity points. It will also be apparent from the foregoing description that the device of the invention can prevent the removal of a trailer even though. the nut connecting 39 the tow ball to a tow bar may be removed. The device may thus be used is a GD -7-

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i safety device on a towing vehicle, additional or alternative to the security chains now commonly used.

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Claims

2. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body portion consists of a substantially box-like formation and has a set of opposing top and bottom walls, opposing front and rear walls, and a set of opposing side walls.
3. A security device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bottom and rear walls of the body portion are substantially open and a pivotable locking arm pivotably mounted near a rearward portion of the security device body portion, such that the pivotable locking arm is adapted to extend across the substantially open rear wall and be secured to a corresponding rearward portion of a wall opposing the pivot site.
4. A security device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the substantially open bottom wall consists of a flange extending inwardly from the front wall and the opposing side walls. A security device, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pivotable locking arm is pivotably mounted near the rearward portion of a bottom wall flange and adapted to extend across the substantially open rear wall and be secured to a corresponding rearward portion of the opposing bottom wall flange. S 6. A secuiity device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the lowerK portion of the front wall is removed so as S* to provide an aperture to accommodate the tow bar tongue, and the upper portion of the rear wall provides a curtain member of sufficient depth to prevent removal of the coupling when the pivotable arm has been locked in position.
7. A security device, as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the side walls and front wall may be extended downwardly below te bottom wall to prevent or hinder access to a tow ball securing nut when the device is in position.
8. A security device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to A_ 1 9 r;- :j V I t- tt V i 4, 1 V V~ V V I -9a- 7, wherein the side and forward flange constituting the bottom wall extend inwardly to such an extent that direct upward removal of the device is blocked by the trailer coupling and its associated tow ball and tow bar tongue.
9. A security device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein the pivotable locking arm is secured in a locked position by a padlock hasp. WDP 4115N 4 'sru S A security device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lockable means consists of a lockable security pin, removably insertable through a bore rearwardly positioned in a side wall, such that the lockable security pin may extend through a correspondingly positioned bore in the opposing side wall, and be secured in a locked position.
11. A security device, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the lockable security pin may be secured in a locked position by a locking mechanism rearwardly positioned on a side wall and the lockable security pin is adapted to be removably insertable through an aperture which extends through the locking mechanism and the associated side wall and pass through a correspondingly aligned pin hole in the opposite side wall.
12. A security device, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism is actuated by a key so as to hold the lockable security pin within the device.
13. A security device, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the lockable security pin has retaining means at one end and is secured in a locked I, position by a padlock hasp inserted through a bore through the other end, where the security pin has extended beyond the security device.
14. A security device, as claimed in any one of claims 0 to 13, ks cO-a(,eAe- k-o fcAsj wherein the lockable security pin pasethrough a hole in a threaded shank S securing the tow ball to the tow bar tongue. A security device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein a mounting sleeve Sis pivotably connccted below the bottom wall of the body portion such that the sleeve is adapted to form a close sliding fit around the tow bar tongue.
16. A security device, as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sleeve is connected to the body portion by a bush journalled axially to permit the passage of a threaded shank on the tow ball such that entry is permitted to secure the threaded shank to the tow bar tongue by means of a securing nut.
17. A device, as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the rear wall is substantially open in order to assist the securing of the tow ball to the tow bar tongue.
18. A security device, as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the top wall is hinged such that the top wall constitutes a hinged box lid, a4 lockable means is provided to lock the top wall closed such that the tow ball may not be removed when the top wall is in a closed position.
19. A security device, as claimed in claim 18, wherein the lockable .c39 means secures a downwardly extending flange from the top wall to an GO associated side wall. A security device, as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein the lockable means is a lockable security pin which is adapted to be passed between aligned pin holes in downwardly directed flanges on both sides of the top wall and corresponding pin holes in the upper portion of the side walls.
21. A security device, as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lockable security pin is locked in position by a key actuated locking mechanism.
22. A security devie, as claimed in any-ene of claims 15 to '7, wherein the lockable means is a padlock with a hasp that may be passed through aligned holes in at least one downwardly directed flange of the top wall and in the upper portion of the associated side wall. 0) 9 S 23. A device as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore o described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. DATED: 15th March, 1988 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK r 4 4 0 9 4 4 44 (1 4 4 4 9 49 4 41 Attorneys fort KENNETH WILLIAM DICKMAN 41 49 9 9 GD