GB2236513A

GB2236513A - Caravan hitch cover and lock

Info

Publication number: GB2236513A
Application number: GB9018741A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Higginson; Arthur Kirkham Crook; Raymond John Reardon; James Keith Blundell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-08-25
Filing date: 1990-08-28
Publication date: 1991-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2010-08-28
Also published as: GB2236513B; GB9018741D0

Abstract

A security device for caravans and other trailers equipped with a towing hitch in the form of a ring or socket, comprising a first member (10) on which is mounted a tow ball replica (12) to be inserted into a towing hitch socket (17), and a second member in the form of a cap (14) and hood (15) which pass over the towing hitch and over the first member (10), there being a spring-loaded push-button lock (16) on said cap (14) the plunger of which passes into an aligned aperture in the first member (10). Access to the entire towing hitch assembly and any operating mechanism thereof is prevented until the parts are separated after releasing the lock (16). <IMAGE>

Description

CARAVAN HITCH COVER AND LOCK THIS INVENTION concerns a security device for preventing parked caravans and other trailers from being hitched to a vehicle by unauthorised personnel and removed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a security device which when applied prevents unauthorised access to the towing hitch of the trailer and any operating mechanism associated therewith.

According to the present invention a security device for caravans and other trailers equipped with a towing hitch in the form of a ring or socket comprises a first member adapted to be received within the towing ring or socket, a second member adapted to cover and prevent access to the entire towing hitch including said first member and any operating mechanism for releasing the towing hitch, and a security lock to enable the first and second members to be locked together.

An embodiment of the invention, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying draw.ngs in which: Fig. 1 illustrates, in side elevation, a security device made in accordance with the invention when applied to the towing hitch of a trailer; Figs. 2a and 2b show respectively the two principal parts of the device; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a part of the ground-based elevatable locating post.

It will be assumed for the purpose of this description that the device is adapted for use with a ball and socket-type towing hitch as used on many lign trailers such as domestic caravans.

The security device consists essentially of a first member 10 in the form of a rectilinear block 11 which is preferably hollow in construction and comprises four side walls and a top. On the top there is a sphere 12 of a size equal to a standard towing ball of the kind commonly attached to the rear of a vehicle.

In one side wall of the block 11 is an aperture 13 for a purpose to be described.

A second part of the security device comprises a rectilinear cap 14 consisting essentially of three side walls and a top and a cover or hood 15 extending outwardly from a fourth side of the cap, closed at its end 15a and open at its base.

A push button lock 16 is provided on one side wall of the cap 14 and this lock has a central spring loaded plunger which, when the device is assembled, is adapted to locate within aperture 13 in block 11.

In Fig. 1 the device is shown attached to a caravan hitch. This operation is carried out in two steps namely the initial insertion of the ball 12 into the hitch socket 17 by operating the handle 18 in the usual way. Subsequently, the one piece cap 14 and cover 15 are passed over the entire towing hitch so that the block 11 is located wholly within the base region of the cap 14. Pushing in the lock 16 then secures the device such that the entire towing hitch including the operating handle 18 is inaccessible without opening lock 16 and separating the two parts of the device.

The device is preferably constructed from mild steel pressed sections welded together as appropriate. For aesthetic and non-corrosion purposes the cap 14 and cover 15 may be finished with a plastics coating, or painted.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only. For example, the push button lock 16 may be replaced by a key operated lock with an appropriate slot in block 11 in place of aperture 13.

Alternatively, the cap 14 may be closed by a hottom flap which is suitably locked in a closed positica when the device is applied.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the block 11 may be screwed onto the top of a groundbased locating post 20 which is slidably housed within a tubular casing 21 embedded in the ground 22 with a pivoted lid 23. Such an arrangement may be provided, for example, on a caravan/camping site, and used to secure a parked caravan when member 10 is attached, or to prevent access to the site when no caravan is present, by locking the post 20 in a elevated position.

Claims

CLAMS

1. A security device for caravans and other trailers equipped with a towing hitch in the form of a ring or socket comprising a first member adapted to be received within the towing ring or socket, a second member adapted to cover and prevent access to the entire towing hitch including said first member and any operating mechanism for releasing the towing hitch, and a security lock to enable the first and second members to be locked together.

2. A security device according to Claim 1, wherein said first member comprises a rectilinear block on which is mounted a replica of a vehicular towing member.

3. A security device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said second member is in the form of a cap which passes over said first member, and the latter is attached to a towing hitch, thus to cover, from above, the entire hitch assembly and the first member.

4. A security device according to any preceding claim, in which said security lock comprises a springloaded push-button lock mounted on a side wall of the second member and having a plunger which passes through said side wall and into a corresponding aperture in said first member when the first and second members are aligned and attached to a towing hitch.

5. A security device according to any preceding claim, wherein said second member further comprises a hood extending horizontally from said cap, the length of said hood being sufficient to over ar operating handle of a towing hitch such that access to the hank= is prevented.

6. A security device according to any preceding claim, wherein said first and second members are constructed from mild steel, ano said second member is finished with a plastics coating.

7. A security device according to Claim 1, wherein said first member is attached to a ground-based locating post slidably housed within a tubular casing embedded in the ground.

8. A security device for caravans and other trailers, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.