AU2018203083B2

AU2018203083B2 - Improved hitchlock

Info

Publication number: AU2018203083B2
Application number: AU2018203083A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Frederick Nigel Milbank
Original assignee: Milenco Innovation Ltd
Current assignee: Milenco Innovation Ltd
Priority date: 2017-05-05
Filing date: 2018-05-03
Publication date: 2024-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 2038-05-03
Also published as: GB2562104A; AU2018203083A1; GB201707210D0; GB2562104B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hitchlock 10 for securing to a hitch 12, the hitchlock 10 comprising two body portions 14a, 14b for surrounding a hitch 12 and a locking mechanism 16 for locking the two body portions 14a, 14b together, wherein one of the body portions 14a, 14b includes slots 18 for locating a link 20 of a chain 22. 1/5 10\2 14a 18 Fig. 11 30 28 - * 4 314 26

Description

1/5

\2

14a

18 Fig. 11

30

28 - * 4 314

IMPROVED HITCHLOCK FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a hitchlock and to a method of securing the hitchlock to a hitch, for example the hitch of a caravan or trailer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] When a vehicle such as a car or van tows a caravan or trailer, the towed article is connected to the vehicle in front via a hitch on the caravan, which connects to a tow ball on the back of the vehicle. The hitch and tow ball provide a secure connection while allowing the towed article to turn safely relative to the vehicle in front. It is common for additional safety chains to be provided alongside the hitch which are a form of secondary protection. The chains also connect the towed article to the vehicle in front so that if there is a failure in the connection between the hitch and the tow ball the chains will ensure that the caravan or trailer is not disconnected entirely from the vehicle, which obviously would be extremely dangerous.

[0003] Since caravans and trailers are often not being towed, they have to be stored in a safe and secure manner. The presence of the hitch on a caravan or trailer however, means that unauthorised removal of such an article is often relatively straightforward. Any caravan or trailer that is parked and has an accessible hitch can be stolen by any vehicle that has a tow ball at the back. An experienced thief can connect a trailer via its hitch to the tow ball of a car in under a minute and simply drive away with the caravan connected at the rear of their vehicle. To avoid this, owners of caravans and trailers will use a so-called hitchlock (also often referred to as a hitch lock), which is designed to be locked onto the hitch, to prevent a tow ball being connected to the hitch.

[0004] Hitchlocks come in many different designs, but the basic principle is that the hitchlock is assembled around the hitch and then locked in place so that only the owner of the hitchlock can remove the hitchlock and access the hitch of the caravan or trailer that is being protected by the hitchlock. However, many types of hitchlock do not fully protect the caravan or trailer from unauthorised removal, since the safety chains that are present on the caravan or trailer can still be accessed by a determined thief and used to tow away the caravan or trailer (even if this is not an entirely safe method of transporting the article in question). Existing hitchlocks generally only protect the hitch itself from unauthorised access and this leaves the caravan or trailer vulnerable to theft via the safety chains.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to improve upon the known art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a hitchlock for securing to a hitch, the hitchlock comprising two body portions for surrounding a hitch and a locking mechanism for locking the two body portions together, each body portion comprising a plate and a flange connected to and extending away from the plate, wherein one of the body portions includes slots for locating a link of a chain, the slots of the body portion being located in the respective flange of the body portion, and wherein when the two body portions are locked together, the open end of each slot is closed by an opposite body portion.

[0007] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of securing a hitchlock to a hitch comprising receiving a hitchlock according to the first aspect of the invention, locating one of the body portions of the hitchlock around the hitch, locating a link of a chain in the slots of the body portion around the hitch, locating the other of the body portions around the hitch and operating the locking mechanism to lock the two body portions together.

[0008] Owing to the invention, it is possible to provide a hitchlock that has improved security features over existing hitchlocks. In particular, the improved hitchlock is able to secure one or more links of one or more chains that are often present on trailers and caravans as secondary safety devices. These chains are known to be used by thieves to steal caravans and trailers that are secured by conventional hitchlocks. The slots provided in one or both body portions can be used to lock the end of the chain(s), thereby preventing any chain(s) being used as a method of stealing an article such as a caravan or trailer.

[0009] According to an embodiment, both body portions include slots for locating a link of a chain. The body portions of the hitchlock can both be arranged so that they are provided with slots that are located in corresponding positions in the respective body portions. This means that when the two body portions are locked together the slots on each body portion match with the slots on the opposite body portion and therefore close off the slots, when the hitchlock is in the locked configuration.

[0010] According to an embodiment, each plate of a body portion is substantially semi-circular in shape and each flange of a body portion connects to the respective plate along a curved edge of the respective plate. In this arrangement, the slots of a body portion run in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the plate. The structure of the body portions using a plate and a flange allows a hitch to be surrounded using two body portions and the slots can be easily located in the flange resulting in a hitchlock that is both easy to manufacture and easy to use.

[0011] Ideally, one of the body portions is provided with one or more holes and the locking mechanism includes one or more moveable bars that locate within the or each hole when the locking mechanism is configured for locking the two body portions together. Each hole is located in the flange of the body portion. According to an embodiment, the locking mechanism is structured so that one or more locking bars located on one of the body portions mate with one or more holes located on the other of the body portions. This provides a locking system that can be key operated while also providing a relatively secure connection between the two body parts, thereby ensuring a relatively high level of security for the hitchlock when locked in place, but also being easy to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings:

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view from the rear of a hitchlock,

[0014] Figure 2 is a perspective view from the front of the hitchlock,

[0015] Figure 3 is a perspective view from the front of one body portion of the hitchlock in use on a hitch,

[0016] Figure 4 is a perspective view from the front of both body portions of the hitchlock in use on a hitch, and

[0017] Figure 5 is a perspective view from below of the hitchlock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the embodiments and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.

[0019] Figure 1 shows a hitchlock 10 which is for securing to a hitch of a caravan or trailer. The hitchlock 10 comprising two body portions 14a and 14b for surrounding the hitch and a locking mechanism 16 for locking the two body portions 14a and 14b together and one of the body portions 14a and 14b including slots 18 for locating a link of a chain. In this embodiment of the hitchlock 10 both body portions 14a and 14b include slots 18 for locating a link of a chain. There are four slots 18 in total. The locking mechanism 16 is mounted on the body portion 14a and is operated by a key 24.

[0020] Each body portion 14a and 14b comprises a plate 26 and a flange 28 connected to and extending away from the plate 26. Each plate 26 of a body portion 14a and 14b is substantially semi-circular in shape and each flange 28 of a body portion 14a and 14b connects to the respective plate 26 along a curved edge of the respective plate 26. The slots 18 of the body portions 14a and 14b are located in the respective flange 28 of the body portion 14a and 14b and the slots 18 of the body portions 14a and 14b run in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the plate 26.

[0021] One of the body portions 14b is provided with two holes 30 and the locking mechanism 16 includes one or more moveable bars that locate within each hole 30 when the locking mechanism 16 is configured for locking the two body portions 14a and 14b together. Each hole 30 is located in the flange 28 of the body portion 14a and 14b. Turning the key 24 in the lock of the locking mechanism 16 causes the bars within the locking mechanism 16 to locate within the holes 30. The hitchlock 10 further comprises a seat 34 connected to a body portion 14a and 14b and for locating the hitch 12.

[0022] Figure 2 shows how the two parts of the hitchlock 10 will connect together, when in use on an actual hitch. The view in Figure 2 is from the front of the hitchlock 10 (in use configuration), when compared to the view of Figure 1, which is from the rear of the hitchlock 10 (open configuration). The two body portions 14a and 14b are in direct contact when the hitchlock 10 is in use, with one of the body portions 14a overlapping the other body portion 14b. The slots 18 in the two body portions 14a and 14b are aligned with one another in this configuration and the key 24 can be turned in the locking mechanism 16 to lock the two body portions 14a and 14b together. When the hitchlock 10 is in the locked or closed configuration, when the two body portions 14a and 14b are locked together, the slots 18 are closed and cannot be accessed, as the open end of each slot 18 is closed by an opposite body portion 14a and 14b.

[0023] Figure 3 shows how the hitchlock 10 is to be used on a hitch 12. A user of the hitchlock 10 first locates one of the body portions 14b of the hitchlock 10 around the hitch 12 and locates a link 20 of a chain 22 in the slots 18 of the body portion 14b around the hitch 12. The hitch 12 shown in this Figure has two chains 22 and so one link 20 from both chains 22 are located in the slots 18 of the body portion 14b. As can be seen in this Figure, locating the ends of the two chains in the hitchlock 10 means that these chains 22 cannot be used by a thief who is trying to steal the caravan or trailer of the hitch 12.

[0024] Figure 4 shows the configuration of the hitchlock 10 after the user has located the other of the body portions 14a around the hitch 12 and operated the locking mechanism 16 of one of the body portions 14a to lock the two body portions 14a and 14b together. When the two body portions 14a and 14b are locked together, then the slots 18 are closed, such that the links 20 of the chains 22 cannot be removed from the slots 18. The four slots 18 present in the hitchlock 10 are closed at both ends, once the two body portions 14a and 14b are locked together. This prevents the chains 22 from being removed from the hitchlock 10 and used to tow the article that mounts the hitch 12.

[0025] Figure 5 shows a view from below of the hitchlock 10, with the two body portions 14a and 14b separated. In this Figure, it is possible to see the internal part of the body portion 14a, which shows more detail of the locking mechanism 16. The body portion 14b is provided with holes 30 and the locking mechanism 16 includes moveable bars 32 that locate within each hole 30 when the locking mechanism 16 is configured for locking the two body portions 14a and 14b together. When the key 24 is turned in the locking mechanism 16, a central cam 36 is rotated under the action of the key 24. The cam 36 is oval in cross-section and the movement of the cam 36 pushes the bars 32 outwards and into the holes 30.

[0026] Throughout this specification and claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to mean the inclusion of a stated feature or step, or group of features or steps, but not the exclusion of any other feature or step, or group of features or steps.

[0027] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement, or any suggestion that, the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A hitchlock for securing to a hitch, the hitchlock comprising two body portions for surrounding a hitch and a locking mechanism for locking the two body portions together, each body portion comprising a plate and a flange connected to and extending away from the plate, wherein one of the body portions includes slots for locating a link of a chain, the slots of the body portion being located in the respective flange of the body portion, and wherein when the two body portions are locked together, the open end of each slot is closed by an opposite body portion.

2. A hitchlock according to claim 1, wherein both body portions include slots for locating a link of a chain.

3. A hitchlock according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism is operated by a key.

4. A hitchlock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each plate of a body portion is substantially semi-circular in shape and each flange of a body portion connects to the respective plate along a curved edge of the respective plate.

5. A hitchlock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slots of a body portion run in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the plate.

6. A hitchlock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the body portions is provided with one or more holes and the locking mechanism includes one or more moveable bars that locate within the or each hole when the locking mechanism is configured for locking the two body portions together.

7. A hitchlock according to claim 6, wherein the or each hole is located in the flange of the body portion.

8. A hitchlock according to any one of the preceding claims, and further comprising a seat connected to a body portion and for locating a hitch.

9. A method of securing a hitchlock to a hitch comprising receiving a hitchlock according to any one of the preceding claims, locating one of the body portions of the hitchlock around the hitch, locating a link of a chain in the slots of the body portion around the hitch, locating the other of the body portions around the hitch and operating the locking mechanism to lock the two body portions together.