Trailer coupler lock assembly

Abstract

A trailer coupler lock assembly includes a rigid protective case defining a compartment which receives a trailer coupler and portions of a safety chain assembly, including chain hooks. An interlock adapter, which is separate and removable from the rigid protective case, is received in the compartment. An engagement member of the interlock adapter mates with a socket of the trailer coupler in the compartment. A case hasp above an aperture in the case aligns with an interlock hasp that extends through the aperture, while a shackle of a lock extends through holes of the hasps. Openings in the case, and structures that define the openings, define retention points that retain the safety chain assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A trailer coupler lock assembly, comprising:
 a rigid protective case defining a compartment configured to receive a trailer coupler; and   an interlock adapter separate from the rigid protective case, the interlock adapter received in the compartment, the interlock adapter including an engagement member configured to mate with a socket of the trailer coupler in the compartment of the rigid protective case.   
     
     
         2 . The trailer coupler lock assembly of  claim 1 , the interlock adapter being removable from the compartment of the rigid protective case. 
     
     
         3 . The trailer coupler lock assembly of  claim 1 , the rigid protective case including an aperture and a case hasp piece above the aperture, the case hasp piece comprising a first tab with a first hole, the interlock adapter including an interlock hasp piece comprising a second tab with a second hole, the interlock hasp piece extending through the aperture, the first tab being aligned with the second tab, and the first hole being aligned with the second hole. 
     
     
         4 . The trailer coupler lock assembly of  claim 3 , a lock with a shackle, the shackle extending through the first hole and the second hole and preventing removal of the interlock adapter from the compartment of the rigid protective case. 
     
     
         5 . The trailer coupler lock assembly of  claim 1 , the rigid protective case including a sidewall extending over an adjustment mechanism of an adjustable trailer coupler. 
     
     
         6 . The trailer coupler lock assembly of  claim 1 , the compartment configured to receive links and hooks of a safety chain assembly, and the rigid protective case including a plurality of openings that function as retention points configured to retain received links and hooks of the safety chain assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The trailer coupler lock assembly of  claim 1 , the compartment configured to receive links and hooks of a safety chain assembly, the rigid protective case including a rear opening with a retainer tab extending across a portion of the rear opening and a first gap on a first side of the retainer tab and a second gap on a second side of the retainer tab, the first gap providing a first space to receive first links of the safety chain assembly, and the second gap providing a second space to receive second links of the safety chain assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The trailer coupler lock assembly of  claim 1 , the compartment configured to receive links and hooks of a safety chain assembly, the rigid protective case including a rear opening with first and second retainer tabs, each retainer tab extending across a portion of the rear opening and defining a retention notch, including a first retention notch and a second retention notch, and the first retention notch configured to receive a link of the safety chain assembly, and the second retention notch configured to receive another link of the safety chain assembly, and the first and second retention notches preventing removal of the safety chain assembly without unlocking the trailer coupler lock assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The trailer coupler lock assembly of  claim 1 , the rigid protective case including a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall spaced apart from and parallel to the second sidewall, the first sidewall including a first slot, the second sidewall including a second slot, the interlock adapter including a first side edge configured to extend through the first slot and a second side edge configured to extend through the second slot, and a first flange extending from the first side edge, and a second flange extending from the second side flange. 
     
     
         10 . The trailer coupler lock assembly of  claim 1 , the rigid protective case including a bottom panel, the bottom panel including a drainage aperture. 
     
     
         11 . A trailer coupler lock assembly locked onto a trailer coupler:
 the trailer coupler comprising a tow bar, a socket attached to the tow bar, a safety chain assembly attached to the tow bar, the safety chain assembly including two chain segments, each chain segment including a free end and a hook attached to the free end; and   the trailer coupler lock assembly comprising:   a rigid protective case defining a compartment configured to receive the socket of the trailer coupler and each hook and portions of each chain segment, the rigid protective case including a safety chain retainer; and   an interlock adapter received in the compartment, the interlock adapter including an engagement member configured to mate with the socket of the trailer coupler in the compartment of the rigid protective case.   
     
     
         12 . The trailer coupler lock assembly locked onto a trailer coupler of  claim 11 , the interlock adapter being removable from the compartment of the rigid protective case. 
     
     
         13 . The trailer coupler lock assembly locked onto a trailer coupler of  claim 11 , the rigid protective case including an aperture and a case hasp flange above the aperture, the case hasp flange comprising a first tab with a first hole, the interlock adapter including an interlock hasp flange comprising a second tab with a second hole, the interlock hasp flange extending through the aperture, the first tab being aligned with the second tab, and the first hole being aligned with the second hole. 
     
     
         14 . The trailer coupler lock assembly locked onto a trailer coupler of  claim 13 , a lock with a shackle, the shackle extending through the first hole and the second hole and preventing removal of the interlock adapter from the compartment of the rigid protective case. 
     
     
         15 . The trailer coupler lock assembly locked onto a trailer coupler of  claim 11 , the trailer coupler further including an adjustment mechanism, and the rigid protective case including a sidewall extending over the adjustment mechanism of the trailer coupler. 
     
     
         16 . The trailer coupler lock assembly locked onto a trailer coupler of  claim 11 , the safety chain retainer comprising a plurality of openings in the rigid protective case, the plurality of openings being configured as retention points and retaining portions of the safety chain assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The trailer coupler lock assembly locked onto a trailer coupler of  claim 11 , the safety chain retainer comprising a rear opening in the rigid protective case with a retainer tab extending across a portion of the rear opening and a first gap on a first side of the retainer tab and a second gap on a second side of the retainer tab, the first gap providing a first space in which a portion of one chain segment of the safety chain assembly is received, and the second gap providing a second space in which a portion of the other chain segment of the safety chain assembly is received. 
     
     
         18 . The trailer coupler lock assembly locked onto a trailer coupler of  claim 11 , the rigid protective case including a rear opening with first and second retainer tabs, each retainer tab extending across a portion of the rear opening and defining a retention notch, including a first retention notch and a second retention notch, and the first retention notch configured to receive a link of one chain segment of the safety chain assembly, and the second retention notch configured to receive a link of the other chain segment of the safety chain assembly, and the first and second retention notches preventing removal of the safety chain assembly without unlocking the trailer coupler lock assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The trailer coupler lock assembly locked onto a trailer coupler of  claim 11 , the rigid protective case including a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall spaced apart from the second sidewall, the first sidewall including a first slot, the second sidewall including a second slot, the interlock adapter including a first side edge configured to extend through the first slot and a second side edge configured to extend through the second slot, and a first flange extending from the first side edge, and a second flange extending from the second side flange. 
     
     
         20 . The trailer coupler lock assembly locked onto a trailer coupler of  claim 11 , the rigid protective case including a bottom panel, the bottom panel including a drainage aperture.