SINGLE MOTION SYSTEM FOR COUPLING A TRAILER HITCH

1 . A trailer hitch comprising:

a tube having ball socket;

a top plate connected to the tube, wherein the top plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive a hitch ball;

a lower plate, wherein the top plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive a hitch ball, and wherein the lower plate is connected to the top plate via first and second sidewalls, and the top plate, lower plate and first and second sidewalls form a space,

a slide plate positioned within the space and configured to slide between the top plate and lower plate, wherein the slide plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive a hitch ball,

wherein the slide plate is configured to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position enables a hitch ball to pass through the opening of the slide plate and the closed position prevents a hitch ball from passing through the opening in the slide plate.

2 . The trailer hitch of claim 1 , further comprising:

a handle; and

a lever, wherein the lever has a first end portion connected to the handle and a second end portion engaged with the slide plate;

wherein the handle is configured to move from an open position, that moves the slide plate to an open position, to a closed position, that moves the slide plate to a closed position.

3 . The trailer hitch of claim 2 , wherein the lever pivots about a lever pivot.

4 . The trailer hitch of claim 2 , wherein the handle is configured to move from a closed position to an open position using a single motion.

5 . The trailer hitch of claim 1 , wherein the slide plate includes a visual indicator when in an open position.

6 . The trailer hitch of claim 5 , wherein the visual indicator is not visible to a user when the slide plate is in a closed position.

7 . The trailer hitch of claim 1 , further comprising:

a cable actuator connected to a cable;

a connector plate connected to the cable and the slide plate;

wherein the connector plate is configured to move from an open position, that moves the slide plate to an open position, to a closed position, that moves the slide plate to a closed position; and

wherein the cable actuator is configured to move the connector plate from the open position to the closed position.

8 . The trailer hitch of claim 2 , wherein the opening of the slide plate includes a first portion of the opening that allows a hitch ball to pass through the opening, and a second portion of opening that does not allow a hitch ball to pass through the opening.

9 . The trailer hitch of claim 8 , wherein the second portion of the opening of the slide plate is configured to contact a hitch ball on more than 180 degrees around the hitch ball.

10 . A method of coupling a trailer hitch to a hitch ball, comprising:

providing a hitch ball;

providing a trailer hitch, the hitch including:

a tube having ball socket;

a top plate connected to the tube, wherein the top plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive a hitch ball;

a lower plate, wherein the top plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive a hitch ball, and wherein the lower plate is connected to the top plate via first and second sidewalls, and the top plate, lower plate and first and second sidewalls form a space,

a slide plate positioned within the space and configured to slide between the top plate and lower plate, wherein the slide plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive a hitch ball,

wherein the slide plate is configured to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position enables a hitch ball to pass through the opening of the slide plate and the closed position prevents a hitch ball from passing through the opening in the slide plate;

moving the slide plate to the open position;

inserting the hitch ball into the ball socket; and

moving the slide plate to the closed position.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the trailer hitch further includes:

a handle; and

a lever, wherein the lever has a first end portion connected to the handle and a second end portion connected to the slide plate;

wherein the handle is configured to move from an open position, that moves the slide plate to an open position, to a closed position, that moves the slide plate to a closed position.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the lever pivots about a lever pivot.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising

moving the handle from a closed position to an open position using a single motion.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the slide plate includes a visual indicator when in an open position.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the visual indicator is not visible to a user when the slide plate is in a closed position.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the trailer hitch further includes:

a cable actuator connected to a cable;

a connector plate connected to the cable and the slide plate;

wherein the connector plate is configured to move from an open position, that moves the slide plate to an open position, to a closed position, that moves the slide plate to a closed position; and

wherein the cable actuator is configured to move the connector plate from the open position to the closed position.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the opening of the slide plate includes a first portion of the opening that allows a hitch ball to pass through the opening, and a second portion of opening that does not allow a hitch ball to pass through the opening.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the second portion of the opening of the slide plate is configured to contact a hitch ball on more than 180 degrees around the hitch ball.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

locking the handle using a locking mechanism, preventing the handle from moving to an open position.

20 . A trailer hitch comprising:

a tube having ball socket;

a top plate connected to the tube, wherein the top plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive a hitch ball;

a lower plate, wherein the top plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive a hitch ball, and wherein the lower plate is connected to the top plate via first and second sidewalls, and the top plate, lower plate and first and second sidewalls form a space,

a slide plate positioned within the space and configured to slide between the top plate and lower plate, wherein the slide plate includes an opening designed and configured to receive a hitch ball,

wherein the slide plate is configured to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position enables a hitch ball to pass through the opening of the slide plate and the closed position prevents a hitch ball from passing through the opening in the slide plate, and wherein the slide plate includes a visual indicator when in an open position and wherein the visual indicator is not visible to a user when the slide plate is in a closed position;

a handle;

a lever, wherein the lever has a first end portion connected to the handle and a second end portion connected to the slide plate, wherein the lever pivots about a lever pivot;

wherein the handle is configured to move from an open position, that moves the slide plate to an open position, to a closed position, that moves the slide plate to a closed position;

wherein the handle is configured to move from a closed position to an open position using a single motion; and

wherein the opening of the slide plate includes a first portion of the opening that allows a hitch ball to pass through the opening, and a second portion of opening the does not allow a hitch ball to pass through the opening, and the second portion of the opening of the slide plate is configured to contact a hitch ball on more than 180 degrees around the hitch ball.

21 . The trailer hitch of claim 8 , wherein the second portion of the opening of the slide plate is configured to contact a hitch ball on more than 40 degrees around the hitch ball.