Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A system (100) for locking a vehicle (V) with a trailer (T), the system (100) comprising:
a hook assembly (110) fitted on the vehicle (V), said hook assembly having a first drive unit (112) for aligning a vehicle toe (114) of the vehicle (V) with a trailer toe (116) of the trailer (T); and
a locking assembly (120) fitted on the vehicle (V), said locking assembly having a second drive unit (124) for inserting a locking pin (122) through the vehicle toe (114) aligned with the trailer toe (116) for locking the vehicle (V) with the trailer (T).
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first drive unit (112) is a hydraulic unit.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second drive unit (124) is a rack and pinion unit operable by battery.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the vehicle toe (114) is formed in a flange (F) fitted to a vertically movable shaft (S) of the first drive unit (112).
5. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second drive unit (124) is operable by a motor (M).
Dated this 06th day of November, 2019
For Mahindra & Mahindra Limited.
By their Agent

(GIRISH VIJAYANAND SHETH) (IN/PA 1022)
KRISHNA & SAURASTRI ASSOCIATES LLP , Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]

A SYSTEM FOR LOCKING A VEHICLE WITH A TRAILER;

MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LIMITED, HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT MAHINDRA RESEARCH VALLEY, MAHINDRA WORLD CITY, PLOT NO: 41/1, P.O. – ANJUR, CHENGALPATTU – 603004, DISTT. – KANCHEEPURAM, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION DESCRIBES THE INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[1] The present invention relates to a system for locking a vehicle with a trailer.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION:
[2] Presently known system for locking a vehicle with a trailer is manual. This system for locking the vehicle, e.g. a tractor or a truck with a trailer generally includes a locking hole on its front side and a complementary locking hole provided on a back side of the vehicle. During locking the trailer with the vehicle, a user has to park the vehicle in such a way that the tractor rear comes at the trailer front position. Simultaneously another person has to adjust the trailer locking hole. The vehicle locking hole and the trailer locking hole has to be aligned exactly on top of each other. The user requires to move the vehicle back and forth for adjusting the locking hole of the vehicle with the locking hole of the trailer. Therefore, manual locking mechanism requires at least two persons for locking. Further it is time consuming and prone to accidents. Moreover, it becomes more strenuous when the trailer is loaded.
[3] Therefore, there is need for a solution wherein at least one of the above drawbacks seen in the prior art can be obviated.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION:
[4] In order to overcome the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a system for locking a vehicle with a trailer as per an embodiment of the present invention, the system comprising: a hook assembly fitted on the vehicle, said hook assembly having a first drive unit for aligning a vehicle toe of the vehicle with a trailer toe of the trailer, and a locking assembly fitted on the vehicle, said locking assembly having a second drive unit for inserting a locking pin through the vehicle toe aligned with the trailer toe for locking the vehicle with the trailer.
[5] As per another embodiment of the present invention, the first drive unit is a hydraulic unit.
[6] As per yet another embodiment of the present invention, the second drive unit is a rack and pinion unit operable by battery.
[7] As per still another embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle toe is formed in a flange fitted to a vertically movable shaft of the first drive unit.
[8] As per further embodiment of the present invention, the second drive unit is operable by a motor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING:
[9] Fig. 1 shows an exploded front view of a system for locking a vehicle with a trailer, as per an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION:
[10] While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawing and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiment illustrated.
[11] The subject matter is now described regarding the drawing, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like features/ elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, that such matter can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well–known structures are shown in diagram form to facilitate describing the invention.
[12] Referring to the accompanying Fig. 1, an exploded front view of a system for locking a vehicle with a trailer, as per an embodiment of the present invention, is seen. The system (100) for locking a vehicle (V) with a trailer (T) as per an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a hook assembly (110) fitted on the vehicle (V), wherein the hook assembly (110) has a first drive unit (112) for aligning a vehicle toe (114) of the vehicle (V) with a trailer toe (116) of the trailer (T). As per an embodiment of the present invention, a locking assembly (120) which is fitted on the vehicle (V) has a second drive unit (124) for inserting a locking pin (122) through the vehicle toe (114) aligned with the trailer toe (116) for locking the vehicle (V) with the trailer (T). As per another embodiment of the present invention, the first drive unit (112) is a hydraulic unit. As per yet another embodiment of the present invention, the second drive unit (124) is a rack and pinion unit operable by battery. As per another embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle toe (114) is formed in a flange (F) fitted to a vertically movable shaft (S) of the first drive unit (112). The second drive unit (124) is operable by a motor (M) in an embodiment of the present invention.
[13] Referring to Fig. 1 again, the system (100) for locking a vehicle (V) with a trailer (T) comprises mainly two components, namely the hook assembly (110) and the locking assembly (120), both of which are fitted on the vehicle (V), as per an embodiment of the present invention.
[14] The hook assembly (110) as per an embodiment of the present invention comprises the first drive unit (112) which is a hydraulic cylinder unit having the vertically movable shaft (S). The flange (F) is fixed by way of suitable means such as welding, soldering or any other fixing process, to the shaft (S), in an embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the first drive unit (112) is operated manually by known means such as an auxiliary lever, through an oil control valve. A person skilled in the art shall be able to understand that the first drive unit (112) may be operable by known hydraulic systems too. The vehicle toe (114) of the vehicle (V) is defined on free end of the flange (F) in such a way that the vehicle toe (114) moves up or down when the shaft (S) is operated in the vertical direction(s) by the first drive unit (112), within a favorable embodiment of the present invention.
[15] The locking assembly (120) comprises the second drive unit (124) which is a rack and pinion assembly operable by battery, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The second drive unit (124) is attached with the locking pin (122), so that the second drive unit (124) enables movement of the locking pin (122) in up and down direction.
[16] In another embodiment of the present invention, sensors or any other signaling means may be installed at suitable places on the vehicle (V) and the trailer (T) for assisting the user who is driving the vehicle (V) in reverse direction while aligning the vehicle toe (114) and the trailer toe (116) just above each other.
[17] During operation, the user drives the vehicle (V) backwards so that the vehicle toe (114) and the trailer toe (116) are aligned vertically opposite to each other. The user operates the first drive unit (112) to vertically move the flange (F) through the shaft (S), so that the vehicle toe (114) is aligned over or specifically on top of the trailer toe (116). The user then operates the second drive unit (124) so that the locking pin (122) vertically passes through the vehicle toe (114) and the trailer toe (116) which have been aligned with each other, as per an embodiment of the present invention.
[18] In this way, locking of the vehicle (V) with the trailer (T) is achieved effortlessly by a single user, thereby saving manpower and time. Further, strenuousness to the user and accidents are easily avoided with the use of the system (100) for locking the vehicle (V) with a trailer (T), as disclosed herein.