Coupler having a solid locking pin device

Abstract

A coupler includes a coupler member having two ears extended outward to form a channel between the ears, each of the ears includes an orifice, a lever includes one end received in the channel of the coupler member, and has an aperture for aligning with the orifices of the ears. An integral one-piece locking pin is engaged through the orifices of the ears and engaged through the aperture of the lever, to pivotally secure the lever to the ears, the locking pin includes one end having a head to engage with one of the ears, and an opening formed in the other end and defined by a peripheral wall. The peripheral wall of the locking pin will be expanded and deformed radially outward to engage with the other ear, to solidly secure the locking pin to the ears, and to rotatably secure the lever to the coupler member.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A coupler comprising: 
 A coupler body including two ears extended therefrom, and having a channel formed between said ears, said ears each including an orifice formed therein,    a lever including a first end received in said channel of said body, and having an aperture formed therein for aligning with said orifices of said ears, and    an integral one-piece locking pin engaged through said orifices of said ears and engaged through said aperture of said lever, to pivotally secure said lever to said ears, said locking pin including a first end having a head provided thereon for engaging with a first ear of said ears, and said locking pin including a second end having an opening formed therein and defined by a peripheral wall,    said peripheral wall of said locking pin being arranged to be expanded and deformed radially outward to engage with a second ear of said ears, to solidly secure said locking pin to said ears, and thus to stably and rotatably secure said lever to said coupler body.    
     
     
         2 . The coupler as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said head of said locking pin includes an inner portion having a flat peripheral surface formed thereon to flatly engage with said first ear.  
     
     
         3 . The coupler as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said head of said locking pin includes an outer portion having a convex bulge extended outward therefrom, opposite to said inner flat peripheral surface thereof, to increase a strength of said head of said locking pin.