Self-locking trailer hitch assembly

A self-locking trailer hitch assembly includes an elongated housing attachable to the draw bar of a towed vehicle, and the housing includes an attachment end and an opposite socket which is shaped to receive a vertically-projecting ball member. The ball member is mounted to the draw bar at the rear of the towing vehicle. Disposed within the housing adjacent the socket is a jaw pivotable on a horizontal axis so that the jaw can be pivoted to a ball locking position for holding and retaining the ball member within the socket and also pivotable to a ball releasing position for unlocking and releasing the ball member from the socket so that the towed vehicle can be uncoupled from the towing vehicle. A unique releasing function is provided by a manually-operable latch which disengages the jaw from the ball locking position in order to facilitate removal of the ball member from the socket, but manual operation of the latch is not required to seat and positively lock the ball member within the socket.