Fifth wheel conversion hitch mounting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10358176-B2
Application number	US-201715851859-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2017
Priority date	Mar 2, 2015
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

An underbed hitch mounting system is described. The mounting system may be utilized for towing vehicles wherein the mounting system may selectively accommodate either a fifth wheel hitch or a gooseneck hitch. The mounting system may include at least one rail capable of being connected to a vehicle frame, wherein the rail includes at least one socket. The socket may be engaged with a receiving member, wherein the receiving member may be engaged with a leg of a fifth wheel hitch. A mid rail may be connected to the rails and may include a hitch ball socket that is capable of engagement with a hitch.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hitch mounting system for a vehicle comprising:
an underbed hitch mounting system capable of attaching to the vehicle below a load bed of the vehicle;
a fifth wheel hitch selectively attached to the underbed hitch mounting system;
wherein the fifth wheel hitch is attached to the underbed hitch mounting system at only two points of connection.

2. A hitch mounting system for a vehicle comprising:
an underbed hitch mounting system capable of attaching to the vehicle below a load bed of the vehicle;
a fifth wheel hitch member selectively attached to the adapter assembly
wherein the fifth wheel hitch member is attached to the underbed hitch mounting system at only three points of connection.

3. A fifth wheel hitch comprising:
a body capable of operatively engaging a king pin;
a pair of legs extending from the body;
a pair of fasteners selectively engageable with an under bed hitch mounting system selectively securing each of the pair of legs with the under bed hitch mounting system;
an attachment device positioned between the legs, the attachment device configured to selectively and operatively engage a gooseneck hitch ball opening in the under bed hitch mounting system.

4. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 3 , wherein the attachment device comprises an engagement handle attached with an adjustable locking rod.

5. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 4 , wherein the attachment device further comprises a spring loaded bearing clamp extending from the locking rod and at least one ball bearing adapted to engage the gooseneck hitch ball opening.

6. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 5 , wherein the handle translates the rod to bias the spring loaded bearing clamp to position the at least one ball bearings in an open or locked position.

Assignees

• Horizon Global Americas Inc

Inventors

• Guthard Henry J
• Mccoy Richard W

Classifications

• Y10S280/901

  Adaptation of nonspecialized vehicles to semitrailer tractors · CPC title

• B62D53/0828 Primary

  Removable or fold-away traction couplings for non-specialised tractor vehicles · CPC title

• B60D1/488

  mounted directly to the chassis of the towing vehicle · CPC title

• B62D53/08

  Fifth wheel traction couplings {(tractors for handling trailers in terminals B62D49/007)} · CPC title

• B60F1/00

  Vehicles for use both on rail and on road; Conversions therefor · CPC title