Multi-point underbed hitch mounting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10967688-B2
Application number	US-201815909236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2018
Priority date	Mar 1, 2017
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

An under bed hitch mounting apparatus is shown and described. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus may comprise a first bracket attachable to a frame of a vehicle below a load bed of the vehicle and a second bracket attachable to the frame of the vehicle below a load bed of the vehicle, the second bracket transversely spaced from the first bracket. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus may also include a first receiving member attached with the first bracket, the first receiving member configured to engage an accessory member, where at least a portion of the first receiving member extends above the load bed of the vehicle, and a second receiving member attached with the second bracket, the first receiving member configured to engage the accessory member, where at least a portion of the second receiving member extends above the load bed of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An under bed hitch mounting apparatus comprising:
a first bracket attachable to a frame of a vehicle below a load bed of the vehicle;
a second bracket attachable to the frame of the vehicle below the load bed of the vehicle, the second bracket transversely spaced from the first bracket wherein the first and second brackets are not directly attached to one another;
a pair of first receiving members attached with the first bracket and configured to engage an accessory member, wherein at least a portion of the pair of first receiving members extend above the load bed of the vehicle; and
a pair of second receiving member attached with the second bracket, and configured to engage the accessory member, wherein at least a portion of the pair of second receiving members extend above the load bed of the vehicle.

2. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising first and second mounting platforms, wherein the first and second mounting platforms extend from the first bracket.

3. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a first receiving member of the first pair of receiving members is attached with the first mounting platform and a second receiving member of the first pair of receiving members is attached with the second mounting platform.

4. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising third and fourth mounting platforms, wherein the third and fourth mounting platforms extend from the second bracket.

5. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 4 , wherein a first receiving member of the second pair of receiving members is attached with the third mounting platform and a second receiving member of the second pair of receiving members is attached with the fourth mounting platform.

6. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first mounting platform includes first and second mounting platform plate members.

7. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first mounting platform plate member includes a first mating member and the second mounting platform plate member includes a second mating member whereby the first and second mating members when aligned in a mating configuration position the first and second mounting platform plate members in an operative position to be attached together.

8. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first mating member comprises a tab and the second mating member comprises a notch of a shape and size generally corresponding to the tab.

9. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second brackets are an inverted U-shape whereby three sides of the first and second brackets are configured to circumscribe at least a portion of the frame of the vehicle.

10. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising first and second extension bars, wherein the first extension bar engages the first bracket attaching the first bracket with the frame of the vehicle and wherein the second extension bar engages the second bracket attached the second bracket with the frame of the vehicle.

11. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first and second extension bars are generally C-shaped to circumscribe at least a portion of the frame of the vehicle.

12. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 11 further comprising third and fourth extension bars, wherein the third extension bar engages the first bracket attaching the first bracket with the frame of the vehicle and wherein the fourth extension bar engages the second bracket attached the second bracket with the frame of the vehicle.

13. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the third and fourth extension bars are generally C-shaped to circumscribe at least a portion of the frame of the vehicle.

14. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first bracket includes first and second plate members.

15. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first plate member includes a first mating member and the second plate member includes a second mating member whereby the first and second mating members when aligned in a mating configuration position the first and second plate members in an operative position to be attached together.

16. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first mating member comprises a tab and the second mating member comprises a notch of a shape and size generally corresponding to the tab.

17. An under bed hitch mounting apparatus comprising:
a bracket attachable to a frame of a vehicle below a load bed of the vehicle;
a mounting platform positioned generally perpendicular with and attached to the bracket;
a receiving member attached with the mounting platform, the receiving member configured to engage an accessory member, wherein at least a portion of the receiving member extends above the load bed of the vehicle, wherein the receiving member comprises a plate member having an aperture and a tubular member with an opening, whereby the tubular member is inserted into the aperture and wherein the plate member includes a tab and the mounting platform includes a slot whereby the tab engages the slot operatively positioning the plate member relative to the mounting platform.

18. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:
a second mounting platform positioned generally perpendicular with and attached to the bracket;
a second receiving member attached with the second mounting platform, the second receiving member configured to engage the accessory member, wherein at least a portion of the second receiving member extends above the load bed of the vehicle.

19. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the opening is configured to selectively secure a leg of a fifth wheel hitch to the receiving member.

20. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the plate member includes a second tab and the bracket includes a bracket slot whereby the second tab engages the bracket slot operatively positioning the plate member relative to the bracket.

21. An under bed hitch mounting apparatus comprising:
a first bracket attachable to a frame of a vehicle below a load bed of the vehicle;
a second bracket attachable to the frame of the vehicle below the load bed of the vehicle, the second bracket transversely spaced from the first bracket;
at least one first receiving member attached with the first bracket and configured to engage an accessory member, wherein at least a portion of the at least one first receiving member extends above the load bed of the vehicle;
at least one second receiving member attached with the second bracket, and configured to engage the accessory member, wherein at least a portion of the at least one second receiving member extends above the load bed of the vehicle; and
first and second extension bars, wherein the first and second extension bars are C-shaped bars, wherein the first extension bar engages the first bracket attaching the first bracket with the frame of the vehicle and wherein the second extension bar engages the second bracket attached the second bracket with the frame of the vehicle.

22. An under bed hitch mounting apparatus comprising:
a first bracket attachable to a frame of a vehicle below a load bed of the vehicle;
a second bracket attachable to the frame of the vehicle below the load bed of the v

Assignees

• Horizon Global Americas Inc

Inventors

• Garner Kevin
• Dunlavey Matt
• Fritz Erik
• Ward Brian

Classifications

• B62D53/08

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

• B60D1/488 Primary

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

• B60D1/247

  for improving weight distribution · CPC title

• B60D1/015

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic