Underbed hitch mounting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10967689-B2
Application number	US-201916564188-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2019
Priority date	Apr 26, 2016
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

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

What is claimed is:

1. An underbed hitch mounting system comprising:
a pair of parallel end members laterally spaced apart, each of the end members comprising a tubular member;
first and second cross rails positioned at orthogonal angles relative to the end members, each of the first and second cross rails comprising a rail tubular member;
a mid rail positioned between the first and second cross rails, the mid rail comprising mid rail tubular member and a hitch ball socket; and
at least four receiving members, wherein each of the parallel end members has two receiving members formed in opposing ends, wherein the four receiving members define a quadrilateral periphery to cooperate with attachment mechanisms for a fifth wheel hitch.

2. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the two receiving members is identical for each of the end members.

3. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the fifth wheel hitch being attached with the receiving members.

4. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the end members are welded to the first and second cross rails.

5. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 4 , wherein the mid rail is welded to the first and second cross rails.

6. An underbed hitch mounting system comprising:
a pair of parallel cross members;
a pair of parallel end members orthogonal to the cross members, wherein the cross members and end members collectively define a quadrilateral periphery; and
a mid rail connected to each cross member without intersecting with either of the end members;
wherein the mid rail includes a hitch ball socket; and
wherein each end member includes a receiving member formed within the quadrilateral periphery.

7. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 6 , wherein the quadrilateral periphery has a rectangular shape.

8. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 6 , wherein the receiving members attach to a fifth wheel hitch.

9. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 6 , wherein each of the cross members comprises a rectangular tubular member.

10. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 9 , wherein each of the end members comprises a rectangular tubular member.

11. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the mid rail comprises a tubular member.

Assignees

• Horizon Global Americas Inc

Inventors

• Stanifer Eric J
• Mccoy Richard W
• Ward Brian W

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

• B60D1/485

  mounted by means of transversal members attached to the frame of a vehicle · CPC title

• B60D1/06

  Ball-and-socket hitches · CPC title

• B60D1/015

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic