Under bed hitch mounting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11072214-B2
Application number	US-201916685080-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2019
Priority date	Dec 8, 2010
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

A hitch mounting system capable of attaching to a vehicle, where, the vehicle includes a frame and a load bed is disclosed. The hitch mounting system may include at least one rail, the rail being a generally continuous member, where the rail includes at least one end portion, and where the end portion is deformed in a shape capable of attaching to the frame of the vehicle. The hitch mounting system may also include at least one mounting aperture located in the rail, the mounting aperture capable of having secured thereto an accessory.

First claim

I claim:

1. A hitch mounting system capable of attaching to a vehicle, the vehicle having a frame and a load bed, the hitch mounting system comprising:
a pair of rails spaced apart from one another, each of the pair of rails being a generally tubular member having a cross-sectional shape which is defined by an enclosed peripheral wall with a generally hollow section;
at least one end portion formed from at least one rail of the pair of rails, wherein the at least one end portion is deformed in a shape capable of attaching to the frame of the vehicle;
at least one mounting aperture located in at least one rail of the pair of rails;
a receiving member positioned over the at least one mounting aperture and welded to at least one rail of the pair of rails, the receiving member capable of having secured thereto an accessory; and
a mid-rail attached between the pair of rails, wherein the mid-rail includes a hitch ball socket positioned closer to one rail of the pair of rails than the other rail of the pair of rails, the hitch ball socket capable of having secured thereto a gooseneck hitch ball.

2. The hitch mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting aperture comprises first and second mounting apertures positioned in at least one rail of the pair of rails and laterally spaced apart.

3. The hitch mounting system of claim 2 further comprising a second receiving member positioned over the second mounting aperture and welded to at least one rail of the pair of rails.

4. The hitch mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting aperture comprises a pair of mounting apertures located in each rail of the pair of rails and spaced laterally apart from one another.

5. The hitch mounting system of claim 4 further comprising second, third and fourth receiving members positioned over the pair of mounting apertures in each rail of the pair of rails and wherein the second, third and fourth receiving members are welded in place.

6. A hitch mounting system comprising:
first and second rails laterally opposed to one another, the first and second rails being a generally continuous tubular member having a cross-sectional shape which is defined by an enclosed peripheral wall with a generally hollow section, wherein the first and second rails include first and second surfaces and at least one end portion, wherein the at least one end portion is formed by deforming the first and second rails;
a first pair of mounting apertures located in the first rail;
a second pair of mounting apertures located in the second rail;
a first pair of receiving members positioned over the first pair of mounting apertures and welded to the first rail, the first pair of receiving members capable of having secured thereto an accessory;
a second pair of receiving members positioned over the second pair of mounting apertures and welded to the second rail, the second pair of receiving members capable of having secured thereto an accessory; and
a mid-rail attached between the first and second rails, wherein the mid-rail includes a hitch ball socket positioned closer to the first rail than the second rail, the hitch ball socket capable of having secured thereto a gooseneck hitch ball.

7. The hitch mounting system of claim 6 , wherein the first pair of receiving members are welded to the first surface of the first rail, wherein the first pair of receiving members are generally flush with a load bed of a vehicle when the first and second rails are attached to the frame of the vehicle.

8. The hitch mounting system of claim 6 , wherein the second pair of receiving members are welded to the first surface of the second rail, wherein the second pair of receiving members are generally flush with a load bed of a vehicle when the first and second rails are attached to the frame of the vehicle.

9. A hitch mounting system comprising:
first and second rails spaced from one another, each of the first and second rails having a cross-sectional shape which is defined by an enclosed peripheral wall with a generally hollow section, wherein the first rail comprises at least one end portion, wherein the at least one end portion is formed from the first rail and angled toward a top surface of the first rail;
a first pair of receiving members attached to the first rail, the first pair of receiving members capable of having secured thereto an accessory;
a second pair of receiving members attached to the second rail, the second pair of receiving members capable of having secured thereto an accessory; and
a mid-rail attached between the first and second rails, wherein the mid-rail includes a hitch ball socket positioned closer to the first rail than the second rail, the hitch ball socket capable of having secured thereto a gooseneck hitch ball.

10. The hitch mounting system of claim 9 , wherein the second rail comprises at least one second end portion, wherein the at least one second end portion is formed from the second rail and angled toward a top surface of the second rail.

Assignees

• Horizon Global Americas Inc

Inventors

• Mccoy Richard W

Classifications

• B62D53/08

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

• B60D1/075

  Hitch adaptors · CPC title

• B60D1/488 Primary

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

• B60D1/06

  Ball-and-socket hitches · CPC title

• B60D1/52

  removably mounted · CPC title