Pin box assembly with gooseneck coupler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11890903-B2
Application number	US-202117394980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2021
Priority date	Sep 21, 2010
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

A pin box assembly with gooseneck coupler for coupling a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle is described. The pin box assembly may include a first member capable of being secured to a towed vehicle and a second member pivotally coupled to the first member about an axis of rotation relative to the first member. The pin box assembly may further include a gooseneck ball coupler coupled to the second member, and a suspension system coupled to at least one of the first and second members, the suspension system damping motion between the first and second members.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed:

1. A towing assembly comprising:
a towed vehicle attachment assembly;
a gooseneck coupler assembly pivotally coupled to the towed vehicle attachment assembly about an axis of rotation wherein the gooseneck coupler assembly pivots relative to the towed vehicle attachment assembly about the axis of rotation, wherein the gooseneck coupler assembly comprises a gooseneck ball coupler and the axis of rotation is completely forward and upward of the periphery of the gooseneck ball coupler; and
a suspension system damping motion between the towed vehicle attachment assembly and gooseneck coupler assembly, wherein the suspension system is attached between the gooseneck coupler assembly and the towed vehicle attachment assembly.

2. The towing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the suspension system comprises at least one shock absorber.

3. The towing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least one shock absorber is rearward of the axis of rotation of the gooseneck coupler assembly and completely upward of the gooseneck ball coupler.

4. A towing assembly for coupling a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the towing assembly comprising:
a towed vehicle attachment assembly configured to be attached to the towed vehicle in a fixed orientation;
a gooseneck coupler assembly pivotally coupled to the towed vehicle attachment assembly about an axis of rotation;
a suspension system coupled to the towed vehicle attachment assembly and the gooseneck coupler assembly, wherein the suspension system comprises a shock absorber configured to restrict relative movement between the towed vehicle attachment assembly and the gooseneck coupler assembly; and
a gooseneck ball coupler attached to the gooseneck coupler assembly, the gooseneck ball coupler configured to engage and disengage with a ball portion of a gooseneck ball on the towing vehicle; wherein the axis of rotation is completely forward and upward of the periphery of the gooseneck ball coupler.

5. The towing assembly of claim 4 , wherein the shock absorber is positioned rearward of the axis of rotation and completely upward of the gooseneck ball coupler.

6. The towing assembly of claim 4 further comprising an air bag positioned between the towed vehicle attachment assembly and the gooseneck coupler assembly.

7. A towing assembly comprising:
a towed vehicle attachment assembly configured to be attached to a towed vehicle;
a gooseneck coupler assembly pivotally secured to the towed vehicle attachment assembly about an axis of rotation;
a gooseneck ball coupler attached with the gooseneck coupler assembly, the gooseneck ball coupler configured to engage a ball portion of a gooseneck ball;
wherein the axis of rotation of the gooseneck coupler assembly is completely forward and upward of the periphery of the gooseneck ball coupler; and
a suspension system attached between the towed vehicle attachment assembly and the gooseneck coupler assembly, wherein the suspension system restricts relative motion between the towed vehicle attachment assembly and the gooseneck coupler assembly and is mounted completely upward of the gooseneck ball coupler.

8. The towing assembly of claim 7 further comprising a bump stop isolator attached to the towed vehicle attachment assembly, the bump stop isolator providing suspension to the gooseneck coupler assembly.

9. The towing assembly of claim 8 further comprising a biasing member positioned between the towed vehicle attachment assembly and the gooseneck coupler assembly.

10. The towing assembly of claim 9 , wherein the bump stop isolator provides suspension to the gooseneck coupler in a direction generally opposite to that of the biasing member.

11. The towing assembly of claim 10 , wherein the biasing member comprises an air bag.

12. The towing assembly of claim 11 further comprising an automatically adjusting air relief system operatively secured with the air bag, wherein the air relief system automatically adjusts the air bag from being over inflated to maintain the air bag in an operative state.

13. The towing assembly of claim 12 , wherein the air relief system includes an air relief valve and wherein the air relief valve adjusts automatically the air bag from being over-inflated.

Assignees

• Horizon Global Americas Inc

Inventors

• Curl Michael R
• Mccoy Richard W

Classifications

• B62D53/08

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

• B60D1/249 Primary

  for damping in the pulling direction and being integrated with the hitch, e.g. resilient dampers integrated with the hitch · CPC title

• B60D1/015

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60D1/065

  characterised by the hitch mechanism · CPC title

• B62D53/0828 Primary

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