Fifth wheel hitch comfort system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12179859-B2
Application number	US-202217942214-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2022
Priority date	May 23, 2017
Publication date	Dec 31, 2024
Grant date	Dec 31, 2024

Abstract

A fifth wheel hitch assembly for mounting to a towing vehicle and receiving a kingpin of a trailer incorporating a comfort assembly is provided. The fifth wheel hitch assembly may comprise a kingpin receiving assembly attached to a mounting rail via a comfort assembly. The comfort assembly may include one or more pivot bushing assemblies, as well as vertically adjustable, anti-rattle attachment systems. These attachment systems may include a cam assembly and/or a T-pin assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cam assembly configured to attach a leg of a fifth wheel hitch to a rail, the cam assembly comprising:
a foot configured to be operatively inserted into the rail;
a cam member comprising a cam barrel engageable with the foot and a cam lever engageable with the cam barrel;
a base plate positioned on the foot and configured to engage the rail; and
a fastener selectively attached to the foot, wherein the fastener comprises a faucet knob and is selectively positionable along the foot.

2. The cam assembly of claim 1 further comprising a washer positioned between the fastener and the base plate.

3. The cam assembly of claim 1 further comprising a pin engaged with the fastener preventing release of the fastener from the foot.

4. The cam assembly of claim 1 wherein the base plate is configured to engage a leg of a fifth wheel hitch.

5. The cam assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is threadably attached to the foot.

6. A fifth wheel hitch attached to a rail via the cam assembly of claim 1 .

7. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 6 , wherein the fastener is threadably attached to the foot to adjust a distance between the fastener and the rail.

8. The cam assembly of claim 1 further comprising a washer positioned between the fastener and the base plate and a pin engaged with the fastener preventing release of the fastener from the foot.

9. The cam assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener adjustably attaching the cam member to the foot.

10. A cam assembly configured to attach a leg of a fifth wheel hitch to a rail, the cam assembly comprising:
a foot configured to be operatively inserted into the rail;
a base plate positioned on the foot and configured to engage the rail; and
a cam member selectively attached to the foot, wherein the cam member comprises a cam barrel which selectively engages the foot locking and is configured to adjustably lock the foot to the rail.

11. A fifth wheel hitch attached to a rail via the cam assembly of claim 10 .

12. A mounting apparatus comprising:
a mounting plate configured to engage a leg of a fifth wheel hitch;
a plurality of auxiliary components positioned on the mounting plate,
wherein at least two of the auxiliary components comprise a different configuration; and
at least one T-pin engageable with an underbed hitch mounting system.

13. The mounting apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of auxiliary components comprise a first auxiliary component and a second auxiliary component.

14. The mounting apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the T-pin comprises a threaded end and a foot end, wherein the foot end has a pair of elongated opposing shoulders.

15. The mounting apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second auxiliary component comprises: a foot configured to be operatively inserted into a rail; a base plate positioned on the foot and configured to engage the rail; and a fastener selectively attached to the foot, wherein the fastener is selectively positionable along the foot.

16. The mounting apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second auxiliary component comprises: a foot configured to be operatively inserted into a rail; a base plate positioned on the foot and configured to engage the rail; and a cam member selectively attached to the foot, wherein the cam member selectively engages the foot locking and is configured to lock the foot to the rail.

Assignees

• Horizon Global Americas Inc
• Horizon Mfg Americas Inc

Inventors

• Scruggs Mark
• Nowack Curt
• Jolly Derek
• Mercier Gregoire

Classifications

• B60D1/01

  Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type · CPC title

• B62D53/00

  Tractor-trailer combinations; Road trains (traction couplings other than fifth wheel coupling B60D {; tracked vehicles comprising at least two articulated parts B62D55/0655}) · CPC title

• B60D1/52

  removably mounted · CPC title

• B62D53/04

  comprising a vehicle carrying an essential part of the other vehicle's load by having supporting means for the front or rear part of the other vehicle · CPC title

• B62D53/0842

  King pins · CPC title