Fifth wheel conversion hitch mounting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9849738-B2
Application number	US-201615058985-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2016
Priority date	Mar 2, 2015
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

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

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A hitch mounting system for a vehicle comprising:
an underbed hitch mounting system capable of attaching to the vehicle below a load bed of the vehicle;
an adapter assembly selectively attachable to the underbed hitch mounting system; and
a fifth wheel conversion member selectively attached to the adapter assembly
wherein the adapter assembly is attached to the underbed hitch mounting system at only two points of connection.

2. A hitch mounting system for a vehicle comprising:
an underbed hitch mounting system capable of attaching to the vehicle below a load bed of the vehicle;
an adapter assembly selectively attachable to the underbed hitch mounting system; and
a fifth wheel conversion member selectively attached to the adapter assembly
wherein the adapter assembly is attached to the underbed hitch mounting system at only three points of connection.

3. An adapter assembly for mounting to an underbed hitch mounting system on a load bed of a vehicle comprising:
at least one rail including apertures for mounting at least one cargo accessory;
at least one cross beam extending from the at least one rail and including at least one fastener configured to be selectively attached to an underbed hitch mounting system;
a mid rail including an attachment device to be received within a primary receiver of the underbed hitch mounting system.

4. The adapter assembly of claim 3 , wherein there are two points of attachment between the adapter assembly and underbed hitch mounting system.

5. The adapter assembly of claim 4 , wherein there are three points of attachment between the adapter assembly and the underbed hitch mounting system.

6. The adapter assembly of claim 3 , wherein the cargo accessory is a fifth wheel conversion member.

Assignees

• Horizon Global Americas Inc

Inventors

• Guthard Henry J
• Mccoy Richard W

Classifications

• Y10S280/901

  Adaptation of nonspecialized vehicles to semitrailer tractors · CPC title

• B62D53/0828 Primary

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

• B60D1/488

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

• B62D53/08

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

• B60F1/00

  Vehicles for use both on rail and on road; Conversions therefor · CPC title