# US 10,870,454 B2 · Integrally formed gooseneck hitch assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,454 B2 - Document ID: US10870454B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/376,586 - Filed: 2019-04-05 - Published: 2019-08-01 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-25 - Assignees: Horizon Global Americas Inc. - Applicants: Horizon Global Americas Inc. - Inventors: Richard W. McCoy; Jacob William Mitchell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870454B2 ## CPC - B60D 1/52: removably mounted - B60D 1/06: Ball-and-socket hitches - B60D 1/488: {mounted directly to the chassis of the towing vehicle} - B62D 53/08: Fifth wheel traction couplings {(tractors for handling trailers in terminals B62D49/007)} - B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A gooseneck hitch attachable to a cross member secured to a frame below a load bed of a vehicle, the cross member having a width is shown and described. The gooseneck hitch may include a beam selectively attachable to the cross member below the load bed and a rail monolithically formed with the beam and extending from the beam. The gooseneck hitch may also include a receptacle monolithically formed with the rail, where the receptacle is capable of selectively securing a hitch ball. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gooseneck hitch selectively attachable to a cross member transversely secured to a vehicle frame below a load bed of a vehicle, the cross member defining an aperture, the gooseneck hitch comprising: first and second transverse rail sections; a receptacle, selectively securing a hitch ball, attached to the first and second rail sections; at least one beam; and wherein the beam, the first transverse rail section, and the second transverse rail section are formed as a monolithic unit having a flat upper surface and the receptacle is aligned with the aperture of the cross member when the monolithic unit is attached to the cross member; wherein the at least one beam fits completely within a longitudinal width of the cross member upon attachment to the cross member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gooseneck hitch of claim 1, wherein the monolithic unit is selectively attachable to a bottom surface of the cross member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gooseneck hitch of claim 1, wherein the monolithic unit is formed through casting. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gooseneck hitch of claim 1, further comprising a web generally positioned between at least two selected from: the beam, the first rail section, and the second rail section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The gooseneck hitch of claim 4, wherein the web is formed as part of the monolithic unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The gooseneck hitch of claim 4, wherein the web includes at least one recessed portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The gooseneck hitch of claim 4, wherein a cross sectional thickness of a vertical portion of the web is less than a cross sectional thickness of a vertical portion of the receptacle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gooseneck hitch of claim 1, wherein the at least one beam, the first rail section, the second rail section, and the receptacle are weld free. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gooseneck hitch of claim 1, wherein the first transverse rail section is curved. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The gooseneck hitch of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal width of the monolithic unit bisecting the receptacle is less than at least one parallel longitudinal width that does not bisect the receptacle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The gooseneck hitch of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of apertures formed through the upper surface of monolithic unit, the plurality of apertures receiving fasteners when the monolithic unit is attached to the cross member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The gooseneck hitch of claim 11, wherein a longitudinal width of the monolithic unit bisecting the receptacle is less than at least one parallel longitudinal width that does not bisect the receptacle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The gooseneck hitch of claim 1, further comprising at least two apertures formed in the monolithic unit proximate to transversely opposing ends of the first rail section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The gooseneck hitch of claim 13, further comprising at least two apertures formed in the monolithic unit proximate to transversely opposing ends of the second rail section. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The gooseneck hitch of claim 14, wherein a longitudinal width of the monolithic unit bisecting the receptacle is less than at least one parallel longitudinal width that does not bisect the receptacle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The gooseneck hitch of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ribs on an underside of the monolithic unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The gooseneck hitch of claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of the monolithic unit includes at least one open cavity. ### Claim 18 A gooseneck hitch assembly selectively attachable to a vehicle frame, the assembly comprising: a single cross member; a gooseneck hitch, attached to the cross member, the gooseneck hitch comprising: a first rail section defining a central portion of a first transverse edge; a second rail section defining a central portion of a second transverse edge formed opposite to the first transverse edge, wherein the second rail portion is curved, wherein the first and second rail sections are longitudinally spaced apart but form a substantially flat upper surface; a receptacle formed between the first and second rail sections, the receptacle configured to have accepted therein a hitch ball; a plurality of ribs formed on an underside of the substantially flat upper surface, wherein a portion of the ribs are positioned between the receptacle and at least one of the first and second rail sections; wherein the receptacle, the first rail section, and the second rail section are monolithically formed. ### Claim 19 A gooseneck hitch comprising: a first rail section defining a central portion of a first transverse edge; a second rail section defining a central portion of a second transverse edge formed opposite to the first transverse edge, wherein the second rail portion is curved and wherein the first and second rail sections are longitudinally spaced apart but form a substantially flat upper surface; a receptacle formed between the first and second rail sections, wherein the receptacle is configured to accept a hitch ball; a plurality of ribs formed on an underside of the substantially flat upper surface, wherein a portion of the ribs connect between any combination of the following: the receptacle, the first rail section, and the second rail section; wherein at least the receptacle, the first rail section, and second rail sections are monolithically formed; and wherein a cross section thickness of a vertical portion of the receptacle is greater than a cross section thickness of a vertical portion of any of the plurality of the ribs.