Fluid and tension band-operated hitch adaptor
OwnerAndy B. Adamsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid and tension band-operated hitch adapter mounted in the bed of a pickup truck or similar towing vehicle for cushioning the fifth wheel, receiving pin or ball coupling element and dampening the resulting trailer load. In a preferred embodiment the fluid and tension band-operated hitch adapter is fitted with a fluid-operated bag, a tension band and fluid-operated cylinders and is attached to the vehicle bed by hinges, to cushion road shock.
Claims8
A fluid and tension band-operated hitch adapter for removably coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle, comprising plate means fixedly mounted on the towing vehicle;
- a frame hingedly mounted on said plate means;
- and air bag mounted between said frame and said plate means;
- at least one first shock absorber mounted on said frame and said plate means rearwardly of said air bag;
- a tension band mounted on said frame and said plate means rearwardly of said air bag;
- and hitch means carried by said frame for receiving the trailer and absorbing the coupling load of the trailer and said frame, whereby said air bag, said shock absorber and said tension band operate in concert to cushion the road shock of the towing vehicle and the trailer responsive to pivoting of said frame with respect to said plate means and the towing vehicle.
A fluid and tension band-operated hitch adaptor for removably coupling a trailer to the bed of a pickup truck, comprising a firm hingedly mounted at one end in the pickup truck, said frame positioned substantially above the rear axle of the pickup truck;
- a pair of support beams carried by said frame and projecting rearwardly of said frame and the rear axle away from said one end;
- a base channel disposed beneath said frame and fixedly mounted to the bed of the pickup truck;
- an air bag disposed between said frame and said base channel, a pair of fluid-operated shock absorbers attached to said frame and said base channel;
- at least two tension band mount cradles carried by said frame;
- and a tension band disposed between a selected one of said mount cradles and said base channel in shock-absorbing relationship;
- and a firth wheel carried by said support beams for coupling the trailer to the pickup truck, whereby said air bag, said fluid-operated shock absorbers and said tension band operate in concert to cushion the road shock of the towing vehicle and the trailer responsive to pivoting of said frame and said support beams with respect to the towing vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.