US 5,513,869 A · Fifth wheel with gooseneck

Abstract

A fifth wheel hitch assembly (10) which is mounted on the hitch ball (32) of a gooseneck subassembly (12), is described. The subassembly is mounted in the bed (14A) of a pickup truck (14) such that the subassembly is parallel to the rear axle (16) of the truck and the hitch ball is directly centered over or slightly fore or aft of the axle differential housing (58). A pair of flexible half-shell bearings (39) are positioned on the hitch ball to form a complete bearing (38) completely surrounding the top portion (33) of the hitch ball. A fifth wheel hitch assembly with a permanently mounted adaptor (42) is mounted with the adaptor extending over the complete bearing when the complete bearing is positioned on the hitch ball. A pair of securing rods (52) extend through the adaptor and the complete bearing below the ball (33A) of the top portion of the hitch ball and securing the adaptor on the complete bearing and the hitch ball. The fifth wheel head (46) of the fifth wheel hitch assembly is mounted onto the open top of the adaptor.

Claims36

Dependent claims

An apparatus for providing a fifth wheel hitch connection with a hitch ball, which comprises:

(a) a pair of half-shell bearings each having a concave indention mountable on and conforming to the hitch ball wherein the concave indentions are positioned together to form a complete cavity for holding the hitch ball when the half-shell bearings are positioned together around the hitch ball and each of the bearings having outer walls around the cavity;
(b) an adaptor having an opening which is mounted on the outer walls of the bearings so that the bearings are secured on the hitch ball wherein the bearings provide for mounting of the adaptor on the hitch ball;
(c) securing means for securing the adaptor on the bearings when mounted on the hitch ball;
and
(d) a fifth wheel hitch assembly mounted on an end of the adaptor above the cavity and above the hitch ball.

2 more elements

A method for providing a fifth wheel hitch connection on a hitch ball mounted on a vehicle, which comprises:

(a) mounting a pair of resilient half-shell bearings on the hitch ball each bearing having a concave indention conforming to the hitch ball, wherein the concave indentions are positioned together to form a complete cavity for holding the hitch ball when the half-shell bearings are moved together around the hitch ball and each of the bearings having outer walls around the cavity;
(b) mounting a fifth wheel hitch with an adaptor having an opening on the outer walls of the bearings so that the bearings are secured on the hitch ball wherein the bearings provide for mounting of the adaptor and fifth wheel hitch on the hitch ball;
and
(c) securing the adaptor on the bearings and the hitch ball.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fifth wheel with gooseneck

Life of this patent

Fifth wheel with gooseneck

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36