Jaw assembly for a fifth wheel hitch
AssigneeReese Products, Inc.
InventorsJohn J. Kass, Philip K. Hoopes, Thomas W. Lindenman, Richard McCoy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A jaw assembly for a fifth wheel hitch includes a support plate, a jaw bolt mounted for relative sliding movement on the support plate between open and closed positions and a trigger for positively holding the jaw bolt in the open position. A spring is connected between the jaw bolt and trigger in such a way as to perform the dual function of biasing the jaw bolt toward the closed position and biasing the trigger into engagement with the jaw bolt so as to hold the jaw bolt open. When the trigger is engaged by a trailer king pin that is to be held in the jaw assembly, the jaw bolt is released and closes under action of the biasing spring.
Claims14
A jaw assembly for a fifth wheel hitch, comprising:
- a support plate;
- a jaw bolt mounted for relative sliding movement on said support plate between open and closed positions;
- a releasable trigger for positively holding said jaw bolt in the open position;
- and
- means for biasing said jaw bolt into the closed position said biasing means having a first end connected to said jaw bolt and a second end connected to said trigger.
A jaw assembly for a fifth wheel hitch comprising:
- a support plate;
- a jaw bolt mounted for relative sliding movement on said support plate between open and closed positions, said jaw bolt including a stop;
- a releasable trigger for engaging said stop to positively hold said jaw bolt in the open position;
- and
- means for biasing said jaw bolt into the closed position, said biasing means including a tension spring having a first end connected to said jaw bolt and a second end connected to said trigger.
A fifth wheel hitch assembly for towing a trailer behind a towing vehicle, comprising:
- a frame including a means for mounting said frame to the towing vehicle;
- a head assembly;
- means for mounting said head assembly for pivotal movement relative to said frame;
- and
- a jaw assembly for engaging the trailer to be towed by the towing vehicle, said jaw assembly being carried by said head assembly and including:
- (a) a support plate;
- (b) a jaw bolt mounted for relative sliding movement on said support plate between open and closed positions;
- (c) a releasable trigger for positively holding said jaw bolt in the open position;
- and
- (d) means for biasing said jaw bolt into the closed position, said biasing means having a first end connected to said jaw bolt and a second end connected to said trigger.
A fifth wheel hitch assembly for towing a trailer behind a towing vehicle, comprising:
- a frame including a means for mounting said frame to the towing vehicle;
- a head assembly;
- means for mounting said head assembly for pivotal movement relative to said frame;
- and
- a jaw assembly for engaging the trailer to be towed by the towing vehicle, said jaw assembly being carried by said head assembly and including:
- (a) a support plate;
- (b) a jaw bolt mounted for relative sliding movement on said support plate between open and closed positions, said jaw bolt including (1) a stop that is engaged by said first end of said trigger to hold said jaw bolt in the open position and (2) a handle for manually manipulating said jaw bolt into the open position;
- (c) a releasable trigger for positively holding said jaw bolt in the open position, said trigger being pivotally mounted to said support plate and elongated so as to thereby include first and second ends;
- and
- (d) means for biasing said jaw bolt into the closed position, said biasing means including a tension spring having a first end operatively connected to said handle and a second end operatively connected to said second end of said trigger whereby said first end of said trigger is biased into engagement with said stop on said jaw bolt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.