Lock mechanism for fifth wheel hitch

In combination:

• a fifth wheel hitch including a pedestal supporting a housing with a hitch plate affixed to the top thereof;
• the hitch plate including a forwardly extending slot formed in a rearward edge thereof for receiving a depending pin of a trailer;
• the housing including a forwardly extending channel therein aligned with the slot in the hitch plate to receive the trailer pin projecting through the hitch plate slot;
• said channel including a bottom, opposing side walls, and a forward end wall;
• and
• hook means operably mounted on said housing for selectively engaging a pin within the channel and preventing rearward movement of the pin from the channel, said hook means being operable between engaged and disengaged positions;
• said hook means including an opening in one of said channel side walls, extending generally parallel to the channel bottom, for receiving the hook member therethrough;
• said hook means further including a hook member pivotally mounted on said housing for movement between an engaged position with a hook arm projecting through said channel opening and into the channel to retain a trailer pin between the channel forward end wall and the hook arm, and a disengaged position with the hook arm pivoted outwardly from the engaged position;
• a handle having a first end affixed to the hook means for movement therewith, and a second end projecting freely from the hook means, for moving the hook means between the engaged and disengaged positions;
• biasing means connected between the hook member and the housing to urge the hook member towards the engaged position;
• a lock plate pivotally mounted to the housing for movement between first and second positions;
• said lock plate including a forward edge having a rearwardly extending throat formed between upper and lower legs;
• a first catch formed in the throat for selectively retaining the handle pivoted in the disengaged position;
• a second catch formed in the throat for selectively retaining the handle pivoted in the engaged position;
• said lock plate pivotally mounted for selective movement between the first position with the first catch engaged with said handle and a second position with the second catch engaged with the handle.