Sliding hitch for fifth wheel trailers

A hitch for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle, said towing vehicle having a driver's position and a rear axle behind the driver's position, said hitch comprising a first hitch member on the trailer and a second hitch member on the towing vehicle coupling with said first hitch member at a hitch point from a first position during normal forward longitudinal movement of the trailer and towing vehicle, and displacing means responsive to pivoting of the trailer with respect to the towing vehicle for moving said second hitch member and said hitch point rearwardly away from the driver's position toward a second position in response to pivoting of the trailer with respect to the towing vehicle.

A hitch for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle comprising a first hitch member on the trailer and a second hitch member on the towing vehicle for securing said trailer to the towing vehicle, said trailer pivoting with respect to the towing vehicle to effect turning, a sliding mount slidably mounting said second hitch member for sliding movement longitudinally with respect to the towing vehicle in response to pivoting between the trailer and the towing vehicle, and a latching mechanism locking said first and second hitch members against pivoting relative to one another.

A hitch for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle comprising a first hitch member on the trailer and a second hitch member on the towing vehicle for bearing the weight of the trailer and being an anchor point for securing said trailer to the towing vehicle, said trailer pivoting with respect to the towing vehicle to effect turning, a sliding mount slidably mounting said second hitch member for sliding movement longitudinally with respect to the towing vehicle, and a linkage responsive to pivoting of the trailer with respect to the towing vehicle to move said second hitch member on said sliding mount as the trailer pivots with respect to the towing vehicle, wherein said linkage is between said first hitch member and said sliding mount.

A hitch for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle comprising a first hitch member on the trailer and a second hitch member on the towing vehicle for bearing the weight of the trailer and being an anchor point for securing said trailer to the towing vehicle, said trailer pivoting with respect to the towing vehicle to effect turning, a sliding mount slidably mounting said second hitch member for sliding movement longitudinally with respect to the towing vehicle, and a linkage responsive to pivoting of the trailer with respect to the towing vehicle to move said second hitch member on said sliding mount as the trailer pivots with respect to the towing vehicle, wherein said sliding mount includes a frame mounted on the towing vehicle, a rod mounted longitudinally on said frame and extending longitudinally with respect to the towing vehicle, and a slide plate slidable on said rod, said linkage including a member pivoting with respect to the slide plate.