US3941407A — Fifth wheel trailer hitch

Claim 1

Independent Claim 235 words

A fifth wheel type trailer hitch, comprising: a. a mount means having a mounting plate rigidly mountable on a supporting structure and a pair of spaced upright end portions, said mounting plate having means to removably mount said upright end portions, and said upright end portions each having in the upper portion thereof a pair of oppositely extending lugs on a lower portion thereof to pivotally receive and mount a shaft, said means to removably mount said upright end portions has a socket and guide means to receive and hold said lugs in a mounted relation, b. a cross member having a shaft mounting means in opposite portions thereof and having a shaft mounted in said shaft mounting means and extending from said cross member, said shaft being mounted in said means to pivotally receive and mount a shaft, c. coupling means mounted on the upper side of said cross member and constructed and adapted to receive and mount in towing relation a cooperative coupling means on a trailer or the like, and d. said coupling means has an entrance slot in said cross member, a jaw member movably mounted with said cross member, a locking bolt slidably mounted to secure said jaw member in an operating position and a second locking bolt slidably mounted to in use secure said first named locking bolt when said first named locking bolt is securing said jaw member.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 235 words

A fifth wheel type trailer hitch, comprising: a. a mount means having a mounting plate rigidly mountable on a supporting structure and a pair of spaced upright end portions, said mounting plate having means to removably mount said upright end portions, and said upright end portions each having in the upper portion thereof a pair of oppositely extending lugs on a lower portion thereof to pivotally receive and mount a shaft, said means to removably mount said upright end portions has a socket and guide means to receive and hold said lugs in a mounted relation, b. a cross member having a shaft mounting means in opposite portions thereof and having a shaft mounted in said shaft mounting means and extending from said cross member, said shaft being mounted in said means to pivotally receive and mount a shaft, c. coupling means mounted on the upper side of said cross member and constructed and adapted to receive and mount in towing relation a cooperative coupling means on a trailer or the like, and d. said coupling means has an entrance slot in said cross member, a jaw member movably mounted with said cross member, a locking bolt slidably mounted to secure said jaw member in an operating position and a second locking bolt slidably mounted to in use secure said first named locking bolt when said first named locking bolt is securing said jaw member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 93 words

The hitch of claim 1, wherein: a. said socket and guide means has a pair of socket members rigidly secured to the upper side of said mounting plate on one edge portion thereof, said socket members opening toward the center portion of said mounting plate, and b. said socket and guide means has a pair of guide members rigidly secured to said mounting plate on an edge portion thereof opposite to said first named edge portion and opposite to said socket members, said guide members opening toward said socket members and opening upward.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 65 words

The hitch of claim 2, wherein: a. said means to removably mount said end portions has an aperture through one of said lugs on each of said upright end portions, an aperture through said mounting plate, and a pair of bolts mountable through said apertures to rigidly secure said upright end members to said mounting plate, and b. said guide members are generally U-shaped members.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 131 words

The hitch of claim 1, wherein: a. said jaw member has an open slot on one side thereof and said jaw member is pivotally mounted on the underside of said cross member, said jaw member being pivotal between a first position with said slot being generally transverse to said entrance slot and a second position with said slot opening into said entrance slot in the same general direction as said entrance slot, b. said first named locking bolt being slidable to an extended position having one end thereof contacting said jaw member to prevent rotation thereof, and c. said second locking bolt being engagable with an end portion of said first named locking bolt opposite said first named end thereof to secure said first named locking bolt in said extended position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

The hitch of claim 1, wherein, said hitch is mountable on the bed of a truck on the floor thereof.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

The hitch of claim 1, wherein, said hitch is mountable on a horizontally disposed portion of a vehicle bumper.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-03-02	1979-09-01	1980-03-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-03-02	1983-09-01	1984-03-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-03-02	1987-09-01	1988-03-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fifth wheel trailer hitch

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