Abstract: A safety mechanism, for a lighter having a striker and a flint for creating sparks and/or a lever for releasing compressed flammable gas adjacent the striker and flint, including a spring for biasing the striker and flint apart when the lighter is not in use and means for selectively urging the striker and flint together to facilitate a spark. The safety mechanism may further include a pivotal stop member which typically secures the lever in a non-releasing position until selectively pivoted therefrom by the operator.

Abstract: An improved fifth wheel incorporates a junction fitting for pneumatic, hydraulic and electrical control lines which mates the truck to the tractor simultaneously with the connection performed by the fifth wheel. The deck plate is pivoted about a vertical axis to maintain the connection and facilitate turning of the rig.

Abstract: A locking device for a hydraulically operated dump truck secures the lift cylinder against unwanted oscillation when the dump body is in the lowered travel position by securing the top of the cylinder to the doghouse of the dump body. The cylinder is connected to the bottom of the dump body for lift purposes and pivots away from the doghouse during lifting.

Abstract: An improved kingpin includes a shaft pivotally secured within a bearing and mounted within a trailer, the kingpin being positioned in downward extension therefrom for secured engagement within a conventional fifth-wheel. Also included are couplers for automatically connecting a tractor's service lines to the trailer concurrent with the engagement of said kingpin within said fifth-wheel.

Abstract: Discharge of fluid and debris onto a roadway from between the closure member and the rear of a truck body is eliminated by the use of a collection trough mounted beneath the rear of the truck body and a pivotally mounted slide member which can be selectively positioned to cover the trough while functioning as an asphalt slide or to act as a retaining wall to deflect and retain water and debris within the trough.

Abstract: A tailgate and dump body assembly for use on dump trucks or trailers utilizes a plurality of U-shaped structural steel elements in a unitized body to prevent lateral deformation and vibration. The dump body terminates in one such element and the tailgate seats against this element when closed. The tailgate is pivotally mounted at the top to a linkage which lowers and raises the tailgate into and out of wedge-like engagement with an inclined stop member affixed to the rear of the dump body. Raising the tailgate permits it to swing open upon elevation of the dump body while lowering the tailgate into engagement with the stop member prevents inadvertent opening of the gate.