Patents by Inventor Randall A. Pulliam

Randall A. Pulliam has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10759240
    Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch is adapted to affix to a vehicle having a vehicle-mounted ball that protrudes from a towing vehicle surface. The hitch has a frame with a sleeve portion that is fixed, and a rocker assembly is telescopingly received inside the sleeve portion. The rocker assembly is selectively affixed to the frame with a pin that extends through the receiver and sleeve portion. A ball cage affixes to the vehicle-mounted ball using pins that extend through vertical walls in the cage. The ball cage can be received by the frame in a close orientation that locates the vehicle-mounted ball closer to the rocker assembly and a far orientation that locates the ball farther away. The cage includes a threaded fastener that extends outwardly. The frame has an elongate aperture that receives the threaded fastener to secure the ball cage with a nut into a cage pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Pulliam Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall A. Pulliam, James M. Karasch
  • Publication number: 20200086701
    Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch is adapted to affix to a vehicle having a vehicle-mounted ball that protrudes from a towing vehicle surface. The hitch has a frame with a sleeve portion that is fixed, and a rocker assembly is telescopingly received inside the sleeve portion. The rocker assembly is selectively affixed to the frame with a pin that extends through the receiver and sleeve portion. A ball cage affixes to the vehicle-mounted ball using pins that extend through vertical walls in the cage. The ball cage can be received by the frame in a close orientation that locates the vehicle-mounted ball closer to the rocker assembly and a far orientation that locates the ball farther away. The cage includes a threaded fastener that extends outwardly. The frame has an elongate aperture that receives the threaded fastener to secure the ball cage with a nut into a cage pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Pullium Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall A. Pulliam, James M. Karasch
  • Patent number: 10486479
    Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch is adapted to affix to a vehicle having a vehicle-mounted ball that protrudes from towing vehicle surface. The hitch has a frame with a sleeve portion that is fixed with respect to the frame and a receiver is telescopingly received inside the sleeve portion. The receiver is selectively affixed to the frame with a pin that extends through the receiver and sleeve portion. A ball cage affixes to the vehicle-mounted ball using pins that extend through vertical walls in the cage. The cage includes a threaded fastener that extends outwardly. The frame has an elongate aperture that receives the threaded fastener to secure the ball cage with a nut into a cage pocket. An optional lock overlays the nut with a nut locking aperture that prevents the nut from rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Inventors: Randall A. Pulliam, Kurt E. McKesson, James M. Karasch
  • Patent number: 10377195
    Abstract: A pin box is provided having a removable and reversible hitch. The removable hitch has a kingpin end and a ball end. The pin box has a skid plate with an aperture with a receiver that can receive and affix the removable hitch. The skid plate is reinforced to the receiver to carry the load when the ball end of the removable hitch is being used. A pin is slidable between a locked position where the removable hitch is retained and an unlocked position where the removable hitch is removable. The pin extends through an aperture in the removable hitch to affix the removable hitch to the pin box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Inventors: Randall A Pulliam, James M. Karasch
  • Patent number: 10322613
    Abstract: A kingpin adapter is provided having an upper wall and a lower wall that are affixed to each other through side walls. The upper and lower walls have a kingpin aperture and a hitch ball aperture that is spaced from and parallel to the kingpin aperture. The kingpin aperture receives a kingpin and the adapter is affixed to the kingpin using pins that extend through the side walls and extend through a portion of the undercut in the kingpin. The upper wall has jack screws that extend through to contact a skid plate that is affixed to the kingpin. The jack screws affix optional adjustable fences that rotationally constrain the skid plate by contacting lateral edges of it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventors: Randall A Pulliam, James M. Karasch
  • Publication number: 20180345743
    Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch is adapted to affix to a vehicle having a vehicle-mounted ball that protrudes from towing vehicle surface. The hitch has a frame with a sleeve portion that is fixed with respect to the frame and a receiver is telescopingly received inside the sleeve portion. The receiver is selectively affixed to the frame with a pin that extends through the receiver and sleeve portion. A ball cage affixes to the vehicle-mounted ball using pins that extend through vertical walls in the cage. The cage includes a threaded fastener that extends outwardly. The frame has an elongate aperture that receives the threaded fastener to secure the ball cage with a nut into a cage pocket. An optional lock overlays the nut with a nut locking aperture that prevents the nut from rotating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Randall A. Pulliam, Kurt E. McKesson, James M. Karasch
  • Patent number: 10065467
    Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch adapted for receiving a hitch ball. The fifth wheel hitch has a frame that is mountable to a towing vehicle surface. The frame has an outer sleeve that is fixed with respect to the frame and a receiver is telescopingly received inside the outer sleeve. The receiver is moveable longitudinally with respect to the outer sleeve. The receiver has an upper end, a lower end, and a support wall within the receiver that is located between the upper and lower ends. The receiver is selectively lockable with respect to the outer sleeve. The selective locking is done with a combination of a pin driven through aligned holes in the outer sleeve and receiver and threaded fasteners drive through the outer that impinge on the receiver to prevent rattling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventors: Randall A Pulliam, William A Aske, Kurt E. McKesson, James M. Karasch
  • Publication number: 20180208005
    Abstract: A kingpin adapter is provided having an upper wall and a lower wall that are affixed to each other through side walls. The upper and lower walls have a kingpin aperture and a hitch ball aperture that is spaced from and parallel to the kingpin aperture. The kingpin aperture receives a kingpin and the adapter is affixed to the kingpin using pins that extend through the side walls and extend through a portion of the undercut in the kingpin. The upper wall has jack screws that extend through to contact a skid plate that is affixed to the kingpin. The jack screws affix optional adjustable fences that rotationally constrain the skid plate by contacting lateral edges of it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: Pulliam Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall A Pulliam, James M.. Karasch
  • Patent number: 9919571
    Abstract: A kingpin adapter is provided having an upper wall and a lower wall that are affixed to each other through side walls. The upper and lower walls have a kingpin aperture and a hitch ball aperture that is spaced from and parallel to the kingpin aperture. The kingpin aperture receives a kingpin and the adapter is affixed to the kingpin using pins that extend through the side walls and extend through a portion of the undercut in the kingpin. The upper wall has jack screws that extend through to contact a skid plate that is affixed to the kingpin. The jack screws affix optional adjustable fences that rotationally constrain the skid plate by contacting lateral edges of it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Pulliam Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall A Pulliam, James M. Karasch
  • Publication number: 20170267040
    Abstract: A pin box is provided having a removable and removable hitch. The removable hitch has a kingpin end and a ball end. The pin box has a skid plate with an aperture with a receiver that can receive and affix the removable hitch. The skid plate is reinforced to the receiver to carry the load when the ball end of the removable hitch is being used. A pin is slidable between a locked position where the removable hitch is retained and an unlocked position where the removable hitch is removable. The pin extends through an aperture in the removable hitch to affix the removable hitch to the pin box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Pulliam Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall A. Pulliam, James M. Karasch
  • Publication number: 20170100972
    Abstract: A kingpin adapter is provided having an upper wall and a lower wall that are affixed to each other through side walls. The upper and lower walls have a kingpin aperture and a hitch ball aperture that is spaced from and parallel to the kingpin aperture. The kingpin aperture receives a kingpin and the adapter is affixed to the kingpin using pins that extend through the side walls and extend through a portion of the undercut in the kingpin. The upper wall has jack screws that extend through to contact a skid plate that is affixed to the kingpin. The jack screws affix optional adjustable fences that rotationally constrain the skid plate by contacting lateral edges of it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Pulliam Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall A Pulliam, James M. Karasch
  • Publication number: 20170008358
    Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch adapted for receiving a hitch ball. The fifth wheel hitch has a frame that is mountable to a towing vehicle surface. The frame has an outer sleeve that is fixed with respect to the frame and a receiver is telescopingly received inside the outer sleeve. The receiver is moveable longitudinally with respect to the outer sleeve. The receiver has an upper end, a lower end, and a support wall within the receiver that is located between the upper and lower ends. The receiver is selectively lockable with respect to the outer sleeve. The selective locking is done with a combination of a pin driven through aligned holes in the outer sleeve and receiver and threaded fasteners drive through the outer that impinge on the receiver to prevent rattling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: Pulliam Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall A Pulliam, William A. Aske, Kurt E. McKesson, James M. Karasch
  • Patent number: 9248714
    Abstract: An adapter which serves as an anchor point for coupling a trailer to a vehicle. The adapter adapted for mating in the socket of the vehicle. The adapter rotatable between a locked and an unlocked position. The adapter including a locking member which, when rotated, moves a follower partially through an aperture, partially extending into the socket thereby locking the adapter within the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Pulliam Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Karasch, William A. Aske, Randall A. Pulliam
  • Patent number: 9114680
    Abstract: The present invention provides a capture plate for preventing rotation between a trailer and a hitch assembly. The hitch assembly mounts on a vehicle, and is preferably a sliding hitch assembly. The capture plate has a lip which mates with the pin box of a fifth wheel trailer, the lip prevents rotation between the trailer and the capture plate. The capture plate has a restriction part which mates with the pin slot on the hitch assembly, the restriction part restricts rotation between the capture plate and the hitch. The capture plate has a fastener which removably secures the capture plate to the pin box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Pulliam Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne E Hartman, Randall A Pulliam
  • Publication number: 20150021879
    Abstract: An adapter which serves as an anchor point for coupling a trailer to a vehicle. The adapter adapted for mating in the socket of the vehicle. The adapter rotatable between a locked and an unlocked position. The adapter including a locking member which, when rotated, moves a follower partially through an aperture, partially extending into the socket thereby locking the adapter within the socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: PULLIAM ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Karasch, William A. Aske, Randall A. Pulliam
  • Publication number: 20140159339
    Abstract: The present invention provides a capture plate for preventing rotation between a trailer and a hitch assembly. The hitch assembly mounts on a vehicle, and is preferably a sliding hitch assembly. The capture plate has a lip which mates with the pin box of a fifth wheel trailer, the lip prevents rotation between the trailer and the capture plate. The capture plate has a restriction part which mates with the pin slot on the hitch assembly, the restriction part restricts rotation between the capture plate and the hitch. The capture plate has a fastener which removably secures the capture plate to the pin box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: PULLIAM ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Wayne E. Hartman, Randall A. Pulliam
  • Patent number: 8672340
    Abstract: The present invention provides a capture plate for preventing rotation between a trailer and a hitch assembly. The hitch assembly mounts on a vehicle, and is preferably a sliding hitch assembly. The capture plate has a lip which mates with the pin box of a fifth wheel trailer, the lip prevents rotation between the trailer and the capture plate. The capture plate has a restriction part which mates with the pin slot on the hitch assembly, the restriction part restricts rotation between the capture plate and the hitch. The capture plate has a fastener which removably secures the capture plate to the pin box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Pulliam Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne E. Hartman, Randall A. Pulliam