Abstract: A vertically adjustable hitch having a locking latch. The hitch is quickly adjustable along a vertical hitch bar using pins to secure the hitch. The upper portion of the first end of the body is offset from the center of the mounting base for the hitch in a first direction. The first end of the latch is also offset from the center of the mounting bracket. When the offset latch is secured to the offset, upper portion of the body, the single pivot point of the latch is in the center of the mounting base. The hitch has a locking mechanism which allows the latch to be locked in the open or closed position.

Abstract: A kingpin adaptor system which enables a fifth wheel trailer to be connected to a towing vehicle having an upside down kingpin. The kingpin adaptor system includes an inverted fifth wheel head assembly and a kingpin adaptor. The kingpin of the fifth wheel trailer is secured in one end of the kingpin adaptor and the fifth wheel head assembly is mounted at the other end of the kingpin adaptor. The kingpin adaptor system enables a towing vehicle with a kingpin in an upside down position to tow a fifth wheel trailer without greatly increasing the leverage on the pin box of the trailer.

Abstract: A kingpin coupler for allowing a user to connect a trailer having a kingpin to a towing vehicle. The kingpin coupler includes a head assembly, casting, jaws and a locking slide bar. The jaws are pivotably mounted in the housing and are biased into the open position by springs. When the jaws are in the open position and the locking slide bar is unlocked, the jaws prevent the locking slide bar from moving to the closed position. When the hitch ball is moved between the jaws, the jaws move to the closed position and, the unlocked, locking slide bar automatically moves to the closed position across the front of the jaws when the jaws are in the closed position.

Abstract: An adjustable hitch assembly for mounting in the bed of a truck. The hitch assembly includes a mounting assembly for removably securing the hitch assembly in the bed of the truck. The mounting assembly has end rails and side rails with a mounting sleeve mounted between the side rails. The telescoping tower includes an inner tower and a top plate and is slidably inserted into the interior of the mounting sleeve. The inner tower of the telescoping tower has holes which can be aligned with holes in the mounting sleeve. Pins are inserted into the holes in the mounting sleeve and holes in the inner tower to secure the inner tower at a set height in the mounting sleeve.

Abstract: A coupling device (10) for allowing a user to connect a trailer (104) having a gooseneck assembly to a hitch ball (102) of a towing vehicle (106). The coupling device includes a housing (12), jaws (24 and 26) and a locking mechanism (32). The jaws are pivotably mounted in the housing and are biased into the open position by springs (30). The locking mechanism includes a locking slide bar (38) which moves across the front of the jaws when the jaws are in the closed position. When the jaws are in the open position and the locking slide bar is unlocked, the jaws prevent the locking slide bar from moving to the closed position. When the hitch ball is moved between the jaws, the jaws move to the closed position and, the unlocked, locking slide bar automatically moves to the closed position.

Abstract: A coupling device (10) for allowing a user to connect a trailer (104) having a gooseneck assembly to a hitch ball (102) of a towing vehicle (106). The coupling device includes a housing (12), jaws (24 and 26) and a locking mechanism (32). The jaws are pivotably mounted in the housing and are biased into the open position by springs (30). The locking mechanism includes a locking slide bar (38) which moves across the front of the jaws when the jaws are in the closed position. When the jaws are in the open position and the locking slide bar is unlocked, the jaws prevent the locking slide bar from moving to the closed position. When the hitch ball is moved between the jaws, the jaws move to the closed position and, the unlocked, locking slide bar automatically moves to the closed position.

Abstract: A hitch assembly (10) for mounting adjacent an underneath surface (102A) of a bed (102) of a truck (100) to enable the truck to tow a vehicle having a gooseneck coupling. The hitch assembly has a retractable hitch ball (28, 228) which allows for retracting the hitch ball out of the bed of the truck when not in use. The hitch assembly includes a mounting assembly, a container (24) and a hitch ball. The container is mounted in an opening (14E) of a mounting plate (14) of the mounting assembly such that the open top end of the container is adjacent an opening in the bed of the truck. The hitch ball is positioned in the container with a compression spring (29) located between the hitch ball and the closed, lower end (24B) of the container. The compression spring acts to move the hitch ball into the semi-retracted position when the locking mechanism (34) is unlocked. When the hitch ball is moved to the fully extended or fully retracted position, the locking mechanism automatically locks the hitch ball in position.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch assembly (10) which is mounted on the hitch ball (32) of a gooseneck subassembly (12), is described. The subassembly is mounted in the bed (14A) of a pickup truck (14) such that the subassembly is parallel to the rear axle (16) of the truck and the hitch ball is directly centered over or slightly fore or aft of the axle differential housing (58). A pair of flexible half-shell bearings (39) are positioned on the hitch ball to form a complete bearing (38) completely surrounding the top portion (33) of the hitch ball. A fifth wheel hitch assembly with a permanently mounted adaptor (42) is mounted with the adaptor extending over the complete bearing when the complete bearing is positioned on the hitch ball. A pair of securing rods (52) extend through the adaptor and the complete bearing below the ball (33A) of the top portion of the hitch ball and securing the adaptor on the complete bearing and the hitch ball.

Abstract: A bracket 12 for mounting an electrical connector 28 to a trailer hitch assembly 10 is described. The bracket 12 is formed from a single sheet of material which is bent at two 90.degree. angles L1 and L2 to form a top section 12C and a first extension 12A and a second extension 12B. The top section 12C with the two extensions 12A and 12B have a U-shape which conforms with a hitch bar 22 having a rectangular or square cross-section on a trailer hitch assembly 10. The first and second extensions 12A and 12B are provided with securing holes 20 through which a nut and bolt assembly 18 is inserted to secure the bracket 12 to the hitch bar 22. The second extension 12B extends beyond the bottom 22B of the hitch bar 22 and has an aperture 14 through which an electrical connector 28 is mounted.

Abstract: A hitch ball (20) with a mating first set of shells (25a and 25b) and optionally a second set of shells (27a and 27b) to increase the diameter of the ball to accommodate various sized hitch assemblies (11) are described. In a preferred form detents (25e and 25f) in the first set of shells are provided in a recess (23) in the ball. Detents (27c and 27d) are provided on the detents (25e and 25f) of the first set of shells. The invention provides safe and effective mounting of the sets of shells on the hitch ball and prevents the shells being used on a conventional hitch ball which might not be rated for the increased capacity provided by the larger ball size.

Abstract: A combined receiver trailer hitch and bumper assembly (10) is described. The assembly includes a receiver (11) and bar (12) attached to first extensions (18) to be secured to a frame (102) as in a conventional trailer hitch. End portions (16) on an angle plate (15) and second extensions (19) forward of the first extensions removeably support bumpers (20). The assembly allows easy replacement of the bumpers and an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the trailer hitch.