Fifth wheel hitch retention system
View Patent ↗A fifth wheel hitch may include a skid plate, and a retention system that is supported by the skid plate. The retention system is also operable to receive a coupling member of a towed vehicle to retain the coupling member within the retention system, where engagement of the coupling member with the retention system selectively positions the retention system in a locked and closed position.
1. A fifth wheel hitch comprising:
a skid plate; and
a retention system supported by said skid plate and operable to receive a coupling member of a towed vehicle to retain said coupling member within said retention system, wherein said retention system comprises:
at least one jaw moveable between open and closed positions; and
an actuating member axially moveable between first and second positions with movement of the at least one jaw between said open and closed positions, and said actuating member including a locking mechanism selectively rotatable between first and second rotational positions when said at least one jaw is in said closed position whereby said locking mechanism selectively engages a locking feature on said at least one jaw, wherein engagement of said locking mechanism with said locking feature maintains said retention system in a locked and closed position.
2. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 1 , wherein said at least one jaw includes a pair of jaws meshed together and capable of moving together.
3. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 2 , wherein said locking feature includes a notch capable of retaining said pair of jaws in said jaw closed position.
4. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 3 , wherein said locking mechanism is selectively engageable with said notch to retain said retention system in said closed and locked position.
5. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 1 , wherein said actuating member includes a lever attached to said skid plate and operable to move between said first and second positions, wherein said lever includes a first portion having a substantially circular cross-section and a second portion having a substantially acircular cross-section.
6. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 5 , wherein said retention system includes at least one spring detent capable of engaging with a flat surface of said second portion of said lever in either of said first and second rotational positions.
7. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 5 further comprising a slider attached to said lever, said slider permitting rotation of said lever while holding said lever fixed about an axis.
8. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 1 , wherein said actuating member is generally linearly-axially moveable relative to said skid plate to move said at least one jaw between said opened and closed positions.
9. A fifth wheel hitch comprising:
at least one support frame capable of being secured to a towing vehicle;
a skid plate attached to said at least one support frame; and
a retention system secured to said skid plate, said retention system comprising:
a handle;
a linkage attached to said handle, said linkage permitting rotation of said handle from a first position to a second position while said handle remains fixed about an axis; and
a jaw attached to said linkage, said jaw having an engaging feature wherein rotation of said handle to said second position permits movement of said jaw to a jaw open position, and rotation of said handle to said first position selectively engages said engaging feature of said jaw.
10. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 9 , further comprising a second jaw wherein movement of said jaw controls movement of said second jaw.
11. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 9 , wherein engaging said engaging feature of said jaw secures said jaw in a jaw closed position.
12. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 11 , wherein said handle in said second position permits said handle to move axially selectively moving said jaw to said jaw closed position.
13. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 11 , further comprising a locking mechanism secured to said handle, wherein said locking mechanism selectively engages said engaging feature of said jaw in said jaw closed position.
14. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 13 , wherein said engaging feature includes a notch positioned on said jaw, wherein said locking mechanism is capable of engaging said notch to retain said jaw in said jaw closed position.
15. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 14 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a tab configured to engage with said notch.
16. A retention system for a fifth wheel hitch assembly, said retention system comprising:
a handle;
a linkage operatively coupled to said handle, wherein said linkage allows rotation of said handle while restricting axial movement of said handle;
a mounting tube attached to said handle, said mounting tube capable of being secured to a skid plate of a fifth wheel hitch assembly;
a jaw having an engaging feature wherein said jaw is operatively coupled to said linkage; and
a locking mechanism fixed on said handle and in operative communication with said jaw, wherein said locking mechanism is selectively positionable from locked and unlocked positions, whereby said locking mechanism in said locked position engages said engaging feature of said jaw generally preventing movement of said jaw and said locking mechanism in said unlocked position disengages from said jaw.
17. The retention system of claim 16 , further comprising a biasing member biasing said mounting tube causing said locking mechanism to be in one of said locked and unlocked positions.
18. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 17 , wherein said biasing member inhibits rotation of said actuating member.
19. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 18 , wherein said biasing member inhibits rotation of said actuating member in said locked position.
20. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 18 , wherein said biasing member inhibits rotation of said actuating member in said unlocked position.
21. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 17 , wherein said actuating member includes at least two flat surfaces whereby the biasing member engages one of said flat surfaces in said locked position and engages another of said flat surfaces in said unlocked position.
22. The retention system of claim 16 , further comprising at least one biasing member operatively secured to said jaw, wherein said biasing member biases said jaw to a closed position.
23. The retention system of claim 16 wherein said locking mechanism comprises a tab secured to said handle that rotates upon rotation of said handle and said engaging feature includes a notch located on said jaw wherein said tab is capable of engaging said notch securing said jaw in said locked position.
24. The retention system of claim 16 , wherein said jaw is capable of engaging a coupling member of a towed vehicle, wherein engagement of said coupling member with said jaw selectively positions said locking mechanism to said locked position.
25. A fifth wheel hitch comprising
a skid plate;
at least one jaw moveable between jaw open and closed positions, said jaw having a locking feature; and
an actuating member axially moveable between first and second positions to cause said at least one jaw to move between said jaw open and closed positions, said actuating member selectively rotatable between first and second rotational positions;
a locking mechanism fixed to said actuating member, wherein said at least one jaw being in said jaw closed position and said actuating member being in said second rotational position engages said locking mechanism with said locking feature locking said jaw in said jaw closed position; and
a biasing member operatively engaged with said actuating member inhibiting rotation of said actuating member between said first and second rotational positions.
26. A retention system for a fifth wheel hitch assembly, said retention system comprising:
a handle;
a linkage operatively coupled to said handle;
a mounting tube attached to said handle, said mounting tube capable of being secured to a skid plate of a fifth wheel hitch assembly;
a jaw having an engaging feature wherein said jaw is operatively coupled to said linkage;
a locking mechanism fixed on said handle and in operative communication with said jaw, wherein said locking mechanism is selectively positionable from locked and unlocked positions, whereby said locking mechanism in said locked position engages said engaging feature of said jaw generally preventing movement of said jaw and said locking mechanism in said unlocked position disengages from said jaw; and
at least one biasing member operatively secured to said jaw, wherein said biasing member biases said jaw to a closed position.
27. A retention system for a fifth wheel hitch assembly, said retention system comprising:
a handle;
a linkage operatively coupled to said handle;
a mounting tube attached to said handle, said mounting tube capable of being secured to a skid plate of a fifth wheel hitch assembly;
a jaw having an engaging feature wherein said jaw is operatively coupled to said linkage;
a locking mechanism fixed on said handle and in operative communication with said jaw, wherein said locking mechanism is selectively positionable from locked and unlocked positions, whereby said locking mechanism in said locked position engages said engaging feature of said jaw generally preventing movement of said jaw and said locking mechanism in said unlocked position disengages from said jaw; and
a biasing member biasing said mounting tube causing said locking mechanism to be in one of said locked and unlocked positions, wherein said biasing member inhibits rotation of said handle.