IP Library Granted Patent US 10,792,965
Granted Patent B2
US 10,792,965 · App. 15/996,799 · Granted Oct 6, 2020

Safety chain engaging device for gooseneck hitch

Inventors: Lynn H. Mida (Chelsea, MI); Gail R. Matheus (Salem, MI)
Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
B60D1/28B60D1/583B62D53/10B62D53/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,792,965
App. No.
15/996,799
Granted
Oct 6, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A safety chain engaging device for a towing vehicle having a gooseneck hitch attached with a rail of the towing vehicle is shown and described. The safety chain engaging device may include a first bracket configured to be secured with the rail of the towing vehicle, and a second bracket attached with the first bracket, the second bracket including a plate member spaced from the first bracket. The safety chain engaging device may also include at least one safety chain engaging member secured with the plate member, where the safety chain engaging member is configured to be laterally spaced from the rail upon securement of the first bracket with the rail.

Claims (26)

1. A safety chain engaging device comprising:

a first bracket configured to be secured with a rail of a towing vehicle;

a second bracket extending from the first bracket, the second bracket including a plate member laterally spaced aft of the first bracket and positioned above the first bracket; and

at least one safety chain engaging member secured with the plate member, wherein the at least one safety chain engaging member is configured to be laterally spaced from the rail upon securement of the first bracket with the rail.

2. The safety chain engaging device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one safety chain engaging member includes a pair of safety chain engaging members configured to be laterally spaced from the rail upon securement of the first bracket with the rail.

3. The safety chain engaging device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one safety chain engaging member is positioned aft of the rail.

4. The safety chain engaging device of claim 1 , wherein the first bracket includes an aperture configured to circumscribe a ball sleeve of the gooseneck hitch.

5. The safety chain engaging device of claim 1 , wherein the second bracket includes at least one reinforcing gusset.

6. The safety chain engaging device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one safety chain engaging member is free of contact with the rail of the towing vehicle.

7. The safety chain engaging device of claim 1 , wherein the rail of the towing vehicle is a frame member of the towing vehicle.

8. A safety chain engaging device comprising:

a first bracket configured to engage a hitch ball mount sleeve of a gooseneck hitch below a load bed of a towing vehicle;

a second bracket extending from the first bracket, wherein a plate portion of the second bracket is laterally spaced aft of the first bracket and extends above the first bracket; and

at least one safety chain engaging member engaged with the plate portion of the second bracket, wherein the at least one safety chain engaging member is spaced from and free of engagement with the gooseneck hitch.

9. The safety chain engaging device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one safety chain engaging member is laterally spaced aft from a frame of the towing vehicle to which the gooseneck hitch is engaged.

10. The safety chain engaging device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one safety chain engaging member is positionable between retracted and extended positions.

11. A safety chain engaging device comprising:

a first bracket configured to secure with a frame member of a towing vehicle;

a second bracket directly attached with the first bracket, the second bracket including an engaging portion, wherein the engaging portion is positioned outboard of the frame member upon attachment of the first bracket with the frame member such that at least a portion of the frame member is configured to be positioned between the engaging portion and the first bracket; and

at least one chain engaging member secured with the engaging portion.

12. The safety chain engaging device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one chain engaging member is positioned outboard of the frame member upon attachment of the first bracket with the frame member.

13. The safety chain engaging device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one chain engaging member is free of engagement with the frame member.

14. The safety chain engaging device of claim 11 , further comprising an attachment member configured to secure the first bracket axially beneath the frame member.

15. The safety chain engaging device of claim 14 , wherein the attachment member includes an elongated plate having at least one fastening device, whereby the elongated plate is configured to be positioned between the frame member and a load bed of the towing vehicle.

16. The safety chain engaging device of claim 14 , further comprising a guide device attached with the attachment member, whereby the guide device is configured to position the attachment member.

17. The safety chain engaging device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one chain engaging member is positioned either fore or aft relative to the frame member.

Assignments (9)
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 18, 2025
From: AIRTEX INDUSTRIES, LLC; AIRTEX PRODUCTS, LP; APC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC; APC PARENT, LLC; ASC INDUSTRIES, INC.; AUTOLITE OPERATIONS LLC; AVM EXPORT, INC.; BPI ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC; BPI EC, LLC; BPI HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL, LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC CHINA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC INDIA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC LLC; CARDONE INDUSTRIES, INC.; CARRAND COMPANIES, INC.; CARTER CARBURETOR HOLDINGS, LLC; CARTER CARBURETOR, LLC; CARTER FUEL EXPORT, INC.; CARTER FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.; CWD HOLDING, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS I, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II, LLC; CWD, LLC; DALTON CORPORATION; DALTON CORPORATION, KENDALLVILLE; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, ASHLAND; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, STRYKER MACHINING FACILITY CO.; DALTON CORPORATION, WARSAW MANUFACTURING FACILITY; EAGLE CASTING, LLC; EAGLE MACHINING, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP INTERMEDIATE, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP, LLC; FRAM GROUP IP LLC; FRAM GROUP OPERATIONS LLC; FRAMAUTO HOLDINGS, LLC; FUEL FILTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GLOBAL REMAN VENTURES, LLC; HEATHERTON HOLDINGS, LLC; HOPKINS ACQUISITION, INC.; HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION; HORIZON EURO FINANCE LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL COMPANY LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; IBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; INTERNATIONAL BRAKE INDUSTRIES, INC.; JASPER ACQUISITION CORP.; JASPER RUBBER PRODUCTS, INC.; KTRI HOLDINGS, INC.; KTRI OFFSHORE HOLDINGS, LLC; LONGMAN ENTERPRISES, INC.; PHNX ACQUISITION CORP.; PREMIER MARKETING GROUP, LLC; PYLON MANUFACTURING CORP.; PYLON SOUTH BEND, INC.; QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE, L.L.C.; QUALIS ENTERPRISES, LLC; QUALITOR ACQUISITION INC.; QUALITOR AUTOMOTIVE, LLC; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY H, INC.; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY S, INC.; QUALITOR, INC.; REMAN MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC; SDC TX, LLC; SMART CHOICE, LLC; SPECIALTY PUMPS GROUP, INC.; STRONGARM, LLC; TAE BRAKES, LLC; TAE CHINA HOLDINGS, INC.; TMD INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; TMD MEXICO LLC; TOLEDO MOLDING & DIE, LLC; TRANSPORTATION AFTERMARKET ENTERPRISE, LLC; TRICO HOLDING CORPORATION; TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION; TRICO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; TRIDONEX USA LLC; UCI ACQUISITION HOLDINGS (NO. 4) LLC; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS PARENT, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL, LLC; UCI PENNSYLVANIA, INC.; UCI-AIRTEX HOLDINGS, INC.; UNITED COMPONENTS, LLC; UNIVERSAL AUTO FILTER LLC; VIPER ACQUISITION I, INC.; VIPER ACQUISITION, INC.; WALBRO LLC; WALBRO MIDCO LLC; WEM US CO.
To: GLAS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 071674/0688 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2021
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; C.P. WITTER LIMITED; WESTFALIA-AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: ATLANTIC PARK STRATEGIC CAPITAL FUND, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055262/0949 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2021
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS COLLATERAL AGENT (AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.)
To: HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; WESTFALIA-AUTOMOTIVE GMBH; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055262/0842 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2020
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 053453/0229 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 052463/0091 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2020
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
To: ENCINA BUSINESS CREDIT, LLC
Reel/Frame 052183/0590 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2019
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 050049/0332 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2019
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 048648/0006 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2018
From: MIDA, LYNN H.; MATHEUS, GAIL R.
To: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 045977/0367 →