IP Library Granted Patent US 10,967,689
Granted Patent B2
US 10,967,689 · App. 16/564,188 · Granted Apr 6, 2021

Underbed hitch mounting system

Inventors: Eric J. Stanifer (Mishawaka, IN); Richard W. McCoy (Granger, IN); Brian W. Ward (Swartz Creek, MI)
Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
B60D1/488B60D1/015B60D1/06B60D1/485
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,967,689
App. No.
16/564,188
Granted
Apr 6, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An underbed hitch mounting system is described. The mounting system may be utilized for towing vehicles wherein the mounting system may selectively accommodate either a fifth wheel hitch or a gooseneck hitch. The mounting system may include at least one rail capable of being connected to a vehicle frame, wherein the rail includes at least one socket. The socket may be engaged with a receiving member, wherein the receiving member may be engaged with a leg of a fifth wheel hitch. A mid rail may be connected to the rails and may include a hitch ball socket that is capable of engagement with a hitch.

Claims (20)

1. An underbed hitch mounting system comprising:

a pair of parallel end members laterally spaced apart, each of the end members comprising a tubular member;

first and second cross rails positioned at orthogonal angles relative to the end members, each of the first and second cross rails comprising a rail tubular member;

a mid rail positioned between the first and second cross rails, the mid rail comprising mid rail tubular member and a hitch ball socket; and

at least four receiving members, wherein each of the parallel end members has two receiving members formed in opposing ends, wherein the four receiving members define a quadrilateral periphery to cooperate with attachment mechanisms for a fifth wheel hitch.

2. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the two receiving members is identical for each of the end members.

3. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the fifth wheel hitch being attached with the receiving members.

4. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the end members are welded to the first and second cross rails.

5. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 4 , wherein the mid rail is welded to the first and second cross rails.

6. An underbed hitch mounting system comprising:

a pair of parallel cross members;

a pair of parallel end members orthogonal to the cross members, wherein the cross members and end members collectively define a quadrilateral periphery; and

a mid rail connected to each cross member without intersecting with either of the end members;

wherein the mid rail includes a hitch ball socket; and

wherein each end member includes a receiving member formed within the quadrilateral periphery.

7. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 6 , wherein the quadrilateral periphery has a rectangular shape.

8. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 6 , wherein the receiving members attach to a fifth wheel hitch.

9. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 6 , wherein each of the cross members comprises a rectangular tubular member.

10. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 9 , wherein each of the end members comprises a rectangular tubular member.

11. The underbed hitch mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the mid rail comprises a tubular member.

Assignments (8)
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 31, 2020
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052272/0939 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2020
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052272/0918 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2020
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
To: ENCINA BUSINESS CREDIT, LLC
Reel/Frame 052183/0590 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2019
From: STANIFER, ERIC J.; MCCOY, RICHARD W.; WARD, BRIAN W.
To: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 050311/0594 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,447,784