IP Library Granted Patent US 11,440,599
Granted Patent B2
US 11,440,599 · App. 16/615,876 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Fifth wheel hitch comfort system

Inventors: Mark Scruggs (Plymouth, MI); Curt Nowack (Plymouth, MI); Derek Jolly (Plymouth, MI); Gregoire Mercier (Plymouth, MI)
Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
B62D53/10B60D1/48B62D53/0807B62D53/0842B60D1/01B60D1/52B62D53/00B62D53/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,440,599
App. No.
16/615,876
Filed
Nov 22, 2019
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3611
USPC
280/438.1
Abstract

A fifth wheel hitch assembly for mounting to a towing vehicle and receiving a kingpin of a trailer incorporating a comfort assembly is provided. The fifth wheel hitch assembly may comprise a kingpin receiving assembly attached to a mounting rail via a comfort assembly. The comfort assembly may include one or more pivot bushing assemblies, as well as vertically adjustable, anti-rattle attachment systems. These attachment systems may include a cam assembly and/or a T-pin assembly.

Claims (17)

1. A vertically adjustable, anti-rattle attachment assembly for connecting a fifth wheel hitch to a vehicle mounting rail having a side connection aperture and a mounting slot on a top facing of the mounting rail, the attachment assembly comprising:

an attachment bolt having a foot end and an opposing upper end, said bolt received through an aperture in a base plate associate with the fifth wheel hitch;

wherein the foot end includes a loop with opposing flattened faces, said flattened faces cooperating to be received within the mounting slot so that a pull pin, when inserted through the side connection aperture proximate to the mounting rail, passes through the loop; and

wherein the upper end includes a threaded portion to receive a fastener, said fastener being selectively coupled to the threaded portion so as to adjust a vertical positioning of the assembly.

2. The attachment assembly of claim 1 further comprising a cam lever having a cam barrel rotatable in response to movement of the cam lever and wherein the attachment bolt passes through the cam barrel so that the cam barrel is positioned between the fastener and the base plate.

3. The attachment assembly of claim 2 wherein the cam lever includes a looped protrusion having flattened faces cooperating to be received by a second mounting slot on a top facing of the mounting rail proximate to the mounting slot so that a second pull pin, when inserted through a second side connection aperture proximate to the second mounting slot, passes through the looped protrusion.

4. The attachment assembly of claim 2 wherein the cam barrel is integrated as a single piece with the fastener.

5. The attachment assembly of claim 1 further comprising a faucet knob engaging the fastener so as to rotate in concert therewith.

6. A vertically adjustable, anti-rattle attachment assembly for connecting a fifth wheel hitch to a vehicle mounting rail having a side connection aperture and a central mounting slot on a top facing of the mounting rail, the attachment assembly comprising:

a T-pin having a foot end and an opposing upper end, said T-pin received through an aperture in a base plate associate with the fifth wheel hitch;

wherein the foot end includes an elongated base having a pair of opposing shoulder, said shoulders cooperating to be received within the mounting slot and sized so as to allow for rotation of the elongated base within an inner channel along an underside of the mounting rail;

wherein a pull pin is selectively received through the side connection aperture proximate to the mounting rail, said pull pin engaging the elongated base to prevent rotation of the T-pin; and

wherein the upper end includes a threaded portion to receive a fastener, said fastener being selectively coupled to the threaded portion so as to adjust a vertical positioning of the assembly.

7. The attachment assembly of claim 6 further comprising a handle assembly having a keyway aperture, said keyway aperture receiving the upper end of the T-pin.

8. The attachment assembly of claim 7 wherein the keyway aperture is integrated as a single piece with the fastener.

9. The attachment assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the handle includes a second aperture that receives a locking pin to prevent rotation of the handle when the locking pin is inserted in the second aperture.

10. The attachment assembly of claim 7 , wherein the keyway engages the upper end to selectively rotate the T-pin so as to secure the elongated based in the mounting rail.

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 Nov 22, 2019
From: SCRUGGS, MARK; NOWACK, CURT; MERCIER, GREGOIRE
To: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 051083/0790 →