IP Library Granted Patent US 11,712,935
Granted Patent B2
US 11,712,935 · App. 17/012,659 · Granted Aug 1, 2023

Frame and trim rings for underbed hitch mounting system

Inventors: Michael J. McGory (West Bloomfield, MI); Piyush Pradeepkumar Khater (Canton, MI); Joel Thomas Runyan (Ypsilanti, MI)
Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
B60D1/488B60D1/015B60D1/065B60D1/485
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,712,935
App. No.
17/012,659
Granted
Aug 1, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

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 a structural frame member including 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. Also provided is an underbed hitch mounting system having at least one socket and receiving member exposed above a bed of a vehicle. The system includes trim and ring brackets configured to cover the exposed socket and receiving members along the bed of the vehicle.

Claims (28)

1. A towing vehicle comprising:

a load bed;

a frame positioned below the load bed;

an underbed hitch mounting system attached with the frame, wherein the underbed hitch mounting system comprises:

first and second rail mounts;

a socket positioned on each of the first and second rail mounts, each socket engageable with a receiving member; and

a mid rail connected to the first and second rail mounts;

a hitch ball socket positioned on the mid rail, the hitch ball socket engageable with a hitch;

wherein the first and second rail mounts are made from at least one of bar stock, welded tubing and sheet metal; and

first and second frame mount brackets attaching the first and second rail mounts, respectively, to the frame, wherein the first rail mount is positioned between the first frame mount bracket and the frame.

2. The towing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first frame mount bracket is positioned between the first rail mount and the frame.

3. The towing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first and second rail mounts each comprise a pair of rail members extending therefrom and inserted into the first and second rail mounts, wherein the sockets are positioned on the first and second rail mounts.

4. The towing vehicle of claim 3 further comprising first and second frame mount brackets attaching the pair of rail members of the first rail mount to the frame.

5. The towing vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the first frame mount bracket is positioned between one of the pair of rail members and the frame.

6. The towing vehicle of claim 4 , wherein one of the pair of rail members is positioned between the first frame mount bracket and the frame.

7. A towing vehicle comprising:

a load bed;

a frame positioned below the load bed;

an underbed hitch mounting system attached with the frame, wherein the underbed hitch mounting system comprises:

first and second rail mounts;

a socket positioned on each of the first and second rail mounts, each socket engageable with a receiving member; and

a mid rail connected to the first and second rail mounts;

a hitch ball socket positioned on the mid rail, the hitch ball socket engageable with a hitch;

wherein the first and second rail mounts are made from at least one of bar stock, welded tubing and sheet metal;

wherein the first and second rail mounts each comprise a pair of rail members extending therefrom and inserted into the first and second rail mounts, wherein the sockets are positioned on the first and second rail mounts;

first and second frame mount brackets attaching the pair of rail members of the first rail mount to the frame.

8. The towing vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the first frame mount bracket is positioned between one of the pair of rail members and the frame.

9. The towing vehicle of claim 7 , wherein one of the pair of rail members is positioned between the first frame mount bracket and the frame.

Assignments (3)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: MCGORY, MICHAEL J.
To: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 053696/0531 →