IP Library Granted Patent US 11,560,027
Granted Patent B2
US 11,560,027 · App. 17/222,289 · Granted Jan 24, 2023

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 11,560,027
App. No.
17/222,289
Granted
Jan 24, 2023
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 (33)

1. An under bed hitch mounting system comprising:

a first rail;

a second rail spaced from the first rail and positioned parallel with the first rail, wherein the first and second rails are configured to attached to a frame of a vehicle;

first, second and third mid rails positioned perpendicular with and between the first and second rails;

a first pair of receiving members positioned in the first mid rail;

a second pair of receiving members positioned in the second mid rail; and

a hitch ball socket positioned in the third mid rail.

2. The under bed hitch mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third mid rails are parallel one another and spaced apart from one another.

3. The under bed hitch mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pair of receiving members are configured to have a fifth wheel hitch secured thereto.

4. The under bed hitch mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third mid rails comprise rectangular tubular members.

5. The under bed hitch mounting system of claim 1 further comprising a fifth wheel hitch attached with the first and second pair of receiving members.

6. An under bed hitch mounting system comprising:

a first rail;

a second rail spaced from the first rail and positioned parallel with the first rail, wherein the first and second rails are configured to attached to a frame of a vehicle;

first and second frame members attached between and perpendicular with the first and second rails, wherein the first and second frame members are spaced apart from one another;

a first pair of receiving members positioned in the first rail;

a second pair of receiving members positioned in the second rail; and

a mid rail attached with the first and second rails between the first and second frame members.

7. The under bed hitch mounting system of claim 6 further comprising a hitch ball socket positioned in the mid rail.

8. The under bed hitch mounting system of claim 6 , wherein the first and second pair of receiving members are configured to have a fifth wheel hitch secured thereto.

9. The under bed hitch mounting system of claim 6 , wherein the first and second frame members comprise rectangular tubular members.

10. The under bed hitch mounting system of claim 6 further comprising a fifth wheel hitch attached with the first and second pair of receiving members.

11. An under bed hitch mounting system comprising:

a first rail;

a second rail spaced from the first rail, wherein the first and second rails are configured to attach to a frame of a vehicle;

a mid rail attached between the first and second rail;

a hitch ball socket positioned in the mid rail;

a first mounting section positioned on the mid rail; and

a first pair of receiving members positioned on the first mounting section.

12. The under bed hitch mounting system of claim 11 , wherein the mid rail is perpendicular with the first and second rails.

13. The under bed hitch mounting system of claim 11 further comprising a second mounting section positioned on the mid rail; and a second pair of receiving members positioned on the second mounting section.

14. The under bed hitch mounting system of claim 13 , wherein the first and second pair of receiving members are configured to have a fifth wheel hitch secured thereto.

15. The under bed hitch mounting system of claim 13 further comprising a fifth wheel hitch attached with the first and second pair of receiving members.

Assignments (2)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2021
From: STANIFER, ERIC J.; MCCOY, RICHARD W.; WARD, BRIAN W.
To: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 055824/0390 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16564188 · Sep 9, 2019
Continuation 15496073 · Apr 25, 2017
Provisional Application 62327486 · Apr 26, 2016
Related Publication 20210221189A1 · Jul 22, 2021