Single jaw mechanism for fifth wheel hitch

1. A fifth wheel hitch assembly, comprising:

a base assembly;

a head assembly connected to said base assembly, wherein said head assembly includes a skid plate and a mounting platform; and

a jaw assembly connected to said head assembly, said jaw assembly comprising:

a single jaw body for securing a king pin of a trailer, the jaw body having a stepped bearing surface for engaging the king pin;

a control handle;

a connecting link pivotally connected to said control handle by a first pivot pin and to said jaw body by a second pivot pin, wherein said jaw body is pivotally mounted on said mounting platform by means of a third pivot pin; and

a first spring having a first end connected to said jaw body and a second end connected to said head assembly and a second spring having a third end connected to said head assembly and a fourth end connected to said first pivot pin.

2. The hitch assembly of claim 1 , further including a grease zerk provided on said third pivot pin.

3. The hitch assembly of claim 1 wherein said head assembly includes a skid plate and a grease zerk access aperture is provided in said skid plate near said grease zerk.

4. The hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein said jaw assembly further includes a first spring having a first end connected to said jaw body and a second end connected to said mounting platform.

5. The hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein said jaw assembly further includes a first spring having a first end connected to said jaw body and a second end connected to said first pivot pin.

6. The hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein said jaw assembly further includes a first spring having a first end connected to said jaw body and a second end connected to said head assembly.

7. The hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein said head assembly includes at least two slots for receiving said control handle, said slots being dimensioned to allow said control handle to slide freely through said slots.

8. The hitch assembly of claim 7 , wherein said control handle includes a notch that may be brought into engagement with said head assembly by shifting said control handle transversely in said two slots.

9. The hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein said jaw body is displaceable between an open position and a closed position.

10. The hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein said stepped bearing surface includes a first step having a height of about 0.56 to about 0.81 inches and a tread of about 0.375 to about 0.625 inches and a second step having a height of about 0.43 to about 0.69 inches.

11. The hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein said stepped bearing surface includes a first step having a height of about 0.69 inches and a tread of about 0.5 inches and a second step having a height of about 0.56 inches.

12. A fifth wheel hitch assembly, comprising:

a base assembly;

a head assembly connected to said base assembly, said head assembly having a slot; and

a jaw assembly connected to said head assembly, said jaw assembly comprising:

a single jaw body for securing a king pin of a trailer, the jaw body having a stepped bearing surface for engaging a king pin of a trailer, wherein said jaw body is displaceable between an open position and a closed position;

a control handle having a notch that is engageable with said head assembly by shifting said control handle transversely in said slot;

a connecting link, said connecting link being pivotally connected to said control handle by a first pivot pin and to said jaw body by a second pivot pin;

a first spring having a first end connected to said jaw body; and

a second spring, said second spring being connected between said first pivot pin and said head assembly.

13. The hitch assembly of claim 12 , wherein said first spring has a second end and said second end is connected to said first pivot pin.

14. The hitch assembly of claim 12 , wherein said first spring has a second end and said second end is connected to said head assembly.