IP Library Granted Patent US 6,942,236
Granted Patent B2
US 6,942,236 · App. 10/225,627 · Granted Sep 13, 2005

Fifth wheel hitch with rocker

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,942,236
App. No.
10/225,627
Granted
Sep 13, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fifth wheel hitch includes a head assembly having a skid plate with an opening for receiving a king pin of a trailer and a locking jaw assembly for securing the king pin in proper position with the trailer over the skid plate. Additionally, the fifth wheel hitch includes a rocking platform having an arcuate rocking surface and upstanding wings at each end thereof. A pair of pivot pins are provided for mounting the head assembly to the wings of the rocking platform while allowing pivotal/tilting movement of the head assembly in a fore-and-aft direction relative to the rocking platform. A base is provided including a cradle for receiving the rocking platform. The cradle allows side-to-side rocking movement of the rocking platform and the head assembly relative to the base. The base includes first and second pairs of opposed mounting lugs. A pair of mounting pins are received in the first and second pairs of mounting lugs and serve to capture the rocking platform on the cradle of the base.

Claims (18)

1. A fifth wheel hitch comprising;

a head assembly including a skid plate having an opening for receiving a king pin of a trailer and a locking jaw assembly for securing the king pin in proper position with the trailer over said skid plate;

a rocking platform having an arcuate rocking surface;

a pair of pivot pins for mounting said head assembly to said rocking platform to allow pivotal tilting movement of said head assembly in a fore-and-aft direction relative to said rocking platform;

a base including a cradle for receiving said rocking platform to allow side-to-side rocking movement of said rocking platform and said head assembly relative to said base, said base also including first and second pairs of opposed mounting lugs; and

a pair of mounting pins received in said first and second pairs of mounting lugs and capturing said rocking platform on said cradle of said base while allowing the side-to-side rocking movement.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said rocking platform is substantially U-shaped.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein said arcuate rocking surface has an area of between substantially 135-140 square inches.

4. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein said arcuate rocking surface has radius of curvature between substantially 17 inches-19 inches.

5. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein said arcuate rocking surface includes a central opening.

6. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein said cradle includes four cooperating bearing pads for engaging the arcuate rocking surface.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein said bearing pads are made from DELRIN AF.

8. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein said bearing pads each have a surface area of at least 7.2 square inches.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , further including a pair of pin clips for securing said pair of mounting pins in said first and second pair of mounting lugs.

10. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein said cradle includes four cooperating rollers for engaging said rocking platform and allowing smooth side-to-side rocking movement of said rocking platform relative to said cradle.

11. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein said cradle includes at least two rollers for engaging said arcuate rocking surface and allowing smooth side-to-side rocking movement said rocking platform relative to said cradle.

12. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein said cradle includes at least one bearing pad for engaging said arcuate rocking surface and allowing smooth side-to-side rocking movement of said rocking platform relative to said cradle.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein said at least one bearing pad is made from DELRIN AF.

Assignments (20)
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2020
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 053453/0229 →
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2020
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052224/0615 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2020
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 052918/0733 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2020
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
To: ENCINA BUSINESS CREDIT, LLC
Reel/Frame 052183/0590 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2019
From: HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 049872/0219 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2019
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 048648/0006 →
MERGER Recorded May 10, 2017
From: CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.
To: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 042435/0260 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 22, 2015
From: CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS, INC.
To: CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 036150/0317 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (024120/0535) Recorded Jul 16, 2015
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS SECOND LIEN AGENT
To: CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 036125/0710 →
SECURITY INTEREST (ABL) Recorded Jul 8, 2015
From: CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 036082/0668 →
SECURITY INTEREST (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jul 6, 2015
From: CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036062/0554 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2011
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TRIMAS CORPORATION; ARROW ENGINE COMPANY; BEAUMONT BOLT & GASKET, INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS, INC.; COMPAC CORPORATION; CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; CUYAM CORPORATION; DEW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DI-RITE COMPANY; ENTEGRA FASTENER CORPORATION; FULTON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; HAMMERBLOW ACQUISITION CORP.; THE HAMMERBLOW COMPANY, LLC; HI-VOL PRODUCTS LLC; INDUSTRIAL BOLT & GASKET, INC.; KEO CUTTERS, INC.; LAKE ERIE PRODUCTS CORPORATION; LAMONS GASKET COMPANY; LAMONS METAL GASKET CO.; LOUISIANA HOSE & RUBBER CO.; MONOGRAM AEROSPACE FASTENERS, INC.; NETCONG INVESTMENTS, INC.; NI INDUSTRIES, INC.; NI WEST, INC.; NORRIS CYLINDER COMPANY; NORRIS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.; NORRIS INDUSTRIES, INC.; PLASTIC FORM, INC.; REESE PRODUCTS, INC.; RESKA SPLINE PRODUCTS, INC.; RIEKE CORPORATION; RIEKE OF INDIANA, INC.; RIEKE LEASING CO., INCORPORATED; RIEKE OF MEXICO, INC.; TOWING HOLDING LLC; TRIMAS COMPANY LLC; TRIMAS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; WESBAR CORPORATION; DRAW-TITE, INC.; RICHARDS MICRO-TOOL, INC.
Reel/Frame 026706/0434 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 4, 2010
From: TRIMAS COMPANY, LLC FKA K.S. DISPOSITION, INC; TRIMAS COMPANY LLC; TRIMAS CORPORATION; ARROW ENGINE COMPANY; BEAUMONT BOLT & GASKET, INC.; TRIMAS COMPANY LLC FKA COMMONWEALTH DISPOSITION, LLC; COMPAC CORPORATION; CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; CUYAM CORPORATION; DI-RITE COMPANY; DRAW-TITE, INC.; ENTEGRA FASTENER CORPORATION; FULTON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS, INC. FKA HITCH 'N POST, INC.; INDUSTRIAL BOLT & GASKET, INC.; KEO CUTTERS, INC.; LAKE ERIE SCREW CORPORATION; LAMONS METAL GASKET CO.; LOUISIANA HOSE & RUBBER CO.; MONOGRAM AEROSPACE FASTENERS, INC.; NETCONG INVESTMENTS, INC.; TRIMAS COMPANY LLC FKA NI FOREIGN MILITARY SALES CORP.; NI INDUSTRIES, INC.; NI WEST, INC.; NORRIS CYLINDER COMPANY; NORRIS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.; NORRIS INDUSTRIES, INC.; PLASTIC FORM, INC.; REESE PRODUCTS, INC.; RESKA SPLINE PRODUCTS, INC.; RICHARDS MICRO-TOOL, INC.; RIEKE CORPORATION; RIEKE OF INDIANA, INC.; RIEKE OF MEXICO; RIEKE LEASING CO.; TRIMAS COMPANY, LLC FKA TRIMAS FASTENERS, INC.; TRIMAS COMPANY, LLC FKA TRIMAS SERVICES CORP.; WESBAR CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 024390/0471 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 28, 2010
From: HITCH 'N POST, INC.
To: CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 024294/0863 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 23, 2010
From: TRIMAS CORPORATION; TRIMAS COMPANY LLC; ARROW ENGINE COMPANY; CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; COMPAC CORPORATION; DEW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; HI-VOL PRODUCTS LLC; KEO CUTTERS, INC.; LAKE ERIE PRODUCTS CORPORATION; MONOGRAM AEROSPACE FASTENERS, INC; NI INDUSTRIES, INC.; NORRIS CYLINDER COMPANY; RICHARDS MICRO-TOOL, INC.; RIEKE CORPORATION; RIEKE LEASING CO.; RIEKE OF MEXICO, INC.; THE HAMMERBLOW COMPANY, LLC; TRIMAS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; LAMONS GASKET COMPANY; TOWING HOLDING LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS SECOND LIEN AGENT
Reel/Frame 024120/0535 →
MERGER-CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 31, 2003
From: REESE PRODUCTS, INC.; TOWING PRODUCTS, INC.
To: CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 014253/0246 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2002
From: LINDENMAN, THOMAS W.; MCCOY, RICHARD W.
To: REESE PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 013251/0190 →