Patent ID: 8342558
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A glider hitch for fifth wheel assembly, comprising: a pair of sliding rails each having at least a first aperture defining a forward position and a second aperture defining a rearward position, where the first apertures are aligned and the second apertures are aligned; a fifth wheel mounting assembly for carrying a fifth wheel, the fifth wheel mounting assembly seated on first and second brackets adapted to slide along the sliding rails and each bracket includes a pin hole used to lock the fifth wheel assembly in place, the fifth wheel mounting assembly further including a locking rod with a positioning portion extending transversely across the sliding rails, the positioning portion including a pair of locking pins projecting toward the pin holes, the locking pins inserting into a respective first aperture on the sliding rails defining a forward position and the pin hole on the bracket to lock the fifth wheel mounting assembly in the forward position, and alternatively the first and second locking pins insert into a respective second aperture on the sliding rails defining a rearward position and the pin hole on the bracket to lock the fifth wheel mounting assembly in the rearward position, the positioning member further comprising biasing elements disposed on the positioning member for biasing the first and second locking pins in their respective apertures and pin holes, the locking rod further comprising a handle member for releasing the locking pins from their respective first and second apertures and locking holes on the bracket by applying a force opposite a force applied by the biasing elements; wherein the sliding rails comprise beams having an “I” profile with horizontal top and bottom plates separated by a vertical main plate, and the fifth wheel mounting assembly includes first and second wheels that reside between the horizontal top and bottom plates for each sliding rail.