Patent ID: 6491317
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A safety hitch device attaching to a fifth wheel trailer hitch mounted to a bed of a pickup, such fifth wheel trailer hitch having a receiver plate with a kingpin slot accepting a kingpin having a grooved lower ring from a front of a fifth wheel trailer, the device essentially comprising:a. a U-shaped member having a bight portion and two parallel legs; b. a channel segment traversely mounted to the bight portion; and c. an upper plate attached to the channel segment, the upper plate having a locking groove engaging the grooved lower ring of the kingpin depending from the fifth wheel trailer, retaining the kingpin within the locking groove in the event of a detachment, the channel segment also having an angled front edge which directs the kingpin up and over such angled front edge, the kingpin dropping within the locking groove of the upper plate during attachment of the fifth wheel trailer to the fifth wheel hitch until further directed to the kingpin slot of the receiver plate.