Patent ID: 9085208
Filing Date: 2015-07-21
Classification: B60D,B62D

Abstract:
1. A trailer and a vehicle in combination, comprising: the trailer having an electrical system; a generally horizontally disposed slider plate having a forward end, a rearward end, an upper surface and a lower surface, said slider plate mounted on said trailer at a forward end of said trailer, a ring-shaped electrical contactor positioned on said lower surface of said slider plate, said electrical contactor being electrically connected to the electrical system of said trailer, and a kingpin extending downwardly from said slider plate and said electrical contactor; the vehicle having an electrical system, having a fifth wheel hitch mounted at a rearward end of said vehicle, said fifth wheel hitch including a slider plate having a forward end, a rearward end, an upper surface and a lower surface, said slider plate of said fifth wheel hitch having a kingpin receiving opening formed therein with forward and rearward ends, said fifth wheel hitch further including a kingpin locking structure positioned below said forward end of said kingpin receiving opening and configured to lock said kingpin in said kingpin receiving opening, an electrical contact cartridge positioned at said forward end of said slider plate of said fifth wheel hitch, said electrical contact cartridge having an upper end having and a plurality of spaced-apart electrical contacts which have upper ends positioned at said upper end of said electrical contact cartridge, said electrical contacts of said electrical contact cartridge being electrically connected to said electrical system of said vehicle; and wherein said electrical contactor of said trailer is capable of being electrically connected to said electrical contacts of said electrical contact cartridge when said kingpin of said trailer is locked into said kingpin receiving opening of said fifth wheel hitch whereby said electrical system of said trailer is electrically connected to said electrical system of said vehicle.