Abstract:
Disclosed is a device for lifting and storing 5 th  wheel hitches from pickup truck beds. The 5 th  wheel hitch lifting device consists of modified kingpin hitch, a hoist, and a support structure for the hoist. The modified kingpin hitch utilizes a detachable or integrated loop that allows the hook on a hoist to lift the hitch. Also described is a method for using the 5 th  wheel hitch lifting device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/813,166 filed on Jun. 13, 2006. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is in the field of lifting devices in general and for devices to lift hitches designed for “fifth wheel trailers” in particular. 
       DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    The use of recreational vehicles has great popularity in the United States. One type of a recreational vehicle is a “fifth wheel”. Fifth wheel trailers are towed behind pickup trucks via a pivoting mount located in the bed of the pickup. The practicality and popularity of fifth wheel trailers are obvious. The cost of the trailer is reduced since a single axle is eliminated and the pickup provides the locomotion, thus eliminating the need for a motor. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a typical configuration of the fifth wheel typically consists of an “gooseneck” type trailer where a portion of the trailer overlaps the bed of the pickup. 
         [0004]    Mounted beneath the trailer (trailer referring to either a gooseneck or 5 th  wheel trailer) is a ball assembly called a “kingpin”. The kingpin provides the point where the trailer is connected to a hitch. The hitch is designed to accept a kingpin and allow the trailer to be pulled and pivot. The kingpin and hitch interface must be designed so that a considerable force and load will not result in failure. Consequently, hitches are fabricated from extremely durable and stress resistant materials. The durability of the hitch materials, which is usually steel, results in an extremely heavy hitch. Also, the hitch is bolted into the bed of the pickup, either by removable bolts or by a series of clips. 
         [0005]    A significant number of individuals only use their trailers on a limited basis, for example, for summer camping or on weekends. While the trailer is not in use, the presence of the hitch mounted in the truck bed can be an obstacle to the use of the truck bed. Also, when the trailer is detached, the hitch is exposed to the elements causing degradation of the hitch assembly. Likewise, if the truck is parked outdoors, the hitch may become the target of thieves. 
         [0006]    As previously mentioned, a typical hitch may weigh upwards of several hundred pounds. It is sometimes problematic for a single person to remove the hitch due to the weight of the hitch. For a person with a disability, removal of the hitch is nearly impossible without help from another person. In both cases, a single person can be somewhat limited in the ability to install and remove the hitch. 
         [0007]    Prior solutions to this problem have included the redesign of the 5 th  wheel hitch. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,727 (Jan. 30, 2007) to Dick proposes that the ball of the 5 th  wheel hitch be reversible. This design does eliminates the hitch interference, but suffers from incompatibility with existing trailers that utilize a kingpin mounted on the trailer. 
         [0008]    Since there are a large number of existing 5 th  wheel trailers on the market, installation of and there is a problem with the removal of the hitches from pickup truck beds by a single person. Consequently, it is desirable to have a mechanism that would allow a 5 th  wheel hitch assembly to be removed by a single person. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is thus an object of the invention to provide a mechanism for removing and installing a 5 th  wheel hitch assembly from a truck bed that is operable by a single person. 
         [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for removing and installing a 5 th  wheel hitch from a truck bed such that the hitch can be conveniently stored inside a garage. 
         [0011]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for removing and installing a trailer hitch that is compatible with standard 2″ assemblies. 
         [0012]    It is yet another object of this invention to provide a modified kingpin that has a removable lifting point. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is the prior art depicting the 5 th  wheel trailer, the kingpin, the hitch, and the pickup. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is schematic diagram of the hitch lift device, the hitch, and the truck. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is diagram of the preferred embodiment of the 5 th  wheel hitch lifting device. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the modified kingpin. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The present device is a hitch lifting system. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a general schematic of the hitch lifting system  10  is shown. The hitch lifting system  10  consists of a hitch assembly  110 , the hitch assembly  110  supports a kingpin receptacle base  120  and a kingpin receptacle  130 . The hitch assembly mates to a kingpin connector  140 . The kingpin connector  140  consists of a kingpin  150 , a mount  160  affixed to the kingpin  150 , and attachment point  170  integral to the mount  160 . A cable  180  is connected between the attachment point  170  on the kingpin connector  140  and a lifting device  190 . The lifting device  190  is supported by a support structure  200 . 
         [0018]    Now referring to  FIG. 3  which shows the preferred embodiment of the hitch lifting system  10 . In  FIG. 3  is a rear view of pickup truck  300 . Mounted in the bed of the pickup truck  300  is a 5 th  wheel hitch  310 . Integrated within the standard 5 th  wheel hitch  310  is a kingpin mount  320 . 
         [0019]    Connected to the kingpin mount  320  is a modified kingpin  330 . The modified kingpin  330  is a cylindrical shaft with a connector to the kingpin mount  320  on one end of the shaft and a loop  340  on the other end of the shaft. The loop  340  is dimensioned to allow a hoist clip  350  to connect to the loop  340 . The hoist clip  350  is connected to a hoist cable  360 . The hoist cable  360  is connected to a hoist  370 . The hoist  370  is mounted to a support structure  380 . The control of the hoist cable  360  is accomplished via a hoist control  390 . 
         [0020]    Now referring to  FIG. 4  in which a modified kingpin mount  500  is shown. The modified kingpin mount  500  consists of a hitch connector  510 , the shaft  520  where the 5 th  wheel trailer is attached, a threaded hole  530 , and the loop  540 . The loop  540  is used to attached the hoist clip  350  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Advantages of the detachable loop structure is that the modified kingpin mount  500  may be used as a standard kingpin (e.g. for use in attaching to a 5 th  wheel trailer) with the loop  540  removed. Alternate embodiments of the modified kingpin mount  500  include integrating the loop  540  with the shaft  520 . Advantages of the integrate loop  540  and shaft  520  are ease of manufacturing a shaft  520  without a threaded hole  530 . 
         [0021]    Now referring back to  FIG. 3 . The method of operation of the hitch lift device is straightforward. The operator (not shown) of the pickup truck  300  positions the bed of the pickup truck  300  such that the kingpin mount  320  is below the hoist clip  350 . The hoist clip  350  is attached to the loop  340 . Any clips, screws, or mounts (not shown) attaching the 5 th  wheel hitch  310  to the bed of the pickup truck  300  must be removed. The operator then activates the hoist control  390  such that cable draws the 5 th  wheel hitch  310  in the “up” position. 
         [0022]    When the hitch is raised by the hoist in the “up” position, the hoist  370  acts as a convenient method for storing the 5 th  wheel hitch  310 . The pickup truck  300  can drive out without the hitch installed with extra capacity in the truck bed. Upon returning, the pickup truck  300  can be positioned below the hoist  370  and the 5 th  wheel hitch  310  is then easily reinstalled in the truck bed simply by lowering the hoist. 
         [0023]    An embodiment the hitch lift is 5 th  wheel hitch is a REESE  16 K 5 th  wheel hitch  310  (see www.reeseprod.com), mounted in the bed of a pickup truck  300 . The hoist  370  is a commercially available model 44006 Chicago Power Tools 4401b/8801b Electric Hoist (“44006 Hoist”). In this particular embodiment, the 44006 hoist is mounted between the rafters of a standard garage. A pickup truck with the 5 th  wheel hitch is backed into the garage and the clips on the hitch are detached. The modified kingpin is inserted into the hitch. The cable of the 44006 hoist is lowered and clipped to the eyelet of the modified kingpin. The cable is then raised with the hitch out of the bed of the truck. 
         [0024]    Alternate embodiments of the hitch lift exist. Any 5 th  wheel hitch can employ the hitch lifting system. Likewise any type of hoist, electrical or mechanical, that can raise the 5 th  wheel hitch may be utilized. Similarly, a modified kingpin may be of any dimensions intended to serve the purpose of connecting with a 5 th  wheel hitch. 
         [0025]    Accordingly, the hitch lifting device provides an easy and efficient way to raise and lower a 5 th  wheel hitch using a modified kingpin interface . Further, the description and illustrations are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope or spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to readily make minor variations in the design and manufacture of the invention. However, such variants are intended to be within the scope of the invention.