Abstract:
A gooseneck hitching system is disclosed which couples the gooseneck hitch of a trailer to a hitch ball of a vehicle through the use of a remotely RF controlled linear actuator which also includes a locking receptacle structure mounted on the bed of the vehicle which replaces the conventional safety chain arrangement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a gooseneck hitching system and more particularly wherein the gooseneck hitching system is remotely controlled. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many trailers are coupled or hitched to a vehicle. In some cases, the vehicle has a hitch ball mounted on the rear end of a longitudinally extending hitch bar and the trailer has a ball receiver socket mounted on the forward end of the trailer tongue. The trailer is hitched to the vehicle by placing the ball receiving socket onto the hitch ball and locking the same thereon. 
     In other cases, the trailer has a gooseneck hitch structure at the forward end thereof with the gooseneck hitch structure having a vertically disposed post which has a hitch ball receiving pocket or socket formed in the lower end thereof. The hitch ball receiving pocket or socket is moved downwardly onto a hitch ball which extends upwardly from the bed of a truck. When the post has been lowered onto the hitch ball, it is necessary for a person to reach or crawl into the bed of the truck to pivotally move a locking plate into engagement with the hitch ball and lock the same. Such a task is difficult, if not impossible, for an elderly person or a physically impaired person. Further, in most gooseneck hitches, it is necessary to reach into the bed of the truck or crawl thereinto to secure the safety chains which extend between the gooseneck post and the bed of the truck. This task is also difficult, if not impossible, for an elderly person or a physically impaired person. Additionally, the safety chains may become disconnected. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A gooseneck hitching system is disclosed for use with a towing vehicle having a hitch ball mounted in the bed thereof. The trailer has a gooseneck hitch structure at the forward end thereof with the gooseneck hitch structure including a substantially vertically extending column having a lower end. The lower end of the column has a hitch ball receiving socket formed therein configured to selectively receive the hitch ball of the vehicle therein. 
     A coupling assembly is secured to the lower end of the column for selective coupling onto the hitch ball onto the hitch ball of the vehicle. A horizontally disposed upper plate is secured to the lower end of the column with the upper plate having a hitch ball receiving opening formed therein. A horizontally disposed lower plate is operatively secured to the lower end of the column below the upper plate. The lower plate is spaced from the upper plate and has a hitch ball receiving opening formed therein which registers with the hitch ball receiving opening in the upper plate. A horizontally disposed locking plate is movably positioned between the upper and lower plates and is pivotally secured to the upper and lower plates about a vertical axis so as to be selectively movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. 
     An electrically operated and RF controlled linear actuator is mounted on the coupling assembly and has a base end and extendable and retractable actuator rod. The base end of the linear actuator is secured to the upper plate. The actuator rod is secured to the locking plate whereby extension of the actuator rod causes the locking plate to move from its unlocked position to its locked position and whereby retraction of the actuator rod causes the locking plate to be moved from its locked position to its unlocked position. 
     In one embodiment, the coupling assembly includes a selectively vertically movable locking pin which is operatively secured to the actuator rod and the locking plate with the locking pin being movable between an upper unlocked position to a lower locked position. The locking pin, when in its locked position, locks the locking plate to the upper and lower plates. 
     The gooseneck hitching system of this invention also includes a locking receptacle structure which is mounted on the bed of the vehicle forwardly of the hitch ball. The locking receptacle structure includes a base having a forward end, a rearward end, a first side and a second side. The base has an upstanding first wall with an upper end at the first side of the base with the first wall having a vertically disposed notch, having upper and lower ends, formed therein which extends downwardly thereinto. The base also has an upstanding second wall with an upper end at the second side of the base. The second wall has a vertically disposed notch, having upper and lower ends, formed therein which extends downwardly thereinto. An electrically operated and RF controlled linear actuator is mounted on the base with the linear actuator including an extendable and retractable actuator rod which extends rearwardly therefrom. A horizontally disposed locking mechanism is secured to the actuator rod for movement therewith with the locking mechanism being movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The locking mechanism is in its unlocked position when the actuator rod of the associated linear actuator is in a retracted position. The locking mechanism is in its locked position when the actuator rod of the associated linear actuator is in an extended position. The locking mechanism extends over the upper ends of the notches in the first and second walls, when the locking mechanism is in its locked position to close the upper ends of the notches. 
     A horizontally disposed collar is rotatably mounted on the column and has an elongated first shaft, having forward and rearward ends, secured to the collar which extends forwardly therefrom. An elongated second shaft is secured to the first shaft which extends transversely with respect to the first shaft. The second shaft has first and second ends which are configured to be received within the notches of the first and second walls of the base when the locking mechanism is in its unlocked position. The second shaft is maintained within the notches when the locking mechanism is in the locked position. The locking receptacle structure described above replaces the conventional safety chains which are normally used with the coupling structure. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved gooseneck hitching system. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a gooseneck hitching system which enables the gooseneck of a trailer to be coupled to the hitch ball of a vehicle by means of a radio controlled linear actuator thereby eliminating the need for a person to climb into the bed of the vehicle to effect the coupling operation. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a gooseneck hitching system which replaces the conventional safety chains normally used when coupling a trailer to a hitch ball on a vehicle. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a locking receptacle structure mounted on the bed of the vehicle which is remotely radio controlled. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view illustrating a gooseneck hitch structure being secured to the hitch ball of the vehicle using the coupling assembly of this invention and the locking receptacle structure of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the coupling assembly of the lower end of the column of the gooseneck together with a portion of the locking structure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the locking receptacle structure of this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial slide elevational view illustrating the coupling assembly being positioned above the hitch ball of the vehicle; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating the coupling assembly being positioned on the hitch ball with the locking plate of the coupling assembly being in its unlocked position and which illustrates the locking receptacle structure in its unlocked position; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  except that the locking plate of the coupling assembly has been moved to its locked position and the locking receptacle structure has been moved to its locked position; and 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational view illustrating the coupling assembly of this invention locked onto the hitch ball of the vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The numeral  10  refers to a gooseneck hitch assembly which is secured to the forward end of a trailer or the like. The hitch assembly  10  is conventional in design except for the coupling assembly  12  at the lower end of the vertically disposed column  14  and the safety structure  16  which is comprised of a locking receptacle structure  18  and locking member  20  which will be described in detail hereinafter. The numeral  22  refers to the towing vehicle which is normally a truck having a bed or floor  24 . A hitch ball  26  including a ball  28  and shank  30  is secured to the floor  24  and usually to the frame of the truck. The lower end of column  14  includes a conventional socket coupling at the lower end thereof which is adapted to receive the ball  28  of the hitch ball  26 . 
     Coupling assembly  12  includes a flange plate assembly  32  which is welded to the lower end of column  14  and which includes an upper plate  34  and a lower plate  36  which is spaced below the upper plate  34 . Each of the plates  34  and  36  have central openings formed therein which register with the socket coupling in the lower end of column  14 . Plate  34  has a pin opening  38  formed therein as seen in  FIG. 2 . Plate  36  has a pin opening  40  formed therein which registers with pin opening  38 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . A locking plate  42  is movably positioned between plates  34  and  36  ( FIG. 7 ) and is pivotally secured to plates  34  and  36  by a pivot pin  44  ( FIG. 7 ). Plate  42  is movable between an unlocked position, as seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 , to the locked position of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Plate  42  has a pin opening  46  formed therein which registers with pin openings  38  and  40  when plate  42  is in its locked position. Plate  42  has a semi-circular inner end  48  which is positioned closely adjacent the shank  30  of hitch ball  26  when locking plate  42  is in its locked position. 
     The numeral  50  refers to an actuator assembly for pivotally moving locking plate  42  between its locked and unlocked positions and for maintaining locking plate  42  in its locked position. Assembly  50  includes an electrically linear actuator  52  which may be DC battery operated or operated by the vehicle or trailer electrical system. Actuator  52  is also remotely radio controlled by a hand-held transmitter  54 . The base end of actuator  52  is pivotally connected to the upper end of a post  56  by a pivot pin  58 . The lower end of post  56  is fixed to plate  34 . The actuator rod  60  is pivotally connected to one end of an elongated arm  62  by pivot pin  64 . Arm  62  has a bracket  66  secured thereto which extends downwardly therefrom, as seen in  FIG. 2 . The lower end of bracket  66  is pivotally secured to the upper end of a post  68  by pivot pin  70 . The lower end of post  68  is fixed to locking plate  42 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
     One end of support arm  72  is secured to post  68  and extends therefrom as seen in  FIG. 2 . A tubular support  74  is secured to the other end of support arm  62  ( FIG. 2 ). The upper end of locking pin  76  is pivotally connected to arm  62  by pivot pin  78 . Locking pin  76  is vertically slidably movably received by tubular support  74 . 
     Initially, when actuator  52  is in its retracted position, the rod  60  will have pivotally pulled locking plate  42  to its unlocked position. The initial extension of rod  60  from actuator  50  causes locking plate  42  to be moved to its locked position. Continued extension of rod  60  from actuator  50  will cause locking pin  76  to be moved downwardly through tubular support  74 , through opening  38  in plate  34 , through opening  46  in locking plate  42  and through opening  40  in plate  36 . 
     Although it is preferred that the locking pin  76  be employed, in some situations locking pin  76  may not be necessary since the extended rod  60  of linear actuator  52  will maintain locking plate  42  in its locked position. 
     As stated above, safety structure  16  includes a locking receptacle structure  18  and a locking member  20 . Safety structure  16  is designed to replace the safety chains that would normally be used to prevent separation of the trailer from the truck  22  should the column  14  become disconnected from the hitch ball  26 . Locking member  20  includes a ring member  80  which rotatably embraces column  14  between retaining rings or collars  82  and  84  which are fixed to column  14 . Locking member  20  includes a shaft or rod  86  which is secured to ring member  80  and extends horizontally outwardly therefrom. A transversely extending shaft or rod  88  is secured to the outer end of shaft or rod  88 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
     Locking receptacle structure  18  includes a base  90  which is secured to floor  24  forwardly of hitch ball  26 , as seen in  FIG. 1 . For purposes of description, base  90  will be described as having a forward end  92 , a rearward end  94 , a first side  96  and a second side  98 . A U-shaped notch  100  is formed in side  96  adjacent the rearward end thereof ( FIG. 3 ). A U-shaped notch  102  is formed in side  98  adjacent the rearward end thereof ( FIG. 3 ). Spaced-apart tubes or collars  104  and  106  are provided at the upper rearward end of side  96  of base  90  on opposite sides of notch  100  ( FIG. 3 ). Spaced-apart tubes or collars  108  and  110  are provided on the upper rearward end of side  98  of base  90  on opposite sides of notches  108  and  110  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     The numeral  112  refers to a linear actuator which may be powered by DC battery or the electrical system of the truck  10 . Linear actuator  112  includes a rod  114  which extends therefrom in conventional fashion and which is movable between retracted and extended positions. Actuator  112  is radio controlled by way of the hand-held transmitter  54 . A collar  116  is secured to the outer end of rod  114  ( FIG. 3 ). A transversely extending shaft or rod  118  is secured to collar  116 . Shaft or rod  120  extends rearwardly from one end of shaft  118  and a shaft or rod  122  extends rearwardly from the other end of shaft  118 . As seen, shaft  120  is selectively slidably received in collars  106  and  104  while shaft  122  is selectively slidably received in collars  110  and  108 . When rod  114  is in its retracted position of  FIG. 3 , the rearward ends of shafts  120  and  122  are disposed within collars  106  and  110  respectively so that the upper ends of notches  100  and  102  are open. When rod  114  is extended, the rearward ends of shaft  120  and  122  are received by collars  104  and  108  respectively to close the upper ends of notches  100  and  102  respectively. 
     The method of operating the invention will now be discussed. Assuming that the trailer having the gooseneck hitch assembly thereon is disconnected from the vehicle, the gooseneck hitch assembly will normally be supported by a jack so that the lower end of the column  14  is positioned above the ground or supporting surface. Usually, the linear actuator  52  will be in the retracted position so that locking plate  42  is in its unlocked position and so that the lower end of pin  76  dwells in a plane above upper plate  34  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . At this time, the linear actuator  112  of locking receptacle structure  18  will be in the retracted position of  FIG. 3  so that the upper end of notches  100  and  102  are not closed by the shafts  120  and  122  respectively. 
     The vehicle  22  will then be moved rearwardly with respect to the trailer until the ball  28  of hitch ball  26  is directly below the coupling assembly  12  ( FIG. 4 ). If the linear actuator  52  is powered by the vehicle electrical system, the electrical system of the vehicle  22  will be electrically connected to the linear actuator  52 . If the linear actuator  52  is battery powered, there is no need to electrically connect the vehicle electrical system to the linear actuator  52 . 
     When the coupling assembly  12  is in the position of  FIG. 4 , the jack of the trailer will be operated to lower the coupling assembly  12  downwardly onto the hitch ball  26 . During the lowering movement, the central openings in plates  36  and  34  will receive the ball  28  until the ball  28  is received by the hitch ball receiving socket in the lower end of column  14 . During the lowering movement, the shaft  88  will be received by the notches  100  and  102  of the locking receptacle structure  18 . 
     The linear actuator  52  is then remotely actuated by the transmitter  54  to cause the actuator rod  60  of actuator  52  to be extended. The extension of rod  60  initially causes the locking plate  42  to pivotally move from its unlocked position of  FIGS. 4 and 5  to the locked position of  FIG. 6 . When the locking plate  42  is in the locked position of  FIG. 6 , the semi-circular inner end  48  thereof will be closely positioned adjacent shank  30  of hitch ball  26  to securely connect the coupling assembly  12  to the hitch ball  26 . Continued extension of rod  60  will cause locking pin  76  to move downwardly through opening  38  in plate  34 , through opening  46  in locking plate  42 , and through opening  40  in plate  36  to lock coupling assembly  12  onto hitch ball  26 . As stated above, the locking pin  76  adds further locking security to the coupling operation. As also stated above, in some cases the locking pin  76  may not be necessary since the linear actuator  52  also acts as a locking device. 
     When the coupling assembly  12  has been secured to the hitch ball  26 , the linear actuator  112  is activated by the transmitter  54  to cause the rod  114  to be extended which causes the shafts  120  and  122  to be moved rearwardly into the collars  104  and  106  respectively to lock the shaft  88  in the notches  100  and  102  to provide a safety system rather than conventional safety chains. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.