Abstract:
A fifth wheel hitch support assembly includes a support bracket adapted to pivotally support a fifth wheel hitch plate, a mounting member adapted to be coupled to a vehicle frame rail to create a gap therebetween and above the frame rail, wherein the gap extends longitudinally along the mounting member, and wherein the mounting member includes a plurality of irregularities spaced longitudinally along the length thereof, and an engagement assembly operably coupled to the support bracket wherein the engagement assembly is operable between an engaged position locking the support bracket with respect to the mounting member at a select position along the length of the mounting member, and a disengaged position wherein the engagement assembly does not engage the plurality of irregularities, thereby allowing the support bracket to be slidably repositioned with respect to the support bracket.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/410,183, entitled “FIFTH WHEEL SUPPORT ASSEMBLY,” filed on Nov. 4, 2010, by Michael D. Appel, the entire disclosure of the application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to fifth wheel coupling support assemblies and in particular to a slider assembly for adjustably supporting a fifth wheel hitch assembly from a frame of an associated vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is to provide a fifth wheel hitch support assembly that comprises at least one support bracket adapted to pivotally support a fifth wheel hitch plate, and at least one mounting member adapted to be coupled with a vehicle frame rail to create a gap therebetween and above the frame rail, wherein the gap extends longitudinally along the at least one mounting member, and wherein the at least one mounting member includes a plurality of irregularities spaced longitudinally along the length thereof. The fifth wheel hitch support assembly further comprises an engagement assembly operably coupled to the at least one support bracket, wherein a portion of the engagement assembly is slidable within the gap and is operable between an engaged position, wherein the engagement assembly engages at least one of the irregularities, thereby locking the at least one support bracket with respect to the at least one mounting member at a selected position along the length of the at least one mounting member, and a disengaged position, wherein the engagement assembly does not engage a plurality of irregularities, thereby allowing the at least one support bracket to be slidably repositioned with respect to the at least one mounting member. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a fifth wheel hitch support assembly that comprises at least one support bracket adapted to pivotally support a fifth wheel hitch plate, and at least one L-shaped mounting member that includes a horizontally extending leg portion and a vertically extending leg portion adapted to be coupled to a vehicle frame rail to create a gap between the horizontal leg portion and the frame rail above the frame rail, wherein the gap extends longitudinally along the at least one mounting member, and wherein the at least one mounting member includes a plurality of apertures extending through the vertical leg portion and spaced longitudinally along a length of the mounting member. The fifth wheel hitch support assembly further comprises at least one guide plate releasably attached to an outboard surface and slidably abutting an outboard surface of the least one mounting member, and an engagement assembly operably coupled to the at least one support bracket, and wherein a portion of the engagement assembly is slidable within the gap and is operable between an engaged position, wherein the engagement assembly includes at least one of the apertures, thereby locking the at least one support bracket with respect to the at least one mounting member at a select position along the length of the at least one mounting member, and a disengaged position, wherein the engagement assembly does not engage the plurality of apertures, thereby allowing the at least one support bracket to be slidably repositioned with respect to the at least one mounting member. The present inventive fifth wheel hitch support assembly provides an uncomplicated design that can be assembled and operated by even relatively unskilled personnel, is efficient in use, is adapted for use with vehicles having varying spacing between the associated frame rails, is capable of a long operating life, and is particularly well adapted for the proposed use. 
     These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the written specification, claims and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of fifth wheel support assembly embodying the present invention, and supported on a pair of vehicle frame rails; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the fifth wheel support assembly with a fifth wheel hitch plate and control linkages removed; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional end view of the fifth wheel support assembly taken along the line III-III,  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is an enlarged top perspective view of a mounting bracket; 
         FIG. 4B  is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the mounting bracket; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of the fifth wheel support assembly; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective bottom view of the fifth wheel support assembly with a vehicle frame rail removed; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the fifth wheel support assembly; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of an angle bracket of the support assembly; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged, partial elevational end view of the support assembly; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged, partial top plan view of the support assembly; and 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged, partial elevational end view of the support assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     The reference numeral  10  ( FIG. 1 ) generally designates a fifth wheel support or slider assembly embodying the present invention. In the illustrated example, the fifth wheel slider assembly is supported by a pair of vehicle frame rails  12  each having a C-shaped cross sectional configuration that includes a vertical portion  14 , a bottom horizontal portion  15  and a top horizontal portion  16 . The slider assembly  10  supports a fifth wheel hitch plate  18  above the vehicle frame rails  12 , such that the slider assembly  10  is slidably repositionable with regards to the frame rails in a direction A. 
     The slider assembly  10  includes a pair of L-shaped angle brackets  20  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) each having a downwardly-extending vertical leg  22 , an inwardly-extending horizontal leg  24 , a first end  26  and a second end  28 . A pair of stop assemblies  27  are fixedly secured to each angle bracket  20  proximate the ends  26 ,  28  thereof by corresponding fasteners  29 . Each stop assembly includes a supporting block  30  vertically spacing one of the angle brackets  20  from the top horizontal portion  12  of the corresponding frame rail  14 , and an L-shaped stop bracket  31  abuting the vertical leg  22  and the horizontal leg  24  of the corresponding angle bracket  20 . A tie bar assembly  33  extends between the angle brackets  20  and are coupled thereto by the fasteners  29 . A corresponding rearwardly-located tie bar assembly  35  may also be utilized. Further, the slider assembly  10  may be utilized without either the front or rear tie bar assemblies  31 ,  35  depending on certain configuration and load requirements. The vertical leg  22  of each angle bracket  20  includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures  32  that are aligned with corresponding apertures  34  longitudinally spaced along the length of the vertical portion  14  of each of the vehicle frame rails  12 . A plurality of mechanical fasteners such as bolts  37  extend through the apertures  32  of the angle brackets  20  and the apertures  34  of the vehicle frame rails  12  thereby operably connecting the angle brackets  20  with the respective vertical frame rails  12 . Each of the angle brackets  20  is connected with a vertical frame rail  12  so as to define a gap  36  between the horizontal leg  24  of the angle bracket  20  and the top horizontal portion  16  of the vertical frame rail  12  as created by the supporting blocks  30 . 
     The slider assembly  10  further includes a pair of support brackets  38  ( FIGS. 4A and 4B ) adapted to pivotally support the hitch plate  18  via a pair of pivot pins  40 . Each support bracket  38  includes a bushing housing  42  having a bushing aperture  44  extending therethrough, a base plate portion  46  adapted to slide along an upper surface  47  of the horizontal leg  24  of the angle bracket  20 , and a guide portion  48  adapted to slide within and along the length of the associated gap  36 . Each support bracket  38  further includes a pair of inwardly extending support portions  50  coupled to a corresponding pair of cross members  52  extending between the support brackets  38  and coupled thereto by bolts  53  extending through apertures  55 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a guide plate  54  is attached to a distal end  51  of the base plate portion  46  of each support bracket  38  via a pair of bolts  56 . In assembly, the guide plate  54  abuts an outer or outboard surface of the vertical leg  22  of the respective angle bracket  20 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 4B , a wear pad  57  comprising a lubricious material, such as nylon, graphite, or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material is provided on an underside of the base plate portion  46  and abuts the upper surface of the horizontal leg  24 , thereby protecting the aesthetic appearance of the same. Each support bracket  38  further includes an integrally-formed tilt stop  59  that abuts an underside of the fifth wheel plate  18 , thereby limiting the amount of tilt available for the plate  18  with regards to the overall slide assembly  10 . 
     The slider assembly  10  further includes an engagement assembly  58  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) that includes a pair of engagement members  60  slidably received within downwardly opening channels  62  located within an underside of the guide portion  48  and the support portion  50  of each of the support brackets  38 . Each engagement member  60  includes a pair of outwardly extending engagement pins  64  and an inwardly extending attachment portion  68 . Each attachment portion  68  is attached to an actuator such as a pneumatic cylinder  70  such that the engagement members  60  can be moved between an extended position, wherein the engagement pins  64  engage one pair of a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures  72  spaced along the length of the vertical leg  22  of each angle bracket  20 , and a pair of apertures  74  extending through each of the guide plates  54 , thereby locking the slider assembly  10  at a selected position along the length of the frame rails  12 , and a retracted position, wherein the engagement pins  64  are withdrawn from the apertures  72  of the angle brackets  20  and the apertures  74  of the guide plates  54 , thereby allowing the slider assembly  10  to be repositioned along the length of the angle brackets  20 . In this arrangement, the pins  64  maintain double shear loading of the support brackets  38  and guide plates  54  with regards to the angle brackets  20  in the horizontal direction B, the vertical direction C, and combinations thereof. 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the configuration of the angle bracket  20 , and specifically the interlocking relationship of the engagement assembly  58  with regards to the angle bracket  20 , allows for flexible positioning of the slider assembly  10  with regards to the associate frame rails  12 . The exact positions of the apertures  72  along the length of the angle bracket  20  may be determined so as to limit the locations at which the slider assembly  10  may be positioned with regards to the vehicle, thereby resulting in a more streamline, less complicated assembly, a reduction in manufacturing costs due to the reduction of apertures  72  formed in the angle bracket  20 , and increased safety by preventing operators from locking the slider assembly  10  in unsafe operating locations. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , and by way of example, three distinct operating positions have been provided. Similarly, the overall height of the slider assembly  10  with regards to the frame rails  12  may be adjusted by adjusting the relative vertical locations of the apertures  32  within the vertical leg  22  of the angle bracket  20 , thereby allowing for ride-height adjustment, e.g. first height D and second height E, wherein Ride-height is defined as the distance between the upper surface of the vehicle frame rails  12  and the upper surface of the fifth wheel hitch plate  18 . Preferably, the apertures  32  are located within the vertical leg  22  so as to provide a Ride-height of within the range of between 6 inches and 12 inches, and more preferable of within the range of between 7 inches and 10 inches. 
     The slider assembly  10  ( FIG. 9 ) may also include spacer members  80  positioned between the distal end  51  of the support bracket  38  and the guide plate  54 , thereby accommodating for vehicles having variously spaced frame rails  12  with commonly dimensioned support brackets  38 , engagement assemblies  58 , and the like. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a stroke depth adjustment assembly  82  includes a mounting block  90  coupled to an end of the pneumatic cylinder  70  by a bolt  84  at a first end  86  and threadably receives an adjustment bolt  88  within a second end  90 . In operation, a head  91  of the adjustment bolt  88  abuts an inboard edge  92  of support bracket  38  as the engagement members  60  are moved from retracted position to the extended position, thereby limiting the stroke length of the pneumatic cylinder. A locking nut  94  allows the adjustment bolt  88  to be locked in a preselected position with regards to the mounting block  90 , thereby allowing the effective length of the engagement assembly  58  to be adjusted for vehicles with variously spaced frame rails  12 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the slider assembly  10  may also include a sensor assembly  100  adapted to sense proper positioning and locating of the engagement pins  64  within the apertures  72  of the angle bracket  20  and apertures  74  of the guide plates  54 . The sensor assembly  100  sends a signal to a logic controller  102  which alerts the driver to proper alignment and/or misalignment situation. 
     The present inventive fifth wheel hitch assembly provides a direct support from which the fifth wheel brackets or mounting brackets traverse. This design further captures the engagement pins as described in both a vertical and horizontal double-shear arrangement, thereby increasing the load capacity of the load carrying components. Further, the present inventive slider assembly significantly reduces the amount of welding required as compared with slider assemblies known in the art, thereby reducing the likelihood of warpage or distortion of those components that would normally incur significant welding. The reduction and/or elimination of welding certain components also allows for pre-painted or fully protected services, thereby decreasing the likelihood of future oxidation and degradation. 
     In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.