Patent ID: 7673895

Claim:
An apparatus for connecting a fifth wheel-type trailer to a ball hitch of a towing vehicle wherein the ball hitch extends above the bed of the towing vehicle for connection to a gooseneck-type trailer, the apparatus comprising: (a) an horizontally-oriented and elongate first body member having a first body longitudinal axis, the first body member being structured to receive the ball hitch therein; (b) a clamping mechanism fixedly secured to the first body member and structured to releasably secure the first body member to the ball hitch; (c) a mounting member including: (1) an horizontally-oriented elongate and tubular second body member having opposing ends and a second body longitudinal axis wherein the second body member is fixedly secured to and above the first body member with the second body longitudinal axis oriented perpendicularly to the first body longitudinal axis, (2) a pair of opposing, horizontally-oriented arm members wherein each arm member includes opposing ends and an arm longitudinal axis extending perpendicularly to the second body longitudinal axis, each arm member including: (A) a pair of opposing and horizontally-oriented arm extension members, each having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximate end of each arm extension member being adjustably displaceable and slidably and telescopingly receivable along the arm longitudinal axis by a respective end of a respective one of the arm members, and (B) a pair of extension adjusting mechanisms adjustably and releasably securing the proximal end of a respective arm extension member at a desired spacing horizontally outwardly from a respective end of a respective arm member, (3) a pair of arm adjusting mechanisms adjustably and releasably securing the arm members to a respective end of the second body member, (4) a fifth wheel hitch mechanism, and (5) securing mechanisms structured to releasably secure the fifth wheel hitch mechanism to the distal ends of the arm extension members of the arm members.