Patent ID: 7703793

Claim:
A fifth wheel hitch assembly, comprising: an upper assembly comprising a top structure configured for attachment to a fifth wheel trailer, and an upper box having an open bottom attached to the top structure, the box comprising a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, a lower assembly comprising a lower box having a bottom structure configured for attachment to a connection structure disposed on a tow vehicle, a rear plate extending upwards from the bottom structure into the open bottom of the upper box, adjacent the rear wall, a front plate extending upwards from the bottom structure into the open bottom of the upper box, adjacent the front wall, a first side plate extending upwards from the bottom plate into the open bottom of the upper box, adjacent the first side wall, and a second side plate extending upwards from the bottom plate into the open bottom of the upper box, adjacent the second side wall; a front slide plate disposed between an inner surface of the front wall and an outer surface of the front plate, a first side slide plate disposed between an inner surface of the first side wall and an outer surface of the first side plate, a second side slide plate disposed between an inner surface of the second side wall and an outer surface of the second side plate; a rear slide plate disposed between an outer surface of the rear plate and an inner surface of the rear wall, said front, first second and rear slide plates facilitating sliding engagement between said upper box and said lower box, at least one resilient member disposed between the upper assembly and the lower assembly; and at least one shock absorber disposed between the upper assembly and the lower assembly.