Patent ID: 8827298

Claim:
A fifth wheel hitch comprising: a support structure for supporting the fifth wheel hitch relative to a towing vehicle; and first and second jaws movably supported by the support structure, each jaw being movable between a closed position wherein the first and second jaws jointly define at least a portion of a kingpin containment for holding a kingpin in towing engagement by the fifth wheel hitch and an opened position wherein the kingpin is releasable from the fifth wheel hitch, each jaw having a kingpin contacting surface in the closed position, wherein, when in the opened position, a portion of the first jaw overlaps a portion of the second jaw at a first overlapping interface, and wherein the first overlapping interface is at an elevation of the kingpin containment; wherein the first and second jaws are part of a head assembly further comprising a skid plate, wherein the first jaw is movable by pivoting about a first jaw pivot axis which is stationary relative to the skid plate, wherein the second jaw is movable by pivoting about a second jaw pivot axis which is stationary relative to the skid plate, and wherein the first jaw comprises an extension coupled into a slot of the second jaw, the extension being separated from the first jaw pivot axis and the slot being separated from the second jaw pivot axis, the coupling of the extension into the slot causing the first and second jaws to pivot simultaneously.