Patent ID: 7100935

Claim:
An improved detachable fifth wheel hitch plate device with a pivotal locking ramp member, adapted to a fifth wheel hitch having a cross member locking assembly containing a cross member locking mechanism with a central kingpin retaining means, a fifth wheel hitch base mounted within a bed of a pickup and a supplied hitch plate assembly attached to the cross member locking assembly by front and rear bolts replacing the supplied hitch plate assembly, said improved detachable fifth wheel hitch plate device with a pivotal locking ramp member comprising: a fifth wheel hitch plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, two collar tabs with tapered terminal ends which define a kingpin receiver slot; a rear mounting plate welded to said lower surface of said fifth wheel hitch plate, said rear mounting plate having a central aperture; two lateral rocker tabs welded to said lower surface in alignment on each side of the kingpin receiver slot; a front mounting plate welded to said lower surface of said fifth wheel hitch plate, said front mounting plate having a front surface, a central aperture and an upper channel notch; two side channel plates, each side channel plate having an upper edge welded to said lower surface of said fifth wheel plate, a rear end welded to said front surface of said front mounting plate, each said side channel plate further including a front end, an inner surface, a ramp bolt hole and a lower edge; a front stop support welded to said inner surface of each facing side channel plate at said front end and said lower edge of each said side channel plate; a rear stop support welded vertically to said inner surface of each facing side channel plate at said rear end between said upper edge and said lower edge of each said side channel plate; a kingpin receiver channel defined by said kingpin receiver slot, said collar tabs, said two side channel plates, said front stop support and said rear stop support with said tapered terminal ends welded to said front end completely along said upper edge of said side channel plates; and a pivotal locking ramp member comprising a ramp plate having an upper surface, a front portion, a rear portion and a lower surface to which is welded a transverse ramp support, wherein a ramp bolt pivotally attaches said transverse ramp support between said ramp bolt holes of said side channel plates, said ramp bolt secured by a nut, allowing the pivotal locking ramp member to pivot within said kingpin receiver channel during the loading process of a kingpin of a fifth wheel trailer within the fifth wheel hitch with said improved detachable fifth wheel hitch plate device.