Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-12
2001-03-20
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C280S441200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203046
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to towing a trailer having a pintle eye for connecting to a pintle hook, more particularly, to an apparatus which permits a trailer having a pintle eye to be towed by a truck having a fifth wheel mount arrangement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, trailers having a pintle eye are typically pulled by large trucks having a pintle hook connection which directly engages the pintle eye. Often times, it is desirable to pull a trailer by a three-quarter or one ton truck having a fifth wheel ball mount. Since the ball mount connection is not compatible with trailers having a pintle eye, the user may be required to purchase a trailer which is capable of being coupled to the fifth wheel ball mount on the truck.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide an adaptor structure to permit a trailer having a pintle eye to be pulled by a truck having a fifth wheel mount disposed in the bed of a truck, and to ensure that the adaptor structure is easily removable from the trailer to permit the trailer to be pulled by a vehicle having a pintle hook connection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to fulfill the need referred to above. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this objective is obtained by providing adaptor structure for towing a pintle hitch trailer behind a truck having a fifth wheel mount. The adaptor structure includes a mounting plate constructed and arranged to be mounted to a surface of a tongue of a trailer to be towed. The mounting plate includes a mounting tab extending from opposing ends of the mounting plate. Beam structure is provided having first and second ends. The first end is removably coupled to the mounting tabs by a pin connection. The second end includes a fifth wheel mount structure constructed and arranged to engage a fifth wheel mount of a truck. A tension arm is coupled at one end thereof to the beam structure at a position between the first and second ends of the beam structure. Another end of the tension arm defines a pintle hitch coupler constructed and arranged to engage a pintle eye of the trailer.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of removably coupling a trailer having a pintle eye to a truck having a fifth wheel mount. The method includes coupling a mounting plate to a surface of a tongue of the trailer. The mounting plate includes a mounting tab extending from opposing ends of the mounting plate so that the mounting tabs are disposed above the tongue of the trailer. A beam structure is removably coupled at a first end thereof to the mounting tabs by a pin connection. The beam structure has a second end including a fifth wheel mount structure. A tension arm is pivotally coupled at one end thereof to the beam structure at a position between the first and second ends of the beam structure. Another end of the tension arm includes a pintle hitch coupler. The pintle hitch coupler is removably coupled to the pintle eye of the trailer. Finally, the fifth wheel mount structure is coupled to the fifth wheel mount of the truck.
Other objects, features and characteristic of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and the functions of the related elements of the structure, the combination of parts and economics of manufacture will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification.
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Johnson Brian L.
Lerner Avraham H.
Stemberger Edward J.
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