US 12,012,162 B2
Automatic rolling fifth wheel hitch
Michael R. Curl, Osceola, IN (US); Newly Mach, South Bend, IN (US); Richard McCoy, Granger, IN (US); and Eric Stanifer, Mishawaka, IN (US)
Assigned to HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC., Plymouth, MI (US)
Filed by HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC., Plymouth, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/346,561.
Application 17/346,561 is a continuation of application No. 16/685,015, filed on Nov. 15, 2019, granted, now 11,034,398.
Application 16/685,015 is a continuation of application No. 15/368,952, filed on Dec. 5, 2016, granted, now 10,479,425, issued on Nov. 19, 2019.
Application 15/368,952 is a continuation of application No. 13/834,407, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, granted, now 9,511,804, issued on Dec. 6, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0300486 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B62D 53/08 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 53/0807 (2013.01) [B62D 53/0814 (2013.01)] 2 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fifth wheel hitch comprising:
a base frame;
a cam member attached with the base frame, the cam member having a cam path positioned entirely between the base frame;
a cam follower positionable along the cam path;
a trolley coupled with the cam follower;
a fifth wheel head attached to the trolley, wherein pivoting of the fifth wheel head displaces the trolley rearward toward a rear of a towing vehicle; and
wherein the cam path includes a first portion causing the trolley to be displaced at a first rate as the fifth wheel head pivots and a second portion causing the trolley to be displaced at a second rate, different from the first rate, as the fifth wheel head pivots, and wherein the second portion is at a different pivot angle relative to a centerline of the cam member that the first portion.