Fontaine Fifth Wheel Company

Fontaine Fifth Wheel

Fountaine Fifth Wheel Company

Robert Keith Laney

Steven William Mann

James Matthew Rhodes

James H Adams

Timothy Norman Johnson

Carl Brent Gaufin

Steven Alldredge

Charles Leon Rosato

Thomas David Hewer

Robert Todd Shelton

A fifth wheel coupling device is adapted for a towing vehicle that vertically receives a kingpin of a trailer. The device includes a plate having a kingpin hole formed therethrough defining a vertical path adapted to permit entry of the kingpin into the kingpin hole and through the plate along the vertical path, and to prevent release of the kingpin out of the kingpin hole along a lateral path leading outside the plate. A support base is attached to the plate, and is adapted to mount the plate to the towing vehicle. A lifting mechanism is operatively connected to the plate and is adapted to be mounted on the towing vehicle for raising and lowering the plate relative to the trailer. A locking mechanism is movably attached to the plate and is provided with an actuating portion. The locking mechanism is configured to be automatically actuable and adapted for releasably locking the kingpin relative to the plate and the locking mechanism upon engagement of the kingpin with the actuating portion of the locking mechanism.

Vertical coupling fifth wheel device and method of use

A fifth wheel includes a top plate having a throat that is adapted to receive a kingpin of a trailer. The fifth wheel is equipped with a locking mechanism including a jaw slidably connected to the top plate and slidable between a closed position where the jaw blocks passage of a kingpin out of the throat of the fifth wheel and an open position where a kingpin may pass into and out of the throat of the fifth wheel. The jaw has an edge adapted to engage a kingpin positioned in the throat of the fifth wheel when the jaw is in the closed position. A bias device urges the jaw towards the closed position. The fifth wheel further includes a mechanism for moving the jaw between the open and closed positions. Further, the top plate of the fifth wheel is configured to allow service and/or replacement of the jaw from the top of the fifth wheel while it is assembled to a vehicle.

Fifth wheel locking mechanism

Growing community of inventors

Vinemont, AL, United States of America

Robert Keith Laney