The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 23, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 18, 1997
James H Flater, Holland, MI (US);
Holland Hitch Company, Holland, MI (US);
Abstract
A fifth wheel hitch operable between a fully locked condition and a fully released condition, having a top hitch plate and a lock jaw, a locking plunger shiftable between a biased, extended locking position engaging the jaw and a retracted position for releasing the jaw, a release lever pivotally mounted to the hitch plate and engaging the plunger to move the plunger therewith when actuated, for releasing the primary lock, a hitch release rod subassembly having an outer pull handle and an inner pivotal connection to the release lever for actuating the release lever, the release rod subassembly having a secondary stop aligned with an abutment surface in the fully locked condition to serve as a secondary lock, and shiftable out of alignment with the abutment surface to release the secondary lock, and having a limited play connection between its ends, enabling the subassembly to be lengthened a limited amount from its normal length to a lengthened condition, and biased toward the normal length condition, and having an indictor which provides a change in appearance between the normal length condition and the lengthened condition.