Under bed hitch mounting system

Abstract

A hitch mounting system capable of attaching to a vehicle, where, the vehicle includes a frame and a load bed is disclosed. The hitch mounting system may include at least one rail, the rail being a generally continuous member, where the rail includes at least one end portion, and where the end portion is deformed in a shape capable of attaching to the frame of the vehicle. The hitch mounting system may also include at least one mounting aperture located in the rail, the mounting aperture capable of having secured thereto an accessory.

Having thus described the invention, we claim: 
     
         1 . A hitch mounting system capable of attaching to a vehicle, the vehicle having a frame and a load bed, the hitch mounting system comprising:
 at least one rail, the rail being a generally continuous member;   wherein the rail includes at least one end portion, wherein the end portion is deformed in a shape capable of attaching to the frame of the vehicle; and   at least one mounting aperture located in the rail, the mounting aperture capable of having secured thereto an accessory.   
     
     
         2 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the rail is integrally formed from a single generally tubular member. 
     
     
         3 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 2 , wherein the deformed end portion is formed by stamping the generally tubular member. 
     
     
         4 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the rail transitions from a generally undeformed tubular portion to a generally C-shaped deformed end portion through a transition portion. 
     
     
         5 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the rail includes first and second deformed end portions, wherein the first and second end portions are deformed in a shape capable of attaching to the frame of the vehicle and generally fitting between the frame and the load bed of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the deformed end portion includes a bottom side folded up toward a top surface of the rail. 
     
     
         7 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 1  further comprising a mid-rail attached to the rail, wherein the mid-rail includes a hitch ball socket, the hitch ball socket capable of having secured thereto a gooseneck hitch ball. 
     
     
         8 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 1  further comprising a bracket and a plate, wherein a first portion of the bracket is attached to the frame of the vehicle, a second portion of the bracket is attached to the plate, and the plate is attached to the rail. 
     
     
         9 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 8 , wherein plate includes a thickness wherein the thickness of the plate accommodates space constraints between the frame and load bed of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises a fifth wheel hitch. 
     
     
         11 . A hitch mounting system comprising:
 at least one rail, the rail being a generally continuous tubular member, wherein the rail includes first and second surfaces;   at least one end portion on the rail, wherein the end portion is deformed in a shape capable of attaching to a frame of a vehicle and generally fitting between the frame and a load bed of the vehicle; and   a receiving member attached to the rail, the receiving member capable of having secured thereto an accessory.   
     
     
         12 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein the second surface includes the deformation. 
     
     
         13 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein the deformed portion is a generally C-shaped channel. 
     
     
         14 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein the receiving member is attached to the first surface of the rail, wherein the receiving member is generally flush with the load bed of the vehicle when the rail is attached to the frame of the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 11  further comprising at least one mounting aperture located in the rail, wherein the receiving member is positioned in the aperture and attached to the rail. 
     
     
         16 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 11 , further comprising a mid-rail, wherein the mid-rail includes a hitch ball socket, the hitch ball socket capable of having secured thereto a gooseneck hitch ball. 
     
     
         17 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein the receiving member is integrally formed from a single member. 
     
     
         18 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 17 , wherein the receiving member is welded to the rail. 
     
     
         19 . A hitch mounting system capable of attaching to a vehicle, the vehicle having a frame and a load bed, the hitch mounting system comprising:
 at least one rail, the rail being a generally single continuous member having at least one end portion, wherein the end portion is deformed in a shape capable of attaching to the frame of the vehicle and generally fitting between the frame and the load bed of the vehicle;   at least one mounting aperture located in the rail;   a channel member positioned in the aperture and attached to the rail; and   an accessory attachment member selectively attached to the channel member, wherein the accessory attachment member is capable of having secured thereto an accessory.   
     
     
         20 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 19  further comprising a mid-rail attached to the rail, wherein the mid-rail includes a hitch ball socket, the hitch ball socket capable of having secured thereto a gooseneck hitch ball. 
     
     
         21 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 19 , wherein the channel member includes at least one leg, wherein the leg is attached to the rail within the aperture and wherein the leg positions the accessory attachment member generally flush with the load bed of the vehicle when the rail is attached to the frame of the vehicle. 
     
     
         22 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 19 , wherein inserting and rotating the accessory attachment member within the channel member selectively attaches the accessory attachment member to the channel member. 
     
     
         23 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 22 , wherein the channel member includes at least one recess and the accessory attachment member includes at least one flange. 
     
     
         24 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 23 , wherein the flange is capable of entering the recess and rotation of the accessory attachment member engages the flange with the channel member selectively attaching the accessory attachment member to the channel member. 
     
     
         25 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 24 , wherein the accessory attachment member being rotated approximately 90 degrees selectively attaches the accessory attachment member to the channel member. 
     
     
         26 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 19 , wherein the accessory comprises a fifth wheel hitch. 
     
     
         27 . A hitch mounting system comprising:
 at least one generally continuous tubular rail member capable of attaching to a frame of a vehicle generally below a load bed of the vehicle;   a channel member attached to the rail member; and   an accessory attachment member selectively attached to the channel member, wherein the accessory attachment member is capable of having secured thereto an accessory.   
     
     
         28 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 27 , wherein the channel member includes a channel threaded portion and the accessory attachment member includes an accessory threaded portion capable of matingly engaging the channel threaded portion. 
     
     
         29 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 27 , further comprising an anti-rotation mechanism generally preventing the accessory attachment member from rotating relative to the channel member. 
     
     
         30 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 29 , wherein the anti-rotation mechanism comprises:
 a locking pin;   a locking aperture positioned in the accessory attachment member; and   a locator aperture positioned in the channel member, wherein the locking pin is capable of being inserted through the locking aperture and engaging the locator aperture generally preventing the accessory attachment member from rotating relative to the channel member.   
     
     
         31 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 27 , wherein the channel member includes at least one recess and the accessory attachment member includes at least one flange wherein the flange is capable of entering the recess and rotating the accessory attachment member engages the flange with the channel member selectively attaching the accessory attachment member to the channel member. 
     
     
         32 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 27 , wherein the channel member includes at least one recess and a channel formed in the channel. 
     
     
         33 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 32 , wherein the accessory attachment member includes at least one flange wherein the flange is capable of entering the recess and rotating the accessory attachment member engages the flange with the channel of the channel member selectively attaching the accessory attachment member to the channel member. 
     
     
         34 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 33 , further comprising a locking mechanism wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a locking pin;   a first locking aperture positioned in the accessory attachment member; and   a second locking aperture positioned in the channel member, wherein the locking pin is capable of being inserted through the first locking aperture and engaging the second locking aperture generally preventing the accessory attachment member from rotating relative to the channel member.   
     
     
         35 . A hitch mounting system comprising:
 at least one rail capable of attaching to a frame of a vehicle generally below a load bed of the vehicle;   at least one mounting aperture located in the rail; and   a receiving member positioned in the aperture and attached to the rail, the receiving member comprising:
 a channel member positioned in the aperture and attached to the rail, wherein the channel member has a member top surface; and 
 an accessory attachment member attached to the channel member by inserting the accessory attachment member into the channel member and rotating the accessory attachment member, wherein the accessory attachment member is capable of having secured thereto an accessory. 
   
     
     
         36 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 35 , wherein the accessory attachment member being rotated approximately 90 degrees attaches the accessory attachment member to the channel member. 
     
     
         37 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 35 , further comprising a locking mechanism generally preventing the accessory attachment member from being removed from the channel member. 
     
     
         38 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 37 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a locking pin;   a first locking aperture positioned in the accessory attachment member; and   a second locking aperture positioned in the channel member, wherein the locking pin is capable of being inserted through the locking aperture and engaging the locator aperture generally preventing the accessory attachment member from being removed from the channel member.   
     
     
         39 . A hitch mounting system capable of attaching to a vehicle, the vehicle having a frame and a load bed, the hitch mounting system comprising:
 at least one rail capable of attaching to a frame of a vehicle generally below a load bed of the vehicle;   at least one mounting aperture positioned in the top surface of the rail; and   a channel member positioned in the aperture and attached to the rail, wherein the channel member has a top surface positioned generally below the load bed of the vehicle.   
     
     
         40 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 39 , further comprising an accessory attachment member selectively attached to the channel member, wherein the accessory attachment member is capable of having secured thereto an accessory. 
     
     
         41 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 40 , wherein the load bed of the vehicle does not include an aperture generally corresponding to a position of the channel member. 
     
     
         42 . The hitch mounting system of  claim 41 , wherein the channel member fits entirely below the load bed of the vehicle.