Trailer alignment device

• US 20050285371A1
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John S. Betts, Ramsey J. Edward
• Original Assignee: John S. Betts, Ramsey J. Edward
• Inventors: Ramsey, J. Edward, Betts, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,309,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/477
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/06 Ball-and-socket hitches , e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/36 for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers , visual guide means, signalling aids B60D1/465 takes precedence; vehicle signalling in general B60Q; optical arrangements specially adapted for viewing trailer-hitches B60R1/003

Abstract

A trailer hitch alignment device which allows a user to easily align a hitch of a vehicle with a trailer hitch of a trailer. The trailer hitch alignment device includes a control unit with a display that is viewable by the driver of a vehicle, a sensor releasably positioned on a ball hitch of the vehicle, and another sensor releasably positioned over a socket hitch of the trailer. At least one of the sensor and the another sensor communicates with the control unit. The control unit display displays the relative position of the sensor to the another sensor.

Claims

1. An electronic trailer hitch alignment system comprising:

a control unit including an indicator; and

a sensor adapted to be releasably positioned on a first hitch, said sensor communicates with said control unit;

wherein said sensor senses the relative position of a second hitch, said indicator of said control unit displays the relative positions of said first sensor and said second hitch with respect to each other.

2. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, wherein said sensor communicates with said control unit using wireless communication.

3. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, further comprising:

another sensor adapted to be releasably positioned on said second hitch;

wherein at least one of said sensor and said another sensor communicates with said control unit, said indicator of said control unit displays the relative positions of said sensor and said another sensor with respect to each other.

4. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, wherein said first hitch comprises a ball hitch.

5. The electrical trailer hitch alignment system of claim 4, wherein said sensor comprises a dome-shaped surface adapted to be received by said ball hitch.

6. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises a display screen.

7. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 2, wherein said indicator comprises a light, said light illuminates to communicate alignment of said sensor and said another sensor.

8. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 3, wherein said indicator comprises a speaker, said speaker sounds to communicate alignment of said sensor and said another sensor.

9. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, wherein said control unit includes a battery.

10. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 9, wherein said control unit includes a connectable power source.

11. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 6, wherein said control unit includes an electronic circuit received by said control unit.

12. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 11, wherein said electronic circuit is electrically connected to and communicates with said display screen.

13. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 12, wherein said electronic circuit communicates with said sensor and said another sensor.

14. An electronic trailer hitch alignment system comprising:

a control unit including an indicator; and

a sensor received in a housing, said housing including a dome-shaped surface adapted to be releasably positioned on a first hitch;

wherein said sensor senses the relative position of a second hitch, said indicator of said control unit displays the relative positions of said sensor and said second hitch with respect to each other.

15. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 14, further comprising:

a base adapted to be releasably positioned at a second hitch;

a member received in said base, said member receiving another sensor, said member moving relative to said base to position said another sensor directly over said second hitch;

wherein at least one of said sensor and said another sensor communicates with said control unit and said control unit indicates the relative position of said sensor to said another sensor with said indicator with respect to each other.

16. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 15, wherein said member comprises an elongate arm, and an end of said elongate arm receives said second sensor.

17. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 15, wherein said second member comprises a pivoting arm, and a free end of said pivoting arm receives said second sensor.

18. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 15, wherein said second member comprises a telescoping member telescoping to and from said first member, and a free end of said telescoping member receives said second sensor.

19. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 15, wherein said base includes an opening sleeve therein, wherein said opening sleeve receives said member.

20. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 19, wherein said base includes a clamp to releasably position said base at said second hitch.

21. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 19, wherein said base includes a magnet to releasably position said base at said second hitch.

22. A method alignment of a vehicle hitch of a vehicle with a trailer hitch of a trailer comprising:

placing a first sensor on the vehicle hitch;

moving the vehicle with the vehicle hitch towards the trailer with the trailer hitch;

sensing the position of the trailer hitch relative to the first sensor as the vehicle moves toward the trailer;

communicating the relative position of the trailer hitch to an indicator of a control unit indicating the relative position to a user as the vehicle moves toward the trailer;

aligning the vehicle hitch directly under the first sensor and the trailer hitch with the assistance of the indicator;

removing the first sensor from the vehicle hitch; and

coupling the vehicle hitch and the trailer hitch.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

placing a second sensor on the trailer hitch;

sensing the position of the second sensor relative to the first sensor as the vehicle moves toward the trailer;

communicating the relative positions of the second sensor of the trailer hitch and the first sensor of the vehicle hitch to the indicator of the control unit;

indicating the relative positions of the first and second sensors to the user;

aligning the second sensor directly under the first sensor with the assistance of the indicator to align the vehicle hitch and the trailer hitch;

removing the first sensor from the vehicle hitch; and

coupling the vehicle hitch and the trailer hitch.