Vehicle hitch aligning system

• US 20060290100A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steve Miller
• Original Assignee: Steve Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Steve
• Application Number:
  US11/445,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290100A1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/52 removably mounted B60D1/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/58 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/60 Covers, caps or guards , e.g. comprising anti-theft devices

Abstract

The vehicle hitch aligning system includes a set of alignment images on decals applied to a towing vehicle'"'"'s rear view mirror, the center region of the rear window of the towing vehicle, an exterior surface of the towing vehicle'"'"'s rear that is visible from the driver'"'"'s side of the towing vehicle'"'"'s interior (when appropriate), and on a front surface of the trailer. Included is an alignment rod attachable to the trailer for assisting alignment. Alternatively, the alignment images are applied to the towing vehicle and the trailer by being impressed, imprinted, embossed, projected on, embedded in, illuminated, or otherwise applied to the indicated surfaces. The system may include a stop plate attached to the towing vehicle'"'"'s hitch assembly in order to stop the vehicle with the hitch and trailer tongue coupler in vertical alignment, while the images are used to align the towing vehicle with the trailer axially (laterally).

Claims

1. A vehicle hitch aligning system, comprising:

a first alignment image mounted rearward of a rear view mirror of a towing vehicle in alignment with a hitch receiver mounted on the towing vehicle;

an alignment device adapted for mounting on a trailer in alignment with a trailer hitch coupler mounted on the trailer; and

a stop plate adapted for mounting to the hitch receiver;

whereby the hitch receiver is axially aligned with the coupler by backing the towing vehicle up to the trailer with the first alignment image aligned with the alignment device and the coupler is aligned vertically above the hitch receiver by backing the towing vehicle up to the trailer until the coupler contacts the stop plate.

2. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment image comprises an image disposed on a rear window of the towing vehicle.

3. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment image comprises an image disposed in a center region of a rear window of the towing vehicle.

4. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment image comprises a crosshair image.

5. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment image is of small dimension.

6. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment image comprises a decal.

7. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 1, wherein said alignment device comprises a second alignment image, the second alignment image being of larger dimension than said first alignment image.

8. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 7, wherein said second alignment image comprises a crosshair image.

9. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 7, wherein said second alignment image comprises a decal.

10. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 1, wherein said alignment device comprises an alignment rod adapted for attachment to a tongue of the trailer.

11. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 1, further comprising a parallax alignment image adapted for being applied to the towing vehicle'"'"'s rear view mirror.

12. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 1, further comprising a sight adapted for being disposed on an exterior surface of the towing vehicle'"'"'s rear, the sight being visible from the driver'"'"'s side of the towing vehicle'"'"'s interior, the sight further being in lateral alignment with the hitch receiver.

13. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 1, wherein said the first alignment image and said alignment device are visibly bright and reflective.

14. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 1, wherein said stop plate is elongated, adapted for being disposed behind a ball of the hitch receiver, has a height configured for being above the ball to facilitate contact of a coupler of a trailer with the stop plate of an aligned towing vehicle.

15. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 1, wherein said stop plate is removable from the hitch receiver.

16. The vehicle hitch aligning system according to claim 1, wherein said stop plate is adapted for being fixedly attached and braced to a ball mount of the hitch receiver.

17. A vehicle hitch aligning system for aligning a tow hitch ball mount attached to a towing vehicle with a coupler attached to a trailer tongue, comprising:

means for aligning the ball mount in axial alignment with the coupler; and

means for aligning the coupler in vertical alignment above a ball attached to the ball mount.