Object alignment device and method

• US 20070159310A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Randell Ball
• Original Assignee: Randell Ball
• Inventors: Ball, Randell
• Granted Patent: US 7,391,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/431
• 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: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/14 Tractor-trailer backing connections

Abstract

An object positioning device and method for positioning an object in a desired position relative to another object. In one aspect, the invention provides a device for aligning hitching components used in coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle. The invention also provides an apparatus for positioning an object upheld by a-base over a supporting surface, comprising a plurality of independently adjustable plumb devices associated with the base. This object positioning apparatus is beneficial in adjusting the verticality of a target supported over the coupling on a trailer used in the trailer hitch alignment device of the present invention.

Claims

1. An object alignment device, comprising:

a first light source movable with a first object, said first light source capable of emitting a first light beam toward a target associated with a second object, said first light beam comprising at least one ray perpendicular to the latitudinal axis of said first object; and

a second light source movable with said first object, said second light source capable of emitting a second light beam toward said target;

wherein said first light source and second light source are positioned such that, when said first light beam and said second light beam intersect said target, said first object is substantially aligned with said second object.

2. The object alignment device of claim 1, wherein said target extends vertically.

3. The object alignment device of claim 1, wherein said first light source is positioned on said first object such that said first light beam comprises at least one ray that intersects said target when the longitudinal axes of said objects are substantially aligned.

4. The object alignment device of claim 1, wherein said first light source is positioned on said first object such that said first light beam comprises at least one ray that intersects said target at a location, independent of the longitudinal distance between said objects.

5. The object alignment device of claim 1, wherein the distance measured along the horizontal axis between said first light source and said second light source is at least about 12 inches.

6. The object alignment device of claim 1, wherein one of said light sources emits a pulsating light beam.

7. The object alignment device of claim 6, wherein said first light beam is pulsating and said second light source is positioned on said first object such that said second light beam comprises at least one ray that intersects said pulsating first light beam on said target when said objects are substantially aligned.

8. An object alignment device, comprising:

a first light source movable with a first object, said first light source capable of emitting a first light beam toward a target associated with a second object; and

a second light source movable with said first object, said second light source capable of emitting a second light beam toward said target;

wherein said first light source and second light source are positioned such that, when said first object is substantially aligned with said second object, said first light beam and said second light beam intersect said target, independently of whether said first and second light beams intersect one another.

9. The object alignment device of claim 8, wherein said target extends vertically.

10. The object alignment device of claim 8, wherein said first light beam comprises at least one ray that is perpendicular to the latitudinal axis of said first object.

11. The object alignment device of claim 8, wherein said first light source is positioned on said first object such that said first light beam comprises at least one ray that intersects said target, independently of the longitudinal distance between said objects.

12. The object alignment device of claim 8, wherein the distance between said first light source and said second light source is at least about 12 inches.

13. The object alignment device of claim 8, wherein at least one of said light sources emits a pulsating light beam.

14. A trailer hitch alignment device for aligning hitching components used in coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle, comprising:

a first light source movable with said towing vehicle, said first light source capable of emitting a first light beam toward a target associated with said trailer, said first light beam comprising at least one ray perpendicular to the latitudinal axis of said towing vehicle; and

a second light source movable with a towing vehicle, said second light source capable of emitting a second light beam toward said target;

wherein said first light source and second light source are positioned such that, when said first light beam and said second light beam intersect said target, said hitching components are substantially aligned for coupling said trailer to said towing vehicle.

15. The trailer hitch alignment device of claim 14, wherein said target extends vertically.

16. The trailer hitch alignment device of claim 14, wherein said first light source is positioned on said towing vehicle such that said first light beam comprises at least one ray that intersects said target at a location, independently of the longitudinal distance between said hitching components.

17. The trailer hitch alignment device of claim 14, wherein said first light source is positioned on said towing vehicle such that said first light beam is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said towing vehicle.

18. The trailer hitch alignment device of claim 14, wherein the distance between said first light source and said second light source is at least about 12 inches.

19. The trailer hitch alignment device of claim 14, wherein said first light beam is pulsating and said second light source is positioned on said towing vehicle such that said second light beam at least partially intersects said intermittent first light beam on said target when said hitching components are substantially aligned.

20. The trailer hitch alignment device of claim 14, wherein said hitching components comprise a ball associated with said towing vehicle and a coupling unit associated with said towing vehicle, said target being positioned substantially at the vertical axis of said coupling unit.

21. The trailer hitch alignment device of claim 14, wherein said first light source is positioned on said towing vehicle such that said first light beam comprises at least one ray that forms an angle with the longitudinal axis of said trailer, said angle having a vertex at said target and having a measurement of about 45 degrees or less.

22. A method of using the trailer hitch alignment device of claim 14, comprising the steps of:

(a) moving said towing vehicle toward said trailer such that said first light beam intersects said target;

(b) moving said towing vehicle in a rearward direction toward said trailer such that said second light beam moves toward said target; and

(c) stopping rearward movement of said towing vehicle when said second light beam intersects said target.

23. A method of positioning an object alignment device for use in aligning first and second objects, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing a target in association with said second object; and

(b) positioning first and second light sources on said first object such that when said first and second objects are substantially aligned said first light source emits a first light beam having at least one ray intersecting said target and said second light source emits a second light beam having at least one ray intersecting said target, independently of whether said first and second light beams intersect one another.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

(c) moving said first object toward said second object such that said first light beam intersects said target;

(d) moving said first object toward said second object such that said second light beam moves toward said target; and

(e) stopping movement of said first object when said second light beam intersects said target.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

(c) moving said second object toward said first object such that said first light beam intersects said target;

(d) moving said second object toward said first object such that said second light beam moves toward said target; and

(e) stopping movement of said second object when said second light beam intersects said target.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein step (c) comprises moving said first object toward said second object such that said first light beam intersects said target, independently of the longitudinal distance between said first and second objects.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said first light beam remains on said target during step (d).

28. The method of claim 24, wherein step (d) comprises moving said first object toward said second object in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first object.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising connecting said first object to said second object.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising positioning said first light source on said first object such that said first light beam comprises at least one ray lying in a plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first object.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein said target extends vertically.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein said first object is a towing vehicle and said second object is a trailer.

33. A method of positioning a trailer hitch alignment device for aligning hitching components used in coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle, said hitching components comprising a ball associated with said towing vehicle and a coupling unit associated with said trailer, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a first target substantially over said ball associated with said towing vehicle; and

(b) positioning first and second light sources on said towing vehicle such that said first light source emits a first light beam having at least one ray intersecting said first target and said second light source emits a second light beam having at least one ray that intersects said first target.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising positioning a first target substantially at the vertical axis of said ball.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

(c) removing said first target from said towing vehicle;

(d) placing said first target substantially over said coupling unit associated with said trailer;

(e) moving said towing vehicle toward said trailer such that said first light beam comprises at least one ray that intersects said first target;

(f) moving said towing vehicle toward said trailer such that said second light beam moves toward said first target; and

(g) stopping said movement of said towing vehicle when said second light beam substantially intersects said first target.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein step (d) comprises positioning said first target substantially at the vertical axis of said coupling unit.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

(c) placing a second target substantially at the vertical axis of said coupling unit;

(d) moving said towing vehicle toward said trailer until said first light beam intersects said second target;

(e) moving said towing vehicle toward said trailer such that said second light beam moves toward said second target; and

(f) stopping said movement when said second light beam substantially intersects said second target.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein step (c) comprises positioning said second target substantially at the vertical axis of said coupling unit.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein said first target is vertically extending.

40. A method of positioning a first object substantially in alignment with a second object comprising the steps of:

(a) placing first and second light sources on the first object;

(b) positioning said first object such that a light beam from said first light source substantially intersects a target movable with said second object;

(c) moving said first object toward said second object such that said light beam from said first light source remains on said target; and

(d) stopping movement of said first object toward said second object when a light beam from said second light source substantially intersects said target.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising connecting said first object to said second object.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said first object is a towing vehicle and said second object is a trailer.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said towing vehicle is connected to said trailer by hitching components comprising a ball and coupling unit.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein step (a) further comprises positioning said first light source on said first object such that a light beam from said first light source lies in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first object.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein during step (c) said light beam from said first light source moves vertically along the vertical axis of said target.

46. The method of claim 40, wherein said target extends vertically.

47-51. -51. (canceled)