SINGLE CAMERA APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ALIGNMENT OF A TRAILER HITCH

• US 20070216136A1
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dan L. Dietz
• Original Assignee: Dan L. Dietz
• Inventors: Dietz, Dan L.
• Application Number:
  US11/308,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20070216136A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/477
• 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 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/003 for viewing trailer hitches

Abstract

A system for facilitating the backing of a vehicle to couple a hitch and trailer, the system including a camera and a mirror for allowing capture of visual images of both the approaching vehicle and the trailer tongue, to assist in backing the vehicle and making the coupling.

Claims

1. A camera system comprising:

A storage and mounting container;

A mounting member affixed to the container;

A camera boom positioned within the box and adapted to slide in and out of the box;

A camera affixed to the boom; and

A monitor removably positioned within the box;

Wherein during operation of the system the camera and monitor are in communication.

2. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the boom is biased against movement.

3. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the boom is magnetically biased against movement.

4. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the boom is rotationally movable.

5. The camera system of claim 1, the mounting member is movably affixed to the container.

6. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising a light.

7. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the boom is magnetically biased against movement, and wherein the boom is rotationally movable.

9. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the boom is biased against movement.

10. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the boom is magnetically biased against movement.

11. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the boom is rotationally movable.

12. The camera system of claim 1, the mounting member is movably affixed to the container.

13. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising a light.

14. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the boom is magnetically biased against movement, and wherein the boom is rotationally movable.

8. A system for backing a vehicle having a trailer hitch to a trailer, the sytem comprising:

A storage and mounting container;

A mounting member affixed to the container and adapted for mounting the container to the vehicle;

A camera boom positioned within the box and adapted to slide in and out of the box;

A camera affixed to the boom, wherein the boom may be operated to position the camera in a position to view the trailer hitch during backing; and

A monitor removably positioned within the box and adapted to be viewed by an operator of the vehicle during backing; and

Wherein during backing the camera and monitor are in communication.

17. The camera system of claim 8, wherein the first position and the second position are 90 degrees apart.

15. A method of backing a vehicle using a camera system comprising a storage boom positioned within the box and adapted to slide in and out of the container;

a camera affixed to the boom; and

a monitor removably positioned within the box, the method comprising;

mounting the container to the vehicle using the mounting member;

operating the boom to position the camera as desired;

removing the monitor from the container and positioning it as desired; and

,

operating the camera system during vehicle backing to capture images with the camera and transmit the images to the monitor.

16. A camera system comprising:

A camera boom;

A camera affixed to the boom; and

A magnetic mounting member;

Wherein the boom is swivelably mounted to the mounting member and swivelably positionable between a first position and a second position.

18. A camera system comprising:

A camera with a lens defining a field of view;

A mirror positioned in a portion of the field of view, wherein said portion is less than the entire field of view.