Trailer and towing vehicle coupler guide

• US 3,918,746 A
• Filed: 11/15/1974
• Issued: 11/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lauri Lehtisaari
• Original Assignee: Lauri Lehtisaari
• Inventors: Lehtisaari, Lauri
• Primary Examiner(s): Friaglia, Leo
• Application Number:
  US05/524,215
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477 33/264
• 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: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00

Abstract

This device consists primarily of a height adjustable post threadably carried on the trailer hitch, the upper portion of the post having a red and green color so as to be sighted by the driver through the rear window, with a V-shaped rod portion which is also adjustable in height. The V-shaped rod being adjustable within a sleeve threaded to the towing vehicle adjacent to the ball that is to be aligned with the socket portion of the trailer hitch.

Claims

1. A trailer and towing vehicle coupling facilitating guide comprising an elongated first sleeve means adapted to be secured to the trailer hitch portion at one end and slidably adjustably receiving an elongated sighting post means to protrude from its other end, a second elongated sleeve means adapted to be secured to the towing vehicle at one end and slidably adjustably receiving a sighting rod means to protrude from its other end, said rod means having a V-shaped upper end portion for sighting the upper end of said post means, each said first and second sleeve means provided with thumb screw means for securing the respective lower ends of said post means and rod means, said post means having a bright color coating at its upper extremity followed by a contrasting bright color coating therebelow to enable easy sighting of said post means within the confines of the apex of the V-shaped end portion of said rod means, said first sleeve means and mating lower portion of said post means adapted to extend vertically relative to the trailer, the upper portion of said post means including a horizontal portion adapted to extend forwardly relative to the trailer hitch to a position directly above the trailer hitch coupling and a vertical portion connected to the forward end of said horizontal portion and positionable to be in vertical alignment with said trailer hitch coupling, said second sleeve means and mating lower portion of said rod means adapted to extend vertically relative to the towing vehicle from a position adjacent but forwardly of the towing vehicle coupler, the V-shaped upper end portion of said second sleeve means being bent at an angle so as to be orientable to extend upwardly and rearwardly above said towing vehicle coupler in a position to receive the colored upper end portion of said post means within the confines of the apex of said V-shaped end of the rod means.