Hitch alignment device and method
First Claim
1. A guide device having two components for aligning first and second engageable hitch members mounted respectively on a vehicle and a trailer, one component includes a first frame mountable on the first engageable member and the second component includes a second frame mountable on the second engageable member;
- the improvement comprising;
strap means connected to the first frame and sized to wrap about the first engageable member to tightly strap the frame against the first engageable member;
a base plate having a substantially planar surface and connected to the first frame for abutting the first engageable member at the substantially planar surface; and
a first adjustable means for mounting the base plate to the first frame for adjustment along a length thereof and for angular adjustment about a longitudinal axis thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hitch alignment device includes two components, one component attached to a first engageable member of a hitch mounted to a car and the second component attached to a second engageable member of the hitch mounted to a trailer. Each component has a rod with a reflector plate removably and adjustably clipped near one end thereof. A base plate is removably clipped near the other end of each rod. Each plate abuts a respective engageable member of the hitch. Each rod has a lock washer attached to one end of a stretchable strap. The stretchable strap has a looped outer end. The strap wraps about the respective engageable member with the looped end thereof positioned at the base plate end of the rod so that the rod extends through the loop to retain the strap in the stretched position. The tension of the strap retains the rod in a fixed position to the engageable member of the hitch. The base plate stabilizes the rod against the engeable member. The rods can be mounted either vertically or horizontally such that reflector plates, when aligned from the driver'"'"'s viewpoint, indicate the two engageable members of the hitch are in a position to be coupled together.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A guide device having two components for aligning first and second engageable hitch members mounted respectively on a vehicle and a trailer, one component includes a first frame mountable on the first engageable member and the second component includes a second frame mountable on the second engageable member;
- the improvement comprising;
strap means connected to the first frame and sized to wrap about the first engageable member to tightly strap the frame against the first engageable member; a base plate having a substantially planar surface and connected to the first frame for abutting the first engageable member at the substantially planar surface; and a first adjustable means for mounting the base plate to the first frame for adjustment along a length thereof and for angular adjustment about a longitudinal axis thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- the improvement comprising;
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10. A guide device having two components for aligning first and second engageable hitch members mounted respectively on a vehicle and a trailer, one component includes a first frame including a rod mountable on the first engageable member and the second component includes a second frame mountable on the second engageable member;
- the improvement comprising;
strap means connected to the first frame and sized to wrap about the first engageable member to tightly strap the frame against the first engageable member, the strap means includes; a washer member with a central aperture through which the rod extends; a strap member with one end attached to the washer member; the other end of the strap member having an aperture through which one end of the rod extends; and
whereby tension exerted by the strap member around the first engageable hitch member locks the washer in place on the rod and fixes the rod to the first engageable hitch member. - View Dependent Claims (11)
- the improvement comprising;
Specification