Trailer hitch visual alignment device

• US 4,285,138 A
• Filed: 03/13/1980
• Issued: 08/25/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James L. Berry
• Original Assignee: James L. Berry
• Inventors: Berry, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Application Number:
  US06/130,139
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 33/264, 33/265, 33/347, 33/372, 33/373, 280/477
• US Class Current: 33/264
• 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: G01B 5/25 for testing the alignment of axes

Abstract

The disclosure herein in directed to aligning devices for aligning a towing vehicle with a trailer wherein the towing vehicle has a ball and the trailer vehicle a socket carrying arm. A pair of magnetic bases having vertically positionable wands are placed one on the towing vehicle and one on the trailer. Each wand has an elastic gromet slidable along its length for retaining a signal flag on its upper side and to permit passage between the wand and the gromet of a plumb line. There are two plumb lines and two plumb bobs which when the lines are vertical and the two plumb bobs positioned immediately above the ball and the trailer socket, the alignment flags will be horizontal so that when the vehicle is backed toward the trailer unit the flags cross then hookup can be effectuated.

Claims

1. For use with a ball carrying hitch arm secured to the rear of a towing vehicle centrally thereof and a trailer having a socket carrying arm to arrange a hookup coupling between said ball and said socket;

a trailer hitch visual alignment device comprising

(a) a pair of magnetic bases one of which is attachable to the body of the towing vehicle and the other of which is attachable to the socket carrying arm of the trailer,

(b) alignment wands carried by said magnetic bases,

(c) a elastic gromet on each alignment wand,

(d) a pair of alignment flags each having a foot extending off its base and adapted to be retained between said elastic gromet and each wand,

(e) and a plumb line having a plumb bob carried by at least one of said wands and being adjustable through the contact point of the gromet and wand until the line is plumb over the towing ball whereby upon backing the towing vehicle toward the trailer when the alignment flags cross the hitch between the ball on the hitch arm and socket on the trailer arm may be coupled for towing the trailer.

2. A trailer hitch visual alignment device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each alignment wand is adjustably secured to its magnetic base through a minimum arc of 90°

.

3. A trailer hitch visual alignment device as claimed in claim 2 wherein two plumb lines and plumb bobs are employed, the lines being passed through the elastic gromets until the plumb bobs are positioned one above the towing ball and the other above the towing socket.

4. For use with a ball carrying hitch arm secured to the rear of a towing vehicle centrally thereof and a trailer having a socket carrying arm to arrange a hookup coupling between said ball and said socket;

a trailer hitch visual alignment device comprising

(a) a pair of magnetic bases one of which is attachable to the body of the towing vehicle and the other of which is attachable to the socket carrying arm of the trailer,

(b) alignment wands carried by each of said magnetic bases and being adjustably secured to its respective base through a minimum arc of 90°

,

(c) an elastic gromet on each alignment wand and being slidable along the length thereof,

(d) a pair of alignment flags, one for each wand and having a foot extending off its base and being adapted to be retained between said elastic gromet and said wands,

(e) and a pair of plumb lines each having a plumb bob at one end, said plumb lines being adapted to be passed through the elastic gromet between the wand and gromet until the plumb bobs are positioned one above the towing ball and the other above the towing socket when the plumb lines pass between the elastic gromet and alignment wand opposite said alignment flags.