Trailer hitch lamp guide

• US 4,552,376 A
• Filed: 11/16/1983
• Issued: 11/12/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cofer, Archie
• Original Assignee: Cofer, Archie
• Inventors: Cofer, Archie
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Watts, Charles R.
• Application Number:
  US06/552,523
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 33/264, 33/286, 362/61, 362/80, 362/82
• 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

Abstract

A trailer hitch guide for assisting the operator of a towing vehicle in positioning the trailer hitch components in cooperative coupling relation includes a translucent light beam receiving target member mounted on the towing vehicle for interrupting light beams from a lamp mounted on the trailer tongue. The position of focused lamp rays on a preselected portion of the target member indicates to the operator when the hitch components are in cooperative coupling position.

Claims

1. A trailer hitch coupling guide enabling the driver of a towing vehicle having a central longitudinal axis, to position the hitch component on the towing vehicle in cooperative coupling relation with the companion hitch component on a forwardly projecting trailer tongue, comprising:

target means including an upright translucent panel mounted on the rearward end portion of the towing vehicle;

signal means including a lamp emitting converging light rays; and

,

means supporting said lamp on the trailer tongue for directing the light rays in an upward and forwardly inclined direction in a vertical plane aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the trailer tongue for illuminating predetermined portions of the target means in accordance with the position and proximity of the towing vehicle relative to the companion hitch component.

2. The trailer hitch guide according to claim 1 in which the target means panel is longitudinally aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle, said panel having upwardly converging upper end surfaces forming a driver'"'"'s guide for backing the towing vehicle toward the forward center of a trailer.

3. The trailer hitch guide according to claim 2 in which said panel is characterized by a target area intermediate its ends indicating, when illuminated by the converging light rays, a vertically superposed position of the hitch components.

4. The trailer hitch guide according to claim 2 in which said target means further includes:

a base member supporting said panel for vertical pivoting movement of the latter toward and away from a stored position in the base; and

,

a lid for closing the base member.

5. The trailer hitch guide according to claim 3 in which said supporting means includes:

upstanding bracket means vertically adjustably connected with the trailer tongue in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the trailer tongue,

said bracket means including an upward and forwardly inclined platform underlying said lamp.