Isomorphic trailer hitch alignment guide device

• US 5,113,588 A
• Filed: 12/26/1991
• Issued: 05/19/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bob Walston, Charles Walters
• Original Assignee: Bob Walston, Charles Walters
• Inventors: Walston, Bob E.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAROIAN, HARRY
• Application Number:
  US07/813,486
• Time in Patent Office: 145 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 33/263, 33/264, 33/241, 33/242, 33/243, 33/297, 33/233, 33/234, 33/286, 33/252
• 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

Abstract

A trailer hitch alignment guide device, for a ball and socket hitch, wherein the guides can be mounted either to the rear or side, wherein the sighting elements on the guides are visually emblematic of the coupling elements, where one sighting element is isomorphic of the hitch ball and the other sighting element is isomorphic of the socket, and where the sighting elements are scribed with lines which visually amplify deviations from alignment.

Claims

1. A device for facilitating the alignment and subsequent coupling of a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle, wherein the towing vehicle is equipped with a hitch having a hitch ball, and the towed vehicle is equipped with a tongue having a socket, wherein said device consists of:

a) a ball guide having a mounting base, an extension rod, and a male sighting element that is emblematic of a hitch ball;

wherein said mounting base has a fastening means for attaching the ball guide to the towing vehicle, and a pivoting-locking means for seating the extension rod and setting an angle of projection of the same;

wherein said extension rod has a telescoping-rotating-locking means, which enables the extension rod, which is affixed to the mounting base, to be extended to a desired length, rotated such that the male sighting element is clearly visible to a driver, and locked in position;

wherein said male sighting element, which is a fitted on the end of the extension rod, has crossing lines on a frontal portion of the sighting element, wherein said crossing lines act as a visual amplification of deviations from alignment;

b) a socket guide having a mounting base, an extension rod, and a female sighting element that is emblematic of a socket;

wherein said mounting base has a fastening means for attaching the socket guide to the towed vehicle, and a pivoting-locking means for seating the extension rod and setting an angle of projection of the same;

wherein said extension rod has a telescoping-rotating-locking means, which enables the extension rod, which is affixed to the mounting base, to be extended to a desired length, rotated such that when the hitch ball of the towing vehicle is aligned with the socket of the towed vehicle, the female sighting element is substantially overlaid and aligned with the male sighting element;

wherein said female sighting element, which is a fitted on the end of the extension rod, has crossing lines on a frontal portion of the sighting element, wherein said crossing lines, which are substantially co-extensive with the crossing lines on the male sighting element, act as a visual amplification of deviations from alignment.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said male sighting element is disk shaped having crossing lines, wherein said crossing lines are comprised of vertical, horizontal and oblique crossing lines which converge on an epicenter of the disk.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said female sighting element is toroid shaped having crossing lines and a pair of parametric lines, wherein said crossing lines are comprised of vertical, horizontal and oblique crossing lines which are co-extensions of the crossing lines on the male sighting element, and wherein said pair of parametric lines consist of an inner and an outer ring scribed on the frontal potion of the female sighting element, wherein said inner and outer rings define an area on the toroid which is a region of alignment, wherein, when the male sighting element is within this region of alignment, the hitch ball is aligned with the socket in all planes,

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting base having a fastening means, for both the ball guide and the socket guide, where the fastening means is a base plate fitted with a magnet.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extension rod having a telescoping-rotating-locking means, for both the ball guide and the socket guide, is two or more tubes within tubes which can be set at a fixed length and fixed rotation with a thumb set screw.