Trailer hitch alignment device

• US 5,180,182 A
• Filed: 08/26/1991
• Issued: 01/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James R. Haworth
• Original Assignee: James R. Haworth
• Inventors: Haworth, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATTIX, CARLA
• Application Number:
  US07/749,985
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 359/841, 359/843, 359/844, 359/872, 359/871, 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: B60R 1/003 for viewing trailer hitches

Abstract

The trailer hitch alignment device includes a base member upon which a convex mirror is fixed. Two side members are hingedly attached to opposing edges of the base member so as to fold in sequence across the mirror in the closed position or to expose the mirror in the open position. The side members each have an angled slot, formed in the edge opposing the hinged edge. With the side members in the opened position, the angled slots are aligned to readily engage the top edge of a closed towing vehicle tailgate so as to support the base member and mirror in a position enabling observation from the driver'"'"'s position of the relative movement of the towing hitch to the coupling of the towed vehicle. In the open position, the side members will open through an obtuse angle to a position limited by a stop formed on the hinge edge of the side members.

Claims

1. A trailer hitch alignment device, comprising:

a. a base member, having a first side edge and an opposing second side edge;

b. a mirror surface formed on said base member;

c. a first side member, having a hinge edge;

d. means for pivotally attaching the hinge edge of said first side member to said first edge of said base member to permit rotational movement of said first side member between a closed position proximate said mirror surface and an open position at an angle from said base member;

e. said first side member having a slot formed in an edge opposing said hinge edge of said first side member;

f. a second side member, having a hinge edge;

g. means for pivotally attaching the hinge edge of said second side member to said second edge of said base member to permit rotational movement of said second side member between a closed position adjacent to said first side member in a closed position and an open position at an angle from said base member;

h. said second side member having a slot formed in an edge opposing said hinge edge of said second side member, said slot being substantially a reflection of said slot formed in said first side member;

i. said slots formed in said first and second side members being aligned, in the open position, to permit ready engagement of a vehicular tailgate member along a top edge thereof, and being disposed at an angle relative to said hinge edge so as to support the trailer hitch alignment device in a top-forward position oriented to permit a driver to observe, by means of said mirror surface, the relative alignment of a hitch ball to a coupling of a towed vehicle.

2. The trailer hitch alignment device, as recited in claim 1, wherein

a. said mirror surface formed upon said base member is convex in shape;

b. said first side member has an inner surface formed in a concave shape so as to embrace without contact the curvature of said convex mirror surface when said first side member is in said closed position.

3. The trailer hitch alignment device, as recited in claim 2, wherein:

a. said first side member has an outer surface, opposing said inner surface, which is formed in a convex shape, said first side member being of substantially uniform thickness;

b. said second side member has an inner surface formed in a concave shape so as to lay adjacent to said first side member when said first and second side members are both in said closed position.

4. The trailer hitch alignment device, as recited in claim 1, wherein the angle between said first side member and said base member and the angle between said second side member and said base member are obtuse and substantially equal.

5. The trailer hitch alignment device, as recited in claim 4, wherein said obtuse angle between said first side member and said base member, and between said second side member and said base member is within a range of 100- to 105-degrees.

6. The trailer hitch alignment device, as recited in claim 1, wherein the angle of the slots relative to said hinge edges of said first side member and said second side member is within a range of forty-five to sixty degrees.

7. The trailer hitch alignment device, as recited in claim 6, wherein the angle of the slots relative to said hinge edges of said first side member and second side member is approximately fifty degrees.

8. The trailer hitch alignment device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said convex mirror surface has a diameter of approximately 9-inches and a crown height of approximately 3/8-inch.

9. The trailer hitch alignment device, as recited in claim 1, wherein additionally there are means of limiting the extent of rotational movement of the first side member and the second side member to the open position.

10. The trailer hitch alignment device, as recited in claim 9, wherein the means for limiting the extent of rotational movement of the first side member and the second side member to the open position includes a stop in the form of a protrusion lying along said hinge edges of said first and second side members, which is formed to abut, in the open position, beneath said first and second edges of said base member, respectively, so as to preclude further outward rotation.