Trailer hitch alignment guide

• US 5,269,554 A
• Filed: 04/27/1992
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Benjamin J. Law, Harry W. Law
• Original Assignee: Benjamin J. Law, Harry W. Law
• Inventors: Law, Harry W., Law, Benjamin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US07/874,520
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 33/264, 33/286, 33/288
• 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

An alignment guide includes a plurality of guide assemblies, one of which is mounted to a trailer hitch ball and the other mounted to a trailer tongue, wherein the guides each include telescoping vertical leg members for alignment and communication relative to one another for the positioning of a trailer hitch tongue relative to an associated trailer ball.

Claims

1. A trailer hitch alignment guide apparatus for aligning a trailer socket of a trailer tongue to a towing vehicle ball, wherein the apparatus comprises,

a first guide assembly arranged for securement to the ball, wherein the first guide assembly includes a cylindrical clamp ring arranged for securement about the ball, the cylindrical clamp ring having a first support lug mounted to an exterior surface of the clamp ring, and the first support lug having a first support base lower end portion mounted adjacent to the first support lug, the first support base lower end portion including a first spring coupling and a first support base upper end portion, with the first support base upper end portion, the first support base lower end portion, and the first spring coupling coaxially aligned relative to one another, and

at least a first support base first leg telescopically received relative to the first support base upper end portion coaxially aligned relative to the first support base upper end portion extending upwardly thereof, and

the second guide assembly arranged for securement about the trailer tongue, including a U-shaped clamp, the U-shaped clamp having a second support lug mounted exteriorly of the U-shaped clamp, the second support lug including a second support base lower end portion arranged for securement to the second support lug extending upwardly thereof, and the second support base lower end portion including a second support base upper end portion and a second spring coupling interposed between the second support base lower end portion and the second support base upper end portion to coaxially align the second support base upper end portion relative to the support base lower end portion, and

at least a second support base first leg telescopically received within the second support base upper end portion and coaxially aligned relative to the second support base upper end portion, and

the first support base first leg telescopically receives a first support base second leg, and the first support base second leg telescopically receives a second support base third leg, the second support base first leg telescopingly receives a second support base second leg, the second support base second leg telescopingly receives a second support base third leg, and

the first support lug includes a first support lug bore directed therethrough, and a first spherical base having a first support lug boss fixedly mounted thereto radially aligned with the first spherical base, and a first spherical base threaded rod coaxially aligned with the first support lug boss on a diametrically opposed side of the first spherical base, with the first spherical base threaded rod arranged through the first support lug bore, and a counter-weight positioned below the first support lug, the counter-weight having a counter-weight bore fixedly receiving the first spherical base threaded rod therewithin, and the first support base lower end portion having a tubular cavity receiving the first support lug boss therewithin, and

the second support lug includes a second support lug boss, the second support lug boss having a second spherical base mounted to an upper distal end of the second support lug boss, and the second support base lower end portion having a cylindrical receiving cup, and the cylindrical receiving cup coaxially aligned with the second support base lower end portion for receiving the second spherical base therewithin, and a receiving cup fastener directed through the cylindrical receiving cup for fixedly securing adjustably the cylindrical receiving cup relative to the second spherical base.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the U-shaped clamp includes at least one first bore and at least one second bore, wherein the first bore and the second bore are coaxially aligned, and the first bore receives a first fastener, the second bore receives a second fastener for engagement with the trailer tongue, and the second support lug boss is orthogonally oriented relative to the first bore and the second bore.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including an elongate spirit level, the elongate spirit level including a spirit level base positioned below the spirit level, and the spirit level base including a base mounting tube orthogonally oriented relative to the elongate spirit level, the base mounting tube arranged for selectively receiving the second support base third leg and the first support base third leg therewithin for vertical adjusting and alignment of the second support base third leg and the first support base third leg to orient the second support base third leg and the first support base third leg in a parallel relationship.