Optical target system for trailer hitch alignment

• US 5,309,289 A
• Filed: 03/11/1991
• Issued: 05/03/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brady G. Johnson
• Original Assignee: Brady G. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Brady G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAFER, RICKY D
• Application Number:
  US07/667,182
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 359/871, 359/872, 359/881, 359/903, 248/467, 248/474, 248/476, 248/479, 248/495, 248/480, 280/477, 280/432, 33/264
• US Class Current: 359/871
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/903 with magnet

Abstract

An optical target system is provided for facilitating a vehicle operator'"'"'s effecting alignment of the respective hitch assembly components of a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. The system includes first and second targets that are removably positionable in referencing relationship to respective ones of the hitch assembly components and a viewing mirror that is removably positionable on the towed vehicle to provide the vehicle operator positioned in the towing vehicle with a reflected view of the two targets. Each of the two targets includes a longitudinal guidance element that is disposed in alignment with the longitudinal axis of its respective vehicle and a transverse guidance element that is transversely oriented to the respective longitudinal guidance element and located above the hitch assembly component to provide a visual reference to a vertical axis extending through those components.

Claims

1. An optical target system for facilitating an operator'"'"'s maneuvering of a towing vehicle having a hitch assembly component to position that component in cooperative alignment with a hitch assembly component carried on a forwardly extending tongue of a towed vehicle to enable mechanical interconnection of the hitch assembly components, said optical target system comprising

A) a viewing mirror adapted to be supported in a position with respect to the towed vehicle to provide an operator of the towing vehicle with a visual image of the hitch assembly components during maneuvering of the towing vehicle for effecting alignment of the components as seen from a position substantially vertically above the hitch assembly components;

B) a first target positionable with respect to the towed vehicle'"'"'s hitch assembly component and including longitudinal and transverse guidance elements disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and oriented to provide reference to a vertical axis extending through the towed vehicle'"'"'s hitch assembly component; and

C) a second target adapted to be carried on the towing vehicle and including longitudinal and transverse guidance elements disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and oriented to provide a reference to a vertical axis extending through the towing vehicle'"'"'s hitch assembly component, said longitudinal guidance element positionable in a selected relationship to the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle.

2. An optical target system according to claim 1 which includes a support standard having attachment means for detachably securing of said support standard to the towed vehicle in fixed relationship above the towed vehicles tongue, said first target being carried by said support standard.

3. An optical target system according to claim 2 wherein said attachment means includes an elongated channel adapted to cooperatively interfit with a vertically extending jackstand of said towed vehicle and positionable at a selected elevation thereon, and strap means secured to said channel and adapted to encircle the jackstand for detachably clamping of said channel thereto and securing of said support standard at a selected elevation.

4. An optical target system according to claim 2 wherein said support standard includes an elongated bar positionable in parallel relationship to the longitudinal axis of the towed vehicle and having a forward end portion adapted to project forwardly in overlying superposed relationship to the hitch assembly component of the towed vehicle.

5. An optical target system according to claim 4 wherein the forward end portion of said elongated bar forms the longitudinal guidance element of said first target.

6. An optical target system according to claim 5 wherein said first target includes a connector secured to said elongated bar on its forward end portion and carrying the transverse guidance element of said first target.

7. An optical target system according to claim 6 wherein said connector is longitudinally displaceable with respect to said elongated bar to a selected position thereon.

8. An optical target system according to claim 7 wherein said first target'"'"'s transverse guidance element is pivotably secured to said connector for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane.

9. An optical target system according to claim 4 wherein said first target includes a connector secured to said elongated bar on its forward end portion and longitudinally displaceable with respect thereto to a selected position, said first target'"'"'s longitudinal and transverse guidance elements secured to said connector.

10. An optical target system according to claim 9 wherein said first target'"'"'s guidance elements are pivotably secured to said connector for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane.

11. An optical target system according to claim 2 wherein said viewing mirror is mounted on said support standard by a mirror support bracket, said mirror support bracket including an elongated standard adapted to be disposed in upwardly projecting relationship to the towed vehicle'"'"'s tongue and an arm carried at the upper end of said elongated standard in laterally projecting relationship thereto and on which said mirror is mounted, said elongated standard being telescopically adjustable with respect to its longitudinal axis to enable positioning of said mirror at a selected elevation above the towed vehicle'"'"'s tongue.

12. An optical target system according to claim 11 wherein said support standard includes adjustment means selectively adjustable in a horizontal direction to enable positioning of said mirror support bracket at a location where said viewing mirror is disposed substantially vertically above the towed vehicle'"'"'s hitch assembly component.

13. An optical target system according to claim 1 which includes a support standard having attachment means for detachably securing of said support standard to the towed vehicle in fixed relationship above the towed vehicles tongue, said viewing mirror being mounted on said support standard by a mirror support bracket, said mirror support bracket including an elongated standard adapted to be disposed in upwardly projecting relationship to the towed vehicle'"'"'s tongue and an arm carried at the upper end of said elongated standard, said arm projecting a distance laterally outward from said standard with said mirror being mounted on said arm whereby said mirror will be supported a distance above said towed vehicle'"'"'s tongue and at a position with respect to its hitch assembly component whereby that component will be imaged in said mirror for viewing by the operator of the towing vehicle.

14. An optical target system according to claim 13 wherein said elongated standard is telescopically adjustable with respect to its longitudinal axis to enable positioning of said mirror at a selected elevation above the towed vehicle'"'"'s tongue.

15. An optical target system according to claim 13 which includes horizontal adjustment means enabling selective displacement of said mirror along the longitudinal axis of the towed vehicle to a selected position with respect to its hitch assembly component.

16. An optical target system according to claim 13 wherein said mirror is mounted on said arm to be supported in a position with its effective optical reflecting surface disposed in a plane angularly oriented to both vertical and horizontal planes.

17. An optical target system according to claim 16 wherein said mirror is mounted on said arm by pivot means enabling rotation about a substantially vertical axis.

18. An optical target system according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal and transverse guidance elements of each of said first and second targets are elongated elements having flat upwardly facing surfaces of predetermined widths.

19. An optical target system according to claim 18 wherein said first target'"'"'s transverse guidance element is shorter than said second target'"'"'s transverse guidance element.

20. An optical target system according to claim 18 wherein said guidance elements are formed with their upwardly facing surfaces having enhanced optical reflectivity.

21. An optical target system according to claim 1 wherein said second target includes mounting means for removably securing it in operative relationship to the towing vehicle'"'"'s hitch assembly component.

22. An optical target system according to claim 21 wherein said mounting means includes vehicle interconnection means carried by said second target'"'"'s longitudinal guidance element adjacent one end thereof, said interconnection means adapted to detachably engage with the component of the towing vehicle.

23. An optical target system according to claim 22 wherein said interconnection means is a magnet.

24. An optical target system according to claim 21 wherein said second target'"'"'s longitudinal guidance element is adapted to be disposed in superposed, vertically supported relationship on top of the towing vehicle'"'"'s hitch assembly component, said second target including stabilizing means mechanically engageable with said hitch assembly component to aid in maintaining said second target in its superposed position with respect thereto.

25. An optical target system according to claim 21 wherein said second target includes a connector mechanically securing together said second target'"'"'s longitudinal and transverse guidance elements, said connector slideably engaged with said second target'"'"'s longitudinal guidance element enabling displacement therealong to a selected axial position.

26. An optical target system according to claim 25 wherein said second target'"'"'s connector includes a pair of downwardly projecting legs at respective sides for receiving a portion of the towing vehicle'"'"'s hitch assembly component therebetween in mechanically coupled relationship.

27. An optical target system according to claim 25 wherein said second target'"'"'s transverse guidance element is pivotally mounted on said second target'"'"'s connector for rotation between positions longitudinally aligned with and transversely oriented to said second target'"'"'s longitudinal guidance element.

28. An optical target system according to claim 1 which includes a support standard having attachment means for detachably securing of said support standard to the towed vehicle in fixed relationship above the towed vehicle'"'"'s tongue, and wherein

said first target is carried by said support standard,

said viewing mirror is mounted on said support standard by a mirror support bracket, said mirror support bracket including an elongated standard adapted to be disposed in upwardly projecting relationship to the towed vehicle'"'"'s tongue and an arm carried at the upper end of said elongated standard, said arm projecting a distance laterally outward from said standard with said mirror being mounted on said arm whereby said mirror will be supported a distance above said towed vehicle'"'"'s tongue and at a position with respect to its hitch assembly component whereby that component will be imaged in said mirror for viewing by the operator of the towing vehicle,

said longitudinal and transverse guidance elements of each of said first and second targets are elongated elements having flat upwardly facing surfaces of predetermined widths, and

said second target includes mounting means for removably securing it in operative relationship to the towing vehicle'"'"'s assembly component.

29. In combination with a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle each having respective components of a hitch assembly that are mechanically interengageable for detachably coupling said vehicles together;

an optical target system for facilitating an operator'"'"'s maneuvering of said towing vehicle to position its hitch assembly component in cooperative alignment with the hitch assembly component of said towed vehicle to enable mechanical interconnection of said components, said optical target system including

A) a viewing mirror adapted to be supported in a position with respect to said towed vehicle to provide an operator of said towing vehicle with a visual image of said hitch assembly components during maneuvering of said towing vehicle for effecting alignment of said components as seen from a position above said hitch assembly components;

B) a first target positionable with respect to said towed vehicle'"'"'s hitch assembly component and including longitudinal and transverse guidance elements disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and oriented to provide reference to a vertical axis extending through said towed vehicle'"'"'s hitch assembly component; and

C) a second target adapted to be carried on said towing vehicle and including longitudinal and transverse guidance elements disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and oriented to provide a reference to a vertical axis extending through said towing vehicle'"'"'s hitch assembly component, said longitudinal guidance element positionable in a selected relationship to the longitudinal axis of said towing vehicle.