Trailer hitch alignment device

• US 5,558,352 A
• Filed: 03/01/1995
• Issued: 09/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malcolm L. Mills
• Original Assignee: Malcolm L. Mills
• Inventors: Mills, Malcolm L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HURLEY, KEVIN
• Application Number:
  US08/396,565
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 280/432, 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

A trailer hitch alignment device which allows the driver of a vehicle to align the hitch of the driven vehicle with that of its trailer with no aid from another individual. The invention utilizes two masts having acrylic flags attached thereto mounted upon the hitch components of the respective vehicles to provide visual reference points for the driver. The acrylic flags are bright in color which allow them to be sufficiently illuminated by the reverse lights of the towing vehicle during times of darkness, thereby making night-time hitch alignment possible. Each mast is mounted to a hitch component via a dome-shaped base having several magnets underneath. The magnets provide the attraction force necessary to mount the masts to the hitch components and the shape of the mounting bases provide the bases with the ability to mounted upon virtually any hitch configuration. The mountings are further secured through the use of velcro-type straps which extend from the mounting bases to the hitch components. This enhances stability and, therefore, performance, of the invention when alignment is required over rough terrain or high winds. The invention further has a swing arm offset bracket to allow for the mounting of the masts on towing vehicles having spare tires mounted on their rear.

Claims

1. A trailer hitch alignment/coupling device comprising:

a) a first mast assembly for attachment to a trailer hitch of a towed vehicle comprising;

1) a first mast having a first and second end,

2) a securing means for securing said first mast to the hitch of a trailer, said securing means comprising;

A) a base portion being substantially domed in shape and having at least one magnet fixably attached to a concave side of said base portion such that, when secured to said hitch, said at least one magnet contacts said hitch, thereby securing said base portion to said hitch, said first end of said mast removably attached to a convex side of said base portion, and,

B) a hook and loop strap attached to said base portion, said strap extending from said base portion to said trailer hitch, said hook and loop strap for further securing said base portion to said trailer hitch, and,

3) at least one rigid flag fixably attached proximate to said second end of said mast;

b) a second mast assembly for attachment to a trailer hitch of a towing vehicle comprising;

1) a second mast having a first and second end,

2) a securing means for securing said second mast to the trailer hitch of a towing vehicle, said securing means comprising;

A) a base portion comprised of a first and a second part, said first part comprised of a substantially domed member and at least one magnet fixably attached to a concave side of said domed member such that, when secured to said hitch, said at least one magnet contacts said hitch, thereby securing said base portion to said hitch, said second part comprised of a substantially C-shaped member, said first end of said second mast being removably attached to an upper portion of said substantially C-shaped member, said substantially C-shaped member fixably attached to a convex portion of said first part, and,

B) a hook and loop strap attached to said base portion, said strap extendable from said base portion to said trailer hitch when in use, said hook and loop strap for further securing said base portion to said trailer hitch, and,

3) at least one rigid flag fixably attached proximate to said second end of said mast;

c) at least one speaker means for generating an audible signal; and

,

d) at least one sensor means in operative communication with said at least one speaker means and further in operative communication with at least one of said first and second mast assemblies, said at least one sensor means for activating said at least one speaker means when alignment of said first and second mast assembly is achieved.

2. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said first and said second mast are each comprised of at least two interlocking detachable sections.

3. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 1 further including an illumination means for enabling said first and said second mast to be visible during periods of darkness.

4. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 3 wherein said illumination means includes:

a) at least two lights, at least one of said at least two lights located proximate to each of said flags; and

,

b) a wiring means in operative communication with each of said at least two lights.

5. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 3 wherein said illumination means includes:

a) at least two lights, at least one of said at least two lights located proximate to each of said flags; and

,

b) a wiring means in operative communication with at least one electrical battery and further in operative communication with each of said at least two lights, said wiring means transporting power from said at least one electrical battery to each of said at least two lights, thereby illuminating each of said at least two lights.

6. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 3 wherein said illumination means includes:

a) at least one light located within each of said first and second masts, said first and second mast being at least partially transparent; and

,

b) a wiring means in operative communication with said at least one light.

7. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 3 wherein said illumination means includes:

a) at least one light located within each of said first and second masts, said first and second mast being at least partially transparent; and

,

b) a wiring means in operative communication with at least one electrical battery and further in operative communication with said at least one light, said wiring means transporting power from said at least one electrical battery to each of said at least one light, thereby illuminating said at least one light.

8. A trailer hitch alignment/coupling device comprising:

a) a first mast assembly for attachment to a trailer hitch of a towed vehicle comprising;

1) a first mast having a first and second end,

2) a securing means for securing said first mast to said hitch of said towed vehicle, said securing means comprising;

A) a base portion being substantially domed in shape and having at least one magnet fixably attached to a concave side of said base portion such that, when secured to said hitch, said at least one magnet contacts said hitch, thereby securing said base portion to said hitch, said first end of said mast removably attached to a convex side of said base portion, and,

B) at least one strap attached to said base portion, said strap extending from said base portion to said trailer hitch, said strap for further securing said base portion to said trailer hitch, and,

C) at least one rigid flag fixably attached proximate to said second end of said first mast; and

,

b) a second mast assembly for attachment to a trailer hitch of a towing vehicle comprising;

1) a second mast having a first and second end,

2) a securing means for securing said second mast to the trailer hitch of a towing vehicle, said securing means comprising;

A) a base portion comprised of a first and a second part, said first part comprised of a substantially domed member and at least one magnet fixably attached to a concave side of said domed member such that, when secured to said hitch, said at least one magnet contact said hitch, thereby securing said base portion to said hitch, said second part comprised of a substantially C-shaped member, said C-shaped member being fixably attached to a convex portion of said first part, and,

B) a strap attached to said first part of said base portion, said strap extendable from said base portion to said trailer hitch when in use, said strap for further securing said base portion to said trailer hitch, and,

3) at least one rigid flag fixably attached proximate to said second end of said second mast;

c) at least one speaker means for generating an audible signal; and

,

d) at least one sensor means in operative communication with said at least one speaker means and further in operative communication with at least one of said first and second mast assemblies, said at least one sensor means for activating said at least one speaker means when alignment of said first and second mast assembly is achieved.

9. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 8 wherein said first end of said second mast is removably attached to an upper portion of said substantially C-shaped member.

10. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 8 wherein an offset member is removably attached to an upper portion of said substantially C-shaped member, said offset member having three parts:

a) a center part being substantially parallel in orientation to said first mast when said offset member is attached to said upper portion of said substantially C-shaped member;

b) a lower part connected at one end of said center part, said lower part removably attached to an upper portion of said substantially C-shaped member; and

,

c) an upper part connected at a second end of said center part, said upper part extending from said center part in the opposite direction of said lower part, said second end of said second mast being removably attached to an upper portion of said upper part.

11. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 8 wherein each of said rigid flags is fluorescent so as to allow illumination of said flags by the reverse lights of a towing vehicle during times of darkness.

12. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 8 wherein each of said straps is a hook and loop type.

13. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 8 wherein said first and second masts are each comprised of at least two interlocking detachable sections.

14. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 8 further including an illumination means for illuminating said first and second mast during periods of darkness.

15. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 14 wherein said illumination means includes:

a) at least two lights, at least one of said at least two lights located proximate to each of said flags; and

,

b) a wiring means in operative communication with each of said at least two lights.

16. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 14 wherein said illumination means is comprised of:

a) at least two lights, at least one of said at least two lights located proximate to each of said flags; and

,

b) a wiring means in operative communication with at least one electrical battery and further in operative communication with each of said at least two lights, said wiring means transporting power from said at least one electrical battery to each of said at least two lights, thereby illuminating each of said at least two lights.

17. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 14 wherein said illumination means includes:

a) at least one light located within each of said first and second masts, said first and second mast being at least partially transparent; and

,

b) a wiring means in operative communication with said at least one light.

18. The trailer hitch alignment/coupling device according to claim 14 wherein said illumination means includes:

a) at least one light located within each of said first and second masts, said first and second mast being at least partially transparent; and

,

b) a wiring means in operative communication with at least one electrical battery and further in operative communication with said at least one light, said wiring means transporting power from said at least one electrical battery to each of said at least one light.