Vehicle alignment device

• US 5,669,621 A
• Filed: 11/22/1993
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Van Lockwood
• Original Assignee: Van Lockwood
• Inventors: Lockwood, Van
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US08/155,645
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 116/28 R, 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

Abstract

A device for facilitating the alignment of a trailer hitch socket with the ball mounted on the towing vehicle is composed of a fixed sight member, a pivoting sight member, and a stop plate. The pivoting sight member mounts on the edges of the trailer tongue and extends vertically upward to the point which it is visible from the towing vehicle. The fixed sight member is magnetically attached to the towing vehicle and mounted adjacent the towing ball on the trailer hitch. The fixed sight member extends vertically upward to a height at which it is visible from within the towing vehicle. As the vehicle backs up toward the trailer, the driver can see the two sight members and steer such that they will come closer and closer together. When the socket is directly over the ball the pivoting sight member is actuated and signals the driver that alignment is achieved. The stop brace prevents the towing vehicle from colliding with the trailer hitch.

Claims

1. A trailer-towing vehicle-trailer hitch alignment device for aligning a ball of a towing vehicle with a socket defined in a tongue of a trailer, comprising:

(a) a fixed sight member having means for removably attaching said fixed sight member to a rear portion of a towing vehicle in a vertical position;

(b) a stop brace having means for removably and adjustably attaching said stop brace to trailer tongue, whereby said stop brace can be positioned such that when a towing vehicle ball is moved towards said trailer tongue, said stop brace contacts said towing vehicle ball before said trailer tongue contacts said towing vehicle; and

(c) a pivoting sight member having a lower portion that extends below said trailer tongue and having means for pivotally mounting said pivoting sight member to said trailer tongue whereby said pivoting sight member remains in a vertical position when undisturbed and pivots when said towing vehicle ball moves into vertical alignment with a trailer tongue socket and contacts said lower portion of said pivoting sight member.

2. A trailer-towing vehicle-trailer hitch alignment device for aligning a ball of a towing vehicle with a socket defined in a tongue of a trailer, comprising:

(a) a pivoting sight member having a lower portion that extends below a trailer tongue and having means for pivotally mounting said pivoting sight member to said trailer tongue whereby said lower portion of said pivoting sight member is vertically aligned with a trailer tongue socket;

(b) A weighted member, removably attached to said lower portion of said pivoting sight member, having enough weight whereby said pivoting sight member remains in a vertical postion when undisturbed and pivots when a towing vehicle ball moves into alignment with a vertical centerline of said trailer tongue socket and contacts said lower portion of said pivoting sight member;

(c) A fixed sight member having means for removably attaching said fixed sight member to a rear portion of said towing vehicle in a vertical position; and

(d) a stop brace having means for removably attaching said brace to an underside of said trailer tongue and having means for adjusting a position of said stop brace relative to a horizontal centerline of said trailer tongue whereby when said towing vehicle ball moves towards said trailer tongue said stop brace contacts said towing vehicle ball before said trailer tongue contacts said towing vehicle.

3. A trailer-towing vehicle-trailer hitch alignment device for aligning a ball of a towing vehicle with a socket defined in a tongue of a trailer, comprising:

(a) a fixed sight member having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion having a contoured terminal end;

(b) at least two fixed sight member mounting brackets, said fixed sight member mounting brackets having first terminal ends with means for slidably attaching said first terminal ends to said fixed sight member and second terminal ends with means for removably attaching said second terminal ends to a rear surface of said towing vehicle;

(c) a pivoting sight member having a lower portion extending below said trailer tongue and having means for pivotally mounting said pivoting sight member to a trailer tongue whereby said lower portion is in vertical alignment with a trailer tongue socket;

(d) a weighted member, removably attached to said lower portion of said pivoting sight member, having enough weight whereby said pivoting sight member remains in a vertical postion when undisturbed and pivots when a towing vehicle ball moves into vertical alignment with a trailer tongue socket and contacts said lower portion of said pivoting sight member; and

(e) an adjustable stop brace having means for removably attaching said stop brace to a underside of said trailer tongue and having means for adjusting horizontally a postion of said stop brace relative to said trailer tongue and having two stop bars attached to an underside of said stop brace, said stop bars extending at an acute angle below said stop brace such that when said towing vehicle ball is moved towards said trailer tongue, said stop bars contact said towing vehicle ball before said trailer tongue contacts said towing vehicle.

4. A trailer-towing vehicle-trailer hitch alignment device as recited in claim 3 wherein the pivoting sight member comprises:

(a) a staff member having an eyelet at one end;

(b) two L-shaped pivot members, said L-shaped members having an eyelet at one end and a fulcrum at an opposite end;

(c) fastener means for attaching said staff member to said L-shaped members, said fastener means passing through said staff member eyelet and said L-shaped member eyelets; and

,

(d) a multi-angular shaped member having one end attached to one of said L-shaped members, said multi-angular shaped member being shaped such that a lower portion is in vertical alignment with a trailer tongue socket and having a hook attached to said lower portion.

5. A trailer-towing vehicle-trailer hitch alignment device as recited in claim 3 wherein the stop brace comprises:

(a) an upper plate having flange means for slidably engaging said underside of said trailer tongue;

(b) a lower plate having two stop bars attached to an underside of said lower plate and extending at an acute angle below said lower plate; and

(c) means for removably attaching said lower plate to said upper plate and for adjusting horizontally a position of said lower plate relative to said upper plate and said trailer tongue, whereby when said towing vehicle ball moves towards said trailer tongue said stop bars contact said towing vehicle ball before said trailer tongue contacts said towing vehicle.