Trailer hitch alignment system

• US 5,951,035 A
• Filed: 03/11/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David E. Veracka, Robert E. Phillips Jr
• Original Assignee: David E. Veracka, Robert E. Phillips Jr
• Inventors: Veracka, David E., Phillips, Robert E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US08/816,060
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 280/504, 280/511, 280/477, 340/431, 340/438
• 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

The trailer hitch alignment system of the present invention includes an alerting device and a tow bar assembly for attachment to a towing vehicle. The tow bar assembly includes a photoelectric sensor for detecting the vertical alignment of a trailer tongue. The tow bar assembly has a hitch ball with a spherical top and a cylindrical body for coupling with a trailer tongue having a semi-spherical socket. In one embodiment, the photoelectric sensor is mounted on the tow bar of the tow bar assembly, adjacent to the hitch ball. In another embodiment, the hitch ball houses the photoelectric sensor within its interior. During operation, the driver of the towing vehicle typically maneuvers the vehicle toward the trailer in a rearward direction. Once the photoelectric sensor detects the vertical alignment of the socket with the ball, the alerting device is activated informing the driver of the alignment.

Claims

1. A trailer hitch alignment system comprising:

a tow bar assembly attached to a towing vehicle, said tow bar assembly having a ball mounted on a tow bar, said ball having a spherical top and a cylindrical body;

a trailer tongue for connecting a trailer to the tow bar assembly, said trailer tongue having a semi-spherical socket with a concave surface adapted for receiving the spherical top of the ball;

a sensor mechanism mounted on the tow bar adjacent the ball that detects the trailer tongue when the trailer tongue is in vertical alignment with the tow bar assembly, said sensor mechanism detecting the vertical alignment of the concave surface of the semi-spherical socket with the spherical top of the ball;

an alerting device connected to the sensor mechanism for alerting a driver in the towing vehicle that the trailer tongue is in vertical alignment with the tow bar assembly; and

a power source connected to the sensor mechanism and the alerting device.

2. The wailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, wherein said spherical top and cylindrical body of said ball have an aperture extending therethrough along a central vertical axis thereof, said ball forming an annular casing adapted for receiving said sensor mechanism.

3. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, wherein the sensor mechanism includes an infrared sensor.

4. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, wherein the sensor mechanism includes a photoelectric sensor.

5. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 4, wherein said photoelectric sensor is a diffuse reflective unit.

6. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 5, wherein said sensor mechanism includes:

a transmitter for transmitting a focused beam; and

a receiver for receiving a reflection of said focused beam from said trailer tongue.

7. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 6, wherein said focused beam is adapted for reflection off the concave surface of said socket of the trailer tongue.

8. A trailer hitch alignment system, comprising:

a tow bar assembly attached to a towing vehicle, said tow bar assembly including a ball mounted on a tow bar, said ball having a spherical top and a cylindrical body, said spherical top and cylindrical body of said ball having an aperture extending therethrough along a central vertical axis thereof, said ball forming an annular casing;

a trailer tongue for connecting a trailer to said tow bar assembly, said trailer tongue including a semi-spherical socket having a concave surface adapted for receiving said spherical top of said ball;

a photoelectric sensor mounted in said annular casing formed by said ball, said photoelectric sensor detecting said trailer tongue when said trailer tongue is in vertical alignment with said ball;

an alerting device in an interior cab of said towing vehicle which is connected to said photoelectric sensor, said alerting device alerting a driver in said towing vehicle that said trailer tongue is in vertical alignment with said tow bar assembly; and

means for connecting an electrical system of said towing vehicle to said photoelectric sensor and said alerting device.

9. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 8, wherein said photoelectric sensor includes:

a transmitter for transmitting a focused beam; and

a receiver for receiving a reflection of said focused beam from said trailer tongue.

10. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 8, wherein said photoelectric sensor is an infrared sensor.