Method and apparatus for providing a mirror for assisting in the hitching of a trailer to a towing vehicle

• US 6,079,837 A
• Filed: 09/16/1999
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricky Lee Singleton
• Original Assignee: Ricky Lee Singleton
• Inventors: Singleton, Ricky Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US09/396,963
• Time in Patent Office: 285 Days
• Field of Search: 359/872, 359/871, 359/841, 359/842, 359/843, 359/844, 248/476, 248/477, 248/489
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/003 for viewing trailer hitches

Abstract

A new visibility aid for providing a mirror for assisting in the hitching of a trailer to a towing vehicle and method of use have been developed. The visibility aid comprises a mounting portion adapted to be fit to a receiving portion of a towing vehicle and an extension coupled to the mounting portion. Attached to the extension is a reflective member. The mounting portion is constructed of a bendable member arranged for being configured by the user for a custom fit to the towing vehicle. The visibility aid is also uniquely designed to be adapted by the user to form a custom fit with various types of towing vehicle. The mounting portion is coated with a buffering material to avoid scratch damage to the receiving portion of the towing vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for providing a visibility aid for assisting a driver in aligning a hitch element of a towing vehicle with a hitch connection of a towable trailer, said method comprising steps of:

providing a visibility aid arrangement having a mounting portion for custom fit to a receiving portion of a towing vehicle upon which said visibility aid is to be mounted, said mounting portion comprising a bendable member arranged for being user-configured into a custom fit for matingly engaging said mounting portion in a friction fit about the receiving portion of the towing vehicle; and

an extension coupled to said mounting portion at a mounting end, said extension having a reflective member coupled proximate a distal end of said extension opposite said mounting portion;

bending said bendable member to form a receiving space in said mounting portion, said receiving space being configured to be slightly narrower than the receiving portion of the towing vehicle upon which said visibility aid is to be mounted so that a pinch-fit is accommodated between said mounting portion and the receiving portion of the towing vehicle when said visibility aid is mounted thereupon.

2. The method for providing a visibility aid as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

constructing said bendable member from bendable resilient metal having a memory characteristic for returning to a set configuration after being elastically deformed therefrom.

3. The method for providing a visibility aid as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

constructing said extension at least partially from bendable material thereby facilitating an adjustable user-configurable relative arrangement between said mounting portion and said reflective member; and

bending said extension into a custom configuration tailored to a particular orientation between a towing vehicle and a hitch receiver mounted thereto.

4. The visibility aid as recited in claim 1 wherein said extension further comprises:

an elongate portion having a mid-section and terminating in a L-shaped bend at said distal end; and

said bendable member being fixed to said elongate portion at said mid-section thereof.

5. The visibility aid as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

releasably connecting a cross member to said extension at said L-shaped bend at said distal end of said elongate portion, said cross member being adapted to be coupled to said reflective member.

6. The visibility aid as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

at least two extensions, each of said extensions being coupled to said mounting portion at a mounting end thereof; and

said cross member being releasably connected between said at least two extensions at couplings, one each of said couplings being located at two opposite ends of said cross member.

7. The visibility aid as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

said reflective member having a receiving socket located at a back side thereof for receiving said ball of said extension pin therein; and

an extension pin adapted to be releasably secured in said aperture at a securable end of said extension pin, said extension pin terminating at a distal end thereof in a ball for insertion in said receiving socket located at said back side of said reflective member.