Trailer hitch alignment apparatus

• US 6,341,794 B1
• Filed: 11/01/2000
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy J. Hunter
• Original Assignee: Timothy J. Hunter
• Inventors: Hunter, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUBY, MATTHEW D
• Application Number:
  US09/704,084
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 332/64, 116/28.R
• US Class Current: 280/477
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/065 characterised by the hitch mechanism
• 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 apparatus comprises a first guide member removably attached to a vehicle bumper and a second guide member removably attached to a trailer hitch socket. The first guide member includes a magnetic base with a telescopically extensible rod adjustably coupled thereto. The second guide member includes a magnetic base having an upwardly extending telescopic rod and a downwardly extending semi-flexible shaft attached thereto. The shaft extends downwardly through a bore defined by the trailer hitch tongue so as to contact the trailer hitch ball when the ball and socket are aligned. Contact between the shaft and ball causes vertical displacement of the shaft and guide rod. Therefore, the two telescopic guide rods, visible from a driver'"'"'s seat, facilitates lateral alignment of the ball and socket while vertical displacement of the second rod indicates perfect forward alignment.

Claims

1. A trailer hitch alignment apparatus for use in assisting the driver of a towing vehicle to align a trailer hitch ball carried by said towing vehicle with a trailer hitch socket defining a bore therethrough and carried by a trailer, said alignment apparatus comprising:

a first guide member having a first base removably coupled to a bumper of said towing vehicle;

a first guide rod coupled to said first base for viewing from a driver'"'"'s seat of said towing vehicle, said first guide rod being telescopically extensible and extending upwardly from said first base;

a second guide member having a second base removably coupled to said trailer hitch socket;

a second guide rod coupled to said second base for viewing from a driver'"'"'s seat of said towing vehicle, said second guide rod having a first telescopically extensible segment extending upwardly from said second base and a second segment extending downwardly through said trailer hitch socket bore, said second guide rod being slidably vertically movable relative to said trailer hitch socket bore and said second base when said second segment contacts said trailer hitch ball.

2. The alignment apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first base includes a circular configuration magnetically coupled to said bumper;

and

wherein said second base includes a C-shaped configuration magnetically coupled to said trailer hitch socket.

3. The alignment apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a first ball fixedly attached to an upper end of said first guide rod and a second ball fixedly attached to an upper end of said first segment of said second guide rod, said second ball having a diameter greater than a diameter of said first ball so as to enhance visual perception of a vertical movement of said second guide rod upon alignment of said trailer hitch ball with said trailer hitch socket.

4. The alignment apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a pair of rollers axially coupled to a free end of said second segment of said second guide rod for smooth movement of said second segment up and over said trailer hitch ball upon contact therewith during an alignment operation.

5. The alignment apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first guide member includes:

a first clevis fixedly attached to said first base;

a second clevis axially coupled to said first clevis for lateral movement of said second clevis relative to said first base; and

a lower end of said first guide rod being axially coupled to said second clevis for forward or rearward movement of said first guide rod relative to said first base.

6. The alignment apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second segment of said second guide rod is constructed of a semi-flexible material.

7. A trailer hitch alignment apparatus for use in assisting the driver of a towing vehicle to align a trailer hitch ball carried by said towing vehicle with a trailer hitch socket that defines a bore therethrough and that is carried by a trailer, said alignment apparatus comprising:

a first guide member comprising;

a first base having a circular configuration adapted to magnetically adhere to a bumper of said towing vehicle;

a first guide rod coupled to said first base and being telescopically extensible for viewing from a driver'"'"'s seat of said towing vehicle;

a second guide member comprising;

a second base having a C-shaped configuration adapted to magnetically adhere to said trailer hitch socket;

a tubular housing mounted to a lateral edge of said second base and defining a substantially open top and bottom;

a second guide rod slidably mounted within said housing and telescopically extensible through said open top for viewing from a driver'"'"'s seat of said towing vehicle;

a shaft depending from a lower end of said second guide rod and adapted to extend downwardly through said open bottom of said housing and through said trailer hitch socket bore so as to contact said trailer hitch ball when said ball and socket are aligned, said shaft and said second guide rod adapted to move vertically through said housing when said shaft contacts said trailer hitch ball.

8. The alignment apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising a first ball fixedly attached to an upper end of said first guide rod and a second ball fixedly attached to an upper end of said second guide rod, said second ball having a diameter greater than a diameter of said first ball so as to enhance visual perception of a vertical movement of said second guide rod upon alignment of said trailer hitch ball with said trailer hitch socket.

9. The alignment apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising a compression spring disposed in said housing of said second guide member, said spring being coupled to said second guide rod and movable between a first unbiased configuration when said shaft and said second guide rod are not upwardly displaced and a second biased configuration when said shaft and said second guide rod are upwardly displaced upon contact between said shaft with said trailer hitch ball.

10. The alignment apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising a pair of rollers axially coupled to a free end of said shaft for smooth movement of said shaft up and over said trailer hitch ball upon contact therewith during an alignment operation.

11. The alignment apparatus as in claim 7 wherein a free end of said shaft includes a spherical tip for smooth movement of said shaft up and over said trailer hitch ball upon contact therewith during an alignment operation.

12. The alignment apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said first guide member includes:

a first clevis fixedly attached to said first base;

a second clevis axially coupled to said first clevis for lateral movement of said second clevis relative to said first base; and

a lower end of said first guide rod being axially coupled to said second clevis for forward or rearward movement of said first guide rod relative to said first base.

13. The alignment apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said shaft is semi-flexible.

14. A trailer hitch alignment apparatus for use in assisting the driver of a towing vehicle to align a trailer hitch ball carried by said towing vehicle with a trailer hitch socket carried by a trailer, said alignment apparatus comprising:

a first guide member comprising;

a first base having a circular configuration adapted to magnetically adhere to a bumper of said towing vehicle;

a first guide rod coupled to said first base and being telescopically extensible for viewing from a driver'"'"'s seat of said towing vehicle;

a second guide member comprising;

a second base having a C-shaped configuration adapted to magnetically adhere to said trailer hitch socket;

an offset arm having one end fixedly attached to said second base, said offset arm extending forward of said trailer hitch socket;

a tubular housing mounted to the other end of said offset arm and defining a substantially open top and bottom;

a second guide rod slidably mounted within said housing and telescopically extensible through said open top for viewing from a driver'"'"'s seat of said towing vehicle;

a shaft depending from a lower end of said second guide rod and adapted to extend downwardly through said open bottom of said housing so as to contact said trailer hitch ball when said ball and socket are substantially aligned and to move up and over said ball when said ball and socket are completely aligned, said shaft and said second guide rod adapted to move vertically through said housing when said shaft contacts said trailer hitch ball.

15. The alignment apparatus as in claim 14 further comprising a first ball fixedly attached to an upper end of said first guide rod and a second ball fixedly attached to an upper end of said second guide rod, said second ball having a diameter greater than a diameter of said first ball so as to enhance visual perception of a vertical movement of said second guide rod upon alignment of said trailer hitch ball with said trailer hitch socket.

16. The alignment apparatus as in claim 14 further comprising a compression spring disposed in said housing of said second guide member and coupled to said second guide rod, said spring being movable between a first unbiased configuration when said shaft and said second guide rod are not upwardly displaced and a second biased configuration when said shaft and said second guide rod are upwardly displaced upon contact between said shaft with said trailer hitch ball.

17. The alignment apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said first guide member includes:

a first clevis fixedly attached to said first base;

a second clevis axially coupled to said first clevis for selective lateral movement of said second clevis relative to said first base; and

a lower end of said first guide rod being axially coupled to said second clevis for selective forward or rearward movement of said first guide rod relative to said first base.