Trailer hitch alignment system

• US 6,446,999 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arthur C. Davis Jr
• Original Assignee: Arthur C. Davis Jr
• Inventors: Davis, Arthur C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEENDER, FLORIAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/561,412
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 280/504, 280/511, 280/508, 359/871, 359/872, 359/881, 359/841, 248/476, 248/480, 248/466, 248/469, 332/64
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/003 for viewing trailer hitches

Abstract

A trailer hitch alignment system for providing a driver of a vehicle the ability to visually align the hitch of the vehicle with the tongue of a trailer. The trailer hitch alignment system includes a hitch including a base portion and a joint member extending from the base portion. The hitch assembly further includes a set rod extending upwardly from the base portion. The set rod is positioned proximate the joint member. A mirror assembly is removably couplable to the set rod. The mirror assembly includes a mirror pivotally coupled to a mirror connection frame. The mirror is pivotal about a generally horizontal axis.

Claims

1. A trailer hitch alignment system comprising:

a hitch assembly adapted for being coupled to a towing vehicle, said hitch assembly including a base portion and a joint member extending from said base portion, said joint member being adapted for coupling to a socket of a trailer tongue, said hitch assembly further including a set rod extending upwardly from said base portion, said set rod being positioned proximate said joint member such that said hitch assembly is adapted for being positioned such that said set rod is positioned between said joint member and the towing vehicle when the hitch assembly is coupled to the towing vehicle;

a mirror assembly removably couplable to said set rod, said mirror assembly including a mirror pivotally coupled to a mirror connection frame, said mirror being pivotal about a generally horizontal axis for facilitating viewing of said joint member by a user in the towing vehicle;

said mirror assembly including a rod assembly extending from said mirror frame, said rod assembly including a base rod having a hollow first end for receiving said set rod whereby said base rod is held in a substantially vertical position; and

said rod assembly including an extension rod coupled to said base rod, said extension rod being extendable relative to said base rod whereby said rod assembly is telescopic for adjusting a length of said rod assembly, said base rod being insertable into said extension rod.

2. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism for selectively holding said extension rod in a static position relative to said base rod;

said locking mechanism including a threaded aperture extending through a collar portion of said extension rod, said base rod being slidably inserted into said extension rod;

said locking mechanism further including a locking member having an adjuster knob and a threaded set screw extending from said adjuster knob, said set screw being threadingly engageable to said threaded aperture for frictionally engaging an outer surface of said base rod whereby said extension rod is held in said static position relative to said base rod.

3. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 2, further comprising:

said set screw having a pointed distal end for facilitating frictional engagement of said outer surface of said base rod.

4. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, further comprising:

said set rod having a locking hole extending through said set rod;

said base rod having a pair of aligned locking apertures, said locking apertures being alignable with opposite ends of said locking hole;

a pin member, said pin member being insertable through said locking hole and said locking apertures when said locking apertures are aligned with said locking hole whereby a set screw is selectively engageable to said base rod.

5. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 4, further comprising:

said pin member having a head portion, a pin portion extending from said head portion, and a rounded locking member retractably biased outwardly from an outer surface of said pin portion proximate a distal end of said pin portion, said rounded locking member being for preventing slipping of said pin member from a locking position defined by said pin member being fully inserted through said locking hole and said locking apertures.

6. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 4, further comprising:

said pin member having a head portion; and

a ring member coupled to said head portion for facilitating removal of said pin member from said locking hole and said locking apertures.

7. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, further comprising:

said mirror including a pair of mirror pivot arms, each of said mirror pivot arms extending from an associated side of said mirror;

each of said mirror pivot arms extending through an associated pivot hole in said mirror connection frame;

a pair of mirror connection members, each mirror connection member being engageable to an associated one of said mirror pivot arms whereby said mirror connection frame is coupled to said mirror.

8. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 7, further comprising:

each of said connection members being tightenable for promoting frictional engagement of said mirror connection frame to said mirror for holding said mirror in a selectable static position relative to said mirror connection frame.

9. A trailer hitch alignment system comprising:

a hitch assembly adapted for being coupled to a towing vehicle, said hitch assembly including a base portion and a joint member extending from said base portion, said joint member being adapted for coupling to a socket of a trailer tongue, said hitch assembly further including a set rod extending upwardly from said base portion, said set rod being positioned proximate said joint member such that said hitch assembly is adapted for being positioned such that said set rod is positioned between said joint member and the towing vehicle when the hitch assembly is coupled to the towing vehicle;

a mirror assembly removably couplable to said set rod, said mirror assembly including a mirror pivotally coupled to a mirror connection frame, said mirror being pivotal about a generally horizontal axis for facilitating viewing of said joint member by a user in the towing vehicle;

said mirror assembly including a rod assembly extending from said mirror frame, said rod assembly including a base rod having a hollow first end for receiving said set rod whereby said base rod is held in a substantially vertical position;

said rod assembly including an extension rod coupled to said base rod, said extension rod being extendable relative to said base rod whereby said rod assembly is telescopic for adjusting a length of said rod assembly;

a locking mechanism for selectively holding said extension rod in a static position relative to said base rod;

said locking mechanism including a threaded aperture extending through a collar portion of said extension rod, said base rod being slidably inserted into said extension rod;

said locking mechanism further including a locking member having an adjuster knob and a threaded set screw extending from said adjuster knob, said set screw being threadingly engageable to said threaded aperture for frictionally engaging an outer surface of said base rod whereby said extension rod is held in said static position relative to said base rod;

said set screw having a pointed distal end for facilitating frictional engagement of said outer surface of said base rod;

said set rod having a locking hole extending through said set rod;

said base rod having a pair of aligned locking apertures, said locking apertures being alignable with opposite ends of said locking hole;

a pin member, said pin member being insertable through said locking hole and said locking apertures when said locking apertures are aligned with said locking hole whereby said set screw is selectively engageable to said base rod;

said pin member having a head portion, a pin portion extending from said head portion, and a rounded locking member retractably biased outwardly from an outer surface of said pin portion proximate a distal end of said pin portion, said rounded locking member being for preventing slipping of said pin member from a locking position defined by said pin member being fully inserted through said locking hole and said locking apertures;

a ring member coupled to said head portion for facilitating removal of said pin member from said locking position;

said mirror including a pair of mirror pivot arms, each of said mirror pivot arms extending from an associated side of said mirror;

each of said mirror pivot arms extending through an associated pivot hole in said mirror connection frame;

a pair of mirror connection members, each mirror connection member being engageable to an associated one of said mirror pivot arms whereby said mirror connection frame is coupled to said mirror; and

each of said connection members being tightenable for promoting frictional engagement of said mirror connection frame to said mirror for holding said mirror in a selectable static position relative to said mirror connection frame.