Trailer alignment method and apparatus

• US 6,480,104 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2001
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stardom, LLC
• Original Assignee: Clint R. Wall, Darby S. Wall
• Inventors: Wall, Clint R., Wall, Darby S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US09/841,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20020154005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/435, 340/436, 340/531, 340/825.36, 340/825.59, 340/825.69, 340/958, 332/63, 332/64, 332/86, 280/427, 280/477, 280/478.1, 280/504, 280/511
• US Class Current: 340/431
• 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 alignment device for simplifying the backing of a tow-vehicle to a trailer. The device utilizes a number of ultrasonic transducers to gauge the location of the tow-vehicle to the trailer. This information is transmitted to a control unit that analyzes such data and creates a visual display for the operator to use in backing the tow-vehicle to the trailer.

Claims

1. The method of moving a first hitch component mounted on a first vehicle into coupling engagement with a corresponding second hitch component mounted on a second vehicle, wherein said first vehicle having a first vehicle first side, a first vehicle second side, a first vehicle first end, a first vehicle second end, a first vehicle top side and a first vehicle bottom side, wherein a first vehicle centerline is defined extending from said first vehicle first end to said first vehicle second end generally centered between said first vehicle first side and said first vehicle second side, said first vehicle centerline further defining a first vehicle first end left side and a first vehicle first end right side, said first hitch component generally mounted adjacent to said first vehicle first end and generally on said first vehicle centerline;

wherein said second vehicle having a second vehicle first side, a second vehicle second side, a second vehicle first end, a second vehicle second end, a second vehicle top side and a second vehicle bottom side, wherein a second vehicle centerline is defined extending from said second vehicle first end to said second vehicle second end generally centered between said second vehicle first side and said second vehicle second side, said second vehicle centerline further defining a second vehicle first end left side and a second vehicle first end right side, said second hitch component generally mounted adjacent to said second vehicle first end and generally on said second vehicle centerline;

said method comprising the steps of;

a) mounting on the first vehicle first end left side a first transducer;

b) mounting on the first vehicle first end right side a second transducer;

c) mounting on the second vehicle first end left side a third transducer;

d) mounting on the second vehicle first end right side a fourth transducer;

e) determining the position of the first vehicle first end in relation to the second vehicle first end by measuring the distance between the first transducer and the third transducer, between the first transducer and the fourth transducer, between the second transducer and the third transducer, and between the second transducer and the fourth transducer; and

f) displaying the position of the first vehicle first end in relation to the second vehicle first end to a user guiding said vehicles to move the first hitch component into coupling engagement with the corresponding second hitch component.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of mounting said first and second transducers symmetrically about said first vehicle centerline.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of mounting said third and fourth transducers symmetrically about said second vehicle centerline.

4. The method of moving a first hitch component mounted on a first vehicle into coupling engagement with a corresponding second hitch component mounted on a second vehicle, wherein said first vehicle having a first vehicle first side, a first vehicle second side, a first vehicle first end, a first vehicle second end, a first vehicle top side and a first vehicle bottom side, wherein a first vehicle centerline is defined extending from said first vehicle first end to said first vehicle second end generally centered between said first vehicle first side and said first vehicle second side, said first vehicle centerline further defining a first vehicle first end left side and a first vehicle first end right side, said first hitch component generally mounted adjacent to said first vehicle first end and generally on said first vehicle centerline;

wherein said second vehicle having a second vehicle first side, a second vehicle second side, a second vehicle first end, a second vehicle second end, a second vehicle top side and a second vehicle bottom side, wherein a second vehicle centerline is defined extending from said second vehicle first end to said second vehicle second end generally centered between said second vehicle first side and said second vehicle second side, said second vehicle centerline further defining a second vehicle first end left side and a second vehicle first end right side, said second hitch component generally mounted adjacent to said second vehicle first end and generally on said second vehicle centerline;

said method comprising the steps of;

a) mounting on the first vehicle first end left side a first transducer and a second transducer, said first and second transducers being aligned parallel to a plane containing said centerline and said plane being generally perpendicular to said first vehicle'"'"'s top and bottom sides, said first transducer nearer said top side than said second transducer;

b) mounting on the first vehicle first end right side a third transducer and a fourth transducer, said third and fourth transducers being aligned parallel to a plane containing said centerline and said plane being generally perpendicular to said first vehicle'"'"'s top and bottom sides, said third transducer nearer said top side than said fourth transducer;

c) said first and third transducers mounted generally symmetrical about said first vehicle centerline;

d) said second and fourth transducers mounted generally symmetrical about said second vehicle centerline;

e) mounting on the second vehicle first end left side a fifth transducer;

f) mounting on the second vehicle first end right side a sixth transducer;

g) said fifth and sixth transducers mounted generally symmetrical about said second vehicle centerline;

h) determining the position of the first vehicle first end in relation to the second vehicle first end by measuring the distances between the first transducer and the fifth transducer, between the second transducer and the fifth transducer, between the first transducer and the sixth transducer, between the second transducer and the sixth transducer, between the third transducer and the fifth transducer, between the fourth transducer and the fifth transducer, between the third transducer and the sixth transducer, and between the fourth transducer and the sixth transducer; and

f) displaying the position of the first vehicle first end in relation to the second vehicle first end to a user guiding said vehicles to move the first hitch component into coupling engagement with the corresponding second hitch component.

5. The method of moving a first hitch component mounted on a first vehicle into coupling engagement with a corresponding second hitch component mounted on a second vehicle, wherein said first vehicle having a first vehicle first side, a first vehicle second side, a first vehicle first end, a first vehicle second end, a first vehicle top side and a first vehicle bottom side, wherein a first vehicle centerline is defined extending from said first vehicle first end to said first vehicle second end generally centered between said first vehicle first side and said first vehicle second side, said first vehicle centerline further defining a first vehicle first end left side and a first vehicle first end right side, said first hitch component generally mounted adjacent to said first vehicle first end and generally on said first vehicle centerline;

wherein said second vehicle having a second vehicle first side, a second vehicle second side, a second vehicle first end, a second vehicle second end, a second vehicle top side and a second vehicle bottom side, wherein a second vehicle centerline is defined extending from said second vehicle first end to said second vehicle second end generally centered between said second vehicle first side and said second vehicle second side, said second vehicle centerline further defining a second vehicle first end left side and a second vehicle first end right side, said second hitch component generally mounted adjacent to said second vehicle first end and generally on said second vehicle centerline;

said method comprising the steps of;

a) mounting on the first vehicle first end left side a first transducer and a second transducer, said first and second transducers being aligned parallel to a plane containing said centerline and said plane being generally perpendicular to said first vehicle'"'"'s top and bottom sides, said first transducer nearer said top side than said second transducer;

b) mounting on the first vehicle first end right side a third transducer and a fourth transducer, said third and fourth transducers being aligned parallel to a plane containing said centerline and said plane being generally perpendicular to said first vehicle'"'"'s top and bottom sides, said third transducer nearer said top side than said fourth transducer;

c) said first and third transducers mounted symmetrical about said first vehicle centerline;

d) said second and fourth transducers mounted symmetrical about said first vehicle centerline;

e) mounting on the second vehicle first end left side a fifth transducer and a sixth transducer, said fifth and sixth transducers being aligned parallel to a plane containing said centerline and said plane being generally perpendicular to said second vehicle'"'"'s top and bottom sides, said fifth transducer nearer said top side than said sixth transducer;

f) mounting on the second vehicle first end right side a seventh transducer and an eight transducer, said seventh and eighth transducers being aligned parallel to a plane containing said centerline and said plane being generally perpendicular to said second vehicle'"'"'s top and bottom sides, said seventh transducer nearer said top side than said eighth transducer;

g) said fifth and seventh transducers are mounted symmetrical about said second vehicle centerline;

h) said sixth and eighth transducers are mounted symmetrical about said second vehicle centerline;

i) determining the x-y-z plane the first, second, third and fourth transducers are in and thereby determining the position of said first hitch component;

j) determining the x-y-z plane the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth transducers are in and thereby determining the position of said second hitch component; and

k) displaying the position of the first hitch component in relation to the second hitch component to aid a user in guiding said vehicles so as to move said first hitch component into coupling engagement with said second hitch component.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of determining the x-y-z plane of the first, second, third and fourth transducers comprises:

a) transmitting at least one signal from each of said first, second, third and fourth transducers;

b) receiving said signals by said fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth transducers;

c) converting said signals into signal information;

d) relaying said signal information to a processing unit; and

,

e) determining the location of the first, second, third and fourth transducers through analysis of said signal information.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first, second, third and fourth transducers each transmit a pattern of signals at a predetermined interval.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of determining an environmental condition factor to compensate for the effect of the present environment'"'"'s temperature and air pressure on the determination of the x-y-z plane of said first vehicle first end using said first, second, third and fourth transducers and the x-y-z plane of the second vehicle first end using said fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth transducers.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining an environmental condition factor further comprises the steps of:

a) mounting on one of said vehicles a ninth transducer and a tenth transducer;

wherein said ninth transducer and said tenth transducer are generally symmetrical about the centerline for said vehicle;

b) wherein said ninth transducer transmits a factor signal;

wherein said tenth transducer receives said factor signal;

relaying data regarding when said signal was sent by the ninth transducer and when said signal was received by said tenth transducer unit to a processing unit; and

,

c) determining the environmental condition factor through analysis of said signal information between said ninth and tenth transducers.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of determining the x-y-z plane of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth transducers comprises:

a) transmitting at least one signal from each of said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth transducers;

b) receiving said signals by said first, second, third and fourth transducers;

c) converting said signals into signal information;

d) relaying said signal information to a processing unit;

e) determining the location of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth transducers through analysis of said signal information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the location of the second hitch component in relation to the x-y-z plane of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth transducers is predetermined.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth transducers each transmit a pattern of signals at a predetermined interval.