Device to align hitch

• US 6,517,098 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gene M. Chronister, Victor L. Grasso
• Original Assignee: Gene M. Chronister, Victor L. Grasso
• Inventors: Grasso, Victor L., Chronister, Gene M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US09/987,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20020056971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 280/511, 332/64, 359/872, 116/28.R
• 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

An alignment device to align a vehicle'"'"'s trailer hitch ball neck assembly with a trailer hitch socket assembly or tongue assembly. The present invention includes two units, each having uprights with engaging press on members. The ball neck upright member has a “C”-shaped bottom portion for frictionally engaging the neck of the trailer hitch ball neck, and the hitch engaging upright member has a “U”-shaped bottom portion for frictionally engaging the outer housing of the hitch socket member around its lower end periphery. When used in conjunction with each other, the two poles visually assist the vehicle operator in aligning the vehicles so that they may be easily coupled together for towing.

Claims

1. A trailer hitch alignment system for a vehicle and a trailer comprising:

a) a first vertically oriented alignment unit having an upright portion, and means located at a lower end thereof, for engaging a socket member of a trailer tongue; and

b) a second vertically oriented alignment unit having an upright portion, and means located at a lower end thereof, for engaging a vehicle hitch ball neck;

c) said trailer tongue socket member engaging means having an upright portion and a “

U”

-shaped portion for temporary engagement with said trailer tongue socket member of said trailer tongue, said “

U”

-shaped portion having elastomeric truncated tube elements distributed therealong to assist in engaging said trailer tongue socket member of said trailer tongue;

said first and said second vertically oriented alignment units being visible to a vehicle operator having said vehicle hitch ball neck located on the rear, thereof, such that the vehicle can be maneuvered so as to vertically align said hitch ball neck and said trailer tongue socket member for easy engagement therebetween.

2. The trailer hitch alignment system according to claim 1, including at least one elastomeric ferrule along each of said uprights being divided into at least two portions attachable by a corresponding number of elastomeric ferrules for joining said upright portions for alignment system use, and to allow disassembly for storage.

3. The trailer hitch of claim 2, wherein each of said upright portions has an upper portion, each said upper portion having a flag mounted thereon such that the driver can see both flags while backing said vehicle to assist in alignment of said upright portions.

4. The trailer hitch alignment system according to claim 1 wherein said generally upright portion is unitary with said “

U”

-shaped portion.

5. The trailer hitch alignment system according to claim 4 wherein said trailer tongue socket member engaging means upright portion is offset at a right angle relative to said “

U”

-shaped portion so as to avoid interference with said second alignment unit.

6. The trailer hitch alignment system according to claim 5, wherein said generally upright portion of said first vertically oriented alignment unit has a first vertical portion and an angle portion connected at a first obtuse angle, an offset upright portion connected with said angle portion at a second obtuse angle which is a complement of said first obtuse angle, a generally horizontal portion connected with said offset upright portion at a third angle, said “

U”

-shaped portion being connected with said generally horizontal portion at a fourth angle, said third angle and said fourth angle being so complementary such that said offset upright portion is held generally vertical and normal relative to said “

U”

-shaped portion when said “

U”

-shaped portion is mounted on a trailer tongue and generally horizontally disposed thereon.

7. The trailer hitch alignment system according to claim 1 wherein said means for engaging a vehicle hitch ball neck comprises a generally upright portion and a generally horizontal clamp portion attached thereto at a lower end thereof.

8. The trailer hitch alignment system according to claim 7, wherein said upright portion is offset from said “

U”

-shaped portion so as to avoid interference with the ball of the vehicle hitch ball.

9. The trailer hitch alignment system according to claim 8, wherein said generally upright portion has a first vertical portion and an angle portion connected at a first obtuse angle, and an offset vertical portion connected with said angle portion at a second obtuse angle, said second obtuse angle being complementary with said first obtuse angle.

10. The trailer hitch alignment system according to claim 7 wherein said generally horizontal clamp has a ball neck engagement “

C”

-clamp and a horizontal portion connecting said “

C”

-clamp with said generally upright portion.

11. The trailer hitch alignment system of claim 10, wherein, said “

C”

-clamp is elastic and so configured as to secure said vehicle hitch upright to said hitch ball neck upon horizontal force. being applied to said “

C”

-clamp toward said neck and to separate said vehicle hitch upright from said hitch ball neck upon pulling force being applied to said “

C”

-clamp away from said neck.

12. A trailer hitch alignment system for a vehicle and a trailer comprising:

a) a first vertically oriented alignment unit having an upright portion, and means located at a lower end thereof, for engaging a socket member of a trailer tongue; and

b) a second vertically oriented alignment unit having an upright portion, and means located at a lower end thereof, for engaging a vehicle hitch ball neck;

c) said trailer tongue socket member engaging means having an upright portion and a “

U”

-shaped portion for temporary engagement with said trailer tongue socket member of said trailer tongue;

wherein said generally upright portion of said first vertically oriented alignment unit has a first vertical portion and an angle portion connected at a first obtuse angle, an offset upright portion connected with said angle portion at a second obtuse angle which is a complement of said first obtuse angle, a generally horizontal portion connected with said offset upright portion at a third angle, said “

U”

-shaped portion being connected with said generally horizontal portion at a fourth angle, said third angle and said fourth angle being so complementary such that said offset upright portion is held generally vertical and normal relative to said “

U”

-shaped poration when said “

U”

-shaped portion is mounted on a trailer tongue and generally horizontally disposed thereon; and

said first and said second vertically oriented alignment units being visible to a vehicle operator having said vehicle hitch ball neck located on the rear, thereof, such that the vehicle can be maneuvered so as to vertically align said hitch ball neck and said trailer tongue socket member for easy engagement therebetween.

13. A trailer hitch alignment system for a vehicle and a trailer comprising:

a) a first vertically oriented alignment unit having an it upright portion, and means located at a lower end thereof, for engaging a socket member of a trailer tongue; and

b) a second vertically oriented alignment unit having an upright portion, and means located at a lower end thereof, for engaging a vehicle hitch ball neck;

c) said trailer tongue socket member engaging means having an upright portion and a “

U”

-shaped portion for temporary engagement with said trailer tongue socket member of said trailer tongue;

wherein said generally upright portion of said second vertically oriented alignment unit has a first vertical portion and an angle portion connected at a first obtuse angle, and an offset vertical portion connected with said angle portion at a second obtuse angle, said second obtuse angle being complementary with said first obtuse angle

said first and said second vertically oriented alignment units being visible to a vehicle operator having said vehicle hitch ball neck located on the rear, thereof, such that the vehicle can be maneuvered so as to vertically align said hitch ball neck and said trailer tongue socket member for easy engagement therebetween.