Alignment guide for a trailer hitch

• US 6,820,888 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Larry W. Griffin
• Original Assignee: Larry W. Griffin
• Inventors: Griffin, Larry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUBY, MATTHEW D
• Application Number:
  US10/360,272
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 280/495, 280/504, 280/508, 280/511, 332/64, 116/28.R, 403/282, 403/315-317, 403/319, 403/326, 403/329, 403/404, 403/179, 411/533, 411/149, 411/150, 411/136, 464/46-48, 451/509
• 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

The present invention discloses an alignment guide for trailer hitches for a person backing a vehicle having thereon a trailer hitch ball into proper alignment with the tongue and trailer hitch socket of a trailer. The present invention comprises a telescopic guide post for attachment onto the top of the hitch socket on the tongue of the trailer. A receiver, having a mounting base and a “Y” member, is provided for magnetic attachment to the rear of the backing vehicle. The base of the “Y” of the receiver member contacts the telescopic upright member to inform the driver of the vehicle that the ball of the hitch is directly under the socket on the tongue of the trailer.

Claims

1. A combination vehicle, trailer and alignment guide to aid the driver of a vehicle while maneuvering the vehicle in relation to a trailer during the procedure of attaching the trailer to the vehicle, comprising:

a) a vehicle for towing the trailer, a rear end disposed on said vehicle, a surface disposed on said rear end to which a part of the alignment guide is attached, a trailer hitch disposed on said rear end, a trailer hitch ball disposed on said trailer hitch to which ball the trailer is attached;

b) a trailer having a hitch tongue disposed thereon, a trailer hitch socket disposed on said trailer hitch tongue for receiving said trailer hitch ball therein;

said trailer hitch socket having a top, and a lock disposed on said trailer hitch socket to permit the trailer to be secured to the trailer hitch ball;

c) an elongated guide post member having upper and lower opposing ends, wherein said lower end of said guide post member is disposed on said top of said trailer hitch socket;

d) a cap disposed on said upper end of said guide post member to permit the driver to see the location of the trailer hitch socket;

e) an elongated receiver member having upper and lower opposing ends, wherein said lower end of said receiver member is disposed on said surface on said rear end of said vehicle;

f) a Y-shaped element disposed on said upper end of said receiver member, wherein said Y-shaped element has a leg, a pair of arms and a base disposed between said pair of arms, wherein said cap is placed in said base of said Y-shaped element during the procedure of attaching the trailer to the vehicle to permit the driver to more easily align the trailer hitch ball with the trailer hitch socket;

g) a magnet being disposed on said lower end of said guide post member for attaching said guide post member to said top of said trailer hitch socket; and

,

h) a plurality of spaced apart downwardly extending legs being disposed on said lower end of said guide post member, said legs having a lower end, said lower ends making contact with said top of said trailer hitch socket, said lower end of each said leg having a recess therein.

2. The alignment guide of claim 1, further comprising a magnet being disposed in each said recess in eash said leg to permit the guide post member to be attached to the top of the trailer hitch socket.

3. The alignment guide of claim 2, wherein said legs of said guide post member are spaced apart a distance great enough to receive said top of said trailer hitch socket thereinbetween to permit the guide post member to be secured to the top of the trailer hitch socket.

4. The alignment guide of claim 3, wherein said guide post member comprises a plurality of telescoping sections to permit the alignment guide to be used with various trailers.

5. The alignment guide claim 4, further comprising a magnet being disposed on said lower end of said receiver member for attaching said receiver member to said surface on said rear of said vehicle.

6. The alignment guide of claim 5, wherein said lower end of said receiver member is pivotally attached to said magnet for pivoting said receiver member in the vertical plane to permit the alignment guide to be used with various vehicles.

7. The alignment guide of claim 6, wherein said leg of said Y-shaped element is pivotally attached to said upper end of said receiver member for pivoting said Y-shaped element in the vertical plane to permit the alignment guide to be used with various vehicles.

8. The alignment guide of claim 7, wherein said receiver member comprises a plurality of telescoping sections to permit the alignment guide to be used with various vehicles.

9. The alignment guide of claim 8, wherein said Y-shaped element is movable in both the vertical and horizontal planes by manipulating said telescoping sections simultaneously with said upper and lower pivotal attachments on said receiver member to permit the alignment guide to be used with various vehicles and trailers.

10. The alignment guide of claim 9, wherein said upper and lower pivotal attachments comprises a threaded fastener, wherein a mating threaded wing nut is used in cooperation with said threaded fastener for frictionally pivoting said pivotal attachments to permit the receiver member and the Y-shaped member to be easily pivoted.

11. The alignment guide of claim 10, further comprising means for phosphorescence being disposed on said Y-shaped member to permit the alignment guide to be used during darkness.

12. The alignment guide of claim 11, further comprising means for phosphorescence being disposed on said cap to permit the alignment guide to be used during darkness.

13. The alignment guide of claim 12, further comprising a light emitting diode being disposed on said Y-shaped member to permit the alignment guide to be used during darkness.

14. The alignment guide of claim 13, further comprising a light emitting diode being disposed on said cap to permit the alignment guide to be used during darkess.