Trailer alignment device

• US 7,309,075 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John S. Betts, Ramsey J. Edward
• Original Assignee: John S. Betts, Ramsey J. Edward
• Inventors: Ramsey, J. Edward, Betts, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARCE, MARLON ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/158,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20050285371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477
• US Class Current: 280/477
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/06 Ball-and-socket hitches , e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
• 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 device which allows a user to easily align a hitch of a vehicle with a trailer hitch of a trailer. The trailer hitch alignment device includes a control unit with a display that is viewable by the driver of a vehicle, a sensor releasably positioned on a ball hitch of the vehicle, and another sensor releasably positioned over a socket hitch of the trailer. At least one of the sensor and the another sensor communicates with the control unit. The control unit display displays the relative position of the sensor to the another sensor.

Claims

1. An electronic trailer hitch alignment system comprising:

a control unit including an indicator; and

a sensor adapted to be positioned on a first hitch, said sensor communicates with said control unit;

wherein said sensor senses the relative position of a vehicle hitch unit that is releasably supported by a second hitch, wherein said vehicle hitch unit comprises a housing with a dome-shaped cavity that is adapted to receive the second hitch, wherein said indicator of said control unit displays the relative positions of said sensor and said vehicle hitch unit with respect to each other.

2. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, wherein said sensor communicates with said control unit using wireless communication.

3. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system claim 1, wherein said second hitch comprises a ball hitch.

4. The electrical trailer hitch alignment system of claim 3, wherein said housing has a size and shape that does not substantially increase the overall size of the ball hitch when said dome-shaped cavity receives said ball hitch.

5. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises a display screen.

6. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises a light, said light illuminates to communicate alignment of said sensor and said vehicle hitch unit.

7. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises a speaker, said speaker sounds to communicate alignment of said sensor and said vehicle hitch unit.

8. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, wherein said control unit includes a battery.

9. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 8, wherein said control unit includes a connectable power source.

10. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 1, wherein said control unit includes an electronic circuit.

11. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 10, wherein said electronic circuit is electrically connected to and communicates with said indicator.

12. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 11, wherein said electronic circuit communicates with said sensor.

13. An electronic trailer hitch alignment system comprising:

a control unit including an indicator; and

a sensor received in a housing, said housing including a dome-shaped surface adapted to be releasably positioned on a first hitch;

wherein said sensor senses the relative position of another sensor adapted to be positioned at a second hitch, said indicator of said control unit displays the relative positions of said sensor and said another sensor with respect to each other;

a base adapted to he releasably positioned at a second hitch;

a member adapted to move said another sensor relative to said base;

wherein at least one of said sensor and said another sensor communicates with said control unit and said indicator indicates the relative position of said sensor to said another sensor with respect to each other wherein said member comprises an elongate arm, and an end of said elongate arm receives said another sensor.

21. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 13, wherein said base includes a clamp to releasably position said base at said second hitch.

22. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 13, wherein said base includes a magnet to releasably position said base at said second hitch.

14. An electronic trailer hitch alignment system comprising:

a control unit including an indicator; and

a sensor received in a housing, said housing including a dome-shaped surface adapted to be releasably positioned on a first hitch;

wherein said sensor senses the relative position of another sensor adapted to be positioned at a second hitch, said indicator of said control unit displays the relative positions of said sensor and said another sensor with respect to each other;

a base adapted to be releasably positioned at a second hitch;

a member adapted to move said another sensor relative to said base;

wherein at least one of said sensor and said another sensor communicates with said control unit and said indicator indicates the relative position of said sensor to said another sensor with respect to each other wherein said member comprises a pivoting arm, and a free end of said pivoting arm receives said another sensor.

15. An electronic trailer hitch alignment system comprising:

a control unit including an indicator; and

a sensor received in a housing, said housing including a dome-shaped surface adapted to be releasably positioned on a first hitch;

wherein said sensor senses the relative position of another sensor adapted to be positioned at a second hitch, said indicator of said control unit displays the relative positions of said sensor and said another sensor with respect to each other;

a base adapted to be releasably positioned at a second hitch;

a member adapted to move said another sensor relative to said base;

wherein at least one of said sensor and said another sensor communicates with said control unit and said indicator indicates the relative position of said sensor to said another sensor with respect to each other wherein said member comprises a telescoping member telescoping to and from said base, and a free end of said telescoping member receives said another sensor.

16. An electronic trailer hitch alignment system comprising:

a control unit including an indicator; and

a sensor received in a housing, said housing including a dome-shaped surface adapted to be releasably positioned on a first hitch;

wherein said sensor senses the relative position of a second hitch, said indicator of said control unit displays the relative positions of said sensor and said second hitch with respect to each other;

a base adapted to be releasably positioned at a second hitch;

a member received in said base, said member receiving another sensor, said member moving relative to said base to position said another sensor directly over said second hitch;

wherein at least one of said sensor and said another sensor communicates with said control unit and said indicator indicates the relative position of said sensor to said another sensor with respect to each other wherein said base includes an opening sleeve therein, wherein said opening sleeve receives said member.

17. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 16, wherein said base includes a clamp to releasably position said base at said second hitch.

18. The electronic trailer hitch alignment system of claim 16, wherein said base includes a magnet to releasably position said base at said second hitch.

19. A method alignment of a vehicle hitch of a vehicle with a trailer hitch of a trailer comprising:

placing a first sensor on the vehicle hitch;

moving the vehicle with the vehicle hitch towards the trailer with the trailer hitch;

sensing the position of the trailer hitch relative to the first sensor as the vehicle moves toward the trailer;

communicating the position of the trailer hitch relative to the first sensor to an indicator of a control unit;

indicating with said indicator the position of the trailer hitch relative to said first sensor to a user as the vehicle moves toward the trailer;

aligning the vehicle hitch directly under the first sensor and the trailer hitch with the assistance of the indicator;

removing the first sensor from the vehicle hitch after said aligning; and

coupling the vehicle hitch and the trailer hitch after said removing.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

placing a second sensor on the trailer hitch;

sensing the position of the second sensor relative to the first sensor as the vehicle moves toward the trailer;

communicating the relative positions of the second sensor and the first sensor to the indicator of the control unit;

indicating the relative positions of the second sensor and the first sensor to the user; and

aligning the second sensor directly over the first sensor with the assistance of the indicator to align the vehicle hitch and the trailer hitch.