Trailer hitch alignment device

• US 7,396,035 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rick L. Smith
• Original Assignee: Rick L. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Rick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YEAGLEY, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US11/585,628
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 280/DIG.14, 332/86, 332/64, 340/431, 340/425.5
• 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 includes a first laser light source mounted to a towing vehicle and oriented to direct a first laser light beam towards a trailer to impinge on a first marker spot located on a hitch coupler mounted to the trailer. A second laser light source is also mounted to the towing vehicle in spaced apart relation with the first laser light source and oriented to direct a second laser light beam towards the trailer at an angle to the first light beam to impinge on a second marker spot on the trailer when the hitch and hitch coupler are aligned. When the towing vehicle is moved towards the trailer with the first laser beam impinging on the first marker spot and further moved towards the trailer until the second laser beam impinges on the second marker spot, the hitch coupler is aligned with the hitch.

Claims

1. A laser device for aligning a hitch mounted to a towing vehicle having a longitudinal axis, the hitch being aligned with the longitudinal axis, and a hitch coupler mounted to a fifth wheel trailer comprising:

a first laser light source mounted to the towing vehicle and oriented to direct a first laser light beam towards the fifth wheel trailer parallel with the longitudinal axis and across the hitch to impinge on a first marker spot located on the hitch coupler of the fifth wheel trailer; and

a second laser light source mounted to the towing vehicle in spaced apart relation with the first laser light source and oriented to direct a second laser light beam towards the fifth wheel trailer in a generally horizontal direction and across the hitch at an angle to the first light beam to impinge on a second marker spot on the fifth wheel trailer when the hitch is directly aligned vertically underneath the hitch coupler.

2. The laser device according to claim 1 further including means for independently adjusting the orientation of the first and second laser light beams.