Viewing assembly and a method for coupling a trailer to a selectively movable assembly

• US 7,621,555 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2007
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reginald D. Wilkinson
• Original Assignee: Reginald D. Wilkinson
• Inventors: Wilkinson, Reginald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MAURICE L
• Application Number:
  US11/651,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20070241536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 280/478.1, 359/872, 359/844, 248/467, 248/476
• 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 assembly 10 which may be selectively and removably attached to a selectively movable assembly, such as a vehicle 90 and which provides the driver 94 of the selectively movable assembly 90 with an image of the trailer connection portion 99 of the selectively movable assembly 90 as the selectively movable assembly 90 is moved toward a trailer 102.

Claims

1. A viewing assembly comprising a mirror portion having a convex reflective front surface and a convex opaque back surface;

a circular magnet;

an elbow member having a bend of about forty-five degrees and having a pair of opposed ends, wherein a first of said pair of opposed ends is coupled to said circular magnet;

a straight member having a first end which is coupled to a second of said pair of opposed ends of said elbow member, thereby causing said straight member to form an angle of about forty-five degrees with respect to said magnet and wherein said straight member has a second end;

a second elbow member having a bend of about forty five degrees and further have first and second opposed ends, wherein said first of said opposed ends of said second elbow member is coupled to said second end of said straight member;

a second straight member having first and second opposed ends, wherein a first of said opposed ends of said second straight member is coupled to second opposed end of said second elbow member, thereby causing said second straight member to form an angle of about forty-five degrees with respect to said first straight member;

a third elbow member having first and second opposed ends, wherein said first opposed end of said third elbow member is coupled to said second opposed end of said second straight member;

a third straight member having first and second opposed ends, wherein said first opposed ends of said third straight member is rotatably received within said second opposed end of said third elbow member, wherein said third straight member lies above said magnet is parallel to said magnet; and

a cap which is coupled to said second opposed end of said third straight member, and wherein said third straight member is coupled to said opaque back surface of said mirror portion such that said mirror portion is positioned above said magnet and is selectively rotatable about an axis and said axis is parallel to a second axis which passes through said magnet and wherein said mirror portion is selectively rotatable in a direction toward said magnet and in a second direction-away from said magnet.

2. The viewing assembly of claim 1 wherein elbows of said members are formed from plastic material.

3. The viewing assembly of claim 1 wherein said mirror is rectangular.

4. The viewing assembly of claim 3 wherein said viewing assembly is “

C”

shaped.