Method and apparatus for aligning a trailer hitch

• US 7,744,109 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ortwin W. Groh
• Original Assignee: Ortwin W. Groh
• Inventors: Groh, Ortwin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, TASHIANA R
• Application Number:
  US11/911,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20090108563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 280/477, 280/478.1, 359/871
• 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 relates to a method and apparatus for assisting a driver of a towing vehicle to reverse the vehicle into alignment and proximity with a trailer, so that the towing vehicle and the trailer can be easily hitched together. The invention includes a detachable alignment system with a signal device to show a stop point via side mirrors to the driver while he is reversing the vehicle toward the trailer. The invention includes two complementary units respectively releasably attached to the vehicle and trailer, each unit having equal-length transverse support beams that respectively extend beyond the sides of the vehicle and trailer and that have visible markers depending from their distal ends, whereby the markers are visible to the driver via the side view mirrors. Being of equal length, the distal ends of support beams on either side of the vehicle and trailer permit the end markers to visually line up or come together as viewed by the driver through the side view mirrors when a tow ball on the vehicle and a trailer hitch on the trailer are accurately lined up for a positive connection. The markers permit the driver to align the vehicle unit to the trailer unit while reversing the vehicle, and therefore align the tow ball to the trailer hitch as those units are mounted to these parts specifically and respectively. A trigger switch on the trailer unit may be deployed to activate a signal device, for example a light, when in contact with the tow ball.

Claims

1. An apparatus for positioning a tow vehicle with respect to a trailer, comprising a tow vehicle unit and a trailer unit;

wherein each of the tow vehicle unit and the trailer unit comprises two medial support arms attached to a principle support arm by hinged joints and two distal support arms attached to the medial supports arms by hinged joints;

wherein the principle support arm, the medial support arms, and the distal support arms extend transversely from the longitudinal axis of the tow vehicle unit or trailer unit respectively;

wherein a distal end of each distal support arm terminates in an end cap that supports a marker;

wherein the tow vehicle unit is attached to a tow ball of a vehicle and the trailer unit is attached to a trailer hitch of a trailer; and

wherein when the tow vehicle unit and trailer unit are lined up, the markers on the distal ends of the distal support arms of the tow vehicle unit and the trailer unit are aligned longitudinally such that they do not collide with each other during use.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tow vehicle unit is attached to the tow ball with a connector supported by an adjustment device that permits the tow vehicle unit to be adjusted along a longitudinal axis of the tow vehicle to permit clearing of a bumper or other posterior obstruction on the tow vehicle;

and

wherein the adjustment device is mounted to the principle support arm of the tow vehicle unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trailer unit further comprises a hinged paddle that depresses when the tow ball of the vehicle strikes it, thereby triggering a switch that causes indicator lights at the distal ends of the distal supports arms of the trailer unit to illuminate.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the indicator lights are located inside the markers on the distal ends of the distal support arms of the trailer unit.