System and method for connecting or disconnecting a trailer to a vehicle

• US 9,834,049 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2014
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Patents AS
• Original Assignee: Smart Patents AS
• Inventors: Strand, Dag Arild Aamodt
• Primary Examiner(s): Knutson, Jacob D
• Application Number:
  US14/904,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20160185169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 2804791, 701 25, 701300
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/246 for actuating the hitch by powered means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/42 for being adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/54 collapsible or retractable when not in use, e.g. hide-away hitches B60D1/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/66 Props

Abstract

System and method for connecting or disconnecting a trailer (102) to a vehicle (101) comprising a tow bar (201) mounted to the vehicle (101), a trailer hitch mounted on the trailer (102), at least one motor mounted in connection with the tow bar (201), a control of said at least one motor and is further characterized in that said tow bar (201) automatically can connect to the trailer hitch mounted on the trailer (102) when these are within a predetermined radius of one another.

Claims

1. A system for connecting or disconnecting a trailer to a vehicle, the system comprising:

a trailer hitch mounted on the trailer;

a tow bar mounted to the vehicle,

the tow bar movable in all directions, operable to connect to the trailer hitch mounted on the trailer, having a driving position;

at least one motor mounted in connection with the tow bar, the at least one motor operable to control the tow bar; and

a control of said at least one motor;

and wherein

when the tow bar and the trailer hitch are positioned within a predetermined radius of one another the at least one motor is operable to cause the tow bar and the trailer hitch to automatically connect by moving the tow bar to a connection position with the trailer hitch, the connection position being different than the driving position, and

the at least one motor is operable to automatically center the tow bar for the driving position after the tow bar has been connected to the trailer hitch at the connection position.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined radius is determined by a device for assessing a distance between said vehicle and said trailer hitch mounted on the trailer.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said device for assessing the distance between said vehicle and said trailer hitch mounted on the trailer can be one or more proximity sensors.

4. The system according to claim 2 wherein said device for assessing the distance between said vehicle and said trailer hitch mounted on the trailer may be a camera mounted on a rear end of said vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein said camera is operable to transmit video to a monitor mounted within the vehicle, the video comprising images, and on said images there are displayed guide lines.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein an opening of the trailer hitch mounted on the trailer is conical.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the trailer hitch mounted on the trailer is magnetic.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is operable to automatically maneuver the vehicle to a correct predetermined working radius.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system can be activated or deactivated via voice control, touch screen or remote control.

10. The system according to claim 1 having an interlock, the interlock operable to prevent activation or deactivation of the system during driving of the vehicle.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the tow bar or the trailer hitch mounted on the trailer, or both, is resilient.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein the control of said at least one motor is at least one of an automatic sensor control, a remote control, a control mounted directly on the at least one motor, or a control located inside the vehicle.

12. A method for automatically connecting or disconnecting a trailer to a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a tow bar mounted to the vehicle,

the tow bar having a driving position, the tow bar movable in all directions, and the tow bar operable to automatically center the tow bar for the driving position after connection to a trailer hitch mounted on the trailer;

providing at least one motor mounted in connection with the tow bar, the at least one motor having a control and operable to control the tow bar;

providing a device operable to evaluate a distance between said vehicle and the trailer hitch mounted on the trailer, the device operable to give a signal to said control of the at least one motor when the distance between the vehicle and the trailer hitch determined by the device is within a working radius;

causing the motor to engage the tow bar to connect to the trailer hitch upon receipt of the signal by the control by moving the tow bar to a connection position with the trailer hitch, the connection position being different than the driving position; and

allowing the tow bar to automatically center the tow bar for the driving position after connection to the trailer hitch after the tow bar has been connected to the trailer hitch at the connection position.