Electronic trailer guide

• US 5,097,250 A
• Filed: 01/25/1991
• Issued: 03/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hernandez, David
• Original Assignee: Hernandez, David
• Inventors: Hernandez, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/646,092
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/440, 340/431, 340/686-689, 280/47.131, 280/DIG. 1, 280/DIG. 9, 280/DIG. 14, 180/271, 180/282
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/02 Steering position indicators ; Steering position determination; Steering aids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/14 Tractor-trailer backing connections

Abstract

An electronic trailer guide includes sensors and associated logic and display circuitry that serve to present information to the driver of a towing vehicle as to the direction in which he must turn the steering wheel of the towing vehicle to back a trailer into a desired position, as to whether the trailer is tilted to the left or to the right, as to whether, when backing a boat trailer down a boat ramp into a body of water preparatory to launching a boat, the water level has risen to a point beneath the towing vehicle at which there is a risk of damage to the vehicle and, as to whether, when backing a boat trailer down a boat ramp into a body of water, the water has buoyantly lifted the boat off of the trailer so that it may be launched.

Claims

1. An electronic trailer guide for sensing certain parameters regarding the positional relationship between a towing vehicle and a trailer being backed into a desired position by the towing vehicle, the electronic trailer guide comprising:

alignment sensor means coupled to the towing vehicle and the trailer at a point of attachment therebetween for sensing a degree of misalignment between the towing vehicle and the trailer;

left and right tilt sensor means coupled to the trailer at points proximate the left and right sides thereof, respectively, for sensing a left tilt condition and a right tilt condition of the trailer; and

logic circuitry/display means coupled to the alignment sensor means and to the left and right tilt sensor means, said logic circuitry/display means being responsive to said left and right tilt sensor means for providing a visual indication to the driver of the towing vehicle when either of a left tilt condition and a right tilt condition of the trailer has been sensed, said logic circuitry/display means being further responsive to said alignment sensor means for providing a visual indication to the driver of the towing vehicle of the direction in which a steering wheel of the towing vehicle must be turned in order to align the towing vehicle and the trailer.

2. An electronic trailer guide as in claim 1 wherein said logic circuitry/display means is further responsive to said alignment sensor means for providing a visual indication to the driver of the towing vehicle of the degree of misalignment between the towing vehicle and the trailer.

3. An electronic trailer guide as in claim 1 wherein said trailer comprises a boat trailer for trailering a boat thereon, the electronic trailer guide further comprising:

water sensor means mounted to an underneath surface of the towing vehicle proximate a rear end thereof for sensing the presence of water when the boat trailer is being backed down a boat ramp into a body of water, said logic circuitry/display means being coupled to said water sensor means and being responsive thereto for providing a visual indication to the driver of the towing vehicle at such time as water is sensed by said water sensor means; and

flotation sensor means mounted to a structural member of said boat trailer for sensing, as the boat trailer is being backed down a boat ramp into a body of water, the point in time at which the boat is buoyantly lifted off of the boat trailer, said logic circuitry/display means being coupled to said flotation sensor means and being responsive thereto for providing a visual indication to the driver of the towing vehicle at the point in time at which the boat is buoyantly lifted off of the boat trailer.