Trailer hitch with sensor system

• US 5,861,814 A
• Filed: 05/21/1998
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Melvin Clayton
• Original Assignee: Melvin Clayton
• Inventors: Clayton, Melvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US09/082,686
• Time in Patent Office: 243 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/686, 340/687, 340/691.6, 340/693, 280/477, 280/504
• US Class Current: 340/687
• 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

A new trailer hitch with sensor system for allowing for easier alignment for coupling with a trailer. The inventive device includes a hitch portion secured to a rear portion of a towing vehicle. The hitch portion has an upper ball portion. The upper ball portion has a pair of sensors disposed therein. Each of the sensors are connected to a central wire. The central wire extends interiorly of the vehicle. A trailer tongue extends outwardly from a trailer. The trailer tongue has a ball socket formed within a free end thereof. The ball socket is dimensioned for receiving the upper ball portion of the hitch portion therein. The ball socket has a magnet disposed therein for being sensed by the sensors of the upper ball portion. A display box is positioned interiorly of the vehicle. The display box is in communication with the central wire of the pair of sensors. The display box provides signals related to a proximity of the trailer tongue to the hitch portion.

Claims

1. A new trailer hitch with sensor system for allowing for easier alignment for coupling with a trailer comprising, in combination:

a hitch portion secured to a rear portion of a towing vehicle, the hitch portion having an upper ball portion, the upper ball portion having first and second sensors disposed therein, each of the sensors being connected to a central wire, the central wire extending interiorly of the vehicle;

wherein the hitch portion has a top end, a bottom end and a longitudinal axis being extended between the top and bottom ends, the first sensor being positioned on the longitudinal axis towards the top end of the upper ball portion of the hitch portion, the second sensor being positioned towards a back end of the upper ball portion of the hitch portion at about a 90 degree angle from the first sensor;

a trailer tongue extending outwardly from a trailer, the trailer tongue having a ball socket formed within a free end thereof, the ball socket being dimensioned for receiving the upper ball portion of the hitch portion therein, the ball socket having a magnet disposed therein for being sensed by the sensors of the upper ball portion, the magnet being positioned towards an uppermost portion of an inner surface of the ball socket such that the magnet is positioned directly above the first sensor when the hitch portion is aligned directly under the ball socket, the trailer tongue having a stop plate extending downwardly therefrom inwardly of the ball socket, the stop plate being upwardly pivotable;

a display box positioned interiorly of the vehicle, the display box being in communication with the central wire of the pair of sensors, the display box having a flexible band on a rear surface thereof to facilitate securement to a sun visor of the vehicle, the display box having audio and light components therein with corresponding speakers and visual lights on an exterior thereof, the visual lights having a center light and a plurality of left lights and a plurality of right lights, the display box having a power switch, the display box providing signals related to a proximity of the trailer tongue to the hitch portion;

the left lights being generally circular and extending in a row between a left end of the display box and the center light, the row of left lights having a proximal light and a distal light, the proximal light being positioned adjacent the center light, wherein the diameter of the left lights consecutively increases from the distal light to the proximal light, wherein the intensity of the left lights consecutively increases from the distal light to the proximal light, wherein the distal light emits light when the ball socket of the trailer tongue is positioned to the left of the hitch portion, the lights consecutively lighting up from the distal light towards the proximal light as the hitch portion moves towards the ball socket of the trailer tongue;

the right lights being generally circular and extending in a row between a right end of the display box and the center light, the row of right lights having a proximal light and a distal light, the proximal light being positioned adjacent the center light, wherein the diameter of the right lights consecutively increases from the distal light to the proximal light, wherein the intensity of the right lights consecutively increases from the distal light to the proximal light wherein the distal light emits light when the ball socket of the trailer tongue is positioned to the right of the hitch portion, the lights consecutively lighting up from the distal light towards the proximal light as the hitch portion moves towards the ball socket of the trailer tongue;

wherein the center light is lighted when the hitch portion is moving directly towards the ball socket of the trailer tongue;

wherein the display box emits a voice instructing a driver of the towing vehicle to turn the towing vehicle in order to line up the hitch portion with the ball socket of the trailer tongue;

wherein the display box emits a beeping sound at spaced apart intervals, the intervals becoming shorter as the hitch portion moves towards the ball socket of the trailer tongue;

the display box having a switch permitting selection of the voice or the beeping sound; and

wherein the display box emits a car horn sound when the hitch portion is aligned directly under the ball socket of the trailer tongue.

2. A new trailer hitch with sensor system for allowing for easier alignment for coupling with a trailer comprising, in combination:

a hitch portion secured to a rear portion of a towing vehicle, the hitch portion having an upper ball portion, the upper ball portion having a pair of sensors disposed therein, each of the sensors being connected to a central wire, the central wire extending interiorly of the vehicle;

a trailer tongue extending outwardly from a trailer, the trailer tongue having a ball socket formed within a free end thereof, the ball socket being dimensioned for receiving the upper ball portion of the hitch portion therein, the ball socket having a magnet disposed therein for being sensed by the sensors of the upper ball portion;

a display box positioned interiorly of the vehicle, the display box being in communication with the central wire of the pair of sensors, the display box having light components therein with corresponding visual lights on an exterior thereof, the visual lights having a plurality of left lights and a plurality of right lights, the display box providing signals related to a proximity of the trailer tongue to the hitch portion;

the left lights extending in a row from a left end of the display box towards a center of the display box, the row of left lights having a proximal light and a distal light, the proximal light being positioned towards a center of the display box, the lights consecutively lighting up from the distal light towards the proximal light as the hitch portion moves towards the ball socket of the trailer tongue; and

the right lights extending in a row between a right end of the display box and the center light, the row of right lights having a proximal light and a distal light the proximal light being positioned adjacent the center light the lights consecutively lighting up from the distal light towards the proximal light as the hitch portion moves towards the ball socket of the trailer tongue.

3. The trailer hitch with sensor system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the display box has a flexible band on a rear surface thereof to facilitate securement to a sun visor of the vehicle.

4. The trailer hitch with sensor system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the visual lights have a center light being positioned between the plurality of left lights and the plurality of right lights, the center light being lighted when the hitch portion is moving directly towards the ball socket of the trailer tongue.

5. The trailer hitch with sensor system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the diameter of the left lights consecutively increases from the distal light to the proximal light, the distal light of the left lights emitting light when the ball socket of the trailer tongue is positioned to the left of the hitch portion, the distal light of the right lights emitting light when the ball socket of the trailer tongue is positioned to the right of the hitch portion.

6. The trailer hitch with sensor system as set forth in claim 2 wherein wherein the intensity of the left lights consecutively increases from the distal light to the proximal light, wherein the distal light emits light when the ball socket of the trailer tongue is positioned to the left of the hitch portion, the distal light of the right lights emitting light when the ball socket of the trailer tongue is positioned to the right of the hitch portion.

7. The trailer hitch with sensor system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the display box has audio components therein with corresponding speakers on an exterior thereof, the display box emitting a beeping sound at spaced apart intervals, the intervals becoming shorter as the hitch portion moves towards the ball socket of the trailer tongue.

8. The trailer hitch with sensor system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the display box emits a car horn sound when the hitch portion is aligned directly under the ball socket of the trailer tongue.

9. The trailer hitch with sensor system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the trailer tongue has a stop plate extending downwardly therefrom inwardly of the ball socket.

10. The trailer hitch with sensor system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the stop plate is upwardly pivotable.

11. The trailer hitch with sensor system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the display box has audio components therein with corresponding speakers on an exterior thereof, wherein the display box emits a voice instructing a driver of the towing vehicle to turn the towing vehicle in order to line up the hitch portion with the ball socket of the trailer tongue.

12. The trailer hitch with sensor system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the display box has a switch permitting selection of the voice or a beeping sound.

13. The trailer hitch with sensor system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the hitch portion has a top end, a bottom end, and a longitudinal axis being extended between the top and bottom ends, the first sensor being positioned on the longitudinal axis towards the top end of the upper ball portion of the hitch portion, the second sensor being positioned towards a back end of the upper ball portion of the hitch portion at about a 90 degree angle from the first sensor.

14. The trailer hitch with sensor system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the magnet of the ball socket is positioned towards an uppermost portion of an inner surface of the ball socket such that the magnet is positioned directly above the first sensor when the hitch portion is aligned directly under the ball socket.