Trailer hitch positioning system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A trailer hitch positioning system comprising:
- a pinpoint light source assembly;
a light beam sensing array assembly;
a sonic proximity sensor;
a proximity sensor reflector plate; and
a passenger compartment display unit wherein a pinpoint beam from said pinpoint light source assembly strikes and activates light beam sensors within said light beam sensing array assembly, activations of said light beam sensors being detected by a digital controller within said display unit which then provides a corresponding positional information output to the vehicle driver through an LED display;
said sonic proximity sensor being in connection with said digital controller and emitting and receiving sonic signals toward and from said proximity sensor reflector plate to determine a distance between said sonic proximity sensor and said proximity sensor reflector plate;
said digital controller receiving a distance signal input from said sonic proximity sensor and activating an audible alerting buzzer in connection with said digital controller when said distance signal input reaches a predetermined triggering level;
said pinpoint light source assembly including a pinpoint light source providing a pinpoint light beam and being pivotally mounted onto a magnetic light source base;
said proximity sensor reflector plate being mounted to said magnetic light source base;
said light beam sensing array assembly including a number of light beam sensors and a housing having a corresponding number of light beam sensor windows, one positioned over each light beam sensor, and a rubberized magnetic back surface;
each light beam sensor being activated when said pin point light beam of said pin point light source id focused thereon;
said sonic proximity sensor being mounted to a top surface of said housing of said light beam sensing array;
said passenger compartment display unit including a display unit housing, a digital controller housed within said display unit housing, a buzzer grate, said audible alerting buzzer, a power adapter in connection with said digital controller, and display unit indicator LED'"'"'s including;
an “
on center”
LED, first, second, and third “
right of center”
LED'"'"'s, and a first, second, and third “
left of center”
LED'"'"'s;
said digital controller being in input receiving connection with said number of light sensor elements positioned behind said light beam sensor windows and in output connection with said “
on center”
LED;
said first, second, and third “
right of center”
LED'"'"'s; and
said first, second, and third “
left of center”
LED'"'"'s;
said digital controller selectively activating said “
on center”
LED;
said first, second, and third “
right of center”
LED'"'"'s; and
said first, second, and third “
left of center”
LED'"'"'s in response to activation of predetermined ones of said number of light sensor elements.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A trailer hitch positioning system that provides a visual and an audible indication to a vehicle driver of the position of the trailer ball with respect to the tongue of the trailer. The trailer hitch positioning system includes a pinpoint light source assembly, a light beam sensing array assembly, and a passenger compartment display unit wherein a pinpoint beam from the pinpoint light source assembly strikes and activates light beam sensors within the light beam sensing array assembly, the activations of the light beam sensors being detected by a digital controller within the display unit which then provides a corresponding positional information output to the vehicle driver through an LED display and an audible alerting buzzer.
147 Citations
2 Claims
-
1. A trailer hitch positioning system comprising:
-
a pinpoint light source assembly;
a light beam sensing array assembly;
a sonic proximity sensor;
a proximity sensor reflector plate; and
a passenger compartment display unit wherein a pinpoint beam from said pinpoint light source assembly strikes and activates light beam sensors within said light beam sensing array assembly, activations of said light beam sensors being detected by a digital controller within said display unit which then provides a corresponding positional information output to the vehicle driver through an LED display;
said sonic proximity sensor being in connection with said digital controller and emitting and receiving sonic signals toward and from said proximity sensor reflector plate to determine a distance between said sonic proximity sensor and said proximity sensor reflector plate;
said digital controller receiving a distance signal input from said sonic proximity sensor and activating an audible alerting buzzer in connection with said digital controller when said distance signal input reaches a predetermined triggering level;
said pinpoint light source assembly including a pinpoint light source providing a pinpoint light beam and being pivotally mounted onto a magnetic light source base;
said proximity sensor reflector plate being mounted to said magnetic light source base;
said light beam sensing array assembly including a number of light beam sensors and a housing having a corresponding number of light beam sensor windows, one positioned over each light beam sensor, and a rubberized magnetic back surface;
each light beam sensor being activated when said pin point light beam of said pin point light source id focused thereon;
said sonic proximity sensor being mounted to a top surface of said housing of said light beam sensing array;
said passenger compartment display unit including a display unit housing, a digital controller housed within said display unit housing, a buzzer grate, said audible alerting buzzer, a power adapter in connection with said digital controller, and display unit indicator LED'"'"'s including;
an “
on center”
LED, first, second, and third “
right of center”
LED'"'"'s, and a first, second, and third “
left of center”
LED'"'"'s;
said digital controller being in input receiving connection with said number of light sensor elements positioned behind said light beam sensor windows and in output connection with said “
on center”
LED;
said first, second, and third “
right of center”
LED'"'"'s; and
said first, second, and third “
left of center”
LED'"'"'s;
said digital controller selectively activating said “
on center”
LED;
said first, second, and third “
right of center”
LED'"'"'s; and
said first, second, and third “
left of center”
LED'"'"'s in response to activation of predetermined ones of said number of light sensor elements.- View Dependent Claims (2)
two magnetically attachable suction cup assemblies that are magnetically attachable to said rubberized magnetic back surface of said light beam sensing array assembly;
each said magnetically attachable suction cup assembly a metal attachment plate and a suction cup extending from one side of said metal attachment plate.
-
Specification
-
- Resources
Litigation Campaign Assessment
Thank you for your request. You will receive a custom alert email when the Litigation Campaign Assessment is available.
×
-
Current AssigneeJoseph I. Thibodeaux
-
Original AssigneeJoseph I. Thibodeaux
-
InventorsThibodeaux, Joseph I.
-
Primary Examiner(s)Gutierrez, Diego
-
Assistant Examiner(s)Guadalupe, Yaritza
-
Application NumberUS09/352,961Time in Patent Office566 DaysField of Search332/86, 332/63, 332/64, 336/13, 336/45, 116/28.R, 340/282, 340/431, 340/435, 280/477US Class Current33/286CPC Class CodesB60D 1/36 for facilitating connection...
