Patent ID: 6769709
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: B60D

Abstract:
A trailer hitch alignment system for aligning a vehicle with a gooseneck trailer, said gooseneck trailer having a downwardly extending hitch assembly for mating with a hitch ball mounted to said vehicle, said vehicle comprising a cab, a truck bed, and a bed box, said system comprising:one or more transmitters mounted to said vehicle on an inner portion of said bed box at one or more known positions for transmitting energy toward said downwardly extending hitch assembly; a first receiver mounted to said vehicle on an inner portion of said bed box in a known position for receiving a first reflected energy signal from said downwardly extending hitch assembly; a second receiver mounted to said vehicle on an inner portion of said bed box in a known position for receiving a second reflected energy signal from downwardly extending hitch assembly; a timer for determining a time of travel of said energy from said one or more transmitters to said downwardly extending hitch assembly and to said first receiver and said second receiver; a processor connected to said timer for determining a relative position of said downwardly extending hitch assembly with respect to a position of said hitch ball from said time of travel; and an indicator for indicating said relative position of said downwardly extending hitch assembly with respect to a position of said hitch ball.