Patent ID: 6076847
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: B60D

Abstract:
A trailer hitch alignment device for visually assisting an operator of a towing vehicle in maneuvering the towing vehicle in order to align a first trailer hitch component on a rear of the towing vehicle with a second trailer hitch component on a forwardly extending tongue of a trailer to be towed by the towing vehicle;said device comprising:an elongate post having a top end, a bottom end, and a length defined between said top and bottom ends;means for removably supporting said post on said tongue of said trailer, rearward of said second trailer hitch component so that said post extends upwardly therefrom;a traveler member removably fitted to said post and movably positionable along said length thereof throughout a range of fixed, adjusted positions, and including clamp means for releasably clamping said traveler member to said post at said fixed, adjusted positions throughout said range, said clamp means including a pair of opposing arm members surrounding a through passage sized and configured for receipt of said post therethrough, said through passage being sized and configured for gripping an external surface of said post with said arm members in a relaxed state, and said passage being expandable to an enlarged state to permit sliding movement of said traveler member along said post; andmirror means attached to said traveler member and pivotally adjustable for positioning said mirror means in a manner which presents a reflected image of said second trailer hitch component to the operator of the towing vehicle to thereby provide a target allowing the operator to maneuver the towing vehicle so that said first trailer hitch component moves toward and into alignment with said second trailer hitch component.