Patent ID: 6480104
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: B60D

Abstract:
The method of moving a first hitch component mounted on a first vehicle into coupling engagement with a corresponding second hitch component mounted on a second vehicle, wherein said first vehicle having a first vehicle first side, a first vehicle second side, a first vehicle first end, a first vehicle second end, a first vehicle top side and a first vehicle bottom side, wherein a first vehicle centerline is defined extending from said first vehicle first end to said first vehicle second end generally centered between said first vehicle first side and said first vehicle second side, said first vehicle centerline further defining a first vehicle first end left side and a first vehicle first end right side, said first hitch component generally mounted adjacent to said first vehicle first end and generally on said first vehicle centerline; wherein said second vehicle having a second vehicle first side, a second vehicle second side, a second vehicle first end, a second vehicle second end, a second vehicle top side and a second vehicle bottom side, wherein a second vehicle centerline is defined extending from said second vehicle first end to said second vehicle second end generally centered between said second vehicle first side and said second vehicle second side, said second vehicle centerline further defining a second vehicle first end left side and a second vehicle first end right side, said second hitch component generally mounted adjacent to said second vehicle first end and generally on said second vehicle centerline; said method comprising the steps of:a) mounting on the first vehicle first end left side a first transducer; b) mounting on the first vehicle first end right side a second transducer; c) mounting on the second vehicle first end left side a third transducer; d) mounting on the second vehicle first end right side a fourth transducer; e) determining the position of the first vehicle first end in relation to the second vehicle first end by measuring the distance between the first transducer and the third transducer, between the first transducer and the fourth transducer, between the second transducer and the third transducer, and between the second transducer and the fourth transducer; and f) displaying the position of the first vehicle first end in relation to the second vehicle first end to a user guiding said vehicles to move the first hitch component into coupling engagement with the corresponding second hitch component.