Trailer attachment guide assembly

A trailer attachment guide assembly includes a rod that has a first end and a second end. The rod is selectively telescopically extendable along a longitudinal axis extending through the first and second ends. The rod may be positioned in a vehicle bed so the rod abuts opposite lateral walls of the vehicle bed. A guide post has a bottom end pivotally coupled to the rod. The guide post is selectively positionable in a deployed position extending upwardly from the rod so the guide post may be viewed from a cabin of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to trailer attachment guide devices and more particularly pertains to a new trailer attachment guide device for guiding a vehicle to a trailer hitch.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a rod that has a first end and a second end. The rod is selectively telescopically extendable along a longitudinal axis extending through the first and second ends. The rod may be positioned in a vehicle bed so the rod abuts opposite lateral walls of the vehicle bed. A guide post has a bottom end pivotally coupled to the rod. The guide post is selectively positionable in a deployed position extending upwardly from the rod so the guide post may be viewed from a cabin of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5, the trailer attachment guide assembly10generally comprises a rod12that has a first end14and a second end16. The rod12is selectively telescopically extendable along a longitudinal axis extending through the first14and second16ends. The rod12may be positioned in a vehicle bed18so the rod12abuts opposite lateral walls20of the vehicle bed18. The rod12includes a tubular first portion22. The tubular first portion22has an open end24. The tubular first portion22may have a length between 89 cm and 94 cm. The tubular first portion22may have an inside diameter between 1.5 cm and 2.5 cm.

The rod12includes a second portion26that has an insertion end28. The open end24of the tubular first portion22insertably receives the insertion end28of the second portion26so the second portion26is slidably positioned within an interior of the tubular first portion22. The second portion26may have a length between 89 cm and 94 cm. The second portion26may have an outside diameter between 1.25 cm and 1.35 cm.

The second portion26is positionable in a first position that has the second portion26positioned within the interior of the tubular first portion22so the second end16of the rod12is positioned adjacent to the open end24of the tubular first portion22. The rod12is positionable in a second position that has the second portion26selectively extended outwardly from the interior of the tubular first portion22along the longitudinal axis of the rod12so the second end16of the rod12is extended a selectable distance away from the open end24of the tubular first portion22. The selectable distance the rod12is extended may be equal to a distance between each of the lateral walls20of the vehicle bed18.

A stopper30comprises a closed ring32. The stopper30includes a flange34extending inwardly from an end36of the stopper30. The stopper30is positioned around an outer surface38of the tubular first portion22so the open end24of the tubular first portion22abuts the flange34. An inner edge40of the flange34forms an opening42to insertably receive the insertion end28of the second portion26. The opening42may have a diameter between 1.65 cm and 1.75 cm.

A sleeve44is positioned around the second portion26adjacent to the insertion end28so an outside surface46of the sleeve44abuts an inner surface48of the tubular first portion22. The sleeve44may have a thickness sufficient to bridge the difference between the outside diameter of the second portion26and the inside diameter of the tubular first portion22. A front edge50of the sleeve44abuts a rear side52of the flange34when the second portion26is extended outwardly of the tubular first portion22so extension of the second portion26is restricted. The sleeve44may be comprised of a resiliently compressible material.

A pair of mounting members54each has a primary end56and a secondary end58. Each of the mounting members54is coupled to an associated one of the first14and second16ends of the rod12. Each of the mounting members54is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod12. Each of the mounting members54may have a length between 11.5 cm and 14 cm. Each of the mounting members54abuts an upper surface60of an associated one of the lateral walls20of the vehicle bed18to retain the rod12on each of the lateral walls20of the vehicle bed18. More particularly, each of the mounting members54has a longitudinal axis90,92oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis94of said rod12.

A guide post62has a bottom end64pivotally coupled to the rod12. The guide post62further has a top end65positioned opposite of said bottom end64. The guide post62is selectively positionable in a deployed position extending upwardly from the rod12so the guide post62may be viewed from a cabin66of the vehicle68. The guide post62is pivotable between the deployed position and a storage position that has the guide post62positioned parallel to the rod12. The guide post62may have a length between 28 cm and 33 cm. The guide post62may have a bright color to make the guide post62more visible from the cabin66of the vehicle68.

A bracket70is coupled to the tubular first portion22. The bottom end64of the guide post62is pivotally coupled to the bracket70. A fastener72extends through the bracket70and the bottom end64of the guide post62to retain the guide post62on the bracket70. The fastener72may comprise a nut and bolt74of any conventional design.

A pair of washers76is each positioned between the bottom end64of the guide post62and the bracket70. Each of the washers76frictionally engages the bottom end64of the guide post62to retain the guide post62in the deployed position. Each of the washers76may be comprised of a resiliently compressible material. A plurality of caps78is positioned on associated ones of the primary56and secondary58ends of each of the mounting members54. The caps78may prevent the mounting members54from scratching the upper surface60of each of the lateral walls20.

In use, the rod12may be used to couple the vehicle68to a goose neck trailer80. The rod12may be positioned across the vehicle bed18so the rod crosses over a front side81of a towing ball82in the vehicle bed18. The guide post62may be positioned in the deployed position. The vehicle68may be driven rearwardly toward the goose neck trailer80to be coupled to the towing ball82. The vehicle68may be driven until the hitch83of the goose neck trailer80abuts the guide post62to align the hitch83with the towing ball82.