Abstract:
The invention is a trailer hitch alignment device that synergistically combines a laser level with an alignment mounting bracket, where the bracket, using a fastening means, provides a base on a vehicle for affixing the laser level to a vehicle. The laser level provides a laser beam which projects a lighted image that is a guide for coupling the trailer to a fifth wheel hitch on the vehicle. The level provides a means for confirming that the trailer, the vehicle, and the coupled trailer and vehicle all have the proper weight distribution as evidenced by their angle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1) Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to a trailer hitch device, and more particularly to a trailer hitch alignments device for hitching a trailer to a vehicle fitted with a fifth wheel hitch, where the device is additionally a laser level.  
         [0003]     2) Prior Art  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,505 B1 to Capik et al. teaches an optically guided alignment system. The invention teaches a trailer hitch alignment apparatus having a pair of light sources that emit different color light beams. The patent teaches that a single light source  24  can be aligned with a target  32 , and discusses this in col. 5, lines 3-10. Referring to  FIG. 3 , alternate positions are shown for light source  22  (not shown) and  24 . The light source is located adjacent to the rear  48  of cab section  50  of a pickup truck. Colored light beams  18 ,  20  are directed at a target location  32  at a point, which offers the driver of the tow vehicle  10  an unobstructed view of the target location  32 .  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,497 B1 to Dupay et al. teaches a coupling alignment warning system (CAWS). The invention utilizes electronic circuit to analyze a laser beam directed from the back of the cab to a target onto the trailer  62 . In its broadest sense the invention teaches, as shown in  FIG. 3  and  4 , and discussed in col. 7, line 65 to col. 8, line 10, a rugged enclosure  64  is mounted to a back wall  66  of towing unit  60 , above the grease and contaminant area, so that light beam  15  emitted by a laser source  12 , is directed generally perpendicular to wall  66  of towing unit  60 . Further, rugged enclosure  64  is mounted at a height X defined by a top surface  84  of plate hitch  80  when hitch plate  80  is level and the axis beam emitted from the laser source  12  being mounted in rugged enclosure  64  as best shown in  FIG. 3 . Retro-reflective target  70  is mounted to a front vertical surface  68  of towed unit  62  at a height corresponding to the height X at which the rugged enclosure is installed. The rugged enclosure is the term employed in the patent to describe a laser mounted in a protective housing.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,230 B2 to Steven C. Dupay is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,497 B1 cited above. Illustrated in  FIG. 6  and described in col. 10, lines 8-13 is a laser source  12  mounted in a rugged enclosure  64  aligned so that the laser light beam  15  strikes the center of a retro-reflective target  70 .  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,793,494 B2 to Varshneya et al. teaches a laser small arms transmitter that can be clamped to a barrel of a weapon such as an M17 rifle. The clamp is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4  and described in col. 5, line 61. Shafts  30  and  32  ( FIG. 4 ) extend downwardly from the projections  24   d  and  24   e.  A clamp  34  ( FIG. 3 ) has a pair of apertures  36  and  38  through which the shafts  30  and  32  extend, respectively. A bolt end  40  on the lower end of the shaft prevents the clamp from being completely removed.  
         [0008]     While the prior art teaches the use of lasers to determine optical ranging, it fails to teach a relatively inexpensive device that can be quickly fitted to a vehicle, usually a pickup truck, having a fifth wheel hitch that is typically removable. Furthermore, the prior art does not teach a device that can have multiple functions, both on and off the pickup truck, where the functions are all incorporated into one device. Furthermore, the prior art does not teach a device that can be quickly removed from the vehicle, as it, like the fifth wheel, will not advantageously be permanently fixed to the vehicle. What is further needed is a device that is user friendly, and substantially requires little or no training.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In the broadest sense, the invention is a trailer hitch alignment device that synergistically combines a laser level with an alignment mounting bracket, where the bracket, using a fastening means, provides a base on a vehicle for affixing the laser level to the vehicle. The laser level provides a laser beam, which is a visible guide for coupling the trailer to a fifth wheel hitch on the vehicle. The image created by the beam is preferably selectable, and is either a spot or a projected line. The spot has the advantage that it is more intense and easy to see in either day or night. The projected line has the advantage that as the distance from the laser increases, the length of the line increases. Therefore, a user can determine the distance to the trailer by the length of the line. The laser level also provides a means for confirming that the trailer, the vehicle, and the vehicle with the hitched trailer all have the proper weight distribution, as evidenced by their angle with respect to the road. The level has one or more bubble tubes for determining whether a surface is plumb and perpendicular to plumb (e.g., level). The alignment mounting bracket is preferably selected so that it can be quickly and reversibly fitted to the vehicle. In the case of a pickup truck, the bracket is sized so that it can fasten to the front wall of the truck bed. In the case of a tractor the bracket is suitably constructed to fasten to the rear of a cab. The fastening means is suitably selected to enable the laser level to be easily fastened to the alignment bracket, and to have the correct height and orientation. In the case of a pickup truck, the fifth wheel is mounted in the truck bed and the fifth wheel has a height such that the hitch clears the truck bed walls. When the alignment mounting bracket is mounted on the top ledge of the truck bed of the front wall, the laser beam has the desired height. Therefore, the fastening means desirably mounts the laser level substantially flush with the alignment mounting bracket. It is anticipated that the alignment mounting bracket could also be attached to the cab, the frame, or other positions on the front wall.  
         [0010]     Furthermore the invention is a trailer hitch alignment system, where the system is comprised of a) a trailer hitch alignment device; b) a truck having a fifth wheel hitch with a top plate and a front wall of a truck bed, where the fifth wheel hitch is mounted on the truck bed of the truck; and c) a trailer having a tongue, where the tongue of the trailer has a pull pin and a visible reference surface with a target alignment zone. In the system the device is mounted on a top ledge of the front wall of the truck bed at a point substantially equidistant from a left and a right side of the truck, with the laser aimed toward the rear of the truck so that the laser beam bisects the top plate of the fifth wheel hitch and projects a lighted image on the visible reference surface of the trailer, when the truck is properly aligned with the trailer. The truck position can be steered so as to maintain the lighted image within an acceptable target alignment zone as the truck is backed up. Alignment is completed when the pull pin engages the socket of the fifth wheel hitch.  
         [0011]     After coupling the weight distribution can be checked by using the laser level to check that the vehicle is substantially level. Before coupling, the laser level can confirm that the trailer is properly oriented for hitching, and the vehicle, which is usually a, pickup truck, is properly set up for pulling the trailer.  
         [0012]     When the trailer hitch alignment device is not being used to align trailers, the laser level can be disconnected from the alignment mounting bracket, and used as a conventional level. Typical applications for a laser level include determining the orientation of floors, poles, walls, pictures, shooting lines for roofs or fences, using the level to draw straight lines, and in general confirming that a surface is plumb or perpendicular. The functionality of any given laser level will dependent on the selection of level, and the scope of the invention is not limited by the selection of the laser level. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     The foregoing and other objects will become readily apparent by referring to the following detailed description and the appended drawings in which:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the trailer hitch alignment device.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of the trailer hitch alignment device taken along longitudinal sectional line  2 - 2 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the trailer hitch alignment device.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the trailer hitch alignment system.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     The invention is a trailer hitch alignment device  10  that synergistically combines a laser level  20  with an alignment mounting bracket  30 , where the bracket, using a fastening means  40 , provides a base on a vehicle  100  for affixing the laser level  20  to the vehicle  100 . While a variety of laser levels are suitable, in a preferred embodiment the laser level has a frame that has good weathering characteristics and provides a protective housing for the laser. An example of a laser level having the desired properties is manufactured by Shinty Optic-Electric Instruments Co, Ltd. of China, Model Number TD20, wherein the level has an aluminum frame  22 . An illustrated embodiment of the trailer hitch alignment device  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . In the figure, the laser level  20  is shown affixed to the alignment mounting bracket  30 . The fastening means  40 , as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , is not visible in this view. The vehicle  100  is shown in ghost, and is not part of the disclosed trailer hitch alignment device  10 , however, as shown in  FIG. 4  the vehicle  100  is part of the trailer hitch alignment system  1 . The laser level generates a laser beam, which can, in the illustrated embodiment, either be a spot or a line that is horizontal with a level first side  13 , where the level first side  13  is substantially the foot or skeg of the level. The first side  13  is fitted flush with the upper surface  33  of the alignment mounting bracket  30 . As shown in the illustrated embodiment the alignment mounting bracket  30  is a sectional length of extruded channel metal having a flat bottom  34  and two sides, a front flange  32 , and a rear flange  36 , where the extruded channel metal is sufficiently wide to span an upper ledge of a front wall of a truck bed. The preferable extruded channel metal is a sectional length of extruded channel aluminum. The bracket  30  has two threaded holes, each fitted a clamping bolt  31 . The clamping bolt shown has a hexagonal head, and is suitable for fastening with tools, but a hand clamp bolt would be equally as effective.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of the trailer hitch alignment device  10  taken along longitudinal sectional line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in the drawing, the laser  27  can be turned on and off by depressing button  17  on switch  14 . The laser is powered by a pair of spring  26  loaded batteries  25  housed in the level. The batteries are in electrical contact with the laser  27  and the switch  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the laser beam is refracted by fan lens  19 , thereby forming a projected image that is a line. In addition to having an aluminum housing  22  the horizontal bubble tube  21  has a protective clear plastic covering  15 . The front of the laser  18  is a plastic cap  28  with grooves for sliding the fan lens  19 . The level first side  13  is mounted substantially flush with the top of the bracket  30 , and via the fastening means  40 . The upper side of the level  20  has a handle  16  for facilely holding the device and directing the laser beam  29 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The fastening means  40  is a male connector selected from the group consisting of screws, push locks, twist locks, snap locks, rivets and a female connector for receiving the male connector. In the illustrated embodiment the male connector is a threaded bolt  40  that is screwed into the female connector  24 . The female connector  24  is recessed in the level first side  13 .  
         [0020]     In use, the bracket  30  is mounted substantially flush with the top ledge  106  of the front wall  102  of the truck bed of the vehicle  100 . The clamping bolts, each identified as  31  in  FIG. 3 , are adjusted so as to clamp the bracket  30  securely to the front wall  102  of the vehicle/truck  100 , wherein the laser beam is directed toward the rear of the truck  100 .  
         [0021]     In  FIG. 3 , which is a bottom plan view of the trailer hitch alignment device  10 , the relative dimensions of the laser level  20  and the alignment mounting bracket  30  are shown. The alignment mounting bracket  30  is substantially a mounting clamp, comprised of the sectional length of extruded channel metal having a length  62  that is wider than the width  2  of the level first side  13 . The extruded channel metal is long enough to provide dimensional stability to the laser level  20 , and long enough to make it relatively easy to access the clamping bolts  31 . The bottom  34  of the bracket  30  has a relatively flat lower surface  37  with a width  64  that is a base for much of the length  4  of the laser level  20 . The width  64  of the bracket  30  is wider than the top ledge  106  of the front wall  102  of the truck bed. The clamping bolts  31  threadily penetrate the rear channel flange  36 , thereby forming a variably constricted effective channel width, wherein inward adjustment constricts the effective width of the channel and outward adjustment widens the effective width of the channel. Nuts  33  can be tightened to lock the clamping bolts  31 , thereby preventing the bolts from working loose.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the trailer hitch alignment system  1 . The system  1  is comprised of a trailer hitch alignment device  10 , a truck  100  having a fifth wheel hitch  80  with a top plate  84  and a front wall  102  of a truck bed  110 , where the fifth wheel hitch  80  is mounted on the truck bed  110  of the truck  100 ; a trailer  200  having a tongue  206 , where the tongue  206  of the trailer has a tow pin  208  and a visible reference surface  204  with a target alignment zone. The trailer hitch alignment device  10  is mounted on the top ledge  106  of the front wall  102  of the truck bed  110  at a point substantially equidistant from a left and a right side of the truck  100 , with the laser aimed toward the rear of the truck so that the laser beam bisects the top plate  84  of the fifth wheel hitch  80  and projects a lighted image  202  on the visible reference surface  204  of the trailer  20  when the truck is properly aligned with the trailer. The truck position is steered so as to maintain the lighted image  202  within an acceptable zone of alignment as the truck is backed up. The alignment is completed when the tow pin  208  engages the socket  82  of the fifth wheel hitch  80 .  
         [0023]     The trailer hitch alignment system can further be utilized to determine whether the truck bed is properly balanced before and after the trailer is hitched by inspecting the horizontal bubble tube  21 . The trailer hitch alignment device can synergistically be employed, by detecting the position of the lighted image  202  on the visible reference surface  204  of the trailer  200 , whether the tongue  206  is adjusted to the correct height for hitching. The fifth wheel hitch typically has a pneumatic shock absorber, and the absorber should compress after the trailer is hitched. The position of the lighted image  202  on the reference surface  204  will indicates whether the tow pin  208  is properly seated in the hitch  80 .  
         [0024]     The descriptions above and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not the limited sense. While the invention has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiment or embodiments thereof, it should be understood that there may be other embodiments which fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Where a claim is expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function, it is intended that such claim be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof, including both structural equivalents and equivalent structures.