Abstract:
The present invention relates to a safe and secure trailer hitch for use with a towing vehicle. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to an optical guiding trailer hitch device which allows an operator of a towing vehicle to easily, accurately, and safely attach a trailer to the towing vehicle. Additionally, the optical guiding trailer hitch device may further include an assembly for aligning the trailer in a horizontal plane relative to the towing vehicle. The present invention in conjunction with a trailer may be used for the transportation of a boat, a camper, a mobile home, or any such object which may be moved from one place to another place using a trailer and a towing vehicle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application relates to U.S. Provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No. 60/290,192, filed May 11, 2001, entitled TRAILER HITCH APPARATUS AND METHODS OF USING SAME. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a safe and secure trailer hitch for use with a towing vehicle. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to an optical guiding trailer hitch device which allows an operator of a towing vehicle to easily, accurately, and safely attach a trailer to the towing vehicle. The optical guiding trailer hitch device includes a target assembly, a signal assembly and a support assembly which keeps the signal assembly and the target assembly in a predetermined spaced apart configuration. In operation, the signal assembly emits at least one converging light ray onto the target assembly. When the at least one converging light ray is position in a predetermined spot on the target assembly, the operator can be assured that the towing vehicle and the trailer are in proper alignment for coupling and eventual towing. Additionally, the optical guiding trailer hitch device may further include an assembly for aligning the trailer in a horizontal plane relative to the towing vehicle. The present invention in conjunction with a trailer may be used for the transportation of a boat, a camper, a mobile home, or any such object which may be moved from one place to another place using a trailer and a towing vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Traditionally, a user who wanted to attach a trailer onto a towing vehicle was required to conduct a difficult, unsafe and time consuming ballet of mechanical procedures and actions. Even with the assistance of a helper giving verbal directions to the operator of the towing vehicle, the process is an aggravated ritual of trial and error. The operator&#39;s and/or helper&#39;s inability to accurately gauge the depth and alignment of the trailer in relation to the towing vehicle is the most common cause of problems. When a helper is not available to provide assistance, the inability to successfully couple the trailer to the towing vehicle increases exponentially, thereby resulting in an undue amount of back and forth movement of the towing vehicle. The operator must also leave the driver position and possibly even the towing vehicle itself numerous times in order to observe the relative positions of the trailer and the towing vehicle. For an individual with physical limitations and/or increasing age, such movements may be difficult if not impossible to perform. 
     The task is further complicated by the myriad styles and types of trailers available in the market as well as the differing types of hitch devices used to couple to the trailer. Oftentimes these hitch devices are not standardized and an individual owning several types of trailers would have to learn several unique and distinct “coupling ballets” for each trailer. 
     Numerous alignment devices are known in the art which attempt to assist the operator in aligning the trailer with the towing vehicle using many complicated and unwieldy hitch devices. One such hitch device contemplates the use of two or more members which are supported by either the towing vehicle and/or the trailer itself. The two or more members must be maintained in an exacting spatial alignment while the operator simultaneously places the towing vehicle in reverse and cautiously approaches the trailer. Such typically known hitch devices depend on the ability of the operator to maintain a fixed visual reference during the entire reverse approach maneuver. Such sequences of events are unrealistic and oftentimes dangerous in practice. In fact, any movement of the operator&#39;s head toward either side will almost certainly interrupt the fixed visual reference and thereby result in an inaccurate alignment of the hitch device on the towing vehicle and the trailer. 
     One such known patent is U.S. Pat. No. 3,720,000 which shows a guide ball mounted in a vertical spaced relation above a trailer hitch ball and a lamp positioned vertically above a trailer hitch socket such that when the guide ball contacts the lamp support, a switch is closed thereby illuminating a lamp indicating to the operator that the trailer hitch ball is disposed under the hitch socket. This device requires the operator to align the guide ball with a target area on the lamp support while backing the towing vehicle. This maneuvering results in a lateral misalignment of the hitch components and increased frustration on the part of the operator. Such misalignment is especially likely to occur because of the difficulty the operator has in maintaining visual reference with either the towing vehicle or the trailer. 
     Thus, the present invention solves the problems of repeated attempts at attaching a towing vehicle hitch device to a trailer and/or trailer hitch assembly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a trailer hitch coupling guide. The trailer hitch coupling guide includes (1) a target assembly having an upright translucent panel; (2) a signal assembly having a means for emitting at least one converging light rays; and (3) a support assembly for holding the signal assembly in an optically engaged position with the target assembly, the support assembly further including a horizontal alignment assembly. The signal assembly is further operably associated with a trailer tongue on a trailer and the target assembly is operably associated with a rearward portion of a towing vehicle having a trailer hitch assembly thereon. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the present invention is a trailer hitch coupling guide. The trailer hitch coupling guide includes (1) a target assembly having an upright opaque panel; (2) a signal assembly having a means for emitting at least one converging light rays; and (3) a support assembly for holding the signal assembly in an optically engaged position with the target assembly, the support assembly further including a horizontal alignment assembly. The target assembly is further operably associated with a trailer tongue on a trailer and the signal assembly is operably associated with a rearward portion of a towing vehicle having a trailer hitch assembly thereon. 
     The present invention also includes methods of using the different embodiments of the trailer hitch coupling guide disclosed herein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side plan view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an perspective top view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side plan view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, shown therein is a trailer hitch coupling guide, generally designated by reference numeral  10 , for attaching a trailer  12  to a towing vehicle  14 . The trailer hitch coupling guide  10  includes a target assembly  16 , a signal assembly  18 , and a support assembly  20 . The trailer  12  has a trailer tongue  22  that provides support for the signal assembly  18 . The trailer  12  also has a trailer jack  24  that is vertically movable in order to raise and lower support the trailer tongue  22  to a selected elevation above a ground position (not shown). A forward end  26  of the trailer tongue  22  is provided with a socket portion  28 . The towing vehicle  14  has a tailgate  30  and a bumper  32 . The bumper  32  supports a trailer hitch assembly  40  for connection with the socket portion  28  of the trailer tongue  22 . The target assembly  16  is mounted on the tailgate  30  and is positioned generally so that a portion of the target assembly  16  is aligned with and intersects a vertical plane  36  extending longitudinally through the trailer hitch assembly  40 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the target assembly  16  has an upright panel  42 , a base member  44 , a lid  46  for closing the base member  44 , and a slidably movable horizontal member  48 . The upright panel  42  can be connected to the slidably movable horizontal member  48  with screws and bolts (i.e. bolt assembly  49 ), however, it should be understood that any suitable means may be used in connecting the upright panel  42  with the slidably movable horizontal member  48 . In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upright panel  42  is made of a translucent material such as floster plexiglass. The slidably movable horizontal member  48  adjusts the upright panel  42  in a lateral direction generally toward and/or away from the lid  46 . Two positions of upright panel  42  are shown in FIG.  3 —the solid line version of upright panel  42  depicts upright panel  42  in a position close to lid  46 , while the broken line version of upright panel  42  depicts the upright panel  42  in a position extended and away from lid  46 . As can be appreciated from FIG. 3, upright panel  42  can be adjusted along a horizontal plane such that upright panel  42  is located a varying distance away from or close to lid  46 . The amount of adjustment of the upright panel  42  by the slidably movable horizontal member  48  depends on the distance the trailer hitch assembly  40  extends from the bumper  32  of the towing vehicle  14 —i.e. the distance must be such that the upright panel  42  aligns with and intersects the vertical plane  36 . 
     The upright panel  42  further includes a targeting portion  50 . The targeting portion  50  has at least two converging guide lines  52  such that the area directly above the point that the at least two converging guide lines  52  actually converge defines an alignment portion  54 . When the alignment portion  54  is illuminated by at least one converging light ray  56  (FIG. 1) from the signal assembly  18 , a vertically superimposed position of the trailer tongue  22  in an aligned relation to the trailer hitch assembly  40  is represented. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lid  46  of the target assembly  16  is operably associated with the tailgate  30  of the towing vehicle  14 . When not in operation, the upright panel  42  folds and stores into the base member  44 , the base member  44  folds along a folding assembly  45  and stores into the lid  46  of the target assembly  16 . 
     As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the signal assembly  18  has a light emitting means  60  which emits the at least one converging light ray  56 . The emitting means  60  is mounted on the support assembly  20 . The support assembly  20  has a bracket portion  62  that is adjustably connected to the trailer jack  24  of the trailer tongue  22 . The bracket portion  62  includes a support platform  66  which projects upwardly and is forwardly inclined and supports the emitting means  60 . The emitting means  60  may include a conventional battery powered lamp or a laser. It will be appreciated that the size of the emitting means  60  and the construction of the emitting means  60  can be varied. Assemblies which emit light rays are well known in the art, and no further description of their components, construction, or operation is believed necessary in order for one skilled in the art to understand and implement the emitting means  60  of the trailer hitch coupling guide  10  of the present invention. 
     The support assembly  20  also includes a horizontal alignment assembly  100  which is mounted on a support means  110 . The horizontal alignment  110  is adjustable by an operator to mark the horizontal position of the trailer tongue  22  in relation to the trailer hitch assembly  40 . It is contemplated that horizontal alignment assembly  100  be a convex bubble level, although any device which may be adjusted to mark horizontal positions is by intended to be included for use. 
     The light emitting means  60  directs the at least one converging light ray  56  in an upwardly and forwardly inclined direction toward the upright panel  44  of the target assembly  16  (as shown in FIG.  1 ). The at least one converging light ray  56  engages and illuminates the alignment portion  54  of the target assembly  16 . Thereby providing a visual representation that the forward end  26  of the trailer tongue  22  is vertically aligned with the trailer hitch assembly  40  of the towing vehicle  14 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, an additional embodiment of the trailer hitch coupling guide  10   a  is shown. The trailer hitch coupling guide  10   a  is similar to the trailer hitch coupling guide  10  as shown in FIGS. 1-3 with the differences being hereafter noted. The trailer hitch coupling guide  10   a  is used for hitching a trailer  12   a  to a towing vehicle  14   a.  The trailer hitch coupling guide  10   a  includes a target assembly  16   a,  a signal assembly  18   a,  and a support assembly  20   a.  The trailer  12   a  has a trailer tongue  22   a  that provides support for the support assembly  20   a.  The trailer tongue  22   a  is connected to the trailer  12   a.  The trailer  12   a  also includes a trailer jack  24   a  that is movable along a vertical plane to thereby support the trailer tongue  22   a  at a pre-determined elevation. The forward end  26   a  of the trailer tongue  22   a  is provided with a socket portion  28   a.  The towing vehicle  14   a  has a tailgate  30   a  and a bumper  32   a.  The bumper  32   a  supports a trailer hitch assembly  40   a  for connection with the socket portion  28   a  of the trailer tongue  22   a.  The signal assembly  18   a  is mounted on the tailgate  30   a  (not shown) and intersects a vertical plane  36   a  extending longitudinally through the trailer hitch assembly  40   a  or within the tailgate  30   a  (shown). 
     The target assembly  16   a,  is similar to the target assembly  16 , as shown in FIG. 3, has an upright panel  42   a,  a base member  44   a,  a folding assembly  45   a,  and a slidably movable horizontal member  48   a.  The upright panel  42   a  is opaque in this embodiment and has a targeting portion  50   a.  The targeting portion  50   a  has at least two downwardly converging guide lines  52   a  that forms an alignment portion  54   a.  The target assembly  16   a  is longitudinally aligned with the forward end  26   a  and the socket portion  28   a  of the trailer tongue  22   a.    
     The target assembly  16   a  is mounted on the support assembly  20   a.  The support assembly  20   a  is operably associated with the trailer tongue  22   a  on the trailer  12   a.  The support assembly  20   a  has a bracket portion  62   a  that extends upwardly and is adjustably aligned with a longitudinal axis  64   a  of the trailer tongue  22   a.  The bracket portion  62   a  includes a platform  66   a  which is forwardly inclined and which underlies the target assembly  16   a.  The support assembly  20   a  holds the target assembly  16   a  in an optically engaged position a with the signal assembly  18   a.    
     The signal assembly  18   a  is operably associated with a rearward portion of the towing vehicle  14   a.  The signal assembly  18   a  has a light emitting means  60   a  for emitting at least one converging light ray  56   a.  The light emitting means  60   a  is mounted on the tailgate  30   a.  The light emitting means  60   a  directs at least one converging light ray  56   a  in an upwardly and forwardly inclined direction in a vertical plane  36   a  aligned with a controlled longitudinal axis of the trailer tongue  22   a.  The at least one converging light ray  56   a  engages and illuminates an alignment portion  54   a  of the target assembly  16   a  in accordance with an aligned position of the trailer tongue  22   a  with the trailer hitch assembly  40   a.    
     OPERATION 
     Assuming that socket portion  28  is connected with the trailer hitch assembly  40  and the trailer  12  has been positioned in a desired location, the trailer jack  24  is raised to support the trailer tongue  22  and lift the socket portion  28  off of the trailer hitch assembly  40 . The horizontal alignment assembly  100  is adjusted to indicate a horizontally aligned position relative to the trailer hitch assembly  40 . With the towing vehicle  14  and trailer  12  in this position the upright panel  42  (translucent in embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3; opaque in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9) is unfolded and the light emitting means  60  is placed on the support platform  66  of the bracket portion  62  and is adjusted vertically on the trailer jack  24  so that with the light emitting means  60  turned on the at least one converging light ray  56  focus is on and illuminates the alignment portion  54  for the purpose presently explained. 
     The towing vehicle  14  is then moved out of the way and the trailer tongue  22  is adjusted by the trailer jack  24  in order to level the trailer  12  for storage. The light emitting means  60  is then normally removed from the support platform  66  for safe keeping or other uses. 
     When it is desired to connect the trailer  12  with the towing vehicle  14  the trailer jack  24  is again raised and positioned such that the horizontal alignment assembly  100  is disposed in its marked position relative to the trailer hitch assembly  40  and the emitting means  60  is positioned on its support platform  66  and its switch is moved to the on position. The upright panel  42  is positioned to project vertically above the limit of the tailgate  30  and is held in this position by tightening the bolt assembly  49 , however it should be understood that any suitable means can be used to hold the upright panel  42  in its extended vertical position. 
     To operate the trailer hitch coupling guide  10 , the driver moves the towing vehicle  14  in a conventional reverse manner toward the forward end  26  of the trailer  12 . The driver backs the towing vehicle  14  toward the forward end  26  of the trailer  12  while visually inspecting and aligning the upright panel  42  with the front end  26  of the trailer  12 . When the at least one converging light ray  56  contacts the upright panel  42  and as the towing vehicle  14  moves toward the trailer  12 , the at least one converging light ray  56  forms an illuminated spot near the alignment portion  54  of the upright panel  42 . The driver visually observes the position of the at least one converging light ray  56  and determines whether or not the towing vehicle  14  is aligned with or laterally out-of-line with the socket portion  28  and corrects the position of the towing vehicle  14  accordingly. 
     Consequently, when the at least one light ray  56  is focused on the alignment portion  54 , the driver is confident that the socket portion  28  is positioned over the trailer hitch assembly  40  so that the driver may leave the towing vehicle  14  and connect the trailer  12  and the towing vehicle  14 . 
     To operate the alternative embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the target assembly  16   a  of the trailer hitch coupling guide  10   a  is positioned and mounted on the support assembly  20   a  and the support assembly  20   a  is operably connected to the trailer  12   a.  The support assembly  20   a  is operably connected to the trailer  12   a  by the use of bracket and screws, however it should be understood that any suitable means can be used to connect the support assembly  20   a  to the trailer  12   a.  The signal assembly  18   a  is mounted on the tailgate  30   a  of the towing vehicle  14   a.  Alternatively, the signal assembly  18   a  may be permanently installed in the tailgate  30   a  of the towing vehicle  14   a.    
     The driver moves the towing vehicle  14   a  in a conventional reverse manner toward the forward end  26   a  of the trailer  12   a.  The driver backs the towing vehicle  14   a  toward the forward end  26   a  of the trailer  12   a  by visually aligning the light emitting means  60   a  with the front end  26   a  of the trailer  12   a.  When the at least one converging light ray  56   a  contacts the upright panel  42   a  and as the towing vehicle  14   a  moves toward the trailer  12   a,  the at least one light ray  56   a  forms an illuminated spot near the alignment portion  54   a  of the upright panel  42   a.  The driver visually observes the position of the at least one converging light ray  56   a  and determines whether or not the towing vehicle  14   a  is aligned with or laterally out-of-line with the socket portion  28   a  and corrects the position of the towing vehicle  14   a  accordingly. 
     When the at least one converging light ray  56   a  is focused on the alignment portion  54   a,  the driver is confident that the socket portion  28   a  is positioned over the trailer hitch assembly  40   a  so that the driver may leave the towing vehicle  14   a  and connect the trailer  12   a  and the towing vehicle  14   a.    
     From the above description it is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While presently preferred its embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit in the art which are accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed and as defined in the following claims.