Patent Abstract:
A hitch alignment device for aligning a ball and socket of a ball and socket type hitch is disclosed. The alignment device includes a base with a winch and pivotable cable guide mounted on it. The cable guide includes a plate with an arm extending outwardly from it at an angle and an adjustable leg extending outwardly from the arm. A pulley is mounted on the leg and a cable is connected to the winch at one end, is threaded around the pulley and then through holes in the socket and ball of the hitch and is then secured. The cable is wound onto the winch to draw the ball and socket together. The cable guide can be extended and pivoted so that the pulley and therefore the cable is brought into sufficient alignment with the socket on the trailer that undue strain is not placed on the alignment device as the cable is wound onto the winch.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention generally relates to trailer hitches for connecting powered vehicles to trailers. More particularly, the invention relates to an alignment device for a ball and socket type trailer hitch. Specifically, the invention relates to an alignment device that is selectively connectable to any suitable support member on a trailer and which includes a pivotable cable guide for aligning a cable with the socket and thereby permit the socket on the trailer to be aligned and drawn toward the ball on the powered vehicle. 
   2. Background Information 
   Numerous hitching devices have been proposed in the prior art for connecting powered vehicles and trailers together. One type of hitch is a ball and socket hitch where the ball is mounted on the powered vehicle and the socket is mounted on the trailer. In this type of hitch connection, the socket has to be properly aligned with the ball and when they are so aligned, the socket is slightly raised, then dropped over the ball and secured into place. Ball and socket type hitches can be problematic when the vehicle and trailer are not aligned properly with each other, when the trailer is carrying a heavy load or is parked on uneven terrain or in a location where the powered vehicle is not easy to manoeuver. In these instances, connecting the ball and socket together can prove difficult. Various devices have been proposed in the prior art for overcoming this difficulty. One such device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,083 granted to the present inventor, Wilks, which patent is commonly assigned with the instant application. The entire specification of the Wilks U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,083 is incorporated herein by reference. In the Wilks patent, a selectively removable trailer hitch alignment device is disclosed. The alignment device may be attached to the tongue of any trailer in an area immediately to the rear of the socket. The alignment device includes a cable and a hand or motor operated winch for winding and unwinding the cable. In order for the device to operate, a hole is provided in both the ball and the socket. The cable is threaded from the winch, through the holes and is fastened off to a cleat on the powered vehicle. Once the cable has been so threaded and fastened off, the winch is engaged. As the cable is wound up, it draws the trailer toward the powered vehicle. While this device functions well, it has shortcomings in that socket on the trailer must still be basically aligned with the ball on the powered vehicle in order for the alignment device to properly draw the cable through the holes in the ball and socket. If the trailer has to be parked at an angle relative to the vehicle or if the vehicle and trailer are at slightly different heights to each other, the winch may not be able to draw the cable through the holes in the ball and socket without damaging the alignment device. Additionally, the alignment device may not be able to be attached to some trailers as the tongue on the trailer may be too short to accommodate the alignment device. 
   There is therefore still a need in the art for a trailer hitch alignment device that enables the user to align the ball and socket of a hitch together substantially irrespective of the relative position and elevation of the trailer and the powered vehicle. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The device of the present invention includes a trailer hitch alignment device that is removably mountable on the tongue or any other support member of a trailer. The alignment device includes a pivotable cable guide that can rotate to align the cable with the hole in the socket. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a trailer and powered vehicle showing the trailer hitch alignment device of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the trailer hitch alignment device; 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the trailer hitch alignment device attached to the trailer and showing the cable drawing the trailer toward the powered vehicle; 
       FIG. 4  is a partially exploded perspective view of the pivotable arm of the alignment device; 
       FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view of the pivotable arm, showing the arm extension connected in a first position; 
       FIG. 4   b  is a perspective view of the pivotable arm, showing the arm extension connected in a second position; 
       FIG. 4   c  is a perspective view of the pivotable arm, showing the arm extension connected in a third position; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the trailer hitch alignment device showing the arm pivoting from a first orientation to a second orientation; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the trailer hitch alignment device mounted on a trailer and showing alternative positions for mounting the alignment device on the trailer and orienting the pivotable arm to secure a cable to the socket and ball. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–3 , there is shown a trailer hitch alignment device, generally referred to by the number  10 . Alignment device  10  is adapted to be mounted onto either a tongue  12  or supporting strut  14  of a trailer  16 . Trailer  16  is connectable to a powered vehicle  18 , such as a car or truck, by a hitch, generally referred to by the number  20 , which includes a ball  22  and a socket  24 . 
   The alignment device  10  in accordance with the present invention, has a base  26  which has a pivotable cable guide  28  and a winch  30  mounted on it. 
   Base  26  is preferably substantially square in cross-section and has a front end  26   a , a rear end  26   b , an upper surface  42  and a lower surface  43  and a longitudinal axis X ( FIG. 2 ). A lip  32  extends upwardly and outwardly from rear end  26   b . A pivot rod  34  extends upwardly from upper surface  42  at a point near the front end  26   a  of base  26 . Pivot rod  34  extends normally to the longitudinal axis X of base  26 . Rod  34  defines an aperture  36  therethrough, the aperture  36  being sized to receive a lock pin  38  therethrough. A cotter pin  39  secures lock pin  38  in place. A winch mounting plate  40  ( FIG. 2 ) is welded or otherwise secured to the upper surface  42  of base  26  proximate the rear end  26   b . Base  26  is removably securable to either the tongue  12  or any of the supporting struts  14  of trailer  16 . When base  26  is to be positioned on tongue  12  or strut  14 , the longitudinal axis X of base  26  and of the tongue  12  or strut  14  are aligned with each other. The bottom surface  43  of base  26  is placed on the upper surface  12   a  of tongue  12  or on the upper surface  14   a  of strut  14 . Base  26  is secured to tongue  12  or strut  14  by way of one, and preferably two, U-shaped clamps  44 . Clamps  44  each include a bar  46  that rests on the upper surface  42  of base  26  and two threaded legs  48  that extend outwardly from bar  46 . Threaded legs  48  are insertable through holes  50  in a lock plate  52  which is adapted to engage the underside (not shown) of tongue  12  or strut  14 . A nut  54  is threaded onto each leg  48  to secure lock plate  52  in place and thereby clamp the tongue  12  or strut  14  between the bar  46  and lock plate  52 . The clamp  44  that is utilized toward the rear end  26   b  of base  26  may be positioned in front of lip  32  on the upper surface  42  of base  26 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4–6 , pivotable cable guide  28  is mounted onto base  26 . Pivotable cable guide  28  includes a plate  56 , an arm  58  that extends upwardly from plate  56  at an angle and a selectively extendable leg  60  that is connected to the upper end  58   a  of arm  58 . Arm  58  preferably extends outwardly from the plate  56  at an angle, the angle ranging from about 40° to 60° and preferably at 45°. Leg  60  extends outwardly from the upper end  58   a  of arm  58  and is disposed at an angle to arm  58 , the angle ranging from about 130° to 160° degrees and preferably at an angle of 135°. Plate  56  may be rectangular in shape and is preferably welded to arm  58 . Plate  56  defines an aperture  62  ( FIG. 2 ) through which pivot rod  34  is receivable. When pivot rod  34  is inserted through aperture  62 , a washer  67  may be placed on the upper surface  56   a  of plate  56  and then the lock pin  38  is inserted through aperture  36 . A cotter pin  39  engages lock pin  38  to secure plate  56  and base  26  together. When these two components are so secured, pivotable cable guide  28  is able to rotate about an axis of rotation Z–Z′ as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   Referring still to  FIGS. 4–6 , leg  60  is connected to arm  58  via a pair of flanges  66  disposed at the upper end  58   a  of arm  58 . Flanges  66  may be generally triangular in shape and may be fixedly mounted, such as by welding, onto arm  58 , or, alternatively, flanges  66  may be integrally formed with arm  58 . Flanges  66  each define a hole  68  therein and the two holes  68  in the two flanges  66  are preferably axially aligned with each other. Leg  60  may include a channel  69  ( FIG. 5 ) that is either square or U-shaped in cross section. Leg  60  also includes a series of pairs of apertures  70   a ,  70   b  and  70   c , toward the rear end  60   b  of leg  6   b . Apertures  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c  are selectively alignable with the holes  68  in flanges  66 . When a particular pair of apertures such as  70   a  is aligned with the holes  68  in flanges  66 , a connector pin  72  may be inserted therethrough and then locked into place with a cotter pin  74 . A pulley  76  is mounted toward the front end  60   a  of leg  60 . Pulley  76  is preferably disposed within channel  69  of leg  60 . Leg  60  defines a pair of holes  78  ( FIG. 2 ) proximate the front end  60   a  of leg  60  and a pin  80  passes through holes  78  and an aperture  82  in pulley  76 . A cotter pin  84  is used to lock shaft  80  into place. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  5  &amp;  6  a winch  30  is mounted proximate the rear end  26   b  of base  26 . Winch  30  includes a bracket  86 , a toothed spindle  88 , a crank handle  90  and a plurality of gears  92  that engage the teeth  110  on spindle  88 . Bracket  86  is secured to mounting plate  40  by way of bolts  112  that are inserted through aligned holes  114 ,  116  in mounting plate  40  and bracket  86  respectively. Washers  118  and nuts  120  engage bolts  112  to connect mounting plate  40  and bracket  86  together. A lock bolt  122  and nut  124  secure spindle  88  to bracket  86 . The teeth  110  on spindle  88  mesh with the gears  92  as they are rotated by crank handle  90 . Crank handle  90  is operationally connected to spindle  88  by way of a bolt  126  and nut  128 . While a manual crank handle  90  is shown, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a motorized gear system can be utilized in this device without departing from the spirit of the present invention. A cable  130  is secured to spindle  88  and is wound on and off the spindle  88  by rotating the crank handle  90  in opposite directions. Cable  130  is carried by cable guide  28 . The free end  130   a  ( FIG. 1 ) of cable  130  is threaded through the gap  132  ( FIG. 4 ) between flanges  66 , into channel  69  in leg  60 , around pulley  76  and then downwardly through an aperture  134  in the bottom wall  136  of leg  60 . Cable  130  is then threaded downwardly through the hole  138  in socket  24  toward the ground G ( FIG. 1 ). It will be understood by those skilled in the art, that the hole  138  may be preformed in socket  24  or it may be drilled into socket  24 . Furthermore, hole  138  may be preformed or drilled at any angle in socket  24  that enables cable  130  to be threaded from socket  24  to ball  22 . Hole  138  is preferably drilled perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y–Y′ ( FIG. 2 ) of tongue  12 . Similarly, ball  22  is provided with a hole  140  that may be either preformed or drilled in ball  22  and hole  140  is configured to allow cable  130  to be threaded from socket  24  to ball  22 . The orientation of holes  138 ,  140  relative to each other must allow cable  130  to be drawn freely through them so that trailer  16  can be drawn toward powered vehicle  18 . Once cable  130  is threaded through hole  140  in ball  22 , the free end  130   a  of cable  130  is then threaded around a cradle  142  ( FIG. 1 ) to secure the same and prevent it from being accidentally withdrawn through holes  140  and  138 . Cradle  142  is then removably secured to the tow bar  144  or other suitable structure on powered vehicle  18  or trailer  16  by way of a hook  146 . 
   In use, the user first determines whether to connect the alignment device  10  to the tongue  12  or a strut  14  of the trailer  16 . If, for example, the alignment device  10  is to be connected to the tongue  12  of the trailer  16 , as is shown in  FIG. 3 , base  26  is placed on the upper surface  12   a  of tongue  12 . Clamps  44  are positioned so that the bars  46  of clamps  44  rest against the upper surface  42  and in front of lip  32  of base  26 . Lock plate  52  is inserted over threaded legs  48  and nuts  54  are tightened until base  26  is clamped to the tongue  12 . If the user determines that the alignment device  10  should be connected to a support strut  14  of trailer  16 , then base  26  is placed on the upper surface  14   a  of strut  14  and clamps  44  are similarly used to clamp base  26  to strut  14 . The user then pivots pivotable cable guide  28  around until the front end  60   a  of leg  60  lies as close as possible over socket  24 . If need be, the user may adjust the length of leg  60  relative to the socket  24  by removing connector pin  72  from the aperture ( 70   a ,  70   b  or  70   c ) in which it is installed. The length of the leg  60  is then changed by realigning a different pair of apertures ( 70   a ,  70   b  or  70   c ) to position the pulley  76  as close as possible to directly overhead the hole  138  in socket  24 . If, for example, the pulley  76  lies rearwardly of hole  138  in socket  24  and pin  72  is inserted into apertures  70   a , the user removes pin  72  from apertures  70   a , slides leg  60  outwardly away from plate  56  until apertures  70   b  or  70   c  align with holes  68  in flanges  66 . Pin  72  is then inserted through apertures  70   b  or  70   c  as desired and cotter pin  74  is used to lock pin  72  in place. The user then checks to ensure that pulley  76  lies as close as possible to directly overhead hole  138  as possible. If need be, the user can readjust the length of leg  60  yet again. When pin  72  is inserted through apertures  70   a , leg  60  is shortest in length and only able to extend a short distance forwardly of front end  26   a  of base  26  when the longitudinal axis X–X′ of base  26  and longitudinal axis T–T′ ( FIG. 4 ) of leg  60  are aligned. Similarly, when pin  72  is inserted through apertures  70   c , the leg  60  is longest in length and extends a greater distance forwardly of the front end  26   a  of base  26  when the longitudinal axes X–X′ and T–T′ respectively of base  26  and leg  60  are aligned. Once the correct position of leg  60  has been determined and leg  60  has been secured to flanges  66 , the free end  130   a  of cable  130  is withdrawn from spindle  88 , is threaded into channel  69  of leg  60 , is wrapped around pulley  76 , threaded through hole  134  in bottom wall  136  of leg  60 , through hole  138  in socket  24 , through hole  140  in ball  22  and then fixed to cradle  142 . Cradle  142  is hooked onto tow bar  144 . Crank handle  90  is then turned so that the cable  130  is wound up onto spindle  88 . Pivotable cable guide  28  rotates as is necessary around its axis of rotation Z–Z′ as the cable  130  is wound onto spindle  88 . This reduces the strain placed on leg  60  and arm  58  as the cable  130  is shortened in length, especially when the trailer  16  and powered vehicle  18  are not correctly aligned or when the base  26  is secured to a strut  14  on trailer  16 . When the ball  22  and socket  24  are aligned and cable  130  is as short as possible, the socket  24  is raised either manually or through the cable movement until it lies on top of ball  22 . A locking mechanism  148  is then engaged to secure socket  24  to ball  22 . 
   In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
   Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1