Patent Abstract:
The trailer hitch coupling kit is a kit for aiding a driver in coupling the tow ball of a towing vehicle and the socket of a trailer coupler, by enabling the driver to view the tow ball and a guidepost mounted onto the trailer drawbar while seated in the driver&#39;s seat of the towing vehicle. It includes a mirror assembly with two pivotally connected support legs, a pair of foot members that allow for attachment of the mirror assembly to the rear of a towing vehicle in three distinct manners, a trailer drawbar guidepost with a magnetic base and a carrying case.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to aids for securing a trailer to a towing vehicle and, more particularly, to a trailer hitch coupling kit for aiding in coupling the tow ball of a towing vehicle and the socket of a trailer coupler, by enabling the driver of the towing vehicle to view the tow ball and a guidepost mounted on the trailer drawbar while in the driver&#39;s seat. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   It is well known that connecting a trailer to a towing vehicle is a difficult task when performed by one person. The difficulty arises from the need to position the tow ball of the towing vehicle under the socket of the trailer coupler. Typically, when a lone person backs a towing vehicle toward a trailer, neither the tow ball nor the trailer coupler are visible while he or she is in the driver&#39;s seat of the towing vehicle. Therefore, he or she must maneuver the vehicle back and forth numerous times, getting out of the vehicle each time to check on the positioning of the tow ball and trailer coupler socket until he or she has positioned the tow ball just beneath the trailer coupler socket. Although a mirror attached to the rear of the towing vehicle can enable the driver to see the tow ball as he or she backs up, such a mirror cannot enable the driver to also see the trailer coupler until the driver has already aligned the tow ball fairly close to it. Thus, a need exists for a better means of connecting a trailer to a towing vehicle. 
   Numerous patents teach a mirror assembly that mounts to the rear of a vehicle. These include U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,376 issued Mar. 6, 1990 to R. P. Neeley (apparatus for facilitating trailer hitch element alignment); U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,287 issued May 15, 1990 to B. Lord et al. (mirror assembly for facilitating hitch element alignment); U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,342 issued May 5, 1992 to D. M. Quesada (hitch-viewing mirror assembly); U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,182 issued Jan. 19, 1993 to J. R. Haworth (trailer hitch alignment device); U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,337 issued May 17, 1994 to T. L. Byers (attachable vehicle mirror); U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,310 issued Jan. 9, 1996 to J. L. Staggs (trailer hitch mirror alignment device); U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,500 issued Apr. 29, 1997 to B. Ackerman (hitching mirror); U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,175 issued Aug. 12, 1997 to J. D. Brewington (reflector device for aligning the complementary components of a trailer hitch); U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,213 issued Jul. 21, 1998 to G. Howard (backup mirror for tow vehicle); U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,564 issued Oct. 20, 1998 to K. P. Mazarac (rear-mounted vehicle mirror); U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,555 issued Oct. 26, 1999 to L. M. Wilcox et al. (hitch viewing mirror assembly and method); U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,423 issued Aug. 15, 2000 to H. S. Beck et al. (visual alignment aid for connecting trailers); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,685 issued Sep. 16, 2003 to G. Q. Teague (universal trailer hitch mirror system). 
   Although useful for viewing a tow ball from the driver&#39;s seat of a towing vehicle, each of these devices has several drawbacks when used to couple the vehicle and a trailer. First, while each device provides a view of the tow ball, none also provides the driver with a reference to the location of the trailer coupler and, thus, each device is only useful to a driver once he or she has positioned the towing ball fairly close to the trailer coupler. Second, none of the devices easily adjusts into the position presenting the best view of the tow ball and provides a means for recording that position. Third, none of the devices disassembles and stores easily. 
   Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,554 issued Dec. 14, 1993 to B. J. Law (trailer hitch alignment guide); U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,056 issued May 1, 1994 to A. F. Faith, IV (trailer hitch guide); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,603 issued Sep. 2, 2003 to M. D. Alger (trailer hitch alignment system) each teaches a guidepost for attachment to the tow ball of a towing vehicle and a guidepost for attachment to a trailer couple. The top of each guidepost is visible from the rear view mirror within a towing vehicle thereby allowing the tow ball to be positioned close to the trailer coupler. However, because none of these devices includes a mirror mountable to the rear of the towing vehicle, it is difficult to align the trailer hitch socket precisely over the tow ball. 
   None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a trailer hitch guide solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The trailer hitch coupling kit includes a mirror assembly with two pivotally connected support legs, a pair of foot members that allow for attachment of the mirror assembly to the rear of a towing vehicle in three distinct manners, a trailer drawbar guidepost with a magnetic base, and a carrying case. 
   The kit provides the driver of a towing vehicle with both a view of the tow ball and a reference to the location of the trailer coupler and, thus, allows the driver to precisely align the trailer coupler socket over the tow ball without leaving the driver&#39;s seat. The components of the kit are easily assembled and disassembled, and conveniently store in a dedicated carrying case. The mirror assembly is configured to easily adjust into the position that presents the best view of the tow ball and provides a means for recording that position. The pair of foot members allows the mirror assembly to be attached to a vehicle in one of three distinct manners. 
   Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide the driver of a towing vehicle with both a view of the vehicle&#39;s tow ball and a reference to the location of a trailer coupler and, thus, allow the driver to precisely align the trailer coupler socket over the tow ball without leaving the driver&#39;s seat. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a trailer hitch coupling kit with components that are easily assembled and disassembled, and conveniently store in a dedicated carrying case. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a trailer hitch coupling kit with a mirror assembly that is configured to easily adjust into the position that presents the best view of the tow ball and that provides a means for recording that position. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a trailer hitch coupling kit with a pair of foot members that allows the mirror assembly to be attached to a towing vehicle in one of three distinct manners. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a trailer hitch coupling kit according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a guidepost for a trailer hitch coupling kit according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a mirror assembly with a pair of foot members connected thereto for a trailer hitch coupling kit according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a foot member for a trailer hitch coupling kit according to the present invention shown connected to a fragmented mirror assembly support leg. 
       FIG. 5A  is a fragmented view of a foot member shown in relation to a foot bracket for a trailer hitch coupling kit according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 5B  is a top view of a foot bracket for a trailer hitch coupling kit according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a fragmented, elevational view of a mirror assembly connected to a foot member of a trailer hitch coupling kit according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is an elevational view of a mirror assembly for a trailer hitch coupling kit according to the present invention shown with its legs folded. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of components of a trailer hitch coupling kit according to the present invention shown in relation to the carrying case. 
       FIG. 9  is a fragmented, elevational view of a mirror assembly for a trailer hitch coupling kit according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 10A  is an environmental side view of a mirror assembly connected to a foot member of a trailer hitch coupling kit according to the present invention shown attached to the tail gait of a fragmented pickup truck. 
       FIG. 10B  is an environmental, perspective view of a mirror assembly connected to a pair of foot members of a trailer hitch coupling kit according to the present invention shown attached to the tail gait of a fragmented pickup truck. 
   

   Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to the drawings, the present invention is a trailer hitch coupling kit designated generally as  20  in  FIG. 8 . The kit includes a mirror assembly  90 , a guidepost  40 , a pair of foot members  60  and  62  with a pair of suction cups  32  for each foot member  30  and a carrying case  22 . 
   The mirror assembly  90  includes a substantially flat base  92  with a mirror  94  secured to its front side, as shown in  FIG. 3 , and a demarcated area  96  for recording hinge setting information on its backside, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The base  92  is substantially square with a support leg  98  and  100  extending from each of two opposing corners. 
   Each of the two support legs  98  and  100  has a square cross section and is connected to the base  92  via a sleeve and spindle hinge  102 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The sleeve and spindle hinge  102  allows the support leg  98  to rotate three hundred and sixty degrees relative to the base  92 . The spindle  104  for each hinge is demarcated with graduated setting indicia  106  to allow a user of the invention to observe the setting that correlates with the angle between the base  92  and the support leg  98  and  100  that provides the best view of the tow ball. Each support leg  98  and  100  has a second hinge  108  that enables the support leg  98  and  100  to fold across opposite sides of the base  92  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . By folding one support leg  98  and  100  across each side of the base  92 , the base  92  is better protected from breakage. Although not shown, the support legs  98  and  100  can also be folded across the same side of the base  92 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , each support leg  98  and  100  is extendable by moving an outer sleeve  114  with finger pressure relative to an inner sleeve  116  that extends from the second hinge  108 . The inner  116  and outer  114  sleeves are connected via a push fit engagement. At the distal end  110  of each support leg  98  and  100 , a segment  110  of the support leg  98  and  100 , shown in  FIG. 7 , has a square cross section with slightly smaller dimensions than the rest of the support leg  98  and  100  to facilitate push fit engagement with a foot member  60  and  62 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , each of the two foot members  60  and  62  is a clamp with a proximal member  64  and a distal member  66 . The proximal member  64  has a vertical segment  68  with two suction cups  32  and a clip  70  extending from one side and a horizontal segment  72  extending from the opposite side. The distal member  66  has a horizontal segment  74  that mates with the horizontal segment  72  of the proximal member  64  via push fit engagement, a downward extending segment  76  and a support leg connector  78  extending from the top of the horizontal member  74 . The support leg connector is a sleeve and spindle hinge  80  with a receiving leg  82  attached thereto  80 . The spindle is demarcated with graduated setting indicia  112 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The receiving leg  82  is adapted to receive the distal end  110  of a support leg  98  and  100 . A thumb brace  84 , shown in  FIG. 4 , extends from the top of the horizontal segment  74  of distal member  66 . Both the proximal  64  and distal members  66  are hollow with square cross sections. The suction cups  32  are attached to the proximal member  64  via an aperture  118 , shown in  FIG. 6 , in the vertical segment  68  and can be easily detached and reattached. 
   The distance between the vertical segment  68  of the proximal member  64  and the downward extending segment  76  of the distal member  66  can be adjusted with finger pressure by adjusting the amount of the horizontal segment  72  of the proximal member  64  that is within the horizontal segment  74  of the distal member  66 . By doing so, the foot member  60  and  62  can be clamped onto the tailgate T of a pickup truck P as shown in  FIG. 10A . 
   In addition to clamping onto a tailgate, the foot member  60  and  62  can be attached to a towing vehicle using its suction cups  32  as shown in  FIG. 1  or by inserting its clip  70  into a mating bracket  86  as shown in  FIG. 10B . The bracket  86 , shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , has two apertures  88  for permanent mounting onto a towing vehicle. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the guidepost  40  includes a telescoping rod  42  with a reflective disk  44  attached to one end and a magnet  46  attached to the other end. The reflective disk  44  is a disk with reflective material  48  attached to each of its sides. The magnet  46  is attached to the telescoping rod  42  via a sleeve and spindle hinge  50  and enables the guidepost  40  to be securely attached to the drawbar of a trailer TR as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   The ideal settings for the two sleeve and spindle hinges  102  that connect the support legs  98  and  100  to the base  92  and the two sleeve and spindle hinges  80  incorporated in the support leg connectors  78  can be recorded in the demarcated area  96  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
   The carrying case  22 , shown in  FIG. 8 , is container adapted to receive and store the mirror assembly  90 , the pair of foot members  60  and  62 , the suction cups  32  and the guidepost  40 . It  22  is constructed of a pliable material, has an open side  24  with a folding flap  26  and has a closing clasp  28 . It can also be constructed of a rigid material. 
   The kit  20  provides the driver of a towing vehicle with both a view of the tow ball and a reference to the location of the trailer coupler while in the driver&#39;s seat. ( FIG. 1 ) Thus, the kit  20  allows the driver to precisely align the trailer coupler socket over the tow ball without leaving the towing vehicle. The components  32 ,  40 ,  60 ,  62  and  90  of the kit  20  are easily assembled and disassembled, conveniently store in the carrying case  22 , and can be constructed primarily of metal, plastic or a combination thereof. The mirror assembly  90  is configured to easily adjust into the position that presents the best view of the tow ball and provides a means for recording that position. The pair of foot members  60  and  62  allows the mirror assembly  90  to be attached to a vehicle with suction cups  32 , with a clip  70  and bracket  86  or with the foot member  60  and  62  clamped to a tailgate. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1