Patent ID: 7057498

Claim:
An apparatus for directing a driver of a towing vehicle having a towing coupling element toward a towed vehicle having a towed coupling element for hitching said couplings of said vehicles together, comprising: (a) first emitting means mounted on said towed vehicle transmitting a beam of infrared light toward said towing vehicle; (b) first receiver means mounted on said towing vehicle and comprising a plurality of phototransistors in predetermined relation to said towing coupling element for detecting the presence of said first beam; (c) first indicator means coupled to said first receiver means by radio frequency for indicating the position and distance of said towed coupling element in relation to said towing coupling element, said indicator means being wireless, portable and operable at locations out of line of sight of said first receiver means; (d) first spring operated retaining device, encircling a vehicles towing coupling element, wherein semi-circular inserts are attached within said retaining device to enable automatic centering of said receiving means placing said receiving means horizontal and centered above said towing coupling element, (e) first tripod form magnetic fixture being attached to said emitting means enabling said emitting means to be removeably attached to various shapes of towed vehicles coupling element.