Patent ID: 7226070

Claim:
A semiautomatic visual trailering guide comprising: a self-boosting self-latching mechanism comprising: a fixed plate attached to a center rearward position on a trailer, the plate having a curled flange; a moveable plate having curled flanges corresponding to the curled flange on the fixed plate; a pin inserted into openings at the ends of the curled flanges on the fixed and moveable plates to pivotally attach the moveable plate to the fixed plate; a plunger slideably positioned inside of the curled flanges on the moveable plate with a face of the plunger resting against a surface of the fixed plate in a position under the curled flange on the fixed plate; at least one spring inserted into a hole in the plunger with the outer end of at least one spring resting against a surface of the moveable plate in a position inside of the curled flanges of the moveable plate to supply bias between the fixed plate and the moveable plate to pivot the moveable plate from a horizontal position to a vertical position, to provide a holding action when in a horizontal position, and a latching action when in the vertical position; an element rigidly attached to the moveable plate so that the moveable plate and the element rotate as a single unit with the element pivoting between a horizontal position and a vertical position with the moveable plate.