Optical: systems and elements – Mirror – Retractable vehicle mirror
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2001-05-29
Shafer, Ricky D. (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Mirror
Retractable vehicle mirror
C359S850000, C359S864000, C359S872000, C359S881000, C033S264000, C280S477000, C248S479000, C248S480000, C248S485000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239926
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to towed vehicles, specifically to a device for facilitating a trailer hitch-up process.
BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Connecting a trailer to a vehicle has been a problem since the advent of motor vehicles. This process is very difficult without another person, in addition to the vehicle driver, to direct the driver. If no one is available, then the driver must get out of the vehicle several times to observe the relative positions of the hitch components and to adjust the vehicle's position to align the hitch components.
The inability of the driver to observe the hitch components while backing the vehicle is both aggravating and dangerous. A child could be between the trailer and the vehicle and may not be observable by the driver, especially where the vehicle is a pickup truck or a large utility vehicle. Damage to the vehicle bumper and license plates are common because of backing into the trailer hitch.
A number of apparatuses have been created to assist the driver during the process of hooking up a trailer. All of these apparatuses suffer from a number of disadvantages.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,555 Wilcox and Musselman (1999) discloses a reflector device that fastens to the tailgate of a pickup truck using suction cups to hold the assembly in place. It will not work on an automobile. This device uses a flat mirror that severely limits the field of vision. This device is very bulky to store and must be removed from the towing vehicle between uses. It must be readjusted each time it is used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,213 to Howard (1998) discloses a reflector device that mounts on a towing vehicle using hook members for hanging on a tailgate and suction cup members to attach to other towing vehicles. This device uses a convex mirror that will give a larger field of view than a flat mirror but reduces the size of the reflection of the hitches severely, making it difficult to complete the final alignment. This device must be removed and stored between uses. It must be adjusted each time it is used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,175 to Brewington (1997) discloses a reflector device that will work only on a vehicle with a tailgate, such as a pickup truck or a station wagon; it will not work on an automobile. This device uses a flat mirror that severely limits the field of vision. The patent states that the mirror of the reflector could have special optical properties, for example, a convex reflective surface ( or a convex portion ), giving a wider field of view than a flat-plain mirror. This device us very bulky to store to be readily available for future use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,310 to Staggs (1996) discloses a device that fastens to the tailgate of a pickup truck with a magnet coupled to mounting bracket. The device uses a flat mirror that presents a very small field of vision. There is no positive lock to prevent the support arms from rotating on the mounting base. This allows the mirror to get out of alignment easily. It is necessary to have magnets strong enough to hold without slipping and still weak enough that they can be removed from the tailgate without damage to the paint. This device is bulky to store and is not readily available for future use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,468 to Stephens (1993) discloses a device mounted on a trailer. It requires that the trailer have a vertical bulkhead behind the trailer hitch receiver for attachment of the mirror anchor bracket. This device will not work on any trailer without a vertical surface to attach the bracket. This device uses a flat mirror that a relatively small field of vision during hookup.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,182 to Haworth (1993) discloses a device that uses a convex mirror. This mirror will give a large field of view during the approach of the towing vehicle. The convex mirror reduces the size of the reflection of the hitch components, making it difficult to distinguish between the vehicle ball hitch and the trailer receiving hitch. This makes it very difficult to complete the final alignment. This device can be used only on pickup trucks or other vehicles with a tailgate. This device is bulky and difficult to store when not in use.
U.S. Pat. No. to 5,309,289 to Johnson (1994) discloses a device using a convex mirror and a complicated viewing arrangement fastened to the trailer. This device is difficult to set up and use. The convex mirror reduces the size of the reflection of the hitch components, making it difficult to distinguish between the vehicle ball hitch and the trailer receiving hitch. This makes it very difficult to complete the final alignment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,342 to Quesada (1992) discloses a device using suction cups to attach the mirror assembly to the towing vehicle. The device uses only a flat mirror to view the hitches. This severely limits the field of vision, making it necessary to be very close to alignment before the trailer hitch can be observed. This device requires alignment before each use and is bulky to store. This device will not work on automobiles with trunks.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,287 to Lord (1990) discloses a device using multiple legs and a convex mirror with suction cups attached to the legs for mounting. The convex mirror makes alignment very difficult. It would be necessary to realign each time it is used, and it is bulky to store. The device must be attached to the towing vehicle and is difficult to attach to all shapes and sizes of towing vehicles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,376 to Neeley (1990) discloses a device that uses two types of mounting devices, a clamping device for pickup trucks and a magnetic device for passenger cars. This device is bulky to store and must be realigned every time it is used. It also uses one flat mirror for the viewing device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,606 to Granno (1979) discloses a device using a convex mirror mounted on adjustable arms that are mounted on the butane bottles on a travel trailer or house trailer. This is not useable on boat trailers, utility trailers, or any trailer not having gas bottles mounted on the trailer tongue.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,966 to Lowel (1974) discloses a complicated device that attaches to the trailer and the towing vehicle. The towing vehicle and the trailer must be in proximity and must be substantially aligned before the device can be connected to the vehicle. This device is very difficult to store, virtually impossible to keep aligned, and uses a flat mirror that gives a very small field of vision.
Lanio Industries Inc., of Miami, Fla., sells an alignment aid under the trademark Oneshot. It is made to remain on the trailer in the upright position where rocks and other road debris can break its mirrors. It has a base that mounts on the top of the trailer tongue making it nearly impossible to walk out on a boat trailer tongue to retrieve a boat. The unit is made of two telescoping square tubes. To adjust the height the user must have a Phillips screwdriver and a wrench to loosen and retighten the locking bolt. It does not have any positive locking positions to enable the user to return the telescoping tube to any preset positions. The device has a base that allows a maximum of 30 degrees rotation forward, limiting the distance from the hitch to the mounting position. If the support is removed for separate storage, the user must also remove two bolts, using wrenches, and when reassembled, the device will have to be realigned before it can be used.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
Accordingly, the objects and advantages of the hitch viewing mirror apparatus of the present invention are to provide:
(a) an improved trailer hitch remote viewer;
(b) a mirror apparatus that allows a vehicle driver to mate a towing hitch to a receiver hitch without exiting a vehicle until the alignment is complete;
(c) a mirror apparatus for allowing a vehicle driver views of a hitch and the area between a trailer and a towing vehicle; .
(d) such an apparatus that:
(1) is easily adjustable for all vehicles from small passenger cars, to utility vehicles, to large pickup trucks;
(2) allows the mirrors to be easily adjuste
Desh Enterprises, Inc.
Shafer Ricky D.
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