Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Utility Patent
1998-11-24
2001-01-02
Gutierrez, Diego (Department: 2859)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C033S263000, C033S286000, C116S02800A
Utility Patent
active
06168181
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to vehicle positioning aids and more particularly to a trailer alignment backing aid for a vehicle that includes a target sticker with an adhesive covered back surface and a peel off backing and a hitch ball attachable aiming tube assembly; the hitch ball attachable aiming tube assembly including a ball attachment tube and an extender tube; the ball attachment tube including two ball insertion flaps at a lower end thereof, a trailer tongue insertion window adjacent to the ball insertion flaps, and incremental measuring marks along the length thereof; the two ball insertion flaps being sized and spaced to resiliently grip the ball of a ball hitch and maintain the hitch ball attachable aiming tube assembly in an upright position; the trailer tongue insertion window being sized such that the tongue of a trailer is positionable therein and over the ball of the trailer hitch before the tongue contacts the ball attachment tube; the extender tube being slidable into the ball attachment tube.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many drivers find it difficult or impossible to back a vehicle having a trailer hitch in a manner such that the vehicle is stopped with the ball of the trailer hitch positioned beneath the tongue of the trailer. It would be a benefit to these drivers to provide a trailer alignment backing aid that can be used to assist a driver in verifying the location of the ball of the trailer hitch when backing the vehicle toward the tongue of the trailer. It would also be a benefit if the backing aid included a measuring mechanism for allowing a driver to verify that the tongue of the trailer is positioned at height that is slightly greater than the top of the ball of the trailer hitch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a trailer alignment backing aid for vehicles that is attachable to the ball of a trailer hitch and that provides a visual indication to the driver of the vehicle of the location of the ball of the trailer hitch.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a trailer alignment backing aid for vehicles that includes a measuring mechanism for allowing a driver to verify the height of the tongue of the trailer.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a trailer alignment backing aid for vehicles that includes a target sticker and a hitch ball attachable aiming tube assembly; the target sticker having aiming indicia provided on a front surface thereof and an adhesive covered back surface having a peel off backing cover; the hitch ball attachable aiming tube assembly including a ball attachment tube and an extender tube; the ball attachment tube including two ball insertion flaps at a lower end thereof, a trailer tongue insertion window adjacent to the ball insertion flaps, and incremental measuring marks along the length thereof; the two ball insertion flaps being sized and spaced to resiliently grip the ball of a ball hitch and maintain the hitch ball attachable aiming tube assembly in an upright position; the trailer tongue insertion window being sized such that the tongue of a trailer is positionable therein and over the ball hitch of the trailer hitch before the tongue contacts the ball attachment tube; the extender tube being slidable into the ball attachment tube.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a trailer alignment backing aid for vehicles that accomplishes all or some of the above objects in combination.
Accordingly, a trailer alignment backing aid for vehicles is provided. The trailer alignment backing aid for vehicles includes a target sticker and a hitch ball attachable aiming tube assembly; the target sticker having aiming indicia provided on a front surface thereof and an adhesive covered back surface having a peel off backing cover; the hitch ball attachable aiming tube assembly including a ball attachment tube and an extender tube; the ball attachment tube including two ball insertion flaps at a lower end thereof, a trailer tongue insertion window adjacent to the ball insertion flaps, and incremental measuring marks along the length thereof; the two ball insertion flaps being sized and spaced to resiliently grip the ball of a ball hitch and maintain the hitch ball attachable aiming tube assembly in an upright position; the trailer tongue insertion window being sized such that the tongue of a trailer is positionable therein and over the ball of the trailer hitch before the tongue contacts the ball attachment tube; the extender tube being slidable into the ball attachment tube.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3015162 (1962-01-01), Bohnet
patent: 3159917 (1964-12-01), Whitehead
patent: 3702029 (1972-11-01), Anderson, Jr.
patent: 3765703 (1973-10-01), Voelkerding et al.
patent: 4054302 (1977-10-01), Campbell
patent: 4560183 (1985-12-01), Cook
patent: 4627634 (1986-12-01), Coleman
patent: 4666176 (1987-05-01), Sand
patent: 4723788 (1988-02-01), Suter
patent: 4807899 (1989-02-01), Belcher
patent: 4972596 (1990-11-01), Brewer
patent: 5035441 (1991-07-01), Murray
patent: 5113588 (1992-05-01), Walston
patent: 5114168 (1992-05-01), Kehl
patent: 5114170 (1992-05-01), Lanni et al.
patent: 5269554 (1993-12-01), Law et al.
patent: 5558352 (1996-09-01), Mills
patent: 5669621 (1997-09-01), Lockwood
patent: 5680706 (1997-10-01), Talcott
Breaux Joseph N.
Fernandez Maria
Gutierrez Diego
LandOfFree
Trailer alignment backing aid for vehicles does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Trailer alignment backing aid for vehicles, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Trailer alignment backing aid for vehicles will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2519379