Trailer hitch positioning system

Geometrical instruments – Straight-line light ray type – Alignment device

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C033S264000, C033S263000, C340S431000, C340S435000, C280S477000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06178650

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to trailer/vehicle connecting aids and more particularly to a trailer hitch positioning system that includes a pinpoint light source assembly, a light beam sensing array assembly, a sonic proximity sensor, a proximity sensor reflector plate and a passenger compartment display unit wherein a pinpoint beam from the pinpoint light source assembly strikes and activates light beam sensors within the light beam sensing array assembly, the activations of the light beam sensors being detected by a digital controller within the display unit which then provides a corresponding positional information output to the vehicle driver through an LED display, the sonic proximity sensor being in connection with the digital controller and emitting and receiving sonic signals toward and from the proximity sensor reflector plate to determine the distance between the sonic proximity sensor and the proximity sensor reflector plate, the digital controller receiving a distance signal input from the sonic proximity sensor and activating an audible alerting buzzer in connection with the digital controller when the distance signal input reaches a predetermined triggering level; the pinpoint light source assembly including a pinpoint light source providing a pinpoint light beam and being pivotally mounted onto a magnetic light source base; the proximity sensor reflector plate being mounted to the magnetic light source base; the light beam sensing array assembly including a number of light beam sensors and a housing having a corresponding number of light beam sensor windows, one positioned over each light beam sensor, and a rubberized magnetic back surface; each light beam sensor being activated when the pin point light beam of the pin point light source id focused thereon; the sonic proximity sensor being mounted to a top surface of the housing of the light beam sensing array; the passenger compartment display unit including a display unit housing, a digital controller housed within the display unit housing, a buzzer grate, a power adapter in connection with the digital controller, and display unit indicator LED's including: an “on center” LED, first, second, and third “right of center” LED's, and the first, second, and third “left of center” LED's; the digital controller being in input receiving connection with the number of light sensor elements positioned behind the light beam sensor windows and in output connection with the “on center” LED; the first, second, and third “right of center” LED's; the first, second, and third “left of center” LED's; and the alerting buzzer; the digital controller selectively activating the “on center” LED; the first, second, and third “right of center” LED's; and the first, second, and third “left of center” LED's in response to activation of predetermined ones of the number of light sensor elements.
BACKGROUND ART
Many individuals find it difficult to position the ball of a trailer hitch beneath the tongue of a trailer when attempting to connect the trailer to the vehicle. It would be a benefit, therefore, to have a trailer hitch positioning system that provided a visual and/or an audible indication to the vehicle driver of the position of the trailer ball with respect to the tongue of the trailer.
GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a trailer hitch positioning system that provides a visual indication to a vehicle driver of the position of the trailer ball with respect to the tongue of the trailer.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a trailer hitch positioning system that provides an audible indication to a vehicle driver of the position of the trailer ball with respect to the tongue of the trailer.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a trailer hitch positioning system that includes a pinpoint light source assembly, a light beam sensing array assembly, a sonic proximity sensor, a proximity sensor reflector plate and a passenger compartment display unit wherein a pinpoint beam from the pinpoint light source assembly strikes and activates light beam sensors within the light beam sensing array assembly, the activations of the light beam sensors being detected by a digital controller within the display unit which then provides a corresponding positional information output to the vehicle driver through an LED display, the sonic proximity sensor being in connection with the digital controller and emitting and receiving sonic signals toward and from the proximity sensor reflector plate to determine the distance between the sonic proximity sensor and the proximity sensor reflector plate, the digital controller receiving a distance signal input from the sonic proximity sensor and activating an audible alerting buzzer in connection with the digital controller when the distance signal input reaches a predetermined triggering level; the pinpoint light source assembly including a pinpoint light source providing a pinpoint light beam and being pivotally mounted onto a magnetic light source base; the proximity sensor reflector plate being mounted to the magnetic light source base; the light beam sensing array assembly including a number of light beam sensors and a housing having a corresponding number of light beam sensor windows, one positioned over each light beam sensor, and a rubberized magnetic back surface; each light beam sensor being activated when the pin point light beam of the pin point light source id focused thereon; the sonic proximity sensor being mounted to a top surface of the housing of the light beam sensing array; the passenger compartment display unit including a display unit housing, a digital controller housed within the display unit housing, a buzzer grate, a power adapter in connection with the digital controller, and display unit indicator LED's including: an “on center” LED, first, second, and third “right of center” LED's, and the first, second, and third “left of center” LED's; the digital controller being in input receiving connection with the number of light sensor elements positioned behind the light beam sensor windows and in output connection with the “on center” LED; the first, second, and third “right of center” LED's; the first, second, and third “left of center” LED's; and the alerting buzzer; the digital controller selectively activating the “on center” LED; the first, second, and third “right of center” LED's; and the first, second, and third “left of center” LED's in response to activation of predetermined ones of the number of light sensor elements.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a trailer hitch positioning system that accomplishes some or all of the above objects in combination.
Accordingly, a trailer hitch positioning system is provided. The trailer hitch positioning system includes a pinpoint light source assembly, a light beam sensing array assembly, a sonic proximity sensor, a proximity sensor reflector plate and a passenger compartment display unit wherein a pinpoint beam from the pinpoint light source assembly strikes and activates light beam sensors within the light beam sensing array assembly, the activations of the light beam sensors being detected by a digital controller within the display unit which then provides a corresponding positional information output to the vehicle driver through an LED display, the sonic proximity sensor being in connection with the digital controller and emitting and receiving sonic signals toward and from the proximity sensor reflector plate to determine the distance between the sonic proximity sensor and the proximity sensor reflector plate, the digital controller receiving a distance signal input from the sonic proximity sensor and activating an audible alerting buzzer in connection with the digital controller when the distance signal input reaches a predetermined triggering level; the pinpoint light source assembly including a pinpoint light source providing a pinpoint light

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