Trailer hook-up gauge for vertical hitch alignment

Details Trailer hook-up gauge for vertical hitch alignment Trailer hook-up gauge for vertical hitch alignment

1996-08-16

1998-08-11

Hurley, Kevin

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Articulated vehicle

33379, 33388, G01C 924

Patent

active

057916764

ABSTRACT:
A hook-up memory gauge (10), is a convenient aid in the vertical hitching alignment of a trailer with a tow vehicle. The hook-up gauge is mounted on the side of the trailer near the support legs or support stand so as to provide a settable reminder of the trailer fore-and-aft tilt angle at vehicle disengagement. The device comprises an arcuate spirit vial (38) with a small air bubble, and a squeeze-and-slide pointer (24) for recording tilt angle. For this embodiment, the hook-up gauge is capable of measuring five degrees of tilt angle in either direction. A glass or plastic spirit vial is fastened in a cradle which is part of a mounting base of thermosettable material or metal. The squeeze pointer is slidably mounted in arcuate guide slots on either side of the spirit vial. A slight clearance from the vial is provided so it can easily be moved in the elongate direction for centering over the air bubble. At hitch disengagement, the squeeze pointer is centered over the air bubble and released, resulting in a fixed position of the squeeze pointer to provide a convenient reminder of the particular tilt angle setting. At re-engagement, the squeeze pointer serves as a reference mark. Re-alignment and centering of the air bubble with the squeeze pointer, by raising or lowering the trailer support stand or legs, results in the correct angle for re-hitching.

REFERENCES:
patent: 438541 (1890-10-01), Green
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patent: 2660804 (1953-12-01), Lundy
patent: 3533167 (1970-10-01), Thompson et al.
patent: 3857188 (1974-12-01), Foster et al.
patent: 4658508 (1987-04-01), Oberg
patent: 5035441 (1991-07-01), Murray
patent: 5125679 (1992-06-01), Delano
patent: 5269554 (1993-12-01), Law

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