Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-28
2001-07-31
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S431000, C340S686200, C340S687000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06268800
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an alarm device to warn an operator of a vehicle of a potential jack-knife situation with a trailer being towed, and particularly to a jack-knife alarm device that may be installed to a vehicle rear bumper or trailer hitch assembly to provide an alarm when the trailer gets into a potentially damaging jack-knife orientation with the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Towing a trailer is a skill that requires hours of practice to acquire. When a vehicle operator who has not yet acquired the skill, such as someone who rents a trailer on a weekend to move some large items, tries to tow a trailer, the vehicle and/or trailer may get damaged when the trailer jack-knifes, a situation which occurs when the trailer pivots at a large angle with respect to the vehicle during a backing up operation. It may be too late when the operator realizes the mistake. To prevent such an occurrence, a device is needed to warn the operator of a potential jack-knife situation, thereby avoiding damage to the vehicle and/or trailer.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a jackknife alarm device for use when towing a trailer to alert the driver of the towing vehicle when a potential jack-knife situation develops.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a jack-knife alarm device for use when towing a trailer to prevent possible damage to the towing vehicle or to the trailer by alerting the driver of a potential jack-knife situation before it occurs.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a jack-knife alarm device for use when towing a trailer that is conveniently packaged to be easily installed to a trailer hitch assembly or to the rear bumper of a towing vehicle.
A jack-knife alarm device comprises a pivotable first plate and a first switch operably associated with one end of the first plate, the first plate being biased against the first switch to maintain the first switch in an open position; a pivotable second plate and a second switch operably associated with one end of the second plate, the second plate being biased against the second switch to maintain the second switch in an open position; and a circuit operably connected to the first and second switches, the circuit being configured to be connected to an indicator that is activated when one of the first and second switches is in a closed position. The first and second plates are disposed opposite each other at an angle opening toward a trailer being towed and on each side of a trailer hitch ball so that when a trailer tongue hits and depresses an opposite end of one of the first and second plates, the corresponding first or second switch is activated to a closed position to complete the circuit to activate an indicator to warn an operator of a towing vehicle of a potential jack-knife situation with the trailer.
The present invention is also directed to a rear bumper of a vehicle, comprising a jack-knife alarm device to alarm an operator of the vehicle of a potential jack-knife situation with a trailer being towed. The bumper includes a central indentation in which the device is disposed.
The present invention is further directed to a towing hitch assembly, comprising a receiver hitch assembly and a jack-knife alarm device to alarm an operator of the vehicle of a potential jack-knife situation with a trailer being towed. The device is secured to the receiver hitch assembly.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.
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patent: 4341395 (1982-07-01), Miller et al.
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patent: 4784403 (1988-11-01), Hawkins et al.
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patent: 5159312 (1992-10-01), Engle
patent: 5558351 (1996-09-01), Hunter
patent: 5912616 (1999-06-01), Valentino
Nguyen Phung
Shlesinger & Arkwright & Garvey LLP
Wu Daniel J.
LandOfFree
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