Patent US3702029A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3702029A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Visual aid for trailer hitch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-01-28
•
Granted: 1972-11-07
•
Expires: 1991-01-28
Abstract
Abstract An automotive accessory to assist a driver to accurately back a towing vehicle to align the vehicle-mounted hitch component with the trailer-mounted hitch component when the hitch cannot be seen by the driver wherein an upright rod having a ring-like indicator rotates to indicate fore and aft alignment and a comparison of the relative positions of the vehicle mounted indicator and a trailer-mounted indicator reveals the lateral alignments. The trailer mounted indicator is adjustably mounted to compensate for longitudinal angularity of the vehicle and trailer.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold D Anderson Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:00
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/24; B60D1/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A visual indicator for assisting the driver of a towing vehicle, having one component of a hitch means at its rear end and out of sight of the driver to maneuver the vehicle toward a trailer, having another component of the hitch means, to vertically align said components, said indicator comprising: an upright shaft; means supporting said shaft for rotation about its axis; the upper end of said shaft having a first indicator movable by reason of rotational movements of said shaft and disposed vertically aligned above the hitch component of said towing vehicle and within the range of sight of its driver; an actuating lever operable to rotate said shaft upon being moved forwardly of said vehicle; an upright rod; means supporting said rod with respect to the hitch component of said trailer; a second indicator carried by said rod at its upper end and within the range of sight of the vehicle driver and disposed to be substantially level with the first indicator when the hitch components are at relative heights as required for hitching and in the driver''s line of sight in a vertical plane through said first indicator when the hitch components are both in the vertical median plane of the towing vehicle, and means on said lever engageable by said rod to rotate said shaft and dispose said first indicator in a predetermined azimuthal aspect when said hitch components are in the same vertical transverse plane of said towing vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
A visual indicator for assisting the driver of a towing vehicle, having one component of a hitch means at its rear end and out of sight of the driver to maneuver the vehicle toward a trailer, having another component of the hitch means, to vertically align said components, said indicator comprising: an upright shaft; means supporting said shaft for rotation about its axis; the upper end of said shaft having a first indicator movable by reason of rotational movements of said shaft and disposed vertically aligned above the hitch component of said towing vehicle and within the range of sight of its driver; an actuating lever operable to rotate said shaft upon being moved forwardly of said vehicle; an upright rod; means supporting said rod with respect to the hitch component of said trailer; a second indicator carried by said rod at its upper end and within the range of sight of the vehicle driver and disposed to be substantially level with the first indicator when the hitch components are at relative heights as required for hitching and in the driver''s line of sight in a vertical plane through said first indicator when the hitch components are both in the vertical median plane of the towing vehicle, and means on said lever engageable by said rod to rotate said shaft and dispose said first indicator in a predetermined azimuthal aspect when said hitch components are in the same vertical transverse plane of said towing vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The indicator as defined in claim 1 wherein: the first-named means is secured relative to the vehicle hitch component by a frictional clamping means for quick and easy disconnection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The indicator as defined in claim 2 wherein: the means supporting said rod comprises a ball and socket connection at the lower end of said rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The indicator as defined in claim 1 wherein: the means supporting said rod comprises a ball and socket connection at the lower end of said rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The indicator as defined in claim 4 wherein: the first-named means is secured relative to the vehicle hitch component by a frictional clamping means for quick and easy disconnection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The indicator as defined in claim 5 wherein: said means supporting said rod further comprises: a releasable clamp for quickly and easily removing said means from attachment with respect to the trailer hitch component.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-07 | 1976-05-08 | 1976-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-07 | 1980-05-08 | 1980-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-07 | 1984-05-08 | 1984-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |