US3947839A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer angular direction sensor and indicator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-01-31
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Granted: 1976-03-30
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Expires: 1995-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A system is disclosed herein for advising an operator of a towing vehicle of the relative angular position of a towed load such as a trailer with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the towing vehicle. The system includes a trailer tongue and ball hitch coupling device for interconnecting the towing vehicle with the trailer. The coupling device includes a rotary sensor for determining angular displacement of the trailer tongue with respect to the ball hitch and an electrical wiper arm device for converting the mechanically sensed displacement into an electrical signal for application to an operator warning indicator mounted on the dashboard. The indicator has a visual display of the relative angular position of the trailer with respect to the towing vehicle and further includes a dynamic indication of whether the angular relationship is increasing or decreasing.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Zigmant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:41
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/01; B60D1/06; B60D1/065; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/30; B60Q1/305
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A trailer angular direction indicator comprising the combination of: a releasable hitching device interconnecting the rear of a towing vehicle with the draw bar of a trailer; a sensing means operably connected on said hitching device for detecting angular displacement of said trailer with respect to said towing vehicle; an indicator means operably connected to said sensing means including display means for presenting a visual indication of said angular displacement and the direction of said angular displacement with reference to increasing and decreasing of said angular displacement; wherein said sensing means includes: a sensing arm rotatably carried on said towing vehicle; a portion fixedly carried on the draw bar of said trailer insertably receiving said sensing arm in a slot of said portion so that said sensing arm follows the said angular displacement of said trailer with respect to said towing vehicle; said sensing means further includes a wiper contact arm carried on said sensing arm and a plurality of wiper contacts fixed with respect to said wiper contact arm whereby the width of the contact carried on said wiper arm is at least equal to the width of one fixed contact plus approximately two and one half times the width of space separating adjacent ones of said fixed contacts; said indicator means includes a plurality of lights whereby a centermost light represents coextensive centerlines of said trailer and said towing vehicle; said hitching device includes a ball carried on said towing vehicle and said sensing arm is rotatably carried thereon; and said ball includes a horizontal slot for accommodating rotation of said sensing arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
265 words
A trailer angular direction indicator comprising the combination of: a releasable hitching device interconnecting the rear of a towing vehicle with the draw bar of a trailer; a sensing means operably connected on said hitching device for detecting angular displacement of said trailer with respect to said towing vehicle; an indicator means operably connected to said sensing means including display means for presenting a visual indication of said angular displacement and the direction of said angular displacement with reference to increasing and decreasing of said angular displacement; wherein said sensing means includes: a sensing arm rotatably carried on said towing vehicle; a portion fixedly carried on the draw bar of said trailer insertably receiving said sensing arm in a slot of said portion so that said sensing arm follows the said angular displacement of said trailer with respect to said towing vehicle; said sensing means further includes a wiper contact arm carried on said sensing arm and a plurality of wiper contacts fixed with respect to said wiper contact arm whereby the width of the contact carried on said wiper arm is at least equal to the width of one fixed contact plus approximately two and one half times the width of space separating adjacent ones of said fixed contacts; said indicator means includes a plurality of lights whereby a centermost light represents coextensive centerlines of said trailer and said towing vehicle; said hitching device includes a ball carried on said towing vehicle and said sensing arm is rotatably carried thereon; and said ball includes a horizontal slot for accommodating rotation of said sensing arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said fork member includes a vertical slot formed therein permitting said draw bar to rotate on said ball about either vertical or horizontal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
219 words
A trailer angular direction indicator comprising the combination of: a releasable hitching device interconnecting the rear of a towing vehicle with the draw bar of a trailer; a sensing means operably connected on said hitching device for detecting angular displacement of said trailer with respect to said towing vehicle; an indicator means operably connected to said sensing means including display means for presenting a visual indication of said angular displacement and the direction of said angular displacement with reference to increasing and decreasing of said angular displacement; wherein said hitching device includes: a ball carried on said towing vehicle; a coupler carried on said draw bar for attachable connection with said ball; said sensing means including a rotatable arm carried on said ball; said ball having a horizontal slot and said coupler having a vertical slot; said arm projecting through said horizontal slot for rotation about a vertical axis and projecting through said vertical slot for rotation about a horizontal axis; and said indicator means including a display of lights arranged in a semi-circle wherein a centermost light represents coextensive alignment of center lines of said towing vehicle and said trailer and having scribed lines of equal length radiating in a converging manner from each of said lights to a center point in spaced relationship to said centermost light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
219 words
A trailer angular direction indicator comprising the combination of: a releasable hitching device interconnecting the rear of a towing vehicle with the draw bar of a trailer; a sensing means operably connected on said hitching device for detecting angular displacement of said trailer with respect to said towing vehicle; an indicator means operably connected to said sensing means including display means for presenting a visual indication of said angular displacement and the direction of said angular displacement with reference to increasing and decreasing of said angular displacement; wherein said hitching device includes: a ball carried on said towing vehicle; a coupler carried on said draw bar for attachable connection with said ball; said sensing means including a rotatable arm carried on said ball; said ball having a horizontal slot and said coupler having a vertical slot; said arm projecting through said horizontal slot for rotation about a vertical axis and projecting through said vertical slot for rotation about a horizontal axis; and said indicator means including a display of lights arranged in a semi-circle wherein a centermost light represents coextensive alignment of center lines of said towing vehicle and said trailer and having scribed lines of equal length radiating in a converging manner from each of said lights to a center point in spaced relationship to said centermost light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein the placement of said indicator means is on the dashboard of said towing vehicle immediately to the front of the operator whereby said center point represents said hitching device about which said trailer pivots.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2214161A
Cited
US3237177A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-30 | 1979-09-29 | 1980-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-30 | 1983-09-29 | 1984-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-30 | 1987-09-29 | 1988-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |