US4163606A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hitch viewing trailer mirror with snap button connection
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-06-09
•
Granted: 1979-08-07
•
Expires: 1998-06-09
Abstract
Abstract A hitch viewing trailer mirror designed to be used in cooperation with the rear view mirror in the powered vehicle that is to be connected to the trailer hitch coupler so that the vehicle driver can view the trailer hitch coupler while backing his vehicle into the correct position for connecting the trailer hitch coupler to the vehicle hitch ball. The device is simple in construction and the different parts of the device can be quickly assembled in various ways so as to adapt the device to trailers of different sizes and shapes which will be explained more in detail.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter M. Granno
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:19
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/002; B60R1/003; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/24; B60D1/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
337 words
A hitch viewing trailer mirror support comprising: (a) a horizontal extensible first arm; (b) means for supporting one end of said arm to the front of a trailer and to the rear of the trailer hitch coupler; (c) a mirror supporting extensible second arm; (d) means for adjustably connecting one end of said second arm to the free end of said first arm; (e) a convex mirror secured to the free end of said second arm, said second arm being swingable about the axis of said first arm so as to position said mirror above or below said first arm or to the right or to the left thereof, the angular position of said convex mirror on said second arm being adjusted so as to bring into view the area surrounding the trailer hitch coupler by a person sitting in a powered vehicle to be connected to the trailer when looking through the vehicle rear view mirror while backing the vehicle into a position for bringing the vehicle hitch ball into registration with the trailer hitch coupler; (f) said horizontal extensible first arm including a cylindrical member having spaced apart sets of openings, the opening in each set being angularly spaced from each other 90° apart; (g) said first arm also including a rod slidable in said cylindrical member and having a snap button receivable in any one of said openings; (h) said means for adjustably connecting said second arm to said first arm comprising a T-shaped coupling connected to the outer end of said first arm and swingable about said arm into different angular positions; (i) said second extensible arm including a tubular member adjustably receivable in said coupling and having spaced apart sets of openings, the openings in each set being angularly spaced from each other 90° apart; and (j) said second arm also including a mirror supporting standard slidably received in the tubular member of said arm and having a snap button receivable in any one of said openings in the second tubular member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
337 words
A hitch viewing trailer mirror support comprising: (a) a horizontal extensible first arm; (b) means for supporting one end of said arm to the front of a trailer and to the rear of the trailer hitch coupler; (c) a mirror supporting extensible second arm; (d) means for adjustably connecting one end of said second arm to the free end of said first arm; (e) a convex mirror secured to the free end of said second arm, said second arm being swingable about the axis of said first arm so as to position said mirror above or below said first arm or to the right or to the left thereof, the angular position of said convex mirror on said second arm being adjusted so as to bring into view the area surrounding the trailer hitch coupler by a person sitting in a powered vehicle to be connected to the trailer when looking through the vehicle rear view mirror while backing the vehicle into a position for bringing the vehicle hitch ball into registration with the trailer hitch coupler; (f) said horizontal extensible first arm including a cylindrical member having spaced apart sets of openings, the opening in each set being angularly spaced from each other 90° apart; (g) said first arm also including a rod slidable in said cylindrical member and having a snap button receivable in any one of said openings; (h) said means for adjustably connecting said second arm to said first arm comprising a T-shaped coupling connected to the outer end of said first arm and swingable about said arm into different angular positions; (i) said second extensible arm including a tubular member adjustably receivable in said coupling and having spaced apart sets of openings, the openings in each set being angularly spaced from each other 90° apart; and (j) said second arm also including a mirror supporting standard slidably received in the tubular member of said arm and having a snap button receivable in any one of said openings in the second tubular member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
319 words
A hitch viewing trailer mirror support comprising: (a) a horizontal extensible first arm; (b) means for supporting one end of said arm to the front of a trailer and to the rear of the trailer hitch coupler; (c) a mirror supporting extensible second arm; (d) means for adjustably connecting one end of said second arm to the free end of said first arm; (e) a convex mirror secured to the free end of said second arm, said second arm being swingable about the axis of said first arm so as to position said mirror above or below said first arm or to the right or to the left thereof, the angular position of said convex mirror on said second arm being adjusted so as to bring into view the area surrounding the trailer hitch coupler by a person sitting in a powered vehicle to be connected to the trailer when looking through the vehicle rear view mirror while backing the vehicle into a position for bringing the vehicle hitch ball into registration with the trailer hitch coupler; (f) said horizontal extensible first arm including a cylindrical member having spaced apart sets of openings, the openings in each set being angularly spaced from each other 90° apart; (g) said first arm also including a rod slidable in said cylindrical member and having a snap button receivable in any one of said openings; and (h) said means for adjustably connecting said second arm to said first arm comprising a T-shaped coupling connected to the outer end of said first arm and swingable about said arm into different angular positions so as to position said mirror above or below said first arm or to the right or to the left thereof, the angular position of said convex mirror on said second arm being adjusted to bring into view the area surrounding the trailer coupler by the person sitting in the powered vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
319 words
A hitch viewing trailer mirror support comprising: (a) a horizontal extensible first arm; (b) means for supporting one end of said arm to the front of a trailer and to the rear of the trailer hitch coupler; (c) a mirror supporting extensible second arm; (d) means for adjustably connecting one end of said second arm to the free end of said first arm; (e) a convex mirror secured to the free end of said second arm, said second arm being swingable about the axis of said first arm so as to position said mirror above or below said first arm or to the right or to the left thereof, the angular position of said convex mirror on said second arm being adjusted so as to bring into view the area surrounding the trailer hitch coupler by a person sitting in a powered vehicle to be connected to the trailer when looking through the vehicle rear view mirror while backing the vehicle into a position for bringing the vehicle hitch ball into registration with the trailer hitch coupler; (f) said horizontal extensible first arm including a cylindrical member having spaced apart sets of openings, the openings in each set being angularly spaced from each other 90° apart; (g) said first arm also including a rod slidable in said cylindrical member and having a snap button receivable in any one of said openings; and (h) said means for adjustably connecting said second arm to said first arm comprising a T-shaped coupling connected to the outer end of said first arm and swingable about said arm into different angular positions so as to position said mirror above or below said first arm or to the right or to the left thereof, the angular position of said convex mirror on said second arm being adjusted to bring into view the area surrounding the trailer coupler by the person sitting in the powered vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3767292A
Cited
US3858966A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-08-06 | 1983-02-05 | 1983-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-08-06 | 1987-02-05 | 1987-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-08-06 | 1991-02-05 | 1991-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |