US5036593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer alignment guide
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-05-04
•
Granted: 1991-08-06
•
Expires: 2010-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A unitary trailer alignment guide for positioning a towing vehicle with respect to a trailer for connecting a trailer hitch includes a base, a telescoping upright member, a telescoping horizontal member joined at one end to the upper end of the upright member and rotatable through 270 degrees at the joint, and a vertical locator member at the forward end of the horizontal member, remote from the joint. In use, a trailer guide is mounted on a trailer. The lengths of the telescoping vertical and horizontal members are adjusted so that the vertical locator member will touch the towing vehicle when the trailer is aligned with the towing vehicle in position for connecting the trailer hitch.
Inventors
- 👤 Vaughn T. Collier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:31
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/24; B60D1/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A one-piece trailer alignment guide for aligning a trailer with a towing vehicle including a towing ball member for connecting a trailer hitch comprising: magnetic supporting means for positioning on a trailer; a first extensible elongated member extendable higher than a rearward end portion of the towing vehicle; a ball and socket joint for rotatably connecting said supporting means with a first end of said first elongated member; a second extensible elongated member capable of extending from the second end of the first elongated member to above the rearward end portion of the towing vehicle substantially above the towing ball member; means for connecting a second end of said first elongated member with a first end of said second elongated member, said connecting means comprising a joint enabling the second elongated member to be angularly rotated through 270° at said joint; and elongated flexible means for touching the rearward end portion of the towing vehicle substantially above the towing ball member comprising a first end engaged with a second end of said second elongated member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A one-piece trailer alignment guide for aligning a trailer with a towing vehicle including a towing ball member for connecting a trailer hitch comprising: magnetic supporting means for positioning on a trailer; a first extensible elongated member extendable higher than a rearward end portion of the towing vehicle; a ball and socket joint for rotatably connecting said supporting means with a first end of said first elongated member; a second extensible elongated member capable of extending from the second end of the first elongated member to above the rearward end portion of the towing vehicle substantially above the towing ball member; means for connecting a second end of said first elongated member with a first end of said second elongated member, said connecting means comprising a joint enabling the second elongated member to be angularly rotated through 270° at said joint; and elongated flexible means for touching the rearward end portion of the towing vehicle substantially above the towing ball member comprising a first end engaged with a second end of said second elongated member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A trailer alignment guide according to claim 1 wherein the flexible member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of rubber and plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A trailer alignment guide according to claim 1 wherein the first elongated member comprises means for adjusting the length of said member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A trailer alignment guide according to claim 3 wherein the adjusting means comprises telescoping sections of said first elongated member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A trailer alignment guide according to claim 1 wherein the second elongated member comprises means for adjusting the length of said member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A trailer alignment guide according to claim 5 wherein the adjusting means comprises telescoping sections of said second elongated member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
171 words
A one-piece trailer alignment guide for aligning a trailer with a towing vehicle having a towing ball member for connecting a trailer hitch comprising: magnetic supporting means for positioning on a trailer; a first elongated member comprising telescoping elongated sections extendable higher than a rearward end portion of the towing vehicle; a ball and socket joint for rotatably connecting said first end of said first elongated member with said supporting means; a second elongated member comprising telescoping sections capable of extending from the second end of the first elongated member to the rearward end portion of the towing vehicle substantially above the towing ball member; means for rotatably connecting a second end of said first elongated member with a first end of said second elongated member, and elongated flexible means for touching the rearward end portion of the towing vehicle substantially above the towing ball member comprising a first end engaged with a second end of said second elongated member, said elongated flexible means extending downward from said second elongated member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
171 words
A one-piece trailer alignment guide for aligning a trailer with a towing vehicle having a towing ball member for connecting a trailer hitch comprising: magnetic supporting means for positioning on a trailer; a first elongated member comprising telescoping elongated sections extendable higher than a rearward end portion of the towing vehicle; a ball and socket joint for rotatably connecting said first end of said first elongated member with said supporting means; a second elongated member comprising telescoping sections capable of extending from the second end of the first elongated member to the rearward end portion of the towing vehicle substantially above the towing ball member; means for rotatably connecting a second end of said first elongated member with a first end of said second elongated member, and elongated flexible means for touching the rearward end portion of the towing vehicle substantially above the towing ball member comprising a first end engaged with a second end of said second elongated member, said elongated flexible means extending downward from said second elongated member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-05 | 1995-02-04 | 1995-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-05 | 1999-02-04 | 1999-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-05 | 2003-02-04 | 2003-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |