Alignment device for a trailer hitch

Claim 1

An alignment device for a trailer hitch which detachably mounts to a steel tailgate of a pickup truck for visually aligning a hitch ball on a drop hitch bumper of the pickup truck with a coupler on a tow bar of a trailer, said device comprising: a) a reflecting element comprising a housing and a mirror affixed within said housing; b) means for supporting said reflecting element comprising a frame member tubular in cross section and formed into an O-shaped configuration; c) means for attaching said reflecting element to said supporting means in an adjustable manner comprising a ball and socket joint extending from a back surface of said housing to permit orientation of said mirror and a clamp member transversely extending from said ball and socket joint to an upper portion of said frame member to permit easy removal and relocation of said mirror; d) means for mounting said supporting means to the tailgate of the pickup truck in a detachable manner comprising a magnetic base for attaching said alignment device on an outer surface of said tailgate, said magnetic base including an outer cap cover and an inner magnetic core retained within said outer cap cover; and e) means for securing said mounting means to said supporting means in an adjustable manner comprising a bracket having two locking arms extending between a rear surface of said outer cap cover and a lower portion of said frame member and a bolt extending through said two locking arms and a nut threaded onto said bolt to tightly engage the two locking arms with the lower portion of said frame member to maintain said magnetic base in position, so that a driver can look into a rearview mirror of the pickup truck and see within said reflecting element the hitch ball which will align up and engage with the coupler.