US5979927A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for aligning hitches of towing and towed vehicles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1997-11-17
•
Granted: 1999-11-09
•
Expires: 2017-11-17
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for aligning hitches of towing vehicles and towed vehicles consisting of a base box detachably fastened to a trailer tongue. A scissors lift consisting of a series of levers is pivotally connected in the base box and a top box is pivotally mounted on the upper portion of the scissors lift. When the top box is lifted, the top box, having a mirror fastened to the underside, is set at a 45° angle to focus the relative positions of the hitch ball and the hitch cup in the rear view mirror of the towing vehicle for alignment.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis R. Hale
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:03
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/002; B60R1/003; G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/18; G02B7/182
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for aligning the hitch of a towing vehicle with the mating hitch of a towed vehicle, comprising: a base box adapted to be detachably fastened to a trailer tongue of the towed vehicle, said base box having a front, back and two sides, said sides each having a slot with a plurality of notches formed therein, a scissors lift consisting of a series of levers pivotally connected to each other at mid portions and at end portions, a first pair of said levers being pivotally connected to said sides within said base box, a rod slidably moveable in said slots in said base box and a second pair of said levers being pivotally mounted on said rod and held in spaced relationship to each other by said rod, and a top box having a top, an underside, and having two sides pivotally fastened to a plurality of said levers of said scissors lift, said top box having a mirror fastened to said underside, said top box being positionable to a 45° angle for reflecting an image of the mating hitches in a rear view mirror of the towing vehicle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for aligning the hitch of a towing vehicle with the mating hitch of a towed vehicle, comprising: a base box adapted to be detachably fastened to a trailer tongue of the towed vehicle, said base box having a front, back and two sides, said sides each having a slot with a plurality of notches formed therein, a scissors lift consisting of a series of levers pivotally connected to each other at mid portions and at end portions, a first pair of said levers being pivotally connected to said sides within said base box, a rod slidably moveable in said slots in said base box and a second pair of said levers being pivotally mounted on said rod and held in spaced relationship to each other by said rod, and a top box having a top, an underside, and having two sides pivotally fastened to a plurality of said levers of said scissors lift, said top box having a mirror fastened to said underside, said top box being positionable to a 45° angle for reflecting an image of the mating hitches in a rear view mirror of the towing vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein a strip of VELCRO is fastened to the underside of said base box for attachment to the towed vehicle.
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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) | 2002-11-08 | 2003-05-10 | 2003-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-08 | 2007-05-10 | 2007-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-08 | 2011-05-10 | 2011-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |