Vehicle and trailer mounted hitch alignment apparatus
View Patent ↗A hitch alignment apparatus is provided for mounting on a motor vehicle and a trailer for facilitating the hitching of a motor vehicle to a trailer. The vehicle and trailer mounted hitch alignment apparatus includes a motor-vehicle-mounted trailer alignment unit for attachment to a rear portion of the motor vehicle and includes a trailer-mounted motor vehicle alignment unit for attachment to the front portion of the trailer. When the motor-vehicle-mounted trailer alignment unit and the trailer-mounted motor vehicle alignment unit are in proper registration, the vehicle-mounted trailer ball and the trailer-mounted ball receiver are in alignment and registration to facilitate the interconnection therebetween. Each of the motor-vehicle-mounted trailer alignment unit and the trailer-mounted motor vehicle alignment unit includes respective adjustable-length riser portions that facilitate efficient adjustment of and use of the alignment apparatus.
1. A hitch alignment apparatus for mounting on a motor vehicle and a trailer, comprising:
a motor-vehicle-mounted trailer alignment unit for attachment to a rear portion of the motor vehicle, wherein said motor-vehicle-mounted trailer alignment unit includes a first clamp assembly for clamping onto the rear portion of the motor vehicle, a first adjustable-length riser portion connected to said first clamp assembly, and a first alignment member connected to the top of said first adjustable-length riser portion, and
a trailer-mounted motor vehicle alignment unit for attachment to a front portion of the trailer, wherein said motor-vehicle-mounted trailer alignment unit includes a second clamp assembly for clamping onto the front portion of the trailer, a second adjustable-length riser portion connected to said second clamp assembly, and a second alignment member connected to the top of said second adjustable-length riser portion,
wherein said first adjustable-length riser portion includes a first inner riser member connected to said first clamp assembly and includes a first outer riser member received on said first inner riser member, and
wherein said first outer riser member includes first length measurement indicia, and
said second outer riser member includes second length measurement indicia.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:
a first swivel connection connected between said first adjustable-length riser portion and said first clamp assembly.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:
a second swivel connection connected between said second adjustable-length riser portion and said second clamp assembly.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said first clamp assembly and said second clamp assembly includes a C-shaped fixed clamping member connected to a respective adjustable-length riser portion and a movable clamping screw assembly connected to said C-shaped fixed clamping member.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
said first alignment member is formed as a U-shaped alignment member having two alignment branches, and
said second alignment member is formed as a single alignment member which is placed in registration between said alignment branches.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first outer riser member is connected to said first inner riser member in a telescopic manner.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the effective length of said first adjustable-length riser portion is adjusted by extending said first outer riser member with respect to said first inner riser member.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first outer riser member is fitted to said first inner riser member by a friction fit.
9. A hitch alignment apparatus for mounting on a motor vehicle and a trailer, comprising:
a motor-vehicle-mounted trailer alignment unit for attachment to a rear portion of the motor vehicle, wherein said motor-vehicle-mounted trailer alignment unit includes a first clamp assembly for clamping onto the rear portion of the motor vehicle, a first adjustable-length riser portion connected to said first clamp assembly, and a first alignment member connected to the top of said first adjustable-length riser portion, and
a trailer-mounted motor vehicle alignment unit for attachment to a front portion of the trailer, wherein said motor-vehicle-mounted trailer alignment unit includes a second clamp assembly for clamping onto the front portion of the trailer, a second adjustable-length riser portion connected to said second clamp assembly, and a second alignment member connected to the top of said second adjustable-length riser portion
wherein said second adjustable-length riser portion includes a second inner riser member connected to said second clamp assembly and includes a second outer riser member received on said second inner riser member, and
wherein the effective length of said second adjustable-length riser portion is adjusted by extending said second outer riser member with respect to said second inner riser member.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second outer riser member is connected to said second inner riser member in a telescopic manner.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second outer riser member is fitted to said second inner riser member by a friction fit.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:
a first illumination assembly housed in said motor-vehicle-mounted trailer alignment unit, wherein said first illumination assembly includes a first set of batteries, a first set of wiring electrically connected to said first set of batteries, and a first set of illumination devices electrically connected to said first set of wiring, and
a second illumination assembly housed in said trailer-mounted motor vehicle alignment unit, wherein said second illumination assembly includes a second set of batteries, a second set of wiring electrically connected to said second set of batteries, and a second illumination device electrically connected to said second set of wiring.