The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 01, 1989
Filed:
Feb. 20, 1987
Donald R Beasley, Kelso, WA (US);
Paul J Hanson, Castle Rock, WA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A trailer hitch positioning apparatus directs the driver of a pickup truck or other towing vehicle during backing up to a trailer or other towed vehicle for hitching the coupling elements of the vehicles together. The apparatus includes an infrared light unit mounted on the trailer for transmitting a first collimated light beam of a predetermined horizontal width toward the vehicle. A support bar mounted to the rear of the vehicle carries a plurality of infrared alignment sensors for detecting the first beam and hence when the truck is aligned with the trailer. A position emitter mounted on the trailer emits a second focused infrared light beam that is detected by a position sensor on the truck when the coupling elements of the vehicles are in position to be hitched together. An indicator coupled to the alignment sensors and to the position sensor indicates the direction of turning the steering wheel in the event of misalignment of the vehicles and also indicates when the vehicles are positioned to be hitched together.