Optical target system for trailer hitch alignment

In combination with a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle each having respective components of a hitch assembly that are mechanically interengageable for detachably coupling said vehicles together;

• an optical target system for facilitating an operator's maneuvering of said towing vehicle to position its hitch assembly component in cooperative alignment with the hitch assembly component of said towed vehicle to enable mechanical interconnection of said components, said optical target system including
• A) a viewing mirror adapted to be supported in a position with respect to said towed vehicle to provide an operator of said towing vehicle with a visual image of said hitch assembly components during maneuvering of said towing vehicle for effecting alignment of said components as seen from a position above said hitch assembly components;
• B) a first target positionable with respect to said towed vehicle's hitch assembly component and including longitudinal and transverse guidance elements disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and oriented to provide reference to a vertical axis extending through said towed vehicle's hitch assembly component;
• and
• C) a second target adapted to be carried on said towing vehicle and including longitudinal and transverse guidance elements disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and oriented to provide a reference to a vertical axis extending through said towing vehicle's hitch assembly component, said longitudinal guidance element positionable in a selected relationship to the longitudinal axis of said towing vehicle.