Trailer hitch alignment systems and methods
AssigneeTeleSwivel, LLC
InventorsWilliam David Woolf, Gregory S. Hopper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for aligning a towing vehicle trailer hitch with the tongue of a trailer/towed vehicle are provided that enable a driver to know when the towing vehicle trailer hitch is close enough to the trailer tongue such that the two can be coupled. A trailer hitch includes a tow bar having a free end configured to be coupled to a trailer tongue. An alignment system includes at least one energy emitter secured to the vehicle that emits energy in the direction of the trailer tongue, and at least two sensors secured to the vehicle in spaced-apart relationship. The energy emitter(s) and sensors may be secured to the trailer or trailer hitch.
Claims37
An alignment system for a trailer hitch mounted to a vehicle, wherein the trailer hitch includes a movable tow bar having a free end configured to be coupled to a tongue of a trailer, wherein the tow bar is extendable and pivotable relative to the vehicle, the alignment system comprising:
- an energy emitter secured to the vehicle that emits energy in the direction of the trailer tongue;
- at least two sensors secured to the vehicle in spaced-apart relationship, each sensor configured to generate signals in response to detecting a reflection of the energy from the trailer tongue;
- and
- a processor in communication with the sensors that processes the signals generated by the sensors to provide directional data representative of a location of the trailer tongue relative to a target zone that represents an area within which the free end of the tow bar can be positioned.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a trailer hitch mounted to the vehicle, the trailer hitch comprising a housing having spaced-apart first and second sections that define a cavity and a tow bar movably disposed within the housing cavity, wherein the tow bar comprises a free end configured to be coupled to a tongue of a trailer;
- an alignment system for the trailer hitch, the alignment system comprising:
- an energy emitter secured to the vehicle that emits energy in the direction of the trailer tongue;
- at least two sensors secured to the vehicle in spaced-apart relationship, each sensor configured to generate signals in response to detecting a reflection of the energy from the trailer tongue;
- and
- a processor in communication with the sensors that processes the signals generated by the sensors to provide directional data representative of a location of the trailer tongue relative to a target zone that represents a location of the tow bar free end.
An alignment system for a trailer hitch mounted to a vehicle, wherein the trailer hitch includes a movable tow bar having a free end configured to be coupled to a tongue of a trailer, wherein the tow bar is extendable and pivotable relative to the vehicle, the alignment system comprising:
- a pair of transducers secured to the vehicle in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship, wherein each transducer emits energy in the direction of the trailer tongue and generates signals in response to detecting a reflection of the energy from the trailer tongue;
- and
- a processor in communication with the transducers that processes the signals generated by the transducers to provide directional data representative of a location of the trailer tongue relative to a target zone that represents an area within which the free end of the tow bar can be positioned.
An alignment system for a trailer hitch mounted to a vehicle, wherein the trailer hitch includes a tow bar having a free end configured to be coupled to a tongue of a trailer, the alignment system comprising:
- an energy emitter secured to the vehicle that emits energy in the direction of the trailer tongue;
- at least two sensors secured to the vehicle in spaced-apart relationship, each sensor configured to generate signals in response to detecting a reflection of the energy from the trailer tongue;
- a processor in communication with the sensors that processes the signals generated by the sensors to provide directional data representative of a location of the trailer tongue relative to a target zone that represents a location of the tow bar free end;
- and
- a user interface in communication with the processor that displays a representation of a location of the trailer tongue relative to the target zone.
A method of aligning a trailer hitch mounted to a vehicle with a trailer tongue, wherein the trailer hitch includes a movable tow bar having a free end configured to be coupled to the trailer tongue, wherein the tow bar is extendable and pivotable relative to the vehicle, the method comprising:
- emitting energy in the direction of the trailer tongue;
- generating signals in response to detecting a reflection of the energy from the trailer tongue at first and second sensors secured to the vehicle in spaced-apart relationship;
- and
- processing the signals generated by the first and second sensors to provide directional data representative of a location of the trailer tongue relative to a target zone that represents an area within which the free end of the tow bar can be positioned.
An alignment system for a trailer hitch mounted to a vehicle, wherein the trailer hitch includes a tow bar having a free end configured to be coupled to a tongue of a trailer, the alignment system comprising:
- an energy emitter secured to the vehicle that emits energy in the direction of the trailer tongue;
- at least two sensors secured to the vehicle in spaced-apart relationship, each sensor configured to generate signals in response to detecting a reflection of the energy from the trailer tongue;
- a processor in communication with the sensors that processes the signals generated by the sensors to provide directional data representative of a location of the trailer tongue relative to a target zone that represents a location of the tow bar free end;
- and
- a hand held device in communication with the processor, wherein the hand held device comprises a user interface that displays a representation of a location of the trailer tongue relative to the target zone.
A vehicle, comprising:
- an automated parking/steering system;
- a trailer hitch mounted to the vehicle, wherein the trailer hitch comprises a tow bar having a free end configured to be coupled to a tongue of a trailer;
- an alignment system for the trailer hitch, the alignment system comprising:
- an energy emitter secured to the vehicle that emits energy in the direction of the trailer tongue;
- at least two sensors secured to the vehicle in spaced-apart relationship, each sensor configured to generate signals in response to detecting a reflection of the energy from the trailer tongue;
- and
- a processor in communication with the sensors that processes the signals generated by the sensors to provide directional data representative of a location of the trailer tongue relative to a target zone that represents a location of the tow bar free end;
- wherein the automated parking/steering system receives the directional data from the processor and wherein the automated parking/steering system is configured to automatically move the vehicle relative to the trailer tongue to position the trailer tongue within the target zone.
An alignment system for a trailer hitch mounted to a vehicle, wherein the trailer hitch includes a tow bar having a free end configured to be coupled to a tongue of a trailer, the alignment system comprising:
- an energy emitter secured to the vehicle that emits energy in the direction of the trailer tongue;
- at least two sensors secured to the vehicle in spaced-apart relationship, each sensor configured to generate signals in response to detecting a reflection of the energy from the trailer tongue;
- and
- a hand held device processor in communication with the sensors that processes the signals generated by the sensors to provide directional data representative of a location of the trailer tongue relative to a target zone that represents a location of the tow bar free end.
A method of aligning a trailer hitch mounted to a vehicle with a trailer tongue, wherein the trailer hitch includes a tow bar having a free end configured to be coupled to the trailer tongue, the method comprising:
- emitting energy in the direction of the trailer tongue;
- generating signals in response to detecting a reflection of the energy from the trailer tongue at first and second sensors secured to the vehicle in spaced-apart relationship;
- processing the signals generated by the first and second sensors to provide directional data representative of a location of the trailer tongue relative to a target zone that represents a location of the tow bar free end;
- and
- displaying a representation of a location of the trailer tongue relative to the target zone within a user interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.