AU7617198A

AU7617198A - A reversing aid for a vehicle's tow ball to be guided to a trailer's towing socket

Info

Publication number: AU7617198A
Application number: AU76171/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Campbell; Rodney Campbell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-11
Filing date: 1998-07-15
Publication date: 1999-03-25

Description

AUSTRAJjIA patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

STANDARD

PATENT.

REVEIRSING AID FOR

VEHICLE

COUPLING

ONTO:

TRAILERSf CARAVANS

,CAMPERVANS,

BOAT

TRAILERS.

The following statement-is a full description of this invenltionl, .including the best method of performing it known'to me: ."TRUE -COPY"I I ~YI -4^i REVERSING AID FOR VEHICLE COUPLING ONTO THE TOWING SOCKET OF: TRAILERS, CARAVANS, CAMPERVANS AND BOAT TRAILERS.

This invention relates to aiding and guiding a motor vehicle's tow ball back to the towing socket of a: trailer, caravan, campervan and boat trailer.

For many people who have difficulty trying to reverse and guide their vehicle's tow ball to the towing socket of a: trailer, caravan, campervan, and boat trailer, will know how frustrating it is. Even when there is another person to assist in guiding the vehicle's tow ball back onto the towing socket. This invention will allow only the driver to reverse the vehicle back to the trailer, without the need of another person to assist in the reversing process.

This invention overcomes the need for a second person to be present in the reversing process and will eliminate the main blind spot After the initial settings are made by placing this invention onto the *trailer, it will by the use of the mirror, guide the vehicle's tow ball to the towing socket, so that the trailer can be lowered onto the vehicle's tow ball.

The invention consists of G clamp arrangement that uses a bolt to clamp onto the frame of the trailer behind the towing socket.

There are two pieces of tubing, one of which is welded to the top of the G clamp arrangement. standing vertically. The other smaller diameter piece of tubing, telescopes inside the larger tubing. It is then adjusted to the approximate height of the vehicle's rear view mirror which is going to tow the *trailer.

This adjusted position is then held in position by a locking A screw or bolt, on the side of the larger diameter tubing. See FIG At the top of the telescopic tubing, the end is bent at degrees and extends at a short distance in length. A convex mirror is then clamped to this section of tubing. The clamping device that holds the convex mirror to the tubing is similar to a G clamp.

This mirror is positioned so that the towing socket- appears centrally in the top: half of the mirror. This view gives the s:.i driver of the vehicle a true indication of how he is going when he reverses the vehicle- to the -*trailer's towing socket. This l allows the driver to see .the tow ball of the vehicle as it appears in the convex mirror, 'guiding it to the *trailer's ,1 towing socket. i 2 3 This invention can be clamped onto a trailer by a G clamp arrangement. See FIG 1 (Refer to attached drawing, FIG 2, on where approximately the invention is clamped onto the *trailer.) Or by way of a spring loaded bolt that also clamps onto the frame of the trailer, this then supports the telescopic stand and mirror.

This invention can be manufactured from galvanised steel tubing.

The G clamp bolt head/handle, see FIG 1, and telescopic locking screw head/handle made of plastic, or left as steel.

See FIG 1, Another form of material that this invention can be made from is a form of plastic injection moulding, the entire product could be made by this method including the locking screw, and G clamp bolt. The locking screw and G clamp bolt threads could still be made out of steel.

To assist with the understanding of the invention, reference S,will now be made to the accompanying drawings which shows one example of the invention.

FIG 1. Shows the invention as assembled and ready for use.

FIG 2. Shows the invention in use being clamped to the S *trailer's frame.

FIG 1. It can be seen that the G clamp is comprised of a S locking bolt A larger diameter tubing is welded on top of the clamp. is the locking screw that holds the smaller diameter tubing into place, which slides into the first S larger diameter tubing. The smaller tubing the end of which is bent at 90 degrees the mirror is clamped onto this section. is the plan view of the invention. This invention is used on the front frame of a *trailer, to give the driver of a vehicle a view of the towing socket, to aid reversing the vehicle to couple the tow ball with the towing socket.

FIG 2. This shows the invention clamping onto the frame of the trailer behind the towing socket The invention is then adjusted to the correct height, approximately to the vehicle's rear view mirror. The mirror is then adjusted so that the trailer's towing socket is in the top half of the mirror i r- 3 Referring to FIG 2. Shows the invention clamped to one side of a typical frame of a: caravan, campervan, trailer and boat trailer. However this invention can be clamped to either side of the frame of the trailer and it does not limit it's use if clamped to the right or left of the trailer. On those trailers that have only one strut/frame that runs straight from the towing socket, as most boat trailers do, this invention can still be clamped behind the towing socket and not limit it's effectiveness.

APPLICANTS:

Rodney C4AMPBELL n 3 U v S" 13 JULY, 1998.

we sae I I e is

Claims

1. The reversing aid is attached to the frame of a *trailer, caravan, campervan, boat trailer, behind the towing socket and is made up of a frame where a reflecting apparatus is attached and provides a view of the towing socket and tow ball of a vehicle, in assisting coupling the two together.

2. The reversing aid of claim 1 wherein it is attached to the frame of the trailer by means of a metal bracket (clamp) that is manufactured from steel, this bracket is bent into a C shape, it then has a locking bolt that runs through one side of it, this bracket is clamped onto the frame of the *trailer.

3. The reversing aid of claim 2 wherein the bracket locking bolt is a spring loaded bolt that holds the reversing aid in place onto the frame of the *trailer.

4. The reversing aid of claim 1 wherein it is a frame of a length of tubular steel which is fixed S to the top of the bracket, this allows a smaller diameter length of tubular steel to slide into the other S with the height of the smaller tubing able to be adjusted by way of a side locking screw.

5. The reversing aid of claim I and claim 4 wherein the frame is attached directly to the frame of the *trailer by means of a bolt and nut or welded.

6. The reversing aid of claim 2, claim 4 and claim 5 wherein the bracket and the frame are anufactured out of steel, however these mentioned components can be manufactured from plastic injection moulding.

7. The reversing aid of any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the bracket locking bolt and the side adjustment locking screw can be manufactured from either steel or injection plastic moulding.

8. The reversing aid f claim 1 wherein the reflecting apparatus is a normal flat mirror, a convex mirror, a reflecting metal surface or a surface coated with a reflective plastic.

9. The reversing aid of any one of claims 1, 4, 5 and 6 wherein the frame is at one height only or is adjusted to varying heights by means of a telescopic extension or is folded out in sections to meet the height requirement.

The reversing aid of claim I wherein the reflecting apparatus is attached to the frame of the reversing aid bybeing clamped, screwed, bolted, welded or being manufactured as one whole unit with the frame.

11. The reversing aid described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FG. APPLICANTS: d Rodney BELL 3 August 1998