Abstract: A coupler lock device is configured for use with a self-latching trailer coupler securing a hitch ball in the coupler socket. The coupler lock device has a housing that includes a top panel portion defining a cavity configured so that, when the housing is secured in position over the trailer coupler, the housing top panel prevents seating of the hitch ball in the coupler socket by restricting upward movement of the release lever when an attempt is made to insert the hitch ball into the coupler socket. Also, when the housing is secured in position over the trailer coupler with a hitch ball seated in the coupler socket, the housing top panel prevents removal of the coupler socket from the hitch ball by restricting upward movement of the release lever that would otherwise release the coupler socket from the hitch ball.

Abstract: A method and system for the online vehicle rentals, such as a car share rental, allows for a customer to self-dispatch and self-return a rental vehicle without requiring special equipment in the rental vehicle or the presence of rental personnel at the dispatch or return location. At the beginning of the rental period, the customer is prompted to input to a rental management computer system, via a mobile computer device, information about the mileage and fuel level of the rental vehicle and to report existing damage to the rental vehicle. If the customer wishes to extend the rental time period, the customer is prompted to select a requested extended end time for the rental time period and to send the requested extended end time to the rental management computer system.

Abstract: An adapter for a trailer coupler assembly includes an elongated riser member configured to be removably mounted to a vertical channel of a trailer coupler. The riser member has a transverse cross-section generally in the shape of an I-beam having a first channel portion and an opposing second channel portion. The first channel portion includes a generally U-shaped transverse cross-section and is configured to be removably mounted to a vertical channel of a trailer coupler assembly at one of a plurality of longitudinal positions along a length of the vertical channel of the trailer coupler assembly. The opposing second channel portion includes a generally U-shaped transverse cross-section configured to hold a trailer coupler.

Abstract: A method and system for real-time qualification of rental customers allows a rental company to quickly qualify a customer making an online reservation of a rental vehicle, such as a car share rental, without requiring the customer to be a member or have a membership or to be pre-qualified. The system includes: a database operative to store account information associated with a customer for a rental transaction; an input component operative to receive from the customer an uploaded image of the customer's driver's license and an uploaded second image of the customer; and a processor operative with the database to use the uploaded driver's license image, the uploaded second image and information associated with the uploaded second image to qualify the customer for a rental transaction.

Abstract: A current sensing device includes a housing with a head adapted for releasably holding a wire of an electrical circuit without breaking the electrical circuit. The head has one or more current sensors configured to sense direct current in the wire without breaking the electrical circuit. The housing includes an alarm to indicate if the current sensing device senses a current in the electrical wire above a predefined threshold current. The head has a clip base and clip member that form an internal channel to closely receive the electrical wire and to releasably hold the electrical wire for testing. In some embodiments, the head has an internal channel that intersects the outer surface of the head and forms a longitudinal opening to allow insertion of the wire into the internal channel. The current sensing device has a processor programed to calibrate the current sensing device to compensate for electrical noise.

Abstract: A trailer lighting activation system includes a vehicle light sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a microcontroller. The vehicle light sensor is removably attached to a towing vehicle light to detect a light output of the towing vehicle light, and to provide a vehicle light sensor output signal in response to the light output of the towing vehicle light. The ambient light sensor can detect an ambient light level and provide an output signal in response to the ambient light level. The microcontroller is coupled to the vehicle light sensor output and to the ambient light sensor and has an output for energizing a trailer light in response to the ambient light sensor output signal and the vehicle light sensor output signal. An overcurrent monitor is coupled to the trailer light and to monitor current drawn by the trailer lighting activation system.

Abstract: A tow hitch assembly includes a draw bar and a hitch ball mount pivotally supported by the draw bar. A compression spring is disposed longitudinally between the draw bar and the hitch ball mount. The compression spring exerts a force that opposes a downward pivoting motion of the hitch ball mount when weight is placed on the hitch ball mount. The compression spring cooperates with an indicator configured to indicate to a user whether the weight placed on the hitch ball mount is within a predetermined weight range. The compression spring is removable and replaceable with a second compression spring that has a different spring constant. The second compression spring cooperates with the indicator to indicate to a user whether the weight placed on the hitch ball mount is within a second, different predetermined weight range.

Abstract: A system for rental of vehicles stores reservation information for a customer reservation of a rental vehicle, including a scheduled pickup time and pickup location for the rental vehicle. The system receives information from the customer's a mobile device, including image information and location information. When the customer arrives at the rental pickup location, the system prompts the customer to use the mobile device to capture and upload an image of the customer's driver's license, a current image of the customer, and location information for confirming that the customer image was captured at the rental pickup location. The system displays the uploaded driver's license image, the uploaded customer image and the stored reservation information to an operator to verify the identity of the customer before the customer is approved to pick up the rental vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for extending the length of a vehicle without the need to rebalance the original drive assembly. The method includes disconnecting the front drive shaft segment from the vehicle transmission, extending the length of the vehicle frame, and inserting a drive shaft extension segment which includes: a rigid tubular shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis; a universal joint mounted at the tubular shaft front end and having a front flange configured for mounting to the transmission; and a bearing assembly mounted to the tubular shaft The extension segment rear end includes a rearward facing flange configured for mounting to a forward facing flange of the front drive shaft segment that was disconnected from the vehicle transmission. The extension segment is installed in the vehicle between the vehicle transmission and the front drive shaft segment without the need to rebalance the original drive assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for simulating a vehicle traveling on a road and towing a trailer, wherein the apparatus includes a scale model towing vehicle and trailer combination positioned on a moving belt of a treadmill. The apparatus has a speed control and a remote control steering mechanism to demonstrate how the vehicle/trailer towing combination will react to vehicle operator inputs under varying conditions, including variations in weight distribution of the trailer load.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system, method, and apparatus for preventing corrosion in a lap joint. The lap joint includes a first member and a second member. The first member is adjacent to the second member to form a lap seam of the lap joint. The first member forms a channel at the lap seam relative to the second member. The channel forms a “V” shape, a “U” shape, or a semicircle shape relative to a horizontal plane of the lap joint. One or more openings are formed on the first member and/or the second member. The openings and channel of the present invention allows anticorrosion material to coat the lap seam of the lap joint.

Abstract: A coupler lock device is used with a trailer coupler that has a handwheel mounted on a threaded member for securing a hitch ball in the coupler socket. The coupler lock device has a housing configured for covering the coupler socket and the handwheel. The housing includes an opening to allow the housing to be positioned over the coupler socket and handwheel. A closure panel is movable between an open position and a closed position. The housing includes an aperture configured so that when the housing covers the coupler with the handwheel tightened to properly secure the hitch ball within the coupler socket, the handwheel threaded member protrudes through the top aperture and provides a confirmation that the hitch ball is properly, secured for towing.

Abstract: A receiver hitch includes a receiver with a rearward opening for receiving a forward end of a mount shank. The receiver has a side hole for receiving a hitch pin and a bottom hole for receiving a clamping bolt. The bottom hole is disposed forward of the side hole. When the mount shank is disposed in the receiver tube with the hitch pin inserted, tightening the clamping bolt urges a portion of the mount shank forward of the hitch pin upward into engagement with an upper interior surface of the receiver tube and also urges a portion of the mount shank rearward of the hitch pin into engagement with a lower interior surface of the receiver tube. in this configuration, movement of the mount shank within the receiver tube is reduced.

Abstract: A light assembly includes a housing adapted for mounting on a vehicle, wherein the housing includes a brake light input coupled to the light source and a marker light input coupled to the light source. An electrical circuit is configured to energize the light source at a brightness suitable for an identification lamp when at least one headlight of the vehicle is illuminated and also is configured to energize the light source at a brightness suitable for a stop lamp when the vehicle brake is applied, whether or not the identification lamp is energized. In this configuration, the can function as an identification light and as a center high mount stop light (CHMSL).

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a side mirror of a vehicle, such as a fork lift, includes a side mirror assembly that has a support frame and a side mirror mounted to the support frame. The support frame is hingedly mounted to the vehicle and has an outer end disposed outwardly from the vehicle. A contact wheel is mounted to the side mirror assembly so that the wheel can rotate in a generally horizontal plane. The wheel is mounted below the mirror and has a peripheral contact surface that extends outward, rearward and forward beyond the side mirror and beyond the support frame. When the surface of an obstacle contacts the wheel peripheral surface, the wheel will rotate and ride along the obstacle, allowing the arm to properly pivot forward or rearward without damaging the side mirror.

Abstract: A nerf bar assembly for mounting to the side of a vehicle having a unibody construction includes a tubular member comprising a tubular section and a plurality of mounting brackets fixed to and projecting generally perpendicularly from the tubular section. A support structure is configured for mounting to the body of a vehicle having a unibody construction. The support structure forms a channel and includes a plurality of channel veins and a plurality of support structure brackets disposed within the channel. The support structure brackets are configured so that the plurality of tubular member mounting brackets can be removably mounted to the plurality of support structure brackets. The nerf bar assembly is configured so that when the tubular member impacts an object, the tubular member can collapse and absorb the impact before damage occurs to the support structure or the vehicle body.

Abstract: A latch assembly is provided for a holding a vehicle endgate in a closed position. The assembly includes a latch pin having a main shaft disposed generally along an axis and a projection that is spaced apart from and projects toward the main shaft axis. A first receiving member is connected to one of a vehicle frame and the endgate and has a hole for receiving the latch pin main shaft. A second receiving member is connected to the other of the frame and the endgate and has a hole for receiving the latch pin main shaft. The first receiving hole and the second receiving member hole are in alignment when the endgate is in the closed position. The first receiving member includes an inclined annular groove for receiving the latch pin projection. When the latch pin projection is disposed in the annular groove, gravity will impede the latch pin projection from exiting the groove.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for extending the length of a vehicle without the need to rebalance the original drive assembly. The method includes disconnecting the front drive shaft segment from the vehicle transmission, extending the length of the vehicle frame, and inserting a drive shaft extension segment which includes: a rigid tubular shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis; a universal joint mounted at the tubular shaft front end and having a front flange configured for mounting to the transmission; and a bearing assembly mounted to the tubular shaft. The extension segment rear end includes a rearward facing flange configured for mounting to a forward facing flange of the front drive shaft segment that was disconnected from the vehicle transmission. The extension segment is installed in the vehicle between the vehicle transmission and the front drive shaft segment without the need to rebalance the original drive assembly.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system, method, and apparatus for configuring one modified marker light to function as one or more of a marker light, a CHMSL, and a brake light. The modified marker light includes a first input coupled to a CHMSL, a second input coupled to one or more marker lights, a third input coupled to a ground, and a circuit associated with the modified marker light to control the function of the marker light, the CHMSL, and the brake light. The modified marker light illuminates (as one or more of the marker light, the CHMSL, and the brake light) upon a driver using a brake of a vehicle when the one or more marker lights are not energized. The modified marker light illuminates as one or more of the marker light, the CHMSL, and the brake light upon a driver using the brake of the vehicle when the one or more marker lights are already energized.