GB2207404A - Apparatus for towing vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A towing apparatus comprising a frame (3, 4, 7, 9 and 12) having means (1) for connection to a towing vehicle, connection arms (3, 4) pivotally mounted on said connection means and each arm having at its free end (3', 4') means (11) for abutting the vehicle to be towed, and engaging or binding means (13), such as rope, wire, chain or the like, carried by each arm (3, 4) and engageable around apart of the vehicle to be towed and securable (at 16) on the apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR TOWINC VEHICLES.

The presentilTuentina relates to an apparatus for towing vehicles.

Previous towing devices such as rope, chain or rigid towing bars are not satisfactory and do not permit towing of a vehicle without 2 driver in the vehicle being towed.

The present invention relates to a towing apparatus which is suitable for use with many different makes of vehicles and which permits single driver towing to be effected.

According to the present invention there is provided a towing apparatus comprising a frame having means for connection to a towing vehicle, pivotally mounted connection arms each having at their free end means for abutting the vehicle to be towed and binding means, such as rope, wire, chain or thE like,carried by each arm and engageable around a part of the vehicle to be towed and securable on the apparatus.

Preferably the connection means is a standard towing hitch having a securedly or fixedly connected mounting part extending therefrom on which one end of each of said arms is pivotally connected preferably at spaced apart points. A cross member is adjustably connectable to the arms to form an A-shaped frame and enables the divergence of the arms to be adjusted to suit different vehicles.

Preferably an equaliser device or locking device is connected between middle or intermediate regions of the arms and the mounting part of the hitch to ensure the arms do not pivot during use but enables adjustment prior to towing. Preferably, the equalizer device comprises two link members pivotally mounted at one end at equivalent points on each arm and pivotally connected at a single common pivot point at the end of a member mounted to be freely displaceable in two directions along a rectilinear path only e.g. by way of a telescopic arrangement with one member fixedly mounted on the towing hitch.

The abutting or abutment means may be resilient pads or the like shock absorbing means engageable against the bumper of a vehicle and may be adjustably mounted. Preferably however the abutment means are rigid or hard members for abutting a strong part of the vehicle e.g. steering bar or the like, and be mounted on the ends of the arms by shock absorbing means such as spring means. Preferably the extension of the abutment means from the end of the arms is adjustable by suitable means such as telescopic members securable at different positions. The end of the abutment member will be an enlargement to ansure the member does not ride over or under the part it abuts when held thereagainat by the chain means or the like.

The wire or chain means or the like will be secured on one part of the abutment member and be passed around a member on the vehicle and back through guide means preferably at least on the abutting members to a securing means preferably retaining and tightening means such as a screwmount.

mostt importantly, the arms will be angled, such as by being bent, intermediate the ends so as to enable the apparatus to be connected to cars with current designs of low bumpers, skirts or air dams etc. The portion from the hitch may incline downwardly at a first angle and a portion of less steep angle extending to the end to be connected to the vehicle.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which : Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above and one side of a towing apparatus - not showing the attaching chains; Fig. 2 is a plan of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 2A is a plan of the apparatus of Fig. 2 with modified shape; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus from opposite side to that of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the same side as that of Fig. 3 but showing part of the towing vehicle and one securing chain; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of the hitch and of the apparatus; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail of the abutting part with chain and the free end of one arm of the apparatus.

The apparatus for towing vehicles, such as cars, comprises a towing hitch 1 of ball type in the example, having a mounting plate 2 fixedly connected thereto and on which two connection arms 3, 4 are pivotally mounted at spaced apart pivot points 5, 5'. The arms 3, 4 are tubular metal e.g. of.steel, at least at their free ends 3',4' and angled at region 6 so as to have a greater inclination from the hitch 1 to regions 6 than from there 6 to ends 3' 4' to allow connection to current models of cars.

A cross member 7 is provided in the form of a bar with apertures to permit the arms 3, 4 to be adjusted in their spacing to suit different cars; suitable securing means being provided.

A locking or equalizer device 8 is provided to prevent slewing of the arms 3, 4 i.e. to prevent pivotal movement on pivots 5, 5' during use. The device 8 comprises a tubular member 9 rigidly connected to plate 2 and has a slidable member 10 displaceable therein in straight line. A pivot mounting 10' is provided for link arms 12 pivotally mounted on arms 3 and 4.

The free ends 3', 4' of the arms have metal abutment members II mounted via shock absorber means on arms 3, 4 and comprise tubular parts 11' and metal and enlargements 11" having an aperture for shackling a chain 13 thereto and an aperture or other guide means 14 for the chain 13 which extends to securing and tensioning means 15 each comprising securing key-hole slot 16 mounted on threaded spindle 16' mounted on an arm so as to be adjustable.

The portions 11' each contain spring means which abut the end of an adjustment member 17 which has opposite retaining pins 17' running in opposite slots 18. Each member 17 is adjustable via means 19 to extend from the arm to an amount as desired.

The shackled end of chain 13 is freed and passed around a member of the vehicle to be towed, shackled adjusted to secure at 16 and tension via screw means 16.

In some of the views the chain 13 is not shown or not shown in full but should be taken as provided.

The metal abutment members 11 and metal end enlargements are shaped and dimensioned to be locatable to abut the outer part of the bottom track control arms of the vehicle, the steering bar or the like.

The shock-absorber means preferably comprise the arms 3, 4 and parts of the abutment member 11 to act as shock absorbers.

Various modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of the present invention defined in the following claims. For example, instead of chains or wire as binding means for the binding means, displaceable hook members may be provided engageable over parts of the vehicle to be towed and securable so as to close the mouth of each hook to ensure the car part ts securely engaged for towing.

Where the binding means such as chain, wire or rope is used, it is found more positive steering of the vehicle being towed is obtained when the chains each run from an end enlargement 11' on one arm,are guided part-way along said one arm and then cross-over to the other arm to be engaged by the chain or like tensioning means.

Claims (22)

1. A towing apparatus comprising a frame having means for connection to a towing vehicle, connection arms pivotally mounted on said connection means and each arm having at its free end means for abutting the vehicle to be towed, and engaging means or binding means carried by each arm and engageable with or around a part of the vehicle to be towed.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the connection means is a standard towing hitch having a securedly or fixedly connected mounting part extending therefrom and on which one end of each of said arms is pivotally connected, to extend, in use, divergingly therefrom.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the arms are mounted at spaced apart points.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which a cross member is adjustably connectable to the arms so as to extend therebetween to form an A-shaped frame and adjustable so as to enable the divergence of the arms to be adjusted to suit different vehicles.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which an equaliser device or locking device is connected between middle or intermediate regions of the arms and the mounting part of the hitch to enable adjustment prior to towing.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the equaliser device comprises two link members pivotally mounted at one end at equivalent points on each arm and pivotally connected at their other ends at a single common pivot point to the end of a member mounted to be freely displaceable in two directions along a rectilinear path only between the arms.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which said member forms part of a telescopic arrangement with another member which is fixedly mounted on the towing hitch to ensure movement along said rectilinear path.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, in which the abutting or abutment means may be resilient pads or the like shock absorbing means engageable against the bumper of a vehicle and may be adjustably mounted.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, in which the abutment means are members for abutting a strong part of the vehicle e.g. steering bar or the like, and are mounted on the ends of the arms by shock absorbing means such as spring means.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, in which the abutment means extend from the end of the arms and the amount of said extension is adjustable by suitable means such as telescopic members securable at different positions.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, in which the end of the abutment member is an enlargement to ensure the member does not ride over or under the part it abuts when held thereagainst by the binding means e.g. rope, wire, chain means or the like.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, in which the binding means, such as rope, wire, chain or the like means is secured on one part of the abutment member and is passed around a member on the vehicle and back to a securing means on the frame.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the binding means is passed through guide means, preferably at least on the abutting means.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or 13, in which each securing means is a retaining and tightening means for the binding means.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the retaining and tightening means is a screw mount.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15, in which the arms are angled, such as by being bent, intermediate their ends so as to enable the apparatus to be connected to cars with current designs of low bumpers, skirts or air dams etc.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, in which, in use, first portions of the arms from the hitch are inclined downwardly at a first angle to the horizontal whilst second portions of less steep angle to the horizontal extend from the first portions to the ends to be connected to the vehicle.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, in which the first and second portions of each arm are integral.

19. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18, in which the engaging--means is a displaceable hook member which may be locked around a part of the vehicle, or in which the binding means is a rope, wire, chain or the like engageable around a part of the vehicle to be towed and securable on the apparatus.

20. Apparatus ås claimed in claim 1 or 9, in which the abutment means are adjustably mounted on the arms and/or are of metal and such as to be engageable in abutting relationship with the bottom track control arms, the steering bar or other non-bodywork or non-bumper part of the vehicle to be towed.

21. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 20, in which the binding means such as chains, wires or ropes of each

arm are guided part-way along each armlto the other arm to engage with said tensioning means so as to provide for improved towing.

22. Towing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.