GB2236730A - A tow unit for towing motorcycles - Google Patents

A tow unit for towing motorcycles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2236730A
GB2236730A GB9020509A GB9020509A GB2236730A GB 2236730 A GB2236730 A GB 2236730A GB 9020509 A GB9020509 A GB 9020509A GB 9020509 A GB9020509 A GB 9020509A GB 2236730 A GB2236730 A GB 2236730A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
tow unit
cycle
tow
tube
support member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9020509A
Other versions
GB9020509D0 (en
Inventor
Brian Thomas Arnot
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB9020509D0 publication Critical patent/GB9020509D0/en
Publication of GB2236730A publication Critical patent/GB2236730A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62K—CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
    • B62K13/00—Cycles convertible to, or transformable into, other types of cycles or land vehicle
    • B62K13/02—Cycles convertible to, or transformable into, other types of cycles or land vehicle to a tandem
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R9/00—Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
    • B60R9/06—Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like at vehicle front or rear
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R9/00—Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
    • B60R9/08—Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like specially adapted for sports gear
    • B60R9/10—Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like specially adapted for sports gear for cycles

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)

Abstract

A tow unit for transporting motorcycles in which the front forks 9 of the motorcycle are supported by a tube attached to a plate which is bolted to the towing vehicle. The motorcycle is thus supported for movement on its rear wheel. <IMAGE>

Description

Tow Unit" This invention relates to a tow unit.
The conveyance of vehicles such as motorcycles may be difficult if, for example, the vehicle has broken down, or it is more convenient to transport it to its destination without riding it. Usually a van or trailer is used, but on certain occasions this option may not be available, or may be too costly to organise.
According to the present invention there is provided a tow unit for attaching a cycle to a towing vehicle, comprising a support member and attachment means, said attachment means being adapted for fitting onto a towing vehicle and said support member being secured to said attachment means and mountable upon a frame member of said cycle so as to partially support said cycle.
Preferably, the support member is mountable on the front forks of the cycle as this gives good stability.
Most preferably, the support member fits between the front forks of the cycle in place of the wheel and the cycle is supported for movement on its rear wheel. The support member is preferably a tube for receiving a wheel spindle.
The attachment means may be a plate adapted to be bolted to a standard tow plate.
The tube and plate may be integral and made of metal.
Preferably, a variety of interchangeable adapters is provided to be mounted in the tube to allow fitment of differently-sized wheel spindles. Alternatively, the tube may be made to a diameter to match- wheel spindles of specified diameters.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a tow unit of the present invention and the tow plate of a car; Fig. 2 is a side view of the tow unit of Fig. 1 attached to a motorcycle; and Figs. 3 and 3a are a cross-sectional front view and an end view respectively of a second embodiment of a metal tube for use in the present invention, showing a pair of interchangeable adapters.
A first embodiment of a tow unit 1 comprises a support member in the form of a metal tube 2 and attachment means in the form of a metal plate 3 which is welded onto the tube 2. Apertures 4 are provided with bolts 5 to secure the tow unit 1 to a tow plate 6 which is attached to a car 7.
In use, the tow unit 1 is bolted to the tow bar of the car 7. The front wheel of a motorcycle 8 is removed and the wheel spindle taken out. Front forks 9 of the motorcycle are fitted around the tube 2 and the spindle is re-inserted through the forks 9 and the tube 2, and secured to the forks by use of caps 10 which normally secure the spindle in place once the wheel has been fitted.
A second embodiment of a tow unit is shown in Figs. 3 and 3a. In this embodiment, similar parts are labelled as in Fig. 1 + 100, e.g. 2 becomes 102. The tow unit 101 of this embodiment has a metal tube 102 which is provided with adapters in the form of a pair of plastics inserts 11. The inserts 11 are T-shaped in cross-section with the outside diameter of the leg of the "T" sized to fit the internal diameter of the tube 102. The cross-bar of the "T" acts as a stop to prevent the inserts 11 sliding fully into the tube 102.
The inserts 11 have a central bore 12. The diameter of the bore 12 may be varied between each pair of inserts 11, an appropriate size being chosen to match a particular wheel spindle.
In this embodiment it is not necessary to change the tube 102 when different motor cycles of different sizes are attached to the tow unit. A suitable pair of inserts 11 is chosen and fitted to the tube 102.
The motorcycle is thus partially supported by the car and the tow unit, which being a rigid unit supports the motorcycle in an upright position, whilst allowing pivoting about the front steering column as normal, so allowing the motorcycle to be towed around corners.
The invention thus provides a simple attachment which is economical and which allows the transport of heavy motorcycles without undue inconvenience and expense.
The invention could also be applied to other cycle-type vehicles such as pedal bicycles and tricycles.
Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:
1. A tow unit for attaching a cycle to a towing vehicle, comprising a support member and attachment means, said attachment means being adapted for fitting onto a towing vehicle and said support member being secured to said attachment means and mountable upon a frame member of said cycle so as to partially support said cycle.
2. A tow unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support member is mountable on the front forks of the cycle.
3. A tow unit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the support member fits between the front forks of the cycle in place of the wheel and the cycle is supported for movement on its rear wheel.
4. A tow unit as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the support member is a tube for receiving a wheel spindle.
5. A tow unit as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the attachment means is a plate adapted to be bolted to a standard tow plate.
6. A tow unit as claimed in Claims 4 and 5, wherein the tube and plate are integral and made of metal.
7. A tow unit as claimed in Claim 4, wherein a variety of interchangeable adapters is provided to be mounted in the tube to allow fitment of differently-sized wheel spindles.
8. A tow unit as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the tube is made to a diameter to match wheel spindles of specified diameters.
9. A tow unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9020509A 1989-09-20 1990-09-20 A tow unit for towing motorcycles Withdrawn GB2236730A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB898921234A GB8921234D0 (en) 1989-09-20 1989-09-20 Tow unit

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9020509D0 GB9020509D0 (en) 1990-10-31
GB2236730A true GB2236730A (en) 1991-04-17

Family

ID=10663339

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB898921234A Pending GB8921234D0 (en) 1989-09-20 1989-09-20 Tow unit
GB9020509A Withdrawn GB2236730A (en) 1989-09-20 1990-09-20 A tow unit for towing motorcycles

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB898921234A Pending GB8921234D0 (en) 1989-09-20 1989-09-20 Tow unit

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB8921234D0 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2340807A (en) * 1998-08-26 2000-03-01 Michael Walter Healy Trike towing device
DE19828707A1 (en) * 1998-06-28 2000-03-02 Klaus Herbst Towing head to transport motorcycle by motorcar and trailer coupling has towing bar and ball head fitting into towing coupling, and on neck of towing coupling directly below ball head towing head is rigidly connected to towing coupling

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0069610A1 (en) * 1981-06-09 1983-01-12 BS PLASTIC Société à Responsabilité Limitée: Coupling device for joining two cycles together in tandem using a coupling-bar
EP0079650A1 (en) * 1981-11-13 1983-05-25 Lacoray S.A. Towing device for a motor bicycle
FR2588803A1 (en) * 1985-10-22 1987-04-24 Ancel Gerard TIRE MOTO, COMPOSED OF A METAL PIECE MOUNTED ON A STANDARD HITCH, TRAILER COMPOSED OF A REINFORCED SUPPORT, SURMOUNTED WITH TWO ARROWS ON WHICH THE FIXED AXLE OF THE WHEEL IS FIXED, AS THE REAR WHEEL IS IN PERMANENT CONTACT WITH THE PAVEMENT. PROCESS FOR DRAWING A TWO-WHEEL VEHICLE IN THE NORMAL WAY OF WORKING AND DOES NOT DRIVE AN OVERSIZE

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0069610A1 (en) * 1981-06-09 1983-01-12 BS PLASTIC Société à Responsabilité Limitée: Coupling device for joining two cycles together in tandem using a coupling-bar
EP0079650A1 (en) * 1981-11-13 1983-05-25 Lacoray S.A. Towing device for a motor bicycle
FR2588803A1 (en) * 1985-10-22 1987-04-24 Ancel Gerard TIRE MOTO, COMPOSED OF A METAL PIECE MOUNTED ON A STANDARD HITCH, TRAILER COMPOSED OF A REINFORCED SUPPORT, SURMOUNTED WITH TWO ARROWS ON WHICH THE FIXED AXLE OF THE WHEEL IS FIXED, AS THE REAR WHEEL IS IN PERMANENT CONTACT WITH THE PAVEMENT. PROCESS FOR DRAWING A TWO-WHEEL VEHICLE IN THE NORMAL WAY OF WORKING AND DOES NOT DRIVE AN OVERSIZE

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19828707A1 (en) * 1998-06-28 2000-03-02 Klaus Herbst Towing head to transport motorcycle by motorcar and trailer coupling has towing bar and ball head fitting into towing coupling, and on neck of towing coupling directly below ball head towing head is rigidly connected to towing coupling
GB2340807A (en) * 1998-08-26 2000-03-01 Michael Walter Healy Trike towing device
GB2340807B (en) * 1998-08-26 2000-07-12 Michael Walter Healy Trike towing device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9020509D0 (en) 1990-10-31
GB8921234D0 (en) 1989-11-08

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)