GB2286165A

GB2286165A - Vehicle towing bar

Info

Publication number: GB2286165A
Application number: GB9502060A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Norman Jones
Original assignee: WAREHOUSE INTERIORS Ltd
Current assignee: WAREHOUSE INTERIORS Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-02
Filing date: 1995-02-02
Publication date: 1995-08-09
Also published as: GB9402000D0; GB9502060D0

Abstract

A towing device has a pair of elongate bodies 1, 2 each carrying a respective connector device 5, 6 at one end thereof. An extension member 11 engages with the elongate bodies at their ends remote from the connector devices, and locked in position preferably by pins 12. The bodies 1, 2 and the extension member 11 are preferably tubular and engage telescopically. The connector devices 5, 6 may have springs between themselves and the ends of the bodies 1, 2 to provide some axial resilience when towing. <IMAGE>

Description

TOWING DEVICE This invention relates to a towing device, primarily intended for use between a pair of motor vehicles to permit the towing of one by the other.

One existing towing device has a tubular body within an end portion of which is telescoped a connector device intended for attachment to a vehicle and spring-urged axially outwardly of the tubular body, and an extension member telescoped into the body at its other end and carrying a further connector device intended for attachment to another vehicle, and means for locking the extension member at a desired position of the extension relative to the body.

An optimum towing distance between a towed and towing vehicle is generally considered to be between 1.8m and 2m, for reasons of visibility. The aforesaid existing device has the disadvantage that, when sufficiently long to provide the optimum towing length, it is inconveniently long when the tubular body and extension member are dismantled and stored in parallel side-by-side relationship.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved towing device in which the aforesaid disadvantage is alleviated.

According to the invention, a towing device is provided with a pair of elongate bodies, each having a connector device at one of its ends, and an extension member intended to be interengaged with the elongate bodies at their respective end regions remote from the connector devices and locked in a desired position of extension relative to the bodies.

Conveniently, the elongate bodies, which are preferably tubular, are engaged in telescopic relationship with the extension member, the latter being preferably engaged within the bodies.

Typically, at least one, and preferably both, of the connector devices are spring-urged axially outwardly of the bodies so as to be yieldable inwardly to provide cushioning against shocks during towing.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the single accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of one form of the towing device of the invention.

The illustrated towing device has a pair of elongate tubular bodies 1, 2 which, in the form illustrated, are identical, although this is not essential.

Each tubular body has telescoped in the free end thereof a respective connector device 3, 4, each of which comprises a shank 3A, 4A having a cross-section such as to fit closely within the associated tubular member 1, 2. The outer end of the shank is provided with a connector in the form of a clevis 5, 6 shaped and dimensioned to cooperate with a standard vehicle towing device and being provided with an associated connecting pin 5A, 6A for locking the connector to the vehicle, in conventional manner.

Each tubular body 1, 2 is slotted at diametrically opposed locations to receive respective abutment pins 7, 8 extending transversely through and fixed to the shanks 3A, 4A, the pins being of sufficient length to lie within both slots of its associated body. One slot respectively in each tubular element can be seen at 1A, 2A. Springs 9, 10 are disposed between the respective free ends of the tubular bodies 1, 2 and the opposing inner ends of the connectors 5, 6 and act to urge the connecting devices outwardly of the tubular bodies. The intended inner ends of the bodies 1, 2 are provided with respective enlarged bosses 1 B, 2B provided with opposed pairs of radial through apertures 1 C, 2C for the purpose to be described.

A third component of the towing device is in the form of an extension member 11, illustrated as a cylindrical tube of approximately the same length as each tubular body and dimensioned to fit closely within the tubular bodies. When the device is to be arranged ready for use, the extension member 11 is inserted into the free end portions of the tubular bodies and locked in position by headed pins 12 each passed through a pair of the opposed holes 1C, 2C in the tubular bodies and corresponding holes in the extension member, the pins being retained by cotters 12A normally retained on the device by ties illustrated as chains 12B. When the device is in its fully extended condition of use, it ideally has a length of between 1.8m and 2m which is considered optimum for towing purposes.With the device connected between a pair of vehicles, it can be seen that the springs 9 and 10 act to cushion shock forces occurring longitudinally of the towing device during towing, occasioned, for example, by excessive braking or deceleration between the vehicles.

When the device is to be stored in its non-operative condition, the pins 12 are removed, enabling the tubular bodies to be detached from the extension member. These three components all of approximately equal length may then be stored side by side in parallel relationship in a container, for example in a storage bag. The division of the device into three components gives rise to a shorter, more acceptable storage length than some conventional two piece devices providing the same optimum towing length.

It will be understood that the various components may be of different form to those illustrated. For example, the tubular bodies and extension member may be other than circular, and the connectors 5, 6 and their associated pins 5A, 6A may be of any appropriate shape or adaptable to match a particular vehicle towing attachment. It will be possible to provide a plurality of axially spaced pairs of diametrically opposed holes in the extension member so that the length of the assembled towing device may be adjusted as desired.

In a further alternative arrangement, the elongate bodies and extension member may be joined, in use, by a threaded connection serving to sustain the axial towing forces whilst permitting the lengthwise adjustment of the towing device.

Claims

1. A towing device comprising a pair of elongate bodies each having a connector device at one of its ends, and an extension member intended to be interengaged with the elongate bodies at their respective end regions remote from the connector devices and locked in a desired position of extension relative to the bodies.

2. A towing device according to Claim 1, wherein the elongate bodies are engaged in telescopic relationship with the extension member.

3. A towing device according to Claim 2, wherein the elongate bodies are tubular and the extension member is engaged telescopically therein.

4. A towing device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one connector device is spring-urged axially outwardly of the body which carries it.

5. A towing device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the bodies and extension member are all the same or similar length.

6. A towing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each connector device is in the form of a clevis.

7. A towing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the extension member is locked by pins passed through aligned holes formed in the member and each body.

8. A towing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A towing device kit comprising a pair of elongate bodies and an extension member, all of the same or similar length, contained in sideby-side relationship in a storage container.