GB2318332A

GB2318332A - Tow for wheeled vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2318332A
Application number: GB9626247A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Mckenzie Owler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-10-16
Filing date: 1996-12-18
Publication date: 1998-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2016-12-18
Also published as: GB9621521D0; GB2318332B; GB9626247D0

Abstract

A tow mount for the towing of a wheeled vehicle, particularly a motorcycle 12, comprises a support 18 having a straight or L-shaped channel arranged to receive a wheel of the vehicle and to support it above the road surface, and releasable retaining means such as straps 22,24,30 for retaining said wheel on the support. The strap 30 may extend from the handlebars or steering head to the ends of a laterally extending anchor bar 28 (Fig.3) carried by the support. To simplify use the mount may be adapted to be mounted on a conventional ball hitch (Figs. 6-9), the anchor bar being releasable. Assembly of the anchor bar to the support prevents removal of the mount from the hitch.

Description

TOW FOR WHEELED VEHICLE The present invention relates to a tow for a wheeled vehicle and in particular, but not exclusively, to a tow for a two-wheeled vehicle such as a bicycle or motorcycle.

It is commonly required to transport one vehicle by means of another vehicle and such transportation is commonly achieved by way of a tow-bar attached at the back of a towing vehicle.

Also, some vehicles, for example pick-up trucks, are specifically arranged for towing vehicles and are generally arranged to lift an end region of the vehicle to be towed up and out of contact with the surface over which the vehicle is to be towed.

However, instances may arise in which it becomes necessary for a non-specialised vehicle, such as a typical family road-car, to provide for the towing of a wheeled vehicle and, at present, it is generally necessary to attach some form of trailer to such a road vehicle and to mount the vehicle to be towed upon that trailer.

The provision of such a trailer can often represent a relatively high expense when towing a wheeled vehicle and can also prove to be unnecessarily complicated to attach and secure to the vehicle. Also, known trailers can lead to complications as regards the manoeuvrability of the vehicle/trailer combination particularly when reversing.

One example of such towing apparatus is known from US 3,822,898, but this apparatus still exhibits disadvantages particularly regarding its security and ease of connection to a towing vehicle.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide for means for towing a wheeled vehicle which can be advantageously simple in construction and use.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a tow mount for towing a wheeled vehicle comprising support means arranged to receive a wheel of said vehicle and to support said wheel above a surface over which said vehicle is to be towed, releasable retaining means for retaining said wheel on said support means, and wherein said mount serves to support the said vehicle via said support means such that at least one other wheel of said vehicle contacts, and travels along, said surface when said vehicle is towed.

A particularly advantageous feature of the tow mount of the present invention is the manner in which it can be simply, quickly and securely mounted on, or dismounted from, a tow engagement formation of the towing vehicle.

A further advantage is that, particularly when compared with a conventional trailer, the tow mount of the present invention is advantageously small and compact and can therefore be readily stored when not in use. The tow mount of the present invention can even be carried inside the towing vehicle when not in use in anticipation of its need for use and can readily be stored in the boot of the towing vehicle. After arrival at a particular location, for example a holiday destination where the towed wheeled vehicle such as a bike is to be used, the bike can be quickly removed from the mount and the mount then stored in a compact manner.

The invention is advantageous in that it provides a simple mechanism whereby a vehicle to be towed can be simply and securely mounted to the back of a towing vehicle and in a manner which does not lead to excessive cost implications nor complications as regards manoeuvrability of the towed vehicle.

Preferably, the tow mount includes elongate laterally extending support means which may have end regions remote from the tow mount to which the towed vehicle can advantageously be anchored.

The present invention, unlike the prior art, can advantageously provide one or more lateral bars for attachment of supporting straps. All the prior art mounts use the towing vehicle rear bumper to secure the forward ends of the supporting straps. At the time of this prior art, most cars/trucks had separate, and substantial, steel bumpers strong enough for this purpose. Modern cars however have plastic, moulded, integrated, bumpers to which it is impossible to fix straps. The prior art devices could not be used on modern cars. The present invention can include easily demountable lateral bars attached directly to the supporting channels and independent of the car's bumper.

As will be discussed, the disposition of one of the lateral bars can be such that it is impossible to remove the assembly from the ball hitch without first removing the lateral bar. If the lateral bar is locked/padlocked in position, it can also act as an anti-theft device.

US 3,822,898 shows a carrier bolted onto the towing vehicle. The major disadvantage of this securing means is that the removal and replacement of the device is timeconsuming and labourious. It has to be removed every time the bike is removed, or a separate set of lights, number plate and reflector fitted to warn of the protrusion and/or replace the obscured number etc. on the towing vehicle.

The tow mount of the present invention can exhibit a further security measure in that the side stiffeners can be positioned as to leave a hole through which a security hasp or large "Lockable U-Bolt" can be passed thus securing the supported wheel to the carrier.

The above features allow for particularly convenient installation, use and removal of the carrier tow mount and represent a significant improvement over the prior art.

In particular, two elongate laterally extending support means can be provided for extending from opposite sides of the tow mount. The elongate laterally extending support means advantageously can also be arranged to be removably secured to the tow mount so as to assist with the ready portability and ease of storage of the tow mount.

The elongate laterally extending support means preferably include anchorage formations for receiving strap means which, at their other end, can be connected to the vehicle to be towed.

Preferably, the elongate laterally extending support means comprise at least part of the aforementioned retaining means.

According to a particular advantage, the elongate laterally extending support means can be secured to the tow mount and in the region of the tow mount which serves as the connection to the towing vehicle. The elongate laterally extending support means preferably can be locked to the tow mount in the region of connection to the towing vehicle and thereby serve to assist with the secure connection of the tow mount to the towing vehicle.

In particular, the tow mount is provided with a recess for receiving an engagement formation such as a ball hitch of the towing vehicle and the elongate laterally extending support means is arranged to be secured to the tow mount in a manner to prevent the removal of the aforementioned formation from the recess once inserted therein.

Further, the tow mount can be provided with an aperture lug which can be arranged for alignment with an aperture provided on the engagement formation of the towing vehicle which can advantageously be in the form of a plate arranged to be secured to the ball hitch, or similar engagement arrangement, of the towing vehicle.

Also, at least a portion of the support means can be mounted in a pivotal manner for pivotal movement between two positions so as to assist with the mounting of the wheeled vehicle on the tow mount. Thus, in one of the aforementioned positions, the pivotal portion can form a ramp member via which a wheel of the towed vehicle can be introduced to the tow mount. Also, the pivotal portion of the support means can be pivoted into a stowage position so as to reduce the overall size of the tow mount for storage.

Preferably, said support means includes channel means arranged to receive a radially outer portion of said wheel and, in particular, the channel means is arranged to receive at least a portion of the wheel tyre. The channel means may have any appropriate cross-sectional form, for example Ushaped, V-shaped, curved, semi-circular or any appropriate form or combination of these. A V-shaped cross-section exhibits the advantage of self-centering the wheel and can easily accommodate various wheel widths.

Advantageously, the side walls of the channel means can be provided with apertures through which locking means such as a security hasp can pass when serving to lock the wheel in the tow mount.

The provision of such a channel means is particularly advantageous in that a channel formation can readily provide for accurate receipt of the wheel on the support means.

Wheel-clamp means may advantageously be provided in association with said support means.

In particular, the support means may be provided in the form of a bracket which can advantageously provide for at least two regions of contact with said wheel. If further regions of contact are provided the support means can advantageously serve to partially envelop the vehicle wheel.

Advantageously, one of said regions of contact can advantageously be provided to a lower portion of the wheel once received in said support means and the other region of contact can be provided at a forward region of the wheel.

The lower region of contact advantageously serves to securely support said wheel above said surface over which the vehicle is to be towed, whereas the forward region of contact advantageously serves to secure the vehicle having regard to acceleration/deceleration loads experienced during towing of the vehicle.

Of course, further regions of contact between said wheel and the support means can be provided as required.

With regard to one particular advantage, the support means can be arranged to provide a channel-like crosssection in at least two orthogonal planes to the wheel to be received therein. That is, when viewed from above, or from one end, the support means exhibits a channel-like recess for receiving the outer periphery of said wheel, whereas when viewed from the side, the support means is provided with at least two arms which extend substantially at right-angles so as to form a right-angled recess in which said wheel is received.

Advantageously, said support means comprises a substantially L-shaped bracket which may, in particular, be in the form of a substantially L-shaped channel member.

When the tow mount of the present invention is arranged to support a two-wheeled vehicle, a further advantage arises in that the mount can be arranged to support the two-wheeled vehicle in a substantially vertical or upright manner. This is advantageously achieved by ensuring that the support means is arranged to support said wheel in a substantially vertical manner.

Advantageously, the support means is arranged for releasable engagement with a towing vehicle.

In particular, said means for releasible engagement advantageously comprises means for releasably securing the tow mount to a tow-bar provided at the rear of a towing vehicle although it should be appreciated that the mounting of the tow mount in this manner does not necessarily require use of the tow-bar ball connector commonly found on towbars.

Turning now to said releasable retaining means, it should be appreciated that such retaining means can advantageously serve to engage between the mount and said wheel as received therein.

In particular, said retaining means can advantageously be provided at the aforementioned regions of contact in that one of said retaining means can be provided so as to secure said wheel against movement in a substantially vertical direction whereas a second retaining means can be provided so as to secure said wheel against movement in a substantially horizontal direction. In this manner, the first retaining means advantageously serves to achieve stability of the towed vehicle in a vertical direction particularly when the towing vehicle encounters uneven terrain, and the second of the receiving means advantageously serves to achieve stability having regard to the loads experienced during acceleration/deceleration of the towing vehicle.

Further improvement of the present invention resides in the provision of releasible retaining means which can be adjustable so as to provide for secure retention of wheels having different dimensions.

Advantageously, and in accordance with a particularly simple but effective embodiment of the present invention, the releasible retaining means can be provided in the form of strap means.

Also, or as an alternative, the invention can include securing means arranged for engagement between said mount and the body and/or frame of the towed vehicle.

As with said retaining means, the securing means can advantageously be adjustable and can also advantageously take the form of strap means.

In particular, the mount can be provided with a laterally extending engagement formation which is arranged to receive at least one end of said securing means.

Further, the securing means is provided having particular regard to the requirement to retain the towed vehicle in a substantially upright position.

In accordance with a particular advantage, the present invention can be arranged for the mounting of a vehicle having a sole front wheel such any form of cycle.

In this manner, the aforementioned securing means can most usefully be arranged to engage between the mount and the handlebars of the cycle. The securing means may serve the particularly useful purpose of retaining the cycle in a vertical position when being towed. Alternatively, or in addition, the securing means can be arranged to engage with the head of the forks and this arrangement can prove advantageous since the forks are designed to experience greater loads than the handlebars.

As a further advantage relating to the ease with which a motorcycle can be securely mounted on the tow mount of the present invention, it should be appreciated that the securing means need only be arranged to retain the motorcycle in an approximately upright position and any side-ways load experienced will cause the front forks to compress so that the front suspension system can continue to operate in a normal manner. When being towed, the cycle tends to be retained in an upright position by gyroscopic forces generated by the rotating rear wheel.

As will be appreciated, the present invention is particularly useful for receiving the front wheel of a bicycle, or motorcycle, when it is required to tow such a two-wheeled vehicle in a simple, secure and easily manoeuvrable manner.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle being towed by means of a tow mount embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating further means for securing a wheeled vehicle to the tow mount; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle of Fig. 2 so as to further illustrate the mounting of the towed vehicle on the tow mount; Fig. 4 is a side view similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2 and which illustrates a tow mount according to another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a side view similar to that of Figs. 1, 2 and 4 and illustrating a tow mount according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a rear view of a tow mount according to another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is an enlarged front view of the portion of the tow mount of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a side view of the tow mount of Fig. 6 prior to connection to a ball hitch of a towing vehicle; and Fig. 9 is a side view similar to that of Fig. 8 but illustrating the manner in which the tow mount is mounted on the ball hitch.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a tow mount 10 which is arranged for connection to a towing vehicle 12 and which is further arranged to receive a motorcycle 14 so that the motorcycle 14 can be towed by means of the vehicle 12.

As will be appreciated, the motorcycle 14 is arranged to be towed in such a manner that its front wheel is raised above the surface over which the towing vehicle 12 travels by means of the tow mount 10 embodying the present invention, and such that its rear wheel contacts, and travels along, the aforementioned surface.

Such an arrangement allows for a quick, easy and secure mounting of the motorcycle to the towing vehicle 12 and in a manner which enhances the manoeuvrability of the vehicle/motorcycle combination.

The tow mount 10 is mounted to a tow-bar 16 which extends from the under-side of the rear end of the vehicle 12 and, the tow mount 10 is advantageously mounted to the tow-bar 16 in a realisably secure manner which need not involve the 50 mm ball commonly found as part of the twobar.

The tow mount 10 comprises an L-shaped channel 18 which has an arm 18a extending in a substantially horizontal direction and an arm 18b extending in a substantially vertical direction.

The channel portion 18a provides for a first region of contact 20 between the tow mount 10 and a front wheel of the motorcycle 14, and the channel portion 18b provides for a second region of contact 22 between the tow mount 10 and the front wheel of the motorcycle 14.

Further retaining means can be provided at each of the aforementioned regions of contact 20, 22 and advantageously comprise adjustable straps 24, 26.

The adjustable strap 24 is arranged to secure the front wheel of the motorcycle 14 against movement in a substantially vertical direction, for example when the surface over which the motorcycle 14 is being towed is uneven; whereas the adjustable strap 26 serves to retain the front wheel of the motorcycle 14 securely in the tow mount 10 taking into account the loads experienced during acceleration/deceleration of the towing vehicle 12.

As is further illustrated in Fig. 3, a typical tow mount 10 can include a laterally extending anchor bar 28 to which one end of adjustable securing straps 30 is securely engaged. The other end of each of the adjustable straps 30 extends to the handle bars 32, and/or the forks, of the motorcycle 14 and each of the straps 30 is secured to the handlebars. It should be noted that in view of the securing forces provided by way of the securing straps 30, the adjustable straps 23, 26 can be omitted.

The provision of the securing straps 30 advantageously serves to retain the motorcycle 14 in a substantially upright position when mounted on to the tow mount 10 and when subsequently towed.

As will be appreciated, the combination of the tow mount 10 and the releasable retaining and securing means of the present invention provide for an acceptably secure connection between the towing vehicle 12 and the motorcycle 14.

Fig. 2 illustrates a version of the present invention in which further securing straps 30a are provided for connection between the laterally extending anchor bar 28 and the head of the forks 34 of the motorcycle 14. It should be appreciated that the securing straps 30a can be used as an alternative, or in addition, to the securing straps 30 which extend between the laterally extending anchor bar 28 and the handlebars 32 of the motorcycle 14. The securing straps 30, 30a can be arranged to provided sufficient downward and fore/aft securing forces such that the adjustable straps 24, 26 illustrated with reference to Fig. 1, are not needed.

With regard to the tow mount as illustrated with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the present invention, a lockable antitheft device such as a U-bolt or a lockable steel strap 36 can be provided for extending around the rim and tyre of the wheel and for extending through the triangular aperture 38 (see Fig. 2) formed by frame portions of the tow mount 10. Further, if the anti-theft device 36 can be secured tightly around the tow mount and the wheel, this can also serve to render the straps 24, 26 illustrated by reference to Fig. 1 redundant.

From reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be appreciated that means for securing the wheel to the tow mount can comprise the handlebar, and/or fork, straps 30, 30a, and/or horizontal and vertical securing straps such as those 22, 24 illustrated with reference to Fig. 1, and/or a single lockable anti-theft securing means which is lockable through an aperture formed in the tow mount 10.

Fig. 3 shows a rear view of the arrangement of Fig.2 and this serves to further illustrate the laterally extending anchor bar 28 and the locations of engagement of the securing straps 30, 30a connected thereto. Fig. 3 also serves to illustrate the manner in which the laterally extending anchor bar 28 of Fig. 1 extends relative to the remainder of the tow mount 10.

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the present invention in which a rear channel portion 18c of the tow mount is mounted in a pivotal manner such that it can pivot between the two positions shown in Fig. 4 and in the direction of arrow A. In its lower position (as illustrated by chain - dotted lines) the channel portion 18c serves as a ramp member via which the front wheel of the motorcycle 14 can be moved up into position on the tow mount 10. The channel portion 18c can then be pivoted into its upper position which serves to assist in securing the wheel in receipt in the support means of the tow mount 10. The channel portion 18c is therefore associated with securing means for retaining it in the aforementioned upper position.

In accordance with a further feature, the pivotally mounted channel portion 18c can be arranged to fold inwards towards the remainder of the channel member so as to reduce the overall size of the tow mount for storage purposes. In particular, the pivotal channel portion 18c can be arranged to pivot towards a substantially vertical position when the tow mount is mounted on the towing vehicle and this serves to reduce the rearward overhang of the tow mount 10 behind the towing vehicle. Further, if it seems likely that the tow mount might obscure the towing vehicle's number plate, an additional number plate can readily be provided on the underside of the pivotal channel portion 18c when disposed in the aforementioned substantially vertical position.

Of course, it should be appreciated that the channel portion 18a illustrated in Fig. 1 could likewise be provided in a pivotal manner so as to reduce the overall dimensions of the tow mount when required.

Fig. 5 shows yet a further embodiment of the present invention in which the support means comprises a single vertical channel member 40 into which the wheel of the motorcycle 14 is received. The wheel is secured in the vertical channel member 40 by means of a rigid clamp 42 which serves to support the motorcycle in a vertical position, carry the weight of the front portion of the motorcycle and also withstand the acceleration/deceleration loads experienced. It will be appreciated that the embodiment of Fig. 5 provides for a particularly simple form of the present invention and which, in not requiring the straps illustrated with regard to Figs. 1 and 2, provides for a tow mount which can receive a wheel of a vehicle to be towed in a simple, secure and quick manner. Of course, the rigid clamp member 42 is arranged to receive the secured motorcycle wheel in a manner which prevents undesired movement of the wheel in a vertical or horizontal direction but without exerting any forces which might be considered likely to damage the wheel.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of a tow mount according to another embodiment of the present invention and which includes a channel body 44 for receiving a wheel of a vehicle to be towed and which is arranged to be mounted on a ball hitch arrangement 46 of the towing vehicle.

The tow mount includes a first laterally extending elongate support member 48 which, at one end, is secured by way of a locking pin arrangement 49 to the channel body 44 of the tow mount and which, at its other end, has an anchorage formation 50 for receiving a strap means such as the straps 30, 30A illustrated in the embodiment of Figs. 2 and 3.

The second laterally extending elongate support member 52 extends outwardly from the channel body 44 of the tow mount and in a direction opposite to the elongate member 48 and has a locking pin arrangement 54 and anchorage formation 53 located at opposite ends thereof.

Each of the locking pin arrangements 49, 54 can advantageously serve, in combination with locking means such as a padlock, to secure the elongate support members 48, 52 to the channel body 44 of the tow mount.

As will be appreciated from Fig. 6, the elongate support members 48, 52 extend through apertures formed in the side walls of the channel body 44 and each of the elongate support members 48, 52 is provided with a movementlimiting member, for example a flange member 55, 57, which serves to retain the elongate support members 48, 52 securely in place once the locking pins 49, 54 have been appropriately mounted.

Turning now to Fig. 7, there is provided a front view of the channel body 44 of the tow mount illustrated in Fig.

6 and this shows a particularly important relationship between the position of one of the laterally extending support members 48 and an aperture region provided in the tow mount.

As will be clear, the ball hitch arrangement 46 includes a spherical portion 56 and the channel body 44 of the tow mount includes a recess 58 arranged to receive the spherical portion 56 of the ball hitch arrangement 46 when the tow mount is mounted thereon.

The distance between the laterally extending elongate support member 48 and the upper inner surface of the recess 58 is arranged to be closely similar to the vertical dimension of the ball hitch arrangement 46 so that, with the tow mount mounted on the ball hitch arrangement 46 so that the ball 56 is received within the recess 58, the elongate support means 48 can be inserted through the receiving apertures of the channel body 44 thereby serving to retain the ball hitch 46 within the recess provided within the channel body 44 and prevent its removal therefrom.

Such a mounting arrangement is further illustrated with reference to Figs. 8 and 9. Turning first to Fig. 8, the spherical portion 56 of the ball hitch arrangement 46 has to be inserted upwardly into the recess 58 within the channel body 44 in the direction of arrow B so that the channel body 44 becomes mounted on the ball hitch arrangement 46 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 9.

The laterally extending elongate support member 48 is then passed through the square aperture 60 and secured therein by means of the flange 55 and the locking pin 49 discussed previously. Once the elongate supporting member 48 is secured through the aperture 60, it serves to prevent removal of the channel member 44 from the ball hitch arrangement 46 since pivotal motion in a direction opposite to that of arrow B in Fig. 8 is prevented by the elongate support member 48.

Fig. 8 also shows that an aperture 68 is provided in a lug member 70 which extends rearwardly of the channel body 44 and which is arranged for alignment with a securing plate 64 which extends beneath the ball hitch arrangement 46. The plate 64 is provided with an aperture 66 and the respective apertures 66, 68 are arranged, when aligned as in Fig. 9, to receive a locking pin member.

The embodiment of Figs. 6-9 of the present application is particularly advantageous in that the laterally extending elongate support members cannot only serve to provide for the required stability for the towed vehicle but can also assist in securing the tow mount to the towing vehicle and without prejudicing the manner in which the tow mount can be disassembled for ease of storage. Also, the laterally extending elongate support means of this embodiment can be connected directly to the channel member which, in turn, can be connected directly to the ball hitch arrangement of the towing vehicle.

The dismounting, and subsequent disassembly of the tow mount of the present invention can be achieved in an advantageously secure manner and, particular, in a manner in which the disassembly of the tow mount involves specific steps which are also associated with unlocking the tow mount from the ball hitch arrangement, or other appropriate engagement arrangement, of the towing vehicle. Since the tow mount of the present invention can be readily removed from the towing vehicle when not in use, the user does not face further disadvantageous associated with ensuring that a rear number plate and rear vehicle lights, are visible when in use, or that the tow mount might then represent a dangerous obstruction extending from the vehicle.

Of course, it should be appreciated that this further embodiment can itself be revised so as to be used in association with any appropriate towing/mounting arrangement of a towing vehicle such as a yolk and vertical pin towing hitch which is fitted to many commercial vehicles. Through appropriate positioning of the laterally extending elongate supporting means the advantageous locking of the tow mount to the towing vehicle can be retained irrespective of the particular mounting arrangement exhibited by the towing vehicle.

It should be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example, any appropriate form of wheeled vehicle, having at least one front, and at least one rear wheel, can be mounted by way of apparatus embodying the present invention and any appropriate form of retaining and/or securing means can be provided having regard to the secure connection required between the tow mount and the wheeled vehicle being towed.

The

Claims

1. A tow mount for towing a wheeled vehicle comprising support means arranged to receive a wheel of said vehicle and to support said wheel above a surface over which said vehicle is to be towed, releasable retaining means for retaining said wheel on said support means, and wherein said mount serves to support the said vehicle via said support means such that at least one other wheel of said vehicle contacts, and travels along, said surface when said vehicle is towed.

2. A tow mount as claimed in Claim 1, and including elongate laterally extending support means having end regions remote from the tow mount to which the towed vehicle can be anchored.

3. A tow mount as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, and including at least one lateral bar for attachment of supporting straps.

4. A tow mount as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said at least one lateral bar includes demountable lateral bars attached directly to the supporting channel and independent of a towing vehicle bumper.

5. A tow mount as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, wherein the at least one of the lateral bars is located such that it is impossible to remove the assembly from the ball hitch without first removing the lateral bar.

6. A tow mount as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the elongate laterally extending support means is arranged to be secured to the tow mount and in a region of the tow mount which serves as the connection to the towing vehicle.

7. A tow mount as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the elongate laterally extending support means is arranged to be locked to the tow mount in the region of connection to the towing vehicle so as to secure connection of the tow mount to the towing vehicle.

8. A tow mount as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein the tow mount is provided with a recess for receiving an engagement formation of the towing vehicle and the elongate laterally extending support means is arranged to be secured to the tow mount in a manner to prevent the removal of the aforementioned formation from the recess once inserted therein.

9. A tow mount as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the tow mount is provided with a lug having an aperture which can be arranged for alignment with an aperture provided on the engagement formation of the towing vehicle.

10. A tow mount as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the support means can be mounted in a pivotal manner for pivotal movement between two positions so as to assist with the mounting of the wheeled vehicle on the tow mount.

11. A tow mount as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support means includes channel means arranged to receive a radially outer portion of said wheel.

12. A tow mount as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the side walls of the channel means can be provided with apertures through which locking means can pass when serving to lock the wheel in the tow mount.

13. A tow mount as claimed in Claim 11 or 12, wherein the support means comprises a bracket arranged to provide for at least two regions of contact with said wheel.

14. A tow mount as claimed in Claim 13, wherein one of said regions of contact is provided for a lower portion of the wheel once received in said support means and the other region of contact can be provided for a forward region of the wheel so that the lower region of contact serves to securely support said wheel above said surface over which the vehicle is to be towed, and the forward region of contact serves to secure the vehicle having regard to acceleration/deceleration loads experienced during towing of the vehicle.

15. A tow mount as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support means comprises a substantially L-shaped bracket which may, in particular, be in the form of a substantially L-shaped channel member.

16. A tow mount as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and including securing means arranged for engagement between said mount and the body and/or frame of the towed vehicle.

17. A tow mount as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the securing means is adjustable and comprises strap means.

18. A tow mount as claimed in Claim 16 or 17, wherein the securing means may serve to engage with the head of the forks and this arrangement can prove advantageous since the forks are designed to experience greater loads than the handlebars.