GB2500575A

GB2500575A - Tow bar assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2500575A
Application number: GB201204987A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Christopher Miller
Original assignee: TOW TRUST TOWBARS Ltd
Current assignee: TOW TRUST TOWBARS Ltd
Priority date: 2012-03-21
Filing date: 2012-03-21
Publication date: 2013-10-02
Also published as: GB201204987D0

Abstract

AÂ tow bar assembly 10 for mounting on a vehicle includes a swan neck tow ball member 12 comprising a tow ball part 14, a neck part 16 and a mounting part 18, the assembly 10 including a mounting 20 for mounting the tow ball member 12 to the vehicle, wherein the mounting 20 has a pair of intermediate brackets 82 with a plurality of fixing holes 36,38 arranged to permit adjustment of the height of the tow ball member 12 relative to the vehicle. The intermediate brackets 82 can be reversed to adjust the horizontal position of the ball member 12.

Description

Tow Bar Assembly The present invention relates to tow bar assemblies, particularly but not exclusively tow bar assemblies for mounting on vehicles.

Conventionally in the UK, towbar assemblies have comprised a relatively short tow ball member which is mounted via a laterally extending flange mounting to a bracket arrangement which extends from the vehicle body or chassis and under or through the rear bumper. The flange mounting permits separation of the tow ball member from the bracket arrangement.

The flange mounting is visible to the rear of the vehicle when viewed from above, and permits the use of tow ball mounted accessories such as cycle carriers, bumper protectors and stabilisers, all mounted at the flange mounting between the bracket arrangement and the tow ball member. The flange type of towbar assembly can provide some adjustment of the tow ball height, which can be important when different types of trailer are towed. However, the bracket arrangement is at least partially visible.

A known alternative to the flanged towbar arrangement is the swan neck towbar assembly, which comprises a towball member having a relatively elongated curved neck part. The towbar member extends from a support which is located under the car, thus providing a neat appearance. Also, the smaller mass of the tow bar assembly behind the bumper has been found to be less likely to trigger parking sensors. However, conventionally, swan neck towbar members are permanently fixed to the vehicle, so that adjustment of the tow ball position relative to the vehicle is not possible.

In this specification, directions are relative to a vehicle to which the tow bar assembly is fitted in use, eg "forward" is the direction in which the front of the vehicle is pointing and "rear or rearward" is the direction in which the rear of the vehicle is pointing; "lateral" is side to side across the vehicle and "longitudinal" is lengthwise along the vehicle.

Similarly, in this specification, the terms "vertical" and "horizontal" are used with respect to the installed condition, but it will be understood that these terms are not absolute terms, but are used only for convenience to denote a general sense of relative direction.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a tow bar assembly for mounting on a vehicle, the assembly including a swan neck tow ball member comprising a tow ball part, a neck part and a mounting part, the assembly including a mounting for mounting the tow ball member to the vehicle.

Possibly, the mounting is not visible in use in an installed condition when viewed from above. Possibly, the mounting is located forward or below the rear of the vehicle in use in the installed condition.

Possibly, the mounting is arranged to permit adjustment of the position of the tow ball member relative to the vehicle.

Possibly, the mounting permits removable mounting of the tow ball member to the vehicle.

Possibly, the mounting is arranged to permit adjustment of the horizontal and/or vertical position of the tow ball member relative to the vehicle, and may permit separate adjustment of both the horizontal and vertical position of the tow ball member relative to the vehicle.

Possibly the tow ball member is formed as a single piece.

Possibly, the mounting includes a vehicle bracket arrangement, which in the installed condition in use is mounted to part of the vehicle. Possibly, the mounting includes an intermediate bracket arrangement, which is removably mountable to the vehicle bracket arrangement. Possibly, the intermediate bracket arrangement is mountable to the vehicle bracket arrangement in a first configuration or a second configuration, and may be movable between the two configurations. Possibly, in the second configuration, the intermediate bracket arrangement is reversed or rotated by 1800 relative to the first configuration. Possibly, the intermediate bracket arrangement defines a first fixing axis.

Possibly, the intermediate bracket arrangement defines one or more fixing locations for the tow ball member. The or each of the fixing locations may have a second fixing axis, which may be parallel to but offset from the first fixing axis. Possibly, the first and second fixing axes are substantially vertical in use, so that as the intermediate bracket arrangement is moved between the first configuration and the second configuration, the tow ball member fixing location moves horizontally.

Possibly, the intermediate bracket arrangement includes a plurality of fixing locations, which may be spaced from each other and may be spaced substantially vertically in use, permitting the tow ball member to be mounted to the intermediate bracket arrangement at a corresponding plurality of heights.

Possibly, the intermediate bracket arrangement includes a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending intermediate bracket members, which may receive the tow ball member therebetween. The intermediate bracket members may be substantially planar.

Possibly, the vehicle bracket arrangement includes a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending vehicle bracket members, which may define a gap therebetween, in which the intermediate bracket members may be receivable in use in the installed condition. The vehicle bracket members may be substantially planar.

The intermediate bracket arrangement may include an indicator to indicate the configuration employed.

The assembly may include an electrical socket mounting member, which may be mountable to the vehicle bracket arrangement.

The assembly may include a bumper protection shield member assembly which may include a shield member. The shield member may comprise a mounting part, an angled part and a shield part. The shield member assembly may include a mounting clamp arrangement for mounting the shield member to the towbar member. In the installed condition, the angled part may space the shield part from the tow ball part.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of mounting a tow bar member to a vehicle, the method including providing a tow bar assembly, the assembly including a swan neck tow ball member comprising a tow ball part, a neck part and a mounting part, the assembly including a mounting for mounting the tow ball member to the vehicle.

The tow bar assembly may include any of the features described in the preceding paragraphs. The method may include any of the steps described in the preceding paragraphs.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bumper protection shield assembly for mounting to a towball member, the shield assembly comprising a shield member, the shield member comprising a mounting part, an angled part and a shield part.

The shield assembly may include a mounting clamp arrangement for mounting the shield member in use to the towbar member. In the installed condition, the angled part may space the shield part from the tow ball part.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of mounting a bumper protection shield assembly to a towball member, the shield assembly comprising a shield member, the shield member comprising a mounting part, an angled part and a shield part.

The shield assembly may include any of the features described in the preceding paragraphs. The method may include any of the steps described in the preceding paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a towbar assembly; Fig. 2 is a side view of an intermediate bracket member of the assembly; and Figs. 3A to 3D are side views of the intermediate bracket member and a tow ball member of the assembly in four possible configurations.

Figs. 1 to 3 show a tow bar assembly 10 for mounting on a vehicle, the assembly including a swan neck tow ball member 12 comprising a tow ball part 14, a neck part 16 and a mounting part 18, the assembly 10 including a mounting 20 for mounting the tow ball member 12 to the vehicle, wherein the mounting 20 is arranged to permit adjustment of the position of the tow ball member 12 relative to the vehicle.

A so-called "swan neck tow ball" differs from a so-called "flange tow ball" in that the neck part 16 which spaces the tow ball part 14 from the mounting part 18 is relatively longer. In an installed condition, the mounting is located underneath the vehicle, and the neck part 16 extends from underneath the vehicle rearwardly and upwardly to locate the tow ball part 14 behind the vehicle. The mounting 20 is not visible from above. (In contrast, a flange tow ball is mounted to a flange mounting located to the rear of the vehicle, the flange mounting comprising part of a bracket arrangement. The flange mounting is visible from above.) In this specification, a swan neck tow ball member 12 is a tow ball member as shown in Fig 3A in which the neck part 16 spaces the tow ball part 14 from the mounting part 18 by a horizontal distance 26 in an installed condition. The distance 26 is determined by the type of vehicle and the arrangement, for example, of the rear bumper of the vehicle, but is sufficient for the mounting 20 to be underneath the vehicle so as not to be visible from above, and the tow ball part 14 to be located behind the vehicle. The tow ball member 12 is formed as a single piece.

The mounting 20 includes a vehicle bracket arrangement 22, which in the installed condition in use is mounted to part of the vehicle. The arrangement 22 includes a beam 76, fixing arrangements 78 at each end of the beam 76, and a pair of spaced longitudinally extending vehicle bracket members 80, which extend downwardly in use from a mid-region of the beam 76, and define a gap 81 therebetween. Each of the vehicle bracket members is in the form of a substantially planar plate and defines a pair of substantially vertically aligned first fixing holes 30.

The vehicle bracket arrangement 22 including the beam 76 and the fixing arrangements 78 is specific to the type of vehicle to which the towbar assembly 10 is being fitted and will change in size and design accordingly.

Thus it will be understood that the design of vehicle bracket arrangement 22 shown in figure 1 is for illustrative purposes only.

The mounting 20 includes an intermediate bracket arrangement 24, which is removably mountable to the vehicle bracket arrangement 22. The intermediate bracket arrangement 24 includes a pair of spaced intermediate bracket members 82 which in the installed condition locate in the gap 81.

Each of the intermediate bracket members 82 is in the form of a substantially planar plate which in the installed condition extends longitudinally and defines a pair of substantially vertically aligned second fixing holes 32, which in the installed condition correspond with the first fixing holes 30. The second fixing holes 32 lie on a first fixing axis 34.

Each of the intermediate bracket members 82 defines a plurality of fixing locations in the form of a pair of third fixing holes 36 and a pair of fourth fixing holes 38. The third fixing holes 36 lie along a generally horizontal third axis 42 and the fourth fixing holes 38 lie along a generally horizontal fourth axis 44. The third and fourth axes 42, 44 are parallel to but offset from each other by a vertical offset distance 48. Each pair of the third and fourth fixing holes 36, 38 is symmetrical about a generally vertical second fixing axis 40, which is parallel to but offset from the first fixing axis 34 by a horizontal offset distance 46.

The tow ball member mounting part 18 defines a pair of fifth fixing holes 50. In the installed condition, the mounting part 18 is received between the intermediate bracket members 82 and the fifth fixing holes 50 correspond with either the third fixing holes 36 or the fourth fixing holes 38.

In use, the vehicle bracket arrangement 22 is fixed to the vehicle by means of the fixing arrangements 78. The intermediate bracket members 82 are located in the gap 81 and positioned in either a first configuration or a second configuration. In the first configuration, the horizontal offset distance 46 extends forwardly of the first fixing axis 34. In the second configuration, the horizontal offset distance 46 extends rearwardly of the first fixing axis 34.

Thus the user has the choice of two horizontal towball positions, which are separated by an adjustment distance, which is twice the horizontal offset distance 46.

To move from the second configuration to the first configuration and vice versa, each of the intermediate bracket members 82 is reversed or rotated by 1800. Alternatively, and in this example to the same effect, the intermediate bracket arrangement 24 as a whole can be rotated by 180° in going between the first and second configurations.

With the intermediate bracket members 82 in the desired position, fixing members such as bolts are located through the first fixing holes 30 and the second fixing holes 32 and nuts located and tightened to secure the intermediate bracket members 82 in position. The mounting part 18 of the tow ball member 12 is then located between the intermediate bracket members 82 so that the fifth fixing holes 50 correspond with either the third fixing holes 36 or the fourth fixing holes 38. Fixing members such as bolts are then located through the third or fourth fixing holes 36, 38 and the fifth fixing holes 50 and nuts located and tightened to secure the tow ball member 12 in position.

The user thus has the choice of two vertical tow ball positions which are separated by an adjustment distance which equates to the vertical offset distance 48.

The tow bar assembly 10 of the invention thus provides the user with a choice of four possible tow ball positions, and permits separate adjustment of both the horizontal and vertical position of the tow ball member relative to the vehicle.

Figs 3A-D show the four possible tow ball positions. In Fig 3A, the intermediate bracket members 82 are in the second configuration with the second fixing axis 40 behind the first fixing axis 34 and the tow ball member 12 mounted to the fourth (lower) fixing holes 38.

In Fig 3B, the intermediate bracket members 82 are again in the second configuration with the second fixing axis 40 behind the first fixing axis 34, but the tow ball member 12 is mounted to the third (upper) fixing holes 38.

In Fig 3C, the intermediate bracket members 82 are in the first configuration with the second fixing axis 40 in front of the first fixing axis 34 and the tow ball member 12 mounted to the fourth fixing holes 38.

In Fig 3D, the intermediate bracket members 82 are in the first configuration with the second fixing axis 40 in front of the first fixing axis 34 and the tow ball member 12 mounted to the third fixing holes 36.

In the first configuration, the horizontal offset distance 46 extends forwardly of the first fixing axis 34. In the second configuration, the horizontal offset distance 46 extends rearwardly of the first fixing axis 34.

In the example shown in Figs 2 and 3A to D, the vertical offset distance 48 is 20mm, and the horizontal offset distance 46 is 10mm so that the possible horizontal and vertical adjustment distances are both 20mm.

The intermediate bracket members 82 each have a projection 90 which extends outwardly on the side of the member corresponding to the horizontal offset 46. The projection 90 provides a visual indication to the user which configuration is being employed and thus forms an indicator.

Optionally, the assembly 10 could include a socket bracket 56 for supporting an electrical socket assembly (not shown), which defines a socket fixing hole in the form of a slot 58, which in the installed condition corresponds with a one of a plurality of sixth fixing holes 84 defined by each intermediate bracket member 82.

As a further option, the invention could provide a bumper protection shield assembly 60 including a shield member 62. The shield member 62 comprises a mounting part 70, an angled part 72 and a shield part 74. The assembly 60 could include a mounting clamp arrangement 64 for mounting the shield member 62 to the towball member 12. In the installed condition, the angled part 72 spaces the shield part 74 from the tow ball part 14. The clamp arrangement 64 includes a U shaped clamp member 66 and a clamp bracket 68. Threaded arms 67 of the clamp member 66 extend through the clamp bracket 68 and mounting holes 86 defined by the mounting part 70, and nuts 88 are tightened to clamp the shield member 62 in position on the neck part 16. Advantageously, the shield member 62 can be mounted, dismounted or adjusted without any disassembly of the tow ball member 12 from the intermediate bracket arrangement 24 or the vehicle bracket arrangement 22.

Furthermore, the shield assembly 60 can be retrofitted to any type or design of swan neck towball member 12, and could be supplied separately to the tow bar assembly 10, or as part of the tow bar assembly 10. The shield assembly provides protection for the vehicle when manoeuvring a trailer hook or socket near to the tow ball part 14.

Various other modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The tow ball member 12, the vehicle bracket arrangement 22 and the intermediate bracket arrangement 24 could be of any suitable design, size and shape, and could be formed of any suitable material.

In one example, the vehicle bracket arrangement 22 and intermediate bracket arrangement 24 could include inter-engaging parts one of which could rotate relative to the other, with a locking arrangement such as a pin to lock the moving part in the desired position.

There is thus provided a tow bar assembly which enables a swan neck tow ball to be adjusted in position relative to the vehicle to which it is mounted.

There is also provided a shield assembly which can be retrofitted to the tow bar assembly to provide protection for the vehicle.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A tow bar assembly for mounting on a vehicle, the assembly including a swan neck tow ball member comprising a tow ball part, a neck part and a mounting part, the assembly including a mounting for mounting the tow ball member to the vehicle.
2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the mounting is not visible in use in an installed condition when viewed from above.
3. An assembly according to claims 1 or 2, in which the mounting is located forward or below the rear of the vehicle in use in the installed condition.
4. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the -15 mounting is arranged to permit adjustment of the position of the tow ball cv) member relative to the vehicle
5. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the C\i mounting permits removable mounting of the tow ball member to the vehicle.
6. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the mounting is arranged to permit adjustment of the horizontal and/or vertical position of the tow ball member relative to the vehicle.
7. An assembly according to claim 6, in which the mounting permits separate adjustment of both the horizontal and vertical position of the tow ball member relative to the vehicle.
8. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the tow ball member is formed as a single piece.
9. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the mounting includes a vehicle bracket arrangement, which in the installed condition in use is mounted to part of the vehicle.
10.An assembly according to claim 9, in which the mounting includes an intermediate bracket arrangement, which is removably mountable to the vehicle bracket arrangement.
11.An assembly according to claim 10, in which the intermediate bracket arrangement is mountable to the vehicle bracket arrangement in a first configuration or a second configuration.
12.An assembly according to claim 11, in which the intermediate bracket arrangement is movable between the two configurations. -15cy) 13An assembly according to claims 11 or 12, in which, in the second 0 configuration, the intermediate bracket arrangement is reversed or rotated i--by 180° relative to the first configuration.14.An assembly according to claim 10 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the intermediate bracket arrangement defines a first fixing axis and one or more fixing locations for the tow ball member, the or each of the fixing locations having a second fixing axis, which is parallel to but offset from the first fixing axis.15.An assembly according to claim 14 when dependent on claim 11 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the first and second fixing axes are substantially vertical in use, so that as the intermediate bracket arrangement is moved between the first configuration and the second configuration, the tow ball member fixing location moves horizontally.16.An assembly according to claim 10 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the intermediate bracket arrangement includes a plurality of fixing locations, which are spaced from each other substantially vertically in use, permitting the tow ball member to be mounted to the intermediate bracket arrangement at a corresponding plurality of heights.17.An assembly according to claim 10 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the intermediate bracket arrangement includes a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending intermediate bracket members, which receive the tow ball member therebetween.18.An assembly according to claim 17, in which the vehicle bracket arrangement includes a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending vehicle bracket members, which define a gap therebetween, in which the intermediate bracket members are receivable in use in the installed condition. -15cv) laAn assembly according to claim 11 or any claim dependent thereon, in 0 which the intermediate bracket arrangement includes an indicator to indicate the configuration employed.20.An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the assembly includes an electrical socket mounting member, which is mountable to the vehicle bracket arrangement.21.An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the assembly includes a bumper protection shield member assembly which includes a shield member, the shield member assembly including a mounting clamp arrangement for mounting the shield member to the towbar member.22.An assembly according to claim 21, in which the shield member includes a mounting part, an angled pad and a shield part, and in the installed condition, the angled part spaces the shield part from the tow ball pad.23.A method of mounting a tow bar member to a vehicle, the method including providing a tow bar assembly, the assembly including a swan neck tow ball member comprising a tow ball part, a neck part and a mounting part, the assembly including a mounting for mounting the tow ball member to the vehicle.24.A method according to claim 23, in which the tow bar assembly includes any of the features defined in any of claims 1 to 22.25.A method according to claims 23 or 24, in which the method includes any of the steps defined in any of claims ito 22.26.A tow bar assembly for mounting on a vehicle substantially as C') hereinbefore described and/or with reference to any of the accompanying r 15 drawings. C')0 27. A method of mounting a tow bar member to a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described and/or with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.