USRE35482E - Towing hitch - Google Patents

Abstract

A towing hitch includes a frame having a forward portion selectively connected to the receiver hitch of a towing vehicle, and a rearward portion having a pair of elongated bars pivotally connected thereto for removable connection to a vehicle to be towed. Each bar has a pivot arm connected to the rearward end thereof, said pivot arms and bars all pivotal within a single plane, so that the pivot arms may be folded into a storage position adjacent and parallel .Iadd.to .Iaddend.the bars. Selective locking apparatus permits the pivot arms to be extended to a towing position aligned with the bars and locked in the towing position. The bars are pivotally connected to a pivot block which is pivotally mounted to the forward portion of the frame, so as to permit the pivot block, and attached bars and arms to pivot from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical storage position. The pivot block is mounted on a rotatable yoke, such that the bars and pivot arms are rotatable, as a unit, along an axis parallel to the direction which a vehicle is being towed.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to hitches for towing vehicles, and more particularly to an improved hitch for towing a vehicle which may be removably installed on a conventional receiver hitch and which will collapse for easy storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various tow bars for towing vehicles have been known for many years. However, conventional tow bars are typically bulky, heavy structures which require a fairly lengthy amount of time to install between the vehicles, and a similar amount of time to remove once the vehicle has been towed to the desired location.

Furthermore, prior art towing apparatus were designed for complete removal from the towed vehicle upon arrival at the desired location. Removal of the towing apparatus was also conventionally inconvenient and time-consuming. Thus, in those instances where it was desired to use the vehicle intermittently, it was necessary to completely remove and install conventional towing apparatus at each stop. Such a time-consuming effort was frustrating for the user, and detracted from the desirability of towing a vehicle.

The inventor herein solved many of these problems by virtue of the collapsible towing hitch of his two previous patents, U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,521 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,473. While these patents greatly reduced the time necessary to connect and disconnect a vehicle to be towed, the devices disclosed therein still suffer some drawbacks.

While the devices of the inventor's previous patents permitted quick and simple connection of a towed vehicle to a .[.rowing.]. .Iadd.towing .Iaddend.vehicle, the towing hitch remained on the towed vehicle when not in use. The .[.astatic.]. .Iadd.aesthetic .Iaddend.appearance of a collapsed towing hitch on the front end of a vehicle is not always appealing to all consumers. Since the collapsible towing hitch is bolted directly to the bumper of the vehicle, it is not a quick and simple task to remove the hitch from the towed vehicle.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved removable hitch for towing vehicles or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a towing hitch which is collapsible for storage on the towing vehicle.

Yet another object is to provide an improved hitch which may .Iadd.be .Iaddend.easily expanded for towing purposes, and easily collapsed to a storage position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a towing hitch which is easy to install on the towed vehicle.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a towing hitch which is easily removable from the towing vehicle.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The towing hitch of the present invention includes a frame having a forward portion which may be selectively connected to the receiver hitch of a towing vehicle, and a rearward portion having a pair of elongated bars pivotally connected thereto for removable connection to a vehicle to be towed. Each bar has a pivot arm connected to the rearward end thereof, said pivot arms and bars all pivotal within a single plane, so that the pivot arms may be folded into a storage position adjacent and parallel .Iadd.to .Iaddend.the bars. Selective locking apparatus permits the pivot arms to be extended to a lowing position aligned with the bars and locked in the towing position. The bars are pivotally connected to a pivot block which is pivotally mounted to the forward portion of the frame, so as to permit the pivot block, and attached bars and arms to pivot from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical storage position. The pivot block is mounted on a rotatable yoke, such that the bars and pivot arms are rotatable, as a unit, along an axis parallel to the direction which a vehicle is being towed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. I is a perspective view of the towing hitch of the present invention mounted in a receiver hitch on a vehicle;

FIG. 2 .[.has.]. .Iadd.is .Iaddend.a top view of the present invention connected between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention mounted on a receiver hitch and positioned in a storage position;

FIG. 5 is side elevational view taken from the right side of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of one of the pivotal connections between a pivot arm and the associated elongated bar;

FIG. 7 is a top view of FIG. 6 with portions of the pivotal arm shown in sectional view; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the connection between a pivotal arm and the bumper of a towed vehicle with portions of the pivotal arm shown in sectional view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, in which similar or corresponding parts are identified with the same reference numeral, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the towing hitch of the present invention is designated generally at 10 and is shown mounted in aconventional receiver hitch 12 on atowing vehicle 14.Towing hitch 10 includes a forward portion identified generally at 16 which may be operably and removably mounted within thereceiver hitch tube 18 onreceiver hitch 12, and a rearward portion designated generally at 20, which is attached to the towed vehicle 22 (as shown in FIG. 2).

Referring now to FIG. 3,receiver hitch 12 is of the conventional type having ahitch tube 18 with anaperture 24 in the side thereof for receiving alocking pin 26. Aflange 28 mounted to the lower surface oftube 18 includes a pair ofapertures 30 to whichsafety cables 32 may be attached in a conventional fashion.

Forward portion 16 ofhitch 10 includes a generally horizontallyelongated tube 34 extending forwardly from a depending verticallyoriented plate 36. Tube 34 has dimensions for receipt within receivinghitch tube 18, and anaperture 38 in the side thereof for receipt oflocking pin 26.Plate 36 has anaperture 37 through the lower end thereof, through which apin 39 is rotatably journaled (as shown in FIG. 5).Pin 39 has a pair of rearwardly projectingarms 40, forming a yoke, mounted on the rearward end thereof so as to project rearwardly fromplate 36. Awasher 41 andcotter pin 43 onpin 39 forwardly ofplate 36, permit free rotation ofpin 39 andarms 40, as shown bysrrow 45 in FIG. 3.Arms 40 are parallel and spaced apart to receive apivot block 46 therebetween, and havecoaxial apertures 42 therethrough for receivingbolt 44.

The forward end ofpivot block 46 has a horizontally orientedhole 48 therethrough through whichbolt 44 may be journaled to permit pivotal movement ofblock 46 aroundbolt 44 betweenarms 40. A firstvertical aperture 50 extends vertically through the rearward end ofblock 46, which will receive apivot bolt 52 therethrough, as described in more detail herein below. Asecond aperture 54 extends vertically throughpivot block 46 generally forward ofaperture 50 to receive aconnector bolt 56 therethrough to mountpivot block 46 toyoke 58, as described herein below.

As shown in FIG. 1,yoke 58 includes a pair of identical upper and lower generallysemicircular plates 60 and 62, which are parallel and spaced apart to receive a pair of pivotally mountedelongated bars 64 and 66 therebetween. As shown in FIG. 3,lower plate 62 has threeconnector bolts 56, 68 and 70 mounted in spaced apart relation along the forwardstraight edge 72, which project throughopenings 74 inupper plate 60 to receivenuts 76. As previously noted,center connector bolt 56 connectspivot block 46 toyoke 58, while connector bolts 68 and 70 retainsafety plates 60 and 62 together.

The forward end of eachelongated bar 64 and 66 has a projectingflange 74 and 76 thereon, respectively, with anaperture 78 therethrough, through whichpivot bolt 52 may be journaled.Flange 74 is preferably mounted on the upper surface of anelongated bar 64, whichflange 76 is mounted on the lower surface of an elongated 66 such thatpivot block 46 acts as a bearing betweenflanges 74 and 76 betweenyoke plates 60 and 62.Pivot bolt 52 is then journaled throughupper plate 60,flange 74,adapter block 46,flange 76, andlower plate 62 and has anut 80 mounted on the lower end thereof to fasten the bolt in position. In this way,elongated bars 64 and 66 will pivot towards and away from each other within the same plane, parallel toplates 60 and 62 and the longitudinal axis ofpivot block 46.

An aperture 82 is formed inupper plate 60 generally centered along the curved edge thereof which is adapted to receive the end of alocking pin 84 mounted on the upper end ofvertical plate 36 ontube 34. As shown in FIG. 5,yoke 58 is pivotable aboutbolt 44 by virtue of the connection ofpivot block 46 onbolt 44. In order to lockyoke 58 in the vertical position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, acotter pin 86 is connected through an aperture in the rearward end of lockingpin 84 in a conventional fashion, thereby retaining forwardplate 60 on the end of lockingpin 84. Lockingpin 84 will also prevent rotational movement ofyoke 58 onpin 39, thereby further lockingrearward portion 20 into the storage position.

Refernng now to FIG. 2, towed vehicle 22 has a pair ofU-shaped loops 88 and 90 mounted tobumper 92. Apivotal arm 94 is pivotally mounted to therearward end 64a ofelongated bar 64 for selective connection toloop 88, while apivotal arm 96 is pivotally mounted to therearward end 66a ofelongated bar 66 for selective connection to loop 90. As shown in FIG. 3, theforward end 94a ofpivot arm 94 has ahinge collar 98 mounted thereon and oriented vertically to receive ahinge pin 100 therein. Similarly, theforward end 96b ofpivot arm 96 has ahinge collar 102 mounted thereon and oriented vertically to receive ahinge pin 104 therein. The rearward ends ofelongated bars 64 and 66 each have a pair ofhinge plates 106 affixed to the upper and lower faces of the rearward ends 64a and 66a, respectively, for pivotal connection topivotal arms 94 and 96, respectively.Hinge plates 106 extend rearwardly fromelongated bars 64 and 66, and have anaperture 108 therethrough, the apertures in the upper and lower plates being .[.coaxially..]. .Iadd.coaxial. .Iaddend.

Apertures 108 are aligned withhinge collars 98 and 102 and receivehinge pins 100 and 104, respectively to pivotally connectelongated bar 64 withpivot arm 94, andelongated arm 66 withpivot arm 96, respectively. A locking apparatus is designated generally at 110, which will automatically lockarms 94 and 96 in alignment withbars 64 and 66, respectively.

Referring now to .[.FIG. 8,.]. .Iadd.FIGS. 6 and 7, .Iaddend.locking apparatus 110 is shown in more detail.Pivot arm 94 is a hollow tubular member, and has aslot 112 formed in one face thereof, to allow access to the interior of the tube. Aslide plate 114 is slidably mounted to pivotarm 94 so as to be longitudinally movable between locked and unlocked positions.Slide plate 114 is connected to abacking plate 116 with a pair of spacer rings 118 therebetween. Aforward throw pin 120 andrearward bolt 122 each have a threaded end inserted through apertures inslide plate 114, thence through spacer rings 118 and into threaded apertures inback plate 116. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of nuts are affixed to the back ofback plate 116 and serve as the threaded aperture into which throwpin 120 and bolt 122 are threaded.

Slide plate 114 andback plate 116 both have dimensions greater than the dimensions ofslot 112, such that whenslide plate 114 is connected to backplate 116, spacer rings 118 will be positioned inslot 112. Spacer rings 118 thereby allowslide plate 114 to move longitudinally alongslot 112.

Back plate 116 has aleg 124 projecting longitudinally and rearwardly therefrom towardsrearward end 94b ofpivot arm 94. Acoil spring 126 is operably engaged onleg 124 and will contact astop plate 128 mounted withinpivot arm 94.Coil spring 126 is sized so as to place a constant biasing force onback plate 116 to retainslide plate 114 in a forward "locked" position withinslot 112.

Hinge plates 106 each have ahook portion 130 projecting from the rearwardfree end 106a thereof.Hook portions 130 are located such thatslide plate 114 will be engaged thereon whenpivot arm 94 is pivoted into alignment withelongated bar 64.Hook portion 130 has a taperededge 132 which will causeslide plate 114 to move longitudinally towards theforward end 94a ofpivot arm 94 whenpivot arm 94 is being moved into alignment withelongated bar 64, as shown in FIG. 7. Oncepivot arm 94 is aligned withbar 64,slide plate 114 is biased forwardly into its "locked" position byspring 126, to lockpivot arm 94 andbar 64 in alignment. The locked alignment ofpivot arm 94 andelongated bar 64 may be released by graspingthrow pin 120 and shiftingslide plate 114 rearwardly against the bias ofspring 126 to releaseslide plate 114 fromhook portion 130.

Asimilar locking apparatus 110 is mounted onpivot arm 96 to permit selective locking into an aligned position with elongated bar

Referring now to FIG. 8, a side view ofbumper 92 is shown withloop 88 mounted thereto on abracket 134. Therearward end 94b ofpivot arm 94 has ahook 136 mounted thereon and extending rearwardly which will be selectively journaled throughloop 88. A spring-loadedlatch 138 is slidably mounted within alatch housing 140, and has a projectingrod 142 aligned with the free end ofhook 136 to selectively contacthook 136. Thus, hook 136 can be locked into position on loop Asmall loop 144 is also mounted onbracket 134 to receive ahook 146 mounted onsafety cable 32. Preferably,safety cables 32 are threaded througharms 94 and 96 and bars 64 and 66, between their respective connecting points.

Towinghitch 10 is mounted on the towingvehicle 14 by insertingtube 34 offorward portion 16 intoreceiver hitch tube 18 and inserting lockingpin 26, as shown in FIG. 1. Pivotarms 94 and 96 are then connected to their associatedtowing loops 88 and 90 by connectinghooks 136 to the towingloops 88 and 90, as shown in FIG. 2.Safety cables 32 are connected at one end to flange 28, and at their other ends to their associated loops 144 (as shown in FIG. 8). The pivotal connection ofpivot block 46 toarms 40 permits movement of a towed vehicle vertically over bumps and on grades. The rotational capability ofarms 40 onpin 39 permits movement of a towed vehicle about an axis parallel to the direction of towing, on transverse slopes or over bumps along only one side of the vehicle.

When the desired destination has been reached, the pivot arms may be easily and quickly disconnected from the towed vehicle, and thesafety cables 32 released, to permit virtually immediate use of the towed vehicle 22. The towinghitch 10 may be collapsed into its storage position by initially unlockinglocking apparatus 110 to allowpivot arms 94 and 96 to pivot about hinge pins 100 and 106, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2.Elongated bars 64 and 66 may then be pivoted forwardly into a position parallel to the rear of the towingvehicle 14 aboutpivot bolt 52. As shown in FIG. 5, the hitch may then be pivoted aboutbolt 64 to a generally vertical position, and locked in place bycotter pin 86 on lockingpin 84, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. For extended periods of storage,hitch 10 may be removed fromreceiver hitch 12 simply by removing lockingpin 26 to releasehitch 10 fromreceiver hitch 12.

Whereas the invention has been shown and described in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that many modifications, substitutions and additions may be made which are within the intended broad scope of the appended claims. There has therefore been shown and described an improved towing hitch which accomplishes at least all of the above stated objectives.

Claims (7)

I claim:

1. A towing hitch, comprising:

a frame having a forward portion for selective removable connection to a towing vehicle, and a rearward portion for selective removable connection to a vehicle to be towed;

said forward portion including a generally horizontal forwardly extending member adapted for selectively lockable receipt within a conventional receiver hitch;

said rearward portion including first and second elongated bars having forward and rearward ends, the forward ends of said bars pivotally connected to a pivot bolt for pivotal movement within the same plane about said pivot bolt;

.[.a first pivot arm pivotally connected at a forward end to the rearward end of said first bar for pivotal movement coplanar with said first and second bars;

a second pivot arm pivotally connected at a forward end to the rearward end of said second bar for pivotal movement coplanar with said first and second bars;

connection means connected to rearward ends of said pivot arms for selective removable connection to a vehicle to be towed;

means connected to said first pivot arm and first bar for selectively locking said FIrst pivot arm and first bar in axial alignment;

means connected to said second pivot arm and second bar for selectively locking said second pivot arm and second bar in axial alignment;.].

said rearward portion further including a pivot block having upper and lower surfaces, forward and rearward ends, and opposing side surfaces, pivotally connected to said forward portion on a generally horizontal pivot axis extending through said side surfaces of the pivot block;

said pivot bolt being mounted through the upper and lower surfaces of said pivot block, rearwardly of and perpendicular to the pivot block pivot axis, so as to pivot with said pivot block;

said pivot block connected for pivotal movement between a storage position, wherein the pivotal plane of the .[.arms and.]. bars is generally vertical, and a towing position, wherein the pivotal plane of the .[.arms and.]. bars is generally horizontal.

2. The hitch of claim 1, further comprising means on said forward portion for selectively locking said pivot block in storage position.

3. The hitch of claim 1, wherein said pivotal connection of the pivot block to the forward portion further comprises:

a pin having forward and rearward ends, rotatably connected to said forward portion for free rotatable movement about the pin's longitudinal axis;

a pair of spaced-apart, parallel arms projecting rearwardly from the rearward end of said pin;

said arms for pivotal movement within a plane parallel to said arms and about an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of said pin. .Iadd.4. The hitch of claim 1, further comprising

a first pivot arm having a forward end and a rearward end, said first pivot arm pivotally connected at said forward end to the rearward end of said first bar for pivotal movement coplanar with said first and second bars;

a second pivot arm having a forward end and a rearward end, said second pivot arm pivotally connected at said forward end to the rearward end of said second bar for pivotal movement coplanar with said first and second bars; and

connection means connected to said rearward ends of said pivot arms for selective removable connection to said vehicle to be towed.

.Iaddend..Iadd.. The hitch of claim 4, further comprising:

means connected to said first pivot arm and first bar for selectively locking said first pivot arm and first bar in axial alignment; and

means connected to said second pivot arm and second bar for selectively locking said second pivot arm and second bar in axial alignment. .Iaddend..Iadd.6. A towing hitch, comprising:

a frame having a forward portion for selective removable connection to a towing vehicle, and a rearward portion for selective removable connection to a vehicle to be towed;

said forward portion including a generally horizontally forwardly extending member adapted for selectively lockable receipt within a conventional receiver hitch;

said rearward including first and second elongated bars having forward and rearward ends, the forward ends of said bars pivotally connected to a pivot bolt for pivotal movement within the same plane about said pivot bolt;

said rearward portion further including a pivot member having upper and lower surfaces, forward and rearward ends, and opposing side surfaces, pivotally connected to said forward portion on a generally horizontal pivot axis extending through said side surfaces of the pivot member;

said pivot bolt being mounted through the upper and lower surfaces of said pivot member rearwardly of and perpendicular to the pivot member pivot axis, so as to pivot with said pivot member;

said pivot member connected for pivotal movement between a storage position, wherein the pivotal plane of the bars is generally vertical, and a towing position, wherein the pivotal plane of the bars is generally

horizontal. .Iaddend..Iadd.7. A towing hitch, comprising:

a frame having a forward portion for selective removable connection to a towing vehicle, and a rearward portion for selective removable connection to a vehicle to be towed;

said forward portion including a generally horizontal forwardly extending member adapted for selectively lockable receipt within a conventional receiver hitch;

said rearward portion including first and second elongated bars having forward and rearward ends, the forward ends of said bars pivotally connected to a pivot bolt for pivotal movement within the same plane about said pivot bolt;

said rearward portion further including pivot means for pivotal movement of said rearward portion about a transverse horizontal axis, said transverse horizontal axis located forwardly of and perpendicular to said pivot bolt, said pivot means allowing for pivotal movement of said rearward portion between a storage position, wherein the pivotal plane of the bars is generally vertical, and a towing position, wherein the pivotal plane of

the bars is generally horizontal. .Iaddend..Iadd.8. A towing hitch, comprising:

a frame having a forward portion for selective removable connection to a towing vehicle, and a rearward portion for selective removable connection to a vehicle to be towed;

said forward portion including a generally horizontal forwardly extending member adapted for selectively lockable receipt within a conventional receiver hitch;

said rearward portion including first and second elongated bars having forward and rearward ends, the forward ends of said bars pivotally connected to a pivot bolt for pivotal movement within the same plane about said pivot bolt;

a first pivot arm pivotally connected at a forward end to the rearward end of said first bar for pivotal movement coplanar with said first and second bars;

a second pivot arm pivotally connected at a forward end to the rearward end of said second bar for pivotal movement coplanar with said first and second bars;

connection means connected to rearward ends of said pivot arms for selective removable connection to a vehicle to be towed;

means connected to said first pivot arm and first bar for selectively locking said first pivot arm and first bar in axial alignment;

means connected to said second pivot arm and second bar for selectively locking said second pivot arm and second bar in axial alignment;

said rearward portion further including a pivot block having upper and lower surfaces, forward and rearward ends, and opposing side surfaces, pivotally connected to said forward portion on a generally horizontal pivot axis extending through said side surface of the pivot block;

said pivot block being mounted through the upper and lower surfaces of said pivot block, rearwardly of and perpendicular to the pivot block pivot axis, so as to pivot with said pivot block;

said pivot block connected for pivotal movement between a storage position, wherein the pivotal plane of the arms and bars is generally vertical, and a towing position, wherein the pivotal plane of the arms and bars is

generally horizontal. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. The hitch of claim 8, further comprising means on said forward portion for selectively locking said pivot block in storage position. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. The hitch of claim 8, wherein said pivotal connection of the pivot block to the forward portion further comprises:

a pin having forward and rearward ends, rotatably connected to said forward portion for free rotatable movement about the pin's longitudinal axis;

a pair of spaced-apart, parallel arms projecting rearwardly from the rearward end of said pin;

said arms for pivotal movement within a plane parallel to said arms and about an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of said pin. .Iaddend.

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