Lifting and towing apparatus

Claim 2

A tow bar comprising; a rigid framework having a portion adapted to be hingedly connected to a wrecker; first means on said framework adapted to be positioned on the ground in front of two wheels of a wreck and adapted to receive and support said two wheels; a lift chain adapted to be coupled at one end to a wreck and at the other end to a lifting crane; and second means on said framework for guiding said lift chain from said wreck under said framework and through an opening in said framework to a crane whereby lifting forces applied to said chain draw the two wheels of the wreck onto the framework and raise the framework to thereby raise the wheels of the wreck off the ground.

Claim 3

The tow bar defined in claim 1 and including a coupling member extending rearwardly from said framework, an auxiliary wheeled assembly secured to said coupling member, said wheeled assembly including channel members for receiving two wheels of a vehicle and its own wheels for rolling along a road surface; and said framework and said auxiliary wheeled assembly comprising, in effect, a four-wheel trailer for completely lifting a vehicle off the road.

Claim 4

The tow bar defined in claim 1 and including: a coupling member extending rearwardly from said framework; an auxiliary wheeled assembly connected to said coupling member with the connection being adjustable to permit adjustment of the spacing between said framework and said wheeled assembly; said wheeled assembly including channel members for receiving two wheels of a vehicle and its own wheels for rolling along a road surface; and said framework and said auxiliary wheeled assembly comprising, in effect, a four-wheel trailer for completely lifting a vehicle off the road.

Claim 5

The tow bar defined in claim 1 and including third means on said platform for securing thereto wheels for supporting the tow bar and the raised end of the wreck on the ground, and a second wheeled assembly supporting the other end of the wreck remote from the tow bar, said second wheeled assembly being coupled to said tow bar to form a trailer.

Claim 6

The tow bar defined in claim 1 wherein said first means includes a pair of bars spaced apart To support front or rear wheels of a wreck between them, said lift chain being adapted to extend from the wreck between said bars downwardly under said platform and upwardly through another portion of said platform to provide an arrangement for applying pulling force on said wreck and lifting force on said platform.

Claim 7

The tow bar defined in claim 5 an wherein said platform includes a guide channel in which said lift chain lies beneath said platform.

Claim 8

A tow bar comprising: a first pair of parallel rigid bars spaced apart to support between them a pair of wheels of a wreck to be raised and towed; a second pair of rigid bars oriented generally in a V-configuration with the spread-apart portions thereof secured to said first pair of bars to form a rigid assembly; the portions of said second bars forming the apex of the V being adapted to be hingedly coupled to a wrecker; a lift chain; and a third bar secured to said second bars between said first bars and the apex of said V, said third bar being adapted to guide said lift chain from its point of attachment to a wreck and extending between the bars of said first pair in contact with the one bar of said pair of bars to a wrecker for applying a lifting force thereto.

Claim 9

A tow bar comprising: a first pair of parallel rigid bars spaced apart to support between them a pair of wheels of a wreck to be raised and towed; a second pair of rigid bars oriented generally in a V-configuration with the spread-apart portions thereof secured to said first pair of bars to form a rigid assembly; the portions of said second bars forming the apex of the V being adapted to be hingedly coupled to a wrecker; a lift chain; and a third bar secured to said second bars between said first bars and the apex of said V, said third bar being adapted to guide said lift chain from its point of attachment to a wreck and extending between the bars of said first pair in contact with the one bar of said pair of bars to a wrecker for applying a lifting force thereto.

Claim 10

The tow bar defined in claim 7 wherein said first pair of bars includes means for securing wheels to one of them whereby said platform may be supported on the ground.

Claim 11

A tow bar comprising: two short lengths of tubing adapted to be coupled to a wrecker body; elongated lengths of tubing, each removably inserted into one of said two lengths of tubing and having free ends remote from said short lengths of tubing; a first pair of apertured brackets secured one to the free end of each of said elongated lengths of tubing; a first bar slidably inserted in said first apertured brackets; a second bar carrying two spaced-apart brackets, each of which is releasably coupled to one of said elongated lengths of tubing; second apertured brackets, each secured to one of said elongated lengths of tubing; a third bar slidably inserted in said second apertured brackets; a pair of wheel-receiving trays, each having a lower surface to which is secured a pair of hollow tubes; and said hollow tubes being slidably mounted on said first and second bars whereby said trays are positioned between said first and second bars in wheel-receiving position.

Claim 12

A tow bar comprising: two short lengths of tubing adapted to be coupled to a wrecker body; elongated lengths of tubing, each removably inserted into one of said two lengths of tubing and having free ends remote from said short lengths of tubing; a first pair of apertured brackets secured one to the free end of each of said elongated lengths of tubing; a first bar slidably inserted in said first apertured brackets; a second bar carrying two spaced-apart brackets, each of which is releasably coupled to one of said elongated lengths of tubing; second apertured brackets, each secured to one of said elongated lengths of tubing; a third bar slidably inserted in said second apertured brackets; a pair of wheel-receiving trays, each having a lower surface to which is secured a pair of hollow tubes; and said hollow tubes being slidably mounted on said first and second bars whereby said trays are positioned between said first and second bars in wheel-receiving position.

Claim 13

A tow bar comprising: a rigid framework having a portion adapted to be hingedly connected to a wrecker; first means on said framework adapted to be positioned on the ground in front of two wheels of a wreck and adapted to receive and support said two wheels; a lift chain adapted to be coupled at one end to a wreck and at the other end to a lifting crane; and said framework including structural elements guiding said lift chain along said framework whereby said crane exerts a first force generally horizontally on said lift chain and said wreck to move said wreck toward said framework and to pull said two wheels onto said framework and subsequently a second force generally vertically to raise said framework and said two wheels of said vehicle off the ground.

Claim 14

A tow bar comprising: a rigid framework having a portion adapted to be hingedly connected to a wrecker; first means on said framework adapted to be positioned on the ground in front of two wheels of a wreck and adapted to receive and support said two wheels; a lift chain adapted to be coupled at one end to a wreck and at the other end to a lifting crane; and said framework including structural elements guiding said lift chain along said framework whereby said crane exerts a first force generally horizontally on said lift chain and said wreck to move said wreck toward said framework and to pull said two wheels onto said framework and subsequently a second force generally vertically to raise said framework and said two wheels of said vehicle off the ground.

Claim 15

The tow bar defined in claim 10 and including an auxiliary connection coupled between said framework and said lift chain when said front wheels of said vehicle are supported on said framework whereby a horizontal force cannot then be exerted on said vehicle.

Claim 16

The apparatus defined in claim 10 and including first auxiliary means coupled to said lift chain to prevent the vehicle from moving forwardly toward the tow truck, and second auxiliary men means coupled between said vehicle and said framework to secure said vehicle in place and prevent it from moving rearwardly away from said tow truck and off said framework.

Claim 17

A tow bar comprising: a pair of rigid bars spaced apart to support between them a pair of wheels of a wreck to be raised and Towed; first means securing said pair of bars together in a rigid assembly and including a portion to be coupled to a wrecker; and said tow bar also including a third bar spaced from said pair of bars and positioned so that it lies generally forwardly of the wreck when the wreck is resting on said pair of bars by two of its wheels, and a flexible lift chain secured at one end to the undercarriage of said wreck and extending therefrom downwardly between said pair of bars and then vertically upwardly along said third bar in contact therewith to the lifting crane of said wrecker whereby said crane acting on said lift chain can exert (1) a horizontal pulling force to pull said wreck onto said pair of bars when said pair of bars are positioned in front of said wheels of said wreck at the beginning of a lifting and towing operation and (2) a vertical lifting force due to the interrelationship between said lift chain and said pair of bars and said third bar whereby said tow bar and the wreck supported thereby are lifted off the ground and thus ready for towing.

Claim 18

A tow bar comprising: a pair of rigid bars spaced apart to support between them a pair of wheels of a wreck to be raised and Towed; first means securing said pair of bars together in a rigid assembly and including a portion to be coupled to a wrecker; and said tow bar also including a third bar spaced from said pair of bars and positioned so that it lies generally forwardly of the wreck when the wreck is resting on said pair of bars by two of its wheels, and a flexible lift chain secured at one end to the undercarriage of said wreck and extending therefrom downwardly between said pair of bars and then vertically upwardly along said third bar in contact therewith to the lifting crane of said wrecker whereby said crane acting on said lift chain can exert (1) a horizontal pulling force to pull said wreck onto said pair of bars when said pair of bars are positioned in front of said wheels of said wreck at the beginning of a lifting and towing operation and (2) a vertical lifting force due to the interrelationship between said lift chain and said pair of bars and said third bar whereby said tow bar and the wreck supported thereby are lifted off the ground and thus ready for towing.

Claim 19

The apparatus defined in claim 13 and including first auxiliary means coupled to said lift chain to prevent movement of said lift chain in a forward direction and thereby to prevent the wreck from moving forwardly toward the wrecker.

Claim 20

The apparatus defined in claim 13 and including a first auxiliary chain coupled to said lift chain and one of said rigid bars to prevent movement of said lift chain in a forward direction and thereby to prevent the wreck from moving forwardly toward the wrecker.

Claim 21

The apparatus defined in claim 13 and including first auxiliary means coupled to said lift chain to prevent movement of said lift chain in a forward direction and thereby to prevent the wreck from moving forwardly toward the wrecker, and second auxiliary means coupled between said wreck and one of said bars to secure said wreck in place and prevent it from moving rearwardly away from said wrecker and off said tow bar.