Retractable hitching device

Claim 2

In a wagon, support means coupled to the wagon frame, a pair of rails spaced apart from each other and secured to said support means within the confines of the wagon, a retractable hitch frame member slidable over said rails and extending between said rails, said rails being substantially parallel to each other and each having a hole formed therein, said retractable hitch frame member having three pins, two of said pins being slidably positionable on said rails such that they may be locked in place in said holes when the retractable hitch frame member is in an operative position, a stationary member coupled to said support means and having a hole formed therein, said stationary member positioned such that the third pin may be positioned in the hole formed therein when said two pins are positioned on said rails and the retractable hitch frame member is substantially retracted within the confines of the wagon.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1 in which there is provided stop means for preventing at least a portion of said retractable hitch frame member from falling off said rails.

Claim 4

In a wagon, a retractable hitching device comprising a pair of rails spaced apart from each other and coupled to the wagon, each rail having a hole formed therein at the front end thereof, a movable member including a hitch and having a plurality of pins extending therefrom in the same direction, one of said pins slidable on one of said rails and another of said pins slidable on the other of said rails, said pins slidable on said rails positioned on said movable member such that they may be received in the holes formed in said rails when said movable member is moved to its operative towing position, a fixed member coupled to said wagon and having a hole formed therein, said fixed member positioned to receive another one of said pins when said movable member is moved to its retracted position wherein said other two above-mentioned pins are positioned on said rails but out of said holes formed in said rails.

Claim 5

In a wagon, a retractable hitching device comprising a pair of rails spaced apart from each other and coupled to the wagon, each rail having a hole formed therein at the front end thereof, a movable member including a hitch and having a plurality of pins extending therefrom in the same direction, one of said pins slidable on one of said rails and another of said pins slidable on the other of said rails, said pins slidable on said rails positioned on said movable member such that they may be received in the holes formed in said rails when said movable member is moved to its operative towing position, a fixed member coupled to said wagon and having a hole formed therein, said fixed member positioned to receive another one of said pins when said movable member is moved to its retracted position wherein said other two above-mentioned pins are positioned on said rails but out of said holes formed in said rails.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 3 in which there is provided a stop member at the front ends of said rails for preventing a portion of said movable member from extending past the front ends of said rails.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 4 in which the movable member is substantially triangular shape and in which the pins are positioned at the intersections of the parts forming the movable member.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 5 in which the fixed member is positioned in a plane below the plane of the rails.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 6 in which a stop member is provided at the rear end of the rails to limit the rearward movement of said movable member.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 7 in which a member is positioned over the top of said rails to limit the upward movement of said movable member.

Claim 11

In a wagon, support meAns coupled to the wagon frame, a pair of rails spaced apart from each other and secured to said support means within the confines of the wagon, a retractable hitch frame slidable over said rails and extending between said rails, said rails being substantially parallel to each other and each having a hole formed therein, said retractable hitch frame having two pins and a coupling means, said two pins being slidably positionable on said rails such that they may be locked in place in said holes when the retractable hitch frame is in an operative position, a stationary member coupled to said support means and having a coupling receiving means, said stationary member positioned such that the coupling means may be coupled to said coupling receiving means when said two pins are positioned on the rails and the retractable hitch frame member is substantially retracted within the confines of the wagon.

Claim 12

In a wagon, support meAns coupled to the wagon frame, a pair of rails spaced apart from each other and secured to said support means within the confines of the wagon, a retractable hitch frame slidable over said rails and extending between said rails, said rails being substantially parallel to each other and each having a hole formed therein, said retractable hitch frame having two pins and a coupling means, said two pins being slidably positionable on said rails such that they may be locked in place in said holes when the retractable hitch frame is in an operative position, a stationary member coupled to said support means and having a coupling receiving means, said stationary member positioned such that the coupling means may be coupled to said coupling receiving means when said two pins are positioned on the rails and the retractable hitch frame member is substantially retracted within the confines of the wagon.

Claim 13

A device according to claim 9 in which the coupling means and the coupling receiving means comprises a pin supported by one of said means which is adapted to be received by a hole formed in the other of said means.