Patent US1634905A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3692330A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3692330A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vertically adjustable two bar assembly
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-06-11
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Granted: 1972-09-19
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Expires: 1991-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A tow bar assembly for towing one vehicle by another which enables the towed vehicle to be carried at a pre-determined or desired height above the ground, including a mounting plate having affixed thereto outwardly extending L-shaped brackets, each having a plurality of equally sized and spaced holes formed along a surface parallel to the surface of the mounting plate. A first wedge having a plurality of pins extending from it to engage selected ones of the holes in the brackets is provided together with a second wedge to maintain the interfitting engagement relationship of the pins in the holes, the second wedge jamming between the first wedge and the mounting plate. A tow bar, including a socket to receive a towing ball carried by a second vehicle, is mounted on the first wedge extending in the general direction of the pins, but is mounted at an angle with respect to a perpendicular to the surface of the first wedge of between about 5* and 25*, to enable the tow bar to be disposed substantially parallel to the ground when in connection with the towing ball, but enabling the towed vehicle to be carried at a desired height off the ground.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray E Kendall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:43
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/24; B60D1/42; B60D1/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A vertically adjustable tow bar aSsembly, comprising: a mounting plate vertically mountable on a vehicle, two brackets affixed side by side to and outstanding from said mounting plate, each presenting a surface parallel to said mounting plate, each of said presented surfaces having therein a plurality of equally sized and spaced holes, a first wedge fittable between said presented surfaces and said mounting plate, a plurality of pins extending outwardly from said first wedge, said plurality of pins being spaced and sized to be insertable into selected ones of said plurality of holes, a second wedge fittable between said first wedge and said mounting plate to force said plurality of pins into said selected holes, and a tow bar mounted on said first wedge to extend therefrom in the same general direction as the direction of said plurality of pins being disposed at a downward angle to enable the vehicle on which said tow bar assembly is mounted to be carried at a predetermined height above the ground with the base of said tow bar substantially parallel to the ground.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A vertically adjustable tow bar aSsembly, comprising: a mounting plate vertically mountable on a vehicle, two brackets affixed side by side to and outstanding from said mounting plate, each presenting a surface parallel to said mounting plate, each of said presented surfaces having therein a plurality of equally sized and spaced holes, a first wedge fittable between said presented surfaces and said mounting plate, a plurality of pins extending outwardly from said first wedge, said plurality of pins being spaced and sized to be insertable into selected ones of said plurality of holes, a second wedge fittable between said first wedge and said mounting plate to force said plurality of pins into said selected holes, and a tow bar mounted on said first wedge to extend therefrom in the same general direction as the direction of said plurality of pins being disposed at a downward angle to enable the vehicle on which said tow bar assembly is mounted to be carried at a predetermined height above the ground with the base of said tow bar substantially parallel to the ground.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tow bar assembly of claim 1 wherein said downward angle is between approximately 5* and 25*.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tow bar assembly of claim 1 wherein said downward angle is approximately 15*.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tow bar assembly of claim 2 wherein said tow bar is welded to said first wedge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tow bar assembly of claim 4 wherein said tow bar comprises means for receiving a towing ball and means for securing said towing ball in said receiving means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
A tow bar wedge assembly for use in a vertically adjustable hitch of the type wherein a first wedge having first engagement means is held between a mounting plate and brackets outstanding therefrom having second engagement means, with said first and second engagement means engaged, by a second wedge interfitting said first wedge and said mounting plate, comprising: a wedge having front and back faces, a plurality of protrusions extending from said wedge to form said first engagement means, and a tow bar mounted on the front face of said wedge at a downwardly extending angle from the perpendicular to the front face.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A tow bar wedge assembly for use in a vertically adjustable hitch of the type wherein a first wedge having first engagement means is held between a mounting plate and brackets outstanding therefrom having second engagement means, with said first and second engagement means engaged, by a second wedge interfitting said first wedge and said mounting plate, comprising: a wedge having front and back faces, a plurality of protrusions extending from said wedge to form said first engagement means, and a tow bar mounted on the front face of said wedge at a downwardly extending angle from the perpendicular to the front face.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tow bar wedge assembly of claim 6 wherein said plurality of protrusions is a plurality of pins extending from the front face of said wedge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tow bar wedge assembly of claim 7 wherein said downwardly extending angle is between approximately 5* and 25*.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tow bar assembly of claim 7 wherein said downwardly extending angle is approximately 15*.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
181 words
A vertically adjustable tow bar assembly comprising: a plate mountable on the rear of a truck; two L-shaped brackets attached to said plate in spaced-apart relationship disposed parallel to each other to define a void area over which portions of said L-shaped brackets overhand, said overhanging portions having a plurality of equally sized and spaced holes therein; a first wedge loosely fittable in said void area, a plurality of pins spaced upon said first wedge and sized to interfit selected ones of the holes in said overhanging portions; a second wedge insertable between said first wedge and said plate to maintain the interfitting relationship of said plurality of pins and the said selected ones of the holes in said overhanging portions, and means for receiving a towing ball, being mounted on said first wedge extending in the general direction of said plurality of pins at a downward angle of between approximately 5* and 25* from the normal to the surface of said first wedge whereby said means is disposed approximately parallel to the ground when in connection with the towing ball.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
181 words
A vertically adjustable tow bar assembly comprising: a plate mountable on the rear of a truck; two L-shaped brackets attached to said plate in spaced-apart relationship disposed parallel to each other to define a void area over which portions of said L-shaped brackets overhand, said overhanging portions having a plurality of equally sized and spaced holes therein; a first wedge loosely fittable in said void area, a plurality of pins spaced upon said first wedge and sized to interfit selected ones of the holes in said overhanging portions; a second wedge insertable between said first wedge and said plate to maintain the interfitting relationship of said plurality of pins and the said selected ones of the holes in said overhanging portions, and means for receiving a towing ball, being mounted on said first wedge extending in the general direction of said plurality of pins at a downward angle of between approximately 5* and 25* from the normal to the surface of said first wedge whereby said means is disposed approximately parallel to the ground when in connection with the towing ball.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The adjustable tow bar of claim 10 wherein said means for receiving a towing ball is a tow bar and further comprising means in said tow bar for securing said towing ball.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |