Towing dolly

Claim 2

A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swing the same between said positions, in which said chassis comprises a pair of transversely-spaced hangers dependent below the rear region of said chassis, and said subframe comprises a pair of booms respectively pivotally supported at their proximal ends upon a substantially common transverse axis near the bottoms of said respective hangers and thus below said chassis, and a cross bar spanning and joining the distal regions of said booms.

Claim 3

A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swing the same between said positions, in which said chassis comprises a pair of transversely-spaced hangers dependent below the rear region of said chassis, and said subframe comprises a pair of booms respectively pivotally supported at their proximal ends upon a substantially common transverse axis near the bottoms of said respective hangers and thus below said chassis, and a cross bar spanning and joining the distal regions of said booms.

Claim 4

A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swing the same between said positions, in which said chassis comprises a pair of transversely-spaced hangers dependent below the rear region of said chassis, and said subframe comprises a pair of booms respectively pivotally supported at their proximal ends upon a substantially common transverse axis near the bottoms of said respective hangers and thus below said chassis, and a cross bar spanning and joining the distal regions of said booms.

Claim 5

The dolly of claim 1 in which said force-applying means comprises winch means carried by said chassis and flexible strand means providing an operative connection between said winch means and transversely-spaced points on said cross bar.

Claim 6

The dolly of claim 1 in which each of said booms comprises a plurality of telescopically-associated members.

Claim 7

The dolly of claim 3 including means associated with each boom for selectively limiting the degree of penetration of one of said members into another at any one of a plurality of values.

Claim 8

A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swing the same between said positions, said last-named means comprising winch means on said chassis and flexible strand means providing an operative connection between said winch means and the distal region of said subframe, said flexible strand means comprising a bridle section having its opposite end regions respectively connected at laterally-spaced points to the distal region of said subframe, and a separate section wound on said winch means and operatively connected to the bight region of said bridle section, a saddle at the bight region of said bridle section, a first block secured to said saddle, and a second block carried by said chassis, said separate section of said flexible strand means extending from said winch means through said first block, thence through said second block and thence to an anchorage fixed with respect to said saddle.

Claim 9

A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swing the same between said positions, said last-named means comprising winch means on said chassis and flexible strand means providing an operative connection between said winch means and the distal region of said subframe, said flexible strand means comprising a bridle section having its opposite end regions respectively connected at laterally-spaced points to the distal region of said subframe, and a separate section wound on said winch means and operatively connected to the bight region of said bridle section, a saddle at the bight region of said bridle section, a first block secured to said saddle, and a second block carried by said chassis, said separate section of said flexible strand means extending from said winch means through said first block, thence through said second block and thence to an anchorage fixed with respect to said saddle.

Claim 10

A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swinG the same between said positions, in which said subframe comprises a pair of booms pivotally mounted to swing about a common fixed axis extending transversely of said chassis, and a cross bar joining the distal regions of said booms, the opposite end regions of said cross bar being open, said force-applying means comprising winch means on said chassis and flexible strand means having a bridle section and having a second section wound on said winch means and operatively connected to the bight region of said bridle section, one end region of said bridle section being passed around one of said booms and bearing a hook engageable in the adjacent open end of said cross bar, and the other end region of said bridle section being passed around the other of said booms and bearing a hook engageable in the adjacent open end of said cross bar.

Claim 11

A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swinG the same between said positions, in which said subframe comprises a pair of booms pivotally mounted to swing about a common fixed axis extending transversely of said chassis, and a cross bar joining the distal regions of said booms, the opposite end regions of said cross bar being open, said force-applying means comprising winch means on said chassis and flexible strand means having a bridle section and having a second section wound on said winch means and operatively connected to the bight region of said bridle section, one end region of said bridle section being passed around one of said booms and bearing a hook engageable in the adjacent open end of said cross bar, and the other end region of said bridle section being passed around the other of said booms and bearing a hook engageable in the adjacent open end of said cross bar.

Claim 12

A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swing the same between said positions, in which said subframe comprises a pair of booms pivotally mounted to swing about a common fixed axis extending transversely of said chassis, and a cross bar joining the distal regions of said booms, bracket means carried by said cross bar at laterally spaced positions, each bracket means being rotationally fixed but longitudinally movable relative to said cross bar and means associated with each bracket means for embracing an element of a vehicle to be towed.

Claim 13

A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swing the same between said positions, in which said subframe comprises a pair of booms pivotally mounted to swing about a common fixed axis extending transversely of said chassis, and a cross bar joining the distal regions of said booms, bracket means carried by said cross bar at laterally spaced positions, each bracket means being rotationally fixed but longitudinally movable relative to said cross bar and means associated with each bracket means for embracing an element of a vehicle to be towed.

Claim 14

The dolly of claim 7 in which each bracket means is formed to provide a distally-presented, substantially cylindrical surface and said embracing means comprises a hasp mounted for oscillation about the axis of said surface and having an arm spaced from, and axially parallel to, said surface to define, with said surface, a space opening toward the transverse center of said subframe.