US3716152A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle towing means
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-04-30
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Granted: 1973-02-13
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Expires: 1991-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A means for towing a vehicle comprising a frame means which is positioned on the floor of a truck bed with a sub-frame means being pivotally connected at its forward end to the forward end of the frame means. A normally horizontally disposed deck means is secured to the sub-frame means and extends thereover and the frame means and is spaced above the floor of the truck bed. The sub-frame means includes a tow frame member which is selectively movably mounted on the sub-frame means between stored and operative positions. The rearward end of the tow frame member is received between the deck means and the floor of the truck bed portion when in its stored position and is positioned rearwardly of the truck when in its operative position. Connection means is provided on the rearward end of the tow frame member for securing the vehicle to be towed thereto. A hydraulic cylinder means is connected to the sub-frame means for pivoting the sub-frame means about its forward end to permit the rearward end of the tow frame member to be selectively raised and lowered to raise and lower one end of the vehicle to be towed. A closure means closes the rearward end of the frame means when the tow frame member is in its stored position so that the bed portion of the vehicle may be used for other purposes when a vehicle is not being towed.
Inventors
- 👤 J Sloter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:30
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/12; B60P3/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
287 words
In combination with a vehicle having rearward and forward ends, and a bed portion at its rearward end, comprising, a frame means on said bed portion having rearward and forward ends, a sub-frame means having rearward and forward ends and being pivotally connected about a horizontal axis at its forward end to said frame means adjacent the forward end thereof, a normally horizontally disposed deck means secured to said sub-frame means extending over said sub-frame means and said frame means spaced above said bed portion, said sub-frame means including a tow frame member having rearward and forward ends which is selectively movably mounted on said sub-frame means between stored and operative positions, the rearward end of said tow frame member being positioned between said deck means and said bed portion when in its stored position and being positioned rearwardly of the vehicle when in its operative position, means on the rearward end of said tow frame member for supporting the vehicle to be towed thereon, and means for pivotally moving said sub-frame means with respect to said frame means so that the rearward end of said tow frame member may be selectively raised and lowered to respectively raise and lower one end of the vehicle to be towed, said sub-frame means comprising a cross frame member which is pivotally connected to said frame means, a hollow tube means secured to said cross frame member and extending rearwardly therefrom, said tow frame member being slidably mounted in said hollow tube means, said tow frame member being L-shaped and comprising a first frame portion slidably and rotatably received in said hollow tube means and a second frame portion extending traNsversely from the rearward end of said first frame portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
287 words
In combination with a vehicle having rearward and forward ends, and a bed portion at its rearward end, comprising, a frame means on said bed portion having rearward and forward ends, a sub-frame means having rearward and forward ends and being pivotally connected about a horizontal axis at its forward end to said frame means adjacent the forward end thereof, a normally horizontally disposed deck means secured to said sub-frame means extending over said sub-frame means and said frame means spaced above said bed portion, said sub-frame means including a tow frame member having rearward and forward ends which is selectively movably mounted on said sub-frame means between stored and operative positions, the rearward end of said tow frame member being positioned between said deck means and said bed portion when in its stored position and being positioned rearwardly of the vehicle when in its operative position, means on the rearward end of said tow frame member for supporting the vehicle to be towed thereon, and means for pivotally moving said sub-frame means with respect to said frame means so that the rearward end of said tow frame member may be selectively raised and lowered to respectively raise and lower one end of the vehicle to be towed, said sub-frame means comprising a cross frame member which is pivotally connected to said frame means, a hollow tube means secured to said cross frame member and extending rearwardly therefrom, said tow frame member being slidably mounted in said hollow tube means, said tow frame member being L-shaped and comprising a first frame portion slidably and rotatably received in said hollow tube means and a second frame portion extending traNsversely from the rearward end of said first frame portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
287 words
In combination with a vehicle having rearward and forward ends, and a bed portion at its rearward end, comprising, a frame means on said bed portion having rearward and forward ends, a sub-frame means having rearward and forward ends and being pivotally connected about a horizontal axis at its forward end to said frame means adjacent the forward end thereof, a normally horizontally disposed deck means secured to said subframe means extending over said sub-frame means and said frame means spaced above said bed portion, said sub-frame means including a tow frame member having rearward and forward ends which is selectively movably mounted on said sub-frame means between stored and operative positions, the rearward end of said tow frame member being positioned between said deck means and said bed portion when in its stored position and being positioned rearwardly of the vehicle when in its operative position, means on the rearward end of said tow frame member for supporting the vehicle to be towed thereon, and means for pivotally moving said sub-frame means with respect to said frame means so that the rearward end of said tow frame member may be selectively raised and lowered to respectively raise and lower one end of the vehicle to be towed, said sub-frame means comprising a cross frame member which is pivotally connected to said frame means, a hollow tube means secured to said cross frame member and extending rearwardly therefrom, said tow frame member being slidably mounted in said hollow tube means, said tow frame member being L-shaped and comprising a first frame portion slidably and rotatably received in said hollow tube means and a second frame portion extending traNsversely from the rearward end of said first frame portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
287 words
In combination with a vehicle having rearward and forward ends, and a bed portion at its rearward end, comprising, a frame means on said bed portion having rearward and forward ends, a sub-frame means having rearward and forward ends and being pivotally connected about a horizontal axis at its forward end to said frame means adjacent the forward end thereof, a normally horizontally disposed deck means secured to said subframe means extending over said sub-frame means and said frame means spaced above said bed portion, said sub-frame means including a tow frame member having rearward and forward ends which is selectively movably mounted on said sub-frame means between stored and operative positions, the rearward end of said tow frame member being positioned between said deck means and said bed portion when in its stored position and being positioned rearwardly of the vehicle when in its operative position, means on the rearward end of said tow frame member for supporting the vehicle to be towed thereon, and means for pivotally moving said sub-frame means with respect to said frame means so that the rearward end of said tow frame member may be selectively raised and lowered to respectively raise and lower one end of the vehicle to be towed, said sub-frame means comprising a cross frame member which is pivotally connected to said frame means, a hollow tube means secured to said cross frame member and extending rearwardly therefrom, said tow frame member being slidably mounted in said hollow tube means, said tow frame member being L-shaped and comprising a first frame portion slidably and rotatably received in said hollow tube means and a second frame portion extending traNsversely from the rearward end of said first frame portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein locking means is provided on said hollow tube means for selective engagement with said first frame portion to selectively maintain said first frame portion in a predetermined rearwardly extended position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein a closure means selectively closes the rearward end of said frame means between said deck means and the floor of said vehicle bed portion when said sub-frame means is in its stored position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
260 words
In combination with a vehicle having rearward and forward ends, and a bed portion at its rearward end, comprising, a frame means on said bed portion having rearward and forward ends, a sub-frame means having rearward and forward ends and being pivotally connected about a horizontal axis at its forward end to said frame means adjacent the forward end thereof, a normally horizontally disposed deck means secured to said sub-frame means extending over said sub-frame means and said frame means spaced above said bed portion, said sub-frame means including a tow frame member having rearward and forward ends which is selectively movably mounted on said sub-frame means between stored and operative positions, said tow frame member being L-shaped comprising a first frame portion operatively slidably and rotatably mounted on said sub-frame means and a second frame portion extending transversely from the rearward end of said first frame portion, said second frame portion being positioned between said deck means and said bed portion when in its stored position and being positioned rearwardly of the vehicle when in its operative position, said second frame portion extending downwardly from the rearward end of said first frame position when in its operative position, means on the rearward end of said tow frame member for supporting the vehicle to be towed thereon, and means for pivotally moving said sub-frame means with respect to said frame means so that the rearward end of said tow frame member may be selectively raised and lowered to respectively raise and lower one end of the vehicle to be towed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
260 words
In combination with a vehicle having rearward and forward ends, and a bed portion at its rearward end, comprising, a frame means on said bed portion having rearward and forward ends, a sub-frame means having rearward and forward ends and being pivotally connected about a horizontal axis at its forward end to said frame means adjacent the forward end thereof, a normally horizontally disposed deck means secured to said sub-frame means extending over said sub-frame means and said frame means spaced above said bed portion, said sub-frame means including a tow frame member having rearward and forward ends which is selectively movably mounted on said sub-frame means between stored and operative positions, said tow frame member being L-shaped comprising a first frame portion operatively slidably and rotatably mounted on said sub-frame means and a second frame portion extending transversely from the rearward end of said first frame portion, said second frame portion being positioned between said deck means and said bed portion when in its stored position and being positioned rearwardly of the vehicle when in its operative position, said second frame portion extending downwardly from the rearward end of said first frame position when in its operative position, means on the rearward end of said tow frame member for supporting the vehicle to be towed thereon, and means for pivotally moving said sub-frame means with respect to said frame means so that the rearward end of said tow frame member may be selectively raised and lowered to respectively raise and lower one end of the vehicle to be towed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said sub-frame means comprises a cross frame member which is pivotally connected to said frame means, a hollow tube means secured to said cross frame member and extending rearwardly therefrom, said first frame portion of said tow frame member being slidably and rotatably mounted in said hollow tube means.
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) | 1976-02-13 | 1976-08-14 | 1977-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-13 | 1980-08-14 | 1981-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-13 | 1984-08-14 | 1985-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |