Patent US3822898A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3822898A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Towing apparatus for a cycle and the like
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-07-18
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Granted: 1974-07-09
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Expires: 1993-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A towing appparatus for towing a vehicle such as a motorcycle behind another vehicle such as an automobile has a pair of channel-like members, adapted for the reception therein of a wheel of the towed vehicle, pivotally connected to each other so as to be swingable toward each other to a closed position when not towing a vehicle, and swingable away from each other to a position for the reception therebetween of a wheel of a vehicle being towed.
Inventors
- 👤 W Brownlie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:02
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R9/00; B60R9/08; B60R9/10; B60R9/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S224/00; Y10S224/924
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
Apparatus for transporting a first vehicle having at least two wheels at least one of said wheels being a normally forwardly disposed wheel of said first vehicle, comprising first and second wheel-receiving members pivotally connected to each other and adapted to receive said one of said wheels therein, said first and second wheel-receiving members being substantially identical to each other and having hinging means identical to each other, each of said first and second wheel-receiving members having a generally U-shaped channel-like configuration when viewed in transverse cross-section so as to have respective side walls thereof substantially coplanar with each other in a manner permitting abutting engagement therebetween when said first and second wheel-receiving members are relatively pivotally rotated toward each other, one of said wheel-receiving members being effective to engage a lower disposed portion of said one of said wheels as to thereby vertically support said one of said wheelS and concomitantly laterally confine said lower disposed portion of said one of said wheels between said side walls of said one of said wheel-receiving members, and the other of said wheelreceiving members being effective to engage a forwardly disposed portion of said one of said wheels and concomitantly laterally confine said forwardly disposed portion of said one of said wheels between said side walls of said other of said wheelreceiving members, said other of said wheel-receiving members being effective to engage said forwardly disposed portion of said one of said wheels at a height above the axis of rotation of said one of said wheels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
Apparatus for transporting a first vehicle having at least two wheels at least one of said wheels being a normally forwardly disposed wheel of said first vehicle, comprising first and second wheel-receiving members pivotally connected to each other and adapted to receive said one of said wheels therein, said first and second wheel-receiving members being substantially identical to each other and having hinging means identical to each other, each of said first and second wheel-receiving members having a generally U-shaped channel-like configuration when viewed in transverse cross-section so as to have respective side walls thereof substantially coplanar with each other in a manner permitting abutting engagement therebetween when said first and second wheel-receiving members are relatively pivotally rotated toward each other, one of said wheel-receiving members being effective to engage a lower disposed portion of said one of said wheels as to thereby vertically support said one of said wheelS and concomitantly laterally confine said lower disposed portion of said one of said wheels between said side walls of said one of said wheel-receiving members, and the other of said wheelreceiving members being effective to engage a forwardly disposed portion of said one of said wheels and concomitantly laterally confine said forwardly disposed portion of said one of said wheels between said side walls of said other of said wheelreceiving members, said other of said wheel-receiving members being effective to engage said forwardly disposed portion of said one of said wheels at a height above the axis of rotation of said one of said wheels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hinging means comprises a first hinge-like extension formed at one end and at one side of one of said wheel-receiving members as to be substantially coplanar with the side wall at said one side, and a second hinge-like extension formed at said one end and at an other side opposite to said one side of said one of said wheel-receiving members, said second hinge-like extension being formed integrally with the side wall at said other side and offset therefrom as to be generally inwardly thereof and more closely aligned with said side wall at said one side.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising means for detachably securing one of said wheel-receiving members to a second transporting vehicle for transporting said first vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising friction generating means associated with said wheel-receiving members for maintaining said one of said wheel-receiving members in a selected position when said one of said wheel-receiving members is pivotally rotated toward the other of said wheel-receiving members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising additional support means operatively connected to each of said first and second wheel-receiving members at points spaced from said hinging means to thereby provide additional support to said one of said wheel-receiving members when said one of said wheels has been received therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said additional support means comprises cable means adapted to be placed in tension in providing said additional support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising resiliently deflectable bumper means carried by said one of said wheel-receiving members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 and further comprising aperture means formed through the wall interconnecting the side walls of said one of said wheel-receiving members, and passage means formed by said bumper means, said aperture means and said passage means being effective to permit the draining of free water from within said one of said wheel-receiving members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein in each of said first and second wheel-receiving members the wall joining the opposite sides thereof is planar for a major portion of its length, and wherein each end of each of said first wheel-receiving members spaced furthermost away from said hinging means is defined by an end surface of the said wall joining the opposite sides at an elevation substantially that of the height of said side walls whereby an inclined side-wall joining wall extends from said end surface to said major planar portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hinging means comprises a first hinge plate-like portion integrally formed with said first wheel-receiving member and being situated to generally overlap a portion of said first wheel-receiving member so as to be seen at an other side of said first and second wheel-receiving members opposite to said one side of said first and second wheel-receiving members.
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) | 1977-07-08 | 1978-01-07 | 1978-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-08 | 1982-01-07 | 1982-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-08 | 1986-01-07 | 1986-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |