US3831980A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tow bar means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-13
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Granted: 1974-08-27
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Expires: 1992-12-13
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a tow bar device for towing a four-wheeled vehicle. The tow bar has a tongue at the rear for engagement with a yoke attached beneath the vehicle and a cross-bar at the position of the front end assembly with upstanding supports at the ends of the cross-bar. The upstanding supports are attachable to pivots at attachment plates secured at the front end assembly. Provision is made for two pivot points and also for accommodation of a range of elevations for the attachment.
Inventors
- 👤 A Kniff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:11
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/12; B60P3/125; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/14; B60D1/143
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
Towing means for towing a four-wheeled vehicle having two front wheels and two rear wheels which normally roll on a roadway and having a frame provided with a yoke attached in a central position to the underside of said frame, and having a front end torsion bar assembly, comprising: a pair of spaced attaching plates fastened to the front end torsion bar assembly at positions on opposite sides of the central line of the vehicle, a tow bar, a cross bar attached to, and extending transverse, and to both sides of, the tow bar at a position intermediate the ends of the tow bar, a pair of upstanding supports attached to said cross bar at respective locations on opposite sides of the tow bar, and means for pivoting each support member to a respective one of the attaching plates, the rear end of the tow bar having a tongue member for engagement with said yoke and the forward end of the tow bar having coupling means for attachment to a towing vehicle, whereby lifting said forward end for attachment to such towing vehicle lifts the two front wheels off the roadway so that said four-wheeled vehicle is towed with only its rear wheels on the roadway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
Towing means for towing a four-wheeled vehicle having two front wheels and two rear wheels which normally roll on a roadway and having a frame provided with a yoke attached in a central position to the underside of said frame, and having a front end torsion bar assembly, comprising: a pair of spaced attaching plates fastened to the front end torsion bar assembly at positions on opposite sides of the central line of the vehicle, a tow bar, a cross bar attached to, and extending transverse, and to both sides of, the tow bar at a position intermediate the ends of the tow bar, a pair of upstanding supports attached to said cross bar at respective locations on opposite sides of the tow bar, and means for pivoting each support member to a respective one of the attaching plates, the rear end of the tow bar having a tongue member for engagement with said yoke and the forward end of the tow bar having coupling means for attachment to a towing vehicle, whereby lifting said forward end for attachment to such towing vehicle lifts the two front wheels off the roadway so that said four-wheeled vehicle is towed with only its rear wheels on the roadway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Towing means according to claim 1 in which both of the pair of upstanding supports are located equidistant from the tow bar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
Towing means according to claim 1 in which each attaching plate is pivoted to its respective support member by means of a pivot pin passing through the attaching plate and through one of a plurality of holes through its support member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
Towing means according to claim 3 in which the plurality of holes are located one above another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
183 words
A tow bar assembly adapted for towing a four-wheeled vehicle having a front torsion bar assembly comprising a plurality of torsion bars spaced one above another and a pair of clamp means holding the torsion bars in position and attached at spaced positions equidistant from the center line of the vehicle at the front end thereof and having an attaching plate means attached to each of said clamp means and having a yoke attached to the vehicle frame at a position rearward of the torsion bar assembly and centrally located at the vehicle: said tow bar assembly comprising a bar having a tongue at the rear end adapted to engage said yoke and having a cross-bar at a position forward of the tongue and a pair of upstanding members attached to the cross-bar at positions equidistant from the tow bar and conforming with the distance apart of said clamp means, said upstanding members each having a plurality of holes spaced one above another by which they are adapted to be pivoted to the attaching plate means at one or another of said holes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
183 words
A tow bar assembly adapted for towing a four-wheeled vehicle having a front torsion bar assembly comprising a plurality of torsion bars spaced one above another and a pair of clamp means holding the torsion bars in position and attached at spaced positions equidistant from the center line of the vehicle at the front end thereof and having an attaching plate means attached to each of said clamp means and having a yoke attached to the vehicle frame at a position rearward of the torsion bar assembly and centrally located at the vehicle: said tow bar assembly comprising a bar having a tongue at the rear end adapted to engage said yoke and having a cross-bar at a position forward of the tongue and a pair of upstanding members attached to the cross-bar at positions equidistant from the tow bar and conforming with the distance apart of said clamp means, said upstanding members each having a plurality of holes spaced one above another by which they are adapted to be pivoted to the attaching plate means at one or another of said holes.
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) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |