Insert for vehicle tow bar

Claim 1

In a tow bar insert for use with a tow bar having connector means at the forward end thereof adapted for connection to a towing vehicle and a bifurcated member having rearwardly extending arms carrying upstanding brackets at the rear ends thereof, with an upwardly opening recess in each said bracket in position to receive an adjacent portion of a laterally and outwardly extending control arm pivotally connected at its inner end to the frame of a towed vehicle and pivotally connected at its outer end to the spindle assembly of an adjacent front wheel of said towed vehicle, (a) a generally U-shaped member adapted to fit within and engage each said upwardly opening recess in said upstanding brackets with each said U-shaped member having a base portion connected to spaced apart legs, (b) a transverse load bearing member carried by each said U-shaped member in position to engage and support an adjacent control arm of said towed vehicle while it extends through said U-shaped member, (c) detachable means connecting each said U-shaped member to is upstanding bracket and adapted to limit movement of said U-shaped member relative to its control arm, (d) a connector arm pivotally connected at one end to said U-shaped member with the other end thereof extending toward an adjacent portion of a sway bar connecting said control arms, with said connector arm being movable selectively to a connected position in engagement with said sway bar and to a disconnected position out of engagement with said sway bar, (e) resilient means between said connector arm and said U-shaped member urging said connector arm toward said connected position, and (f) at least one stop member carried by said U-shaped member limiting vertical movement of said connector arm.