US4592564A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
ATV/ATC tow bar
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-10-19
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Granted: 1986-06-03
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Expires: 2004-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A towing device for directly towing an all terrain vehicle (ATV) or an all terrain cycle (ATC). The towing device is removably secured to the ATV/ATC and allows easy towing and transportation of such a vehicle by utilizing the vehicle's rear wheels thereby eliminating the need for a separate flat bed or wheeled trailer. The tow device is in the form of a bar having an attachment mechanism for removably securing the bar to the ATV/ATC frame and a hitch assembly for removably connecting the tow bar to a car or truck ball hitch or any other type of conventional towing hinge. In one embodiment for a three-wheel ATV/ATC, only one attachment mechanism is provided and the forward end of the towing bar, toward the hitch, includes a recess in which the single front wheel is received. The bar, which can be either one or two pieces, also includes a bend so that when hitched for towing, the front wheel is raised off the ground allowing the rear wheels to provide the rolling support required for towing. A second embodiment of the bar includes a second attachment mechanism located approximately at the bend in the tow bar for attachment to the front frame of a four-wheel ATV/ATC.
Inventors
- 👤 Rudolph M. Warnock
- 👤 Thomas G. Alford, Sr.
- 👤 Thomas G. Alford, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:09
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R9/00; B60R9/06; B60R9/08; B60R9/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
325 words
A towing device for towing an all terrain vehicle having at least a forward wheel and a pair of rear wheels, said device comprising a tow bar in the form of a single structural member having a forward section and a rearward section, said forward section having a first substantially straight portion, a second portion connected to and angled downwardly from said first portion, a third portion connected to and angled from said second portion, and a fourth portion connected to and angled upwardly from said third portion, said rearward section having a forward and rearward end with said forward end being connected to and angled downwardly from said fourth portion, the length of said third portion being longer than the length of said second and fourth portions, and the length of said second and fourth portions being about equal so that said second, third and fourth portions together define an upwardly opening recess in said tow bar for receiving said forward wheel, the rearward end of said rearward section having a plate member secured thereto, said plate member having two outer edges and a plurality of spaced apart through holes, said holes being arranged to extend in at least one row along each of said outer edges and spaced inwardly therefrom, means for removably securing said plate member to said all terrain vehicle, hitch means secured to said first portion for removably coupling the towing device to a towing vehicle, a retaining collar secured between the second and fourth portions and being comprised of two spaced apart end members and two spaced apart side members connected together into an integral structure, said retaining collar being positioned so that said side membes lie outboard of said tow bar, said end and side members being respectively spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive said forward wheel therebetween, and wheel holding means for holding said forward wheel within said upwardly opening recess and within said retaining collar.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
325 words
A towing device for towing an all terrain vehicle having at least a forward wheel and a pair of rear wheels, said device comprising a tow bar in the form of a single structural member having a forward section and a rearward section, said forward section having a first substantially straight portion, a second portion connected to and angled downwardly from said first portion, a third portion connected to and angled from said second portion, and a fourth portion connected to and angled upwardly from said third portion, said rearward section having a forward and rearward end with said forward end being connected to and angled downwardly from said fourth portion, the length of said third portion being longer than the length of said second and fourth portions, and the length of said second and fourth portions being about equal so that said second, third and fourth portions together define an upwardly opening recess in said tow bar for receiving said forward wheel, the rearward end of said rearward section having a plate member secured thereto, said plate member having two outer edges and a plurality of spaced apart through holes, said holes being arranged to extend in at least one row along each of said outer edges and spaced inwardly therefrom, means for removably securing said plate member to said all terrain vehicle, hitch means secured to said first portion for removably coupling the towing device to a towing vehicle, a retaining collar secured between the second and fourth portions and being comprised of two spaced apart end members and two spaced apart side members connected together into an integral structure, said retaining collar being positioned so that said side membes lie outboard of said tow bar, said end and side members being respectively spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive said forward wheel therebetween, and wheel holding means for holding said forward wheel within said upwardly opening recess and within said retaining collar.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A towing device as in claim 1 wherein said retaining collar is secured by welding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The towing device as in claim 1 wherein said wheel holding means comprises a retaining strap secured to one of said side members of said retaining collar over said forward wheel and at least removably secured to the opposite side member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A towing device as in claim 1, wherein one of the two end members of said retaining collar is secured to said tow bar adjacent the connection between the first and second portions with the other end member being secured adjacent the connection between the fourth portion and the rearward section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A towing device as in claim 1 further including means for removably attaching said retaining collar to said tow bar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A towing device as in claim 5, wherein said forward and rearward sections are comprised of two separate members joined together within said fourth portion and further including means for removably securing said forward and rearward sections together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A towing device as in claim 1, wherein the tow bar is comprised of an integral tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
234 words
A towing device for towing an all terrain vehicle having two pairs of forward and rear wheels, said towing device comprising a tow bar in the form of a single structural member having a forward section and a rearward section, said forward section comprising a substantially straight portion, said rearward section comprising a substantially straight portion and being positioned at a downwardly angled manner with respect to said forward section so as to define a bend at the juncture of the forward and rearward sections, said rearward section having a rearward end on which a first plate member is secured thereto, said first plate member having two outer edges and a plurality of spaced apart through holes arranged so as to extend in at least a row along each of said outer edges and spaced inwardly therefrom, a second plate member secured to the rearward section of said tow bar adjacent the bend at the juncture between said forward and rearward sections, said second plate having two outer edges and a plurality of through holes provided thereon so that said holes extending along each of the two outer edges and are spaced apart and inwardly of said outer edges, means for removably securing both of said first and second plate members to said all terrain vehicle, and hitch means secured to said forward section for removably coupling the towing device to a towing vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
234 words
A towing device for towing an all terrain vehicle having two pairs of forward and rear wheels, said towing device comprising a tow bar in the form of a single structural member having a forward section and a rearward section, said forward section comprising a substantially straight portion, said rearward section comprising a substantially straight portion and being positioned at a downwardly angled manner with respect to said forward section so as to define a bend at the juncture of the forward and rearward sections, said rearward section having a rearward end on which a first plate member is secured thereto, said first plate member having two outer edges and a plurality of spaced apart through holes arranged so as to extend in at least a row along each of said outer edges and spaced inwardly therefrom, a second plate member secured to the rearward section of said tow bar adjacent the bend at the juncture between said forward and rearward sections, said second plate having two outer edges and a plurality of through holes provided thereon so that said holes extending along each of the two outer edges and are spaced apart and inwardly of said outer edges, means for removably securing both of said first and second plate members to said all terrain vehicle, and hitch means secured to said forward section for removably coupling the towing device to a towing vehicle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-02 | 1989-12-02 | 1990-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-02 | 1993-12-02 | 1994-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-02 | 1997-12-02 | 1998-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |