GB2249532A - Towing device - Google Patents

Towing device Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2249532A
GB2249532A GB9110972A GB9110972A GB2249532A GB 2249532 A GB2249532 A GB 2249532A GB 9110972 A GB9110972 A GB 9110972A GB 9110972 A GB9110972 A GB 9110972A GB 2249532 A GB2249532 A GB 2249532A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
support
turning
towing device
vertical axis
horizontal axis
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9110972A
Other versions
GB9110972D0 (en
GB2249532B (en
Inventor
Ronald Thomas Henry Hall
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB9110972D0 publication Critical patent/GB9110972D0/en
Publication of GB2249532A publication Critical patent/GB2249532A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2249532B publication Critical patent/GB2249532B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/01—Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
    • B60D1/02—Bolt or shackle-type couplings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/14—Draw-gear or towing devices characterised by their type
    • B60D1/167—Draw-gear or towing devices characterised by their type consisting of articulated or rigidly assembled bars or tubes forming a V-, Y-, or U-shaped draw gear
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/48—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by the mounting
    • B60D1/54—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by the mounting collapsible or retractable when not in use, e.g. hide-away hitches
    • B60D2001/542—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by the mounting collapsible or retractable when not in use, e.g. hide-away hitches characterised by the number of pivot axis
    • B60D2001/546—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by the mounting collapsible or retractable when not in use, e.g. hide-away hitches characterised by the number of pivot axis two pivot axes

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)

Abstract

A towing device comprises a first support (10) for fixing to the rear of a car or other vehicle, an intermediate element (20) mounted to the first support for turning about a vertical axis (17), and a second support (30) for fixing to a caravan or trailer, the second support being coupled to the intermediate element for turning about a horizontal axis (34). <IMAGE>

Description

Towing Device This invention relates to a vehicle towing device or towing hitch, for use when a caravan or trailer is towed by a car or other vehicle.
I have now devised a towing device or towing hitch which is of simple and compact construction but which is effective and advantageous in use.
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a towing device which comprises a first support for fixing to the rear of a car or other towing vehicle, an intermediate element mounted to the first support for turning about a vertical axis, and a second support for fixing to a caravan or trailer, the second support being coupled for fixing to a caravan or trailer, the second support being coupled to the intermediate element for turning about a horizontal axis.
In a preferred embodiment the horizontal axis is offset forwardly or rearwardly from said vertical axis, although instead the horizontal axis may intersect the vertical axis.
An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a towing hitch in accordance with this invention; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the towing hitch; and FIGURE 3 is a rear end view of the towing hitch.
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a towing hitch which comprises a first support 10 for fixing to the rear of a car or other towing vehicle, an intermediate element 20 mounted to the support 10 for turning about a vertical axis, and a second support 30 for fixing to a caravan or trailer and mounted to the element 20 for turning about a horizontal axis which is offset from the vertical axis. In the example shown the horizontal axis of turning lies forwardly of the vertical axis, but it may instead lie to the rear of the vertical axis, or it may intersect the vertical axis.
The first support 10 comprises a vertical fixing plate 11 and two horizontal plates 12, 13 which are welded to plate 11 and extend rearwardly from it. A vertical tube 14 is disposed through aligned holes in the plates 12, 13 and welded to these. Bearings 15, 16 are disposed in the tube 14, and a vertical shaft 17 is journalled in these bearings.
The intermediate element 20 comprises a rectangular box formed from metal plates welded together. The vertical shaft 17 passes through holes in the top and bottom of the box-shaped element 12 and is welded thereto. Washers 21, 22 are welded to the top and bottom of the element 12. The bottom end of the shaft 17 is screw-threaded and receives a thrust washer 23 and a lock nut 24. Washers 25, 26 of frictional material are disposed between washer 22 and tube 14 and between thrust washer 23 and plate 13. The lock nut 24 can be tightened to provide a desired degree of frictional resistance against rotation of the shaft 1 within the tube 14.
The second support 30 comprises a tubular member 31 welded to a plate 32 and arranged to receive and be fixed to the end of a tow bar of a caravan or trailer. Fixed to the other side of the plate 32 is a frame 33 having opposite side members which lie either side of the box-shaped element 20.
A shaft 34 extends through the opposite side members of the frame 33 and through the opposite side walls of the element 20, so that the frame 33 can turn about a horizontal axis relative to the element 20. Pads 35, 36 lie between the element 20 and the opposite sides of the frame 33, and prevent sideways movement of the element 20 relative to the frame 33.
In use, the first support 10 is fixed by its vertical plate 11 to the rear of the car or other towing vehicle. The second support 30 is fixed by its tubular socket member 31 to the end of a tow bar of a caravan or trailer. Relative turning movement between the towing vehicle and the towed trailer is possible around the vertical axis defined by shaft 17, and around the horizontal axis defined by the shaft 34, but relative sideways movement of the first and second supports is prevented by the frame 33 being a close fit around the boxshaped element 20, and also rotational movement of the first and second supports about the longitudinal (front-to-rear) axis is similarly prevented.

Claims (7)

Claims
1) A towing device which comprises a first support for fixing to the rear of a car or other towing vehicle, an intermediate element mounted to the first support for turing about a vertical axis, and a second support for fixing to a caravan or trailer, the second support being coupled to the intermediate element for turing about a horizontal axis.
2) A towing device as claimed in claim 1, in which the intermediate element comprises a rectangular box mounted to the first support by a vertical shaft, and the second support comprises a frame having opposite side members lying to either side of said box and coupled thereto by a horizontal shaft.
3) A towing device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising pads disposed between said box and said opposite side members of the frame to prevent relative sideways movement.
4) A towing device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the horizontal axis of turning intersects the vertical axis of turning.
5) A towing device as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3, in which the horizontal axis of turning lies forwardly of the vertical axis of turning.
6) A towing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the horizontal axis of turning lies rearwardly of the vertical axis of turning.
7) A towing device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9110972A 1990-11-08 1991-05-21 Towing device Expired - Fee Related GB2249532B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB909024253A GB9024253D0 (en) 1990-11-08 1990-11-08 Towing device

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9110972D0 GB9110972D0 (en) 1991-07-10
GB2249532A true GB2249532A (en) 1992-05-13
GB2249532B GB2249532B (en) 1993-01-13

Family

ID=10685033

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB909024253A Pending GB9024253D0 (en) 1990-11-08 1990-11-08 Towing device
GB9110972A Expired - Fee Related GB2249532B (en) 1990-11-08 1991-05-21 Towing device

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB909024253A Pending GB9024253D0 (en) 1990-11-08 1990-11-08 Towing device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB9024253D0 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6000705A (en) * 1996-09-05 1999-12-14 Wright Mfg., Inc. Sulky device with triple pivot attachment to mower
ITVR20110204A1 (en) * 2011-11-17 2013-05-18 Omar Appoloni LOCKING DEVICE FOR TRAILERS TRAILER

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB439326A (en) * 1933-10-10 1935-12-04 Ettore Bugatti Improvements in coupling apparatus for vehicles and especially for railway vehicles
GB778954A (en) * 1953-11-16 1957-07-17 Charles Timothy Wilkins Improvements in trailers and couplings for use therewith
US3730557A (en) * 1971-09-07 1973-05-01 R Cox Universal joint trailer hitch with coupling pin socket aligning and bearing means
US3843164A (en) * 1973-01-30 1974-10-22 M Flegel Bicycle cart connector
US3995879A (en) * 1975-07-30 1976-12-07 M & W Gear Company Wagon tongue construction
EP0025662A1 (en) * 1979-09-14 1981-03-25 Imperial Chemical Industries Plc Pivot connection for articulated tractor/trailer combination
US4711461A (en) * 1986-04-17 1987-12-08 Positive Connections, Inc. Three-axis trailer hitch having improved rotatable coupling between vehicle and trailer

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB439326A (en) * 1933-10-10 1935-12-04 Ettore Bugatti Improvements in coupling apparatus for vehicles and especially for railway vehicles
GB778954A (en) * 1953-11-16 1957-07-17 Charles Timothy Wilkins Improvements in trailers and couplings for use therewith
US3730557A (en) * 1971-09-07 1973-05-01 R Cox Universal joint trailer hitch with coupling pin socket aligning and bearing means
US3843164A (en) * 1973-01-30 1974-10-22 M Flegel Bicycle cart connector
US3995879A (en) * 1975-07-30 1976-12-07 M & W Gear Company Wagon tongue construction
EP0025662A1 (en) * 1979-09-14 1981-03-25 Imperial Chemical Industries Plc Pivot connection for articulated tractor/trailer combination
US4711461A (en) * 1986-04-17 1987-12-08 Positive Connections, Inc. Three-axis trailer hitch having improved rotatable coupling between vehicle and trailer

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6000705A (en) * 1996-09-05 1999-12-14 Wright Mfg., Inc. Sulky device with triple pivot attachment to mower
US6234495B1 (en) 1996-09-05 2001-05-22 Wright Manufacturing, Inc. Sulky device with triple pivot attachment to mower
ITVR20110204A1 (en) * 2011-11-17 2013-05-18 Omar Appoloni LOCKING DEVICE FOR TRAILERS TRAILER
WO2013072854A1 (en) * 2011-11-17 2013-05-23 Appoloni Omar Attachment device for trailer tow bar

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9110972D0 (en) 1991-07-10
GB2249532B (en) 1993-01-13
GB9024253D0 (en) 1990-12-19

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20040521