초록 ▼

A towing apparatus is provided including, in one embodiment, a pintle hitch having a retainer and an associated retainer lock. The retainer may be coupled with a mount by way of a pivot allowing it to rotate into and out one or more selected positions. The retainer may also be mounted on a guide suc

A towing apparatus is provided including, in one embodiment, a pintle hitch having a retainer and an associated retainer lock. The retainer may be coupled with a mount by way of a pivot allowing it to rotate into and out one or more selected positions. The retainer may also be mounted on a guide such that it may translate relative to a mount. The apparatus may be configured to be selectively displaced between a towing position and a stowed position. Additionally, the mount of the apparatus may be adjustably coupled with the base. In such a case, the apparatus may have another guide to enable the mount to translate relative to the base. This may allow the mount to be height-adjustable and provide further versatility. In one embodiment, a swiveling mount may allow the mount to swivel relative to the base to accommodate the towing of trailers over rugged terrain.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for securing a hitch to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:a mount having longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions substantially mutually orthogonal to one another, the mount having a platform portion thereof to receive a hitch the mount also having a first locking aperture

1. An apparatus for securing a hitch to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:a mount having longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions substantially mutually orthogonal to one another, the mount having a platform portion thereof to receive a hitch the mount also having a first locking aperture and a second locking aperture formed therein;a retainer for selectively retaining an object extending around the hitch, the retainer having a forward end and a rearward end, the forward end pivoting with respect to the mount between a first, retaining position and a second, open position the retainer having at least one opening formed therein; anda lock configured to selectively retain the retainer in the first position when the first locking aperture is aligned with the at least one opening or in the second position when the second locking aperture is aligned with the at least one opening. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a base having a guide integral thereto, the mount having a pivot pivotably securing the mount to the base, and wherein the pivot and mount are translatable along the guide. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the guide extends in the transverse direction and the pivot extends in the lateral direction to engage the guide. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising the hitch fixed to the mount to extend substantially between the mount and the retainer in the first position for securely connecting to a towed device. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the retainer comprises a plate of uniform thickness in a direction perpendicular to a lateral axis. 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first member extends laterally to support pivoting of the retainer perpendicular thereto. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform portion further comprises a registration member for locking the hitch against rotation with respect thereto. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the registration member further comprises a shoulder spaced to register the hitch substantially flush there-against to substantially prevent rotation. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a base having a guide integral therto, the mount having a pivot pivotably securing the mount to the base, and wherein the pivot and the mount are translatable along the guide. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the extends in the transverse direction and the pivot extends in the lateral direction to engage the guide. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mount is rotatable about the pivot and translatable with respect to the base to move between a deployed position suitable for towing a towed device, and a stowed position. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a base; anda pivot pivotably securing the mount to the base to move between a deployed position suitable for towing a towed device, and a stowed position. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lock comprises a locking pin selectively extending through at least one aperture of the first locking aperture and the second locking aperture defined in the mount and the at least one opening defined in the retainer. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the locking pin is selectively removable and engageable in the lateral direction with respect to the at least one opening defined in the retainer to selectively lock the retainer in the first and second positions. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a base having a slot extending in the transverse direction to receive a pivot member;the pivot member extending laterally between the mount and the base to translate transversely along the slot; andthe mount being pivotable about the pivot member between a deployed position substantially longitudinally behind the base and a stowed position substantially longitudinally in front of the base. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a height adjustment locator to fix the mount with respect to the base against relative translation therebetween. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the height adjustment locator comprises a pin, the base includes a plurality of apertures defined therein and the mount includes at least one aperture therein and wherein the plurality of apertures defined in the base and the at least one aperture defined in the mount are configured to removably receive the pin to selectively fix the height of the mount with respect to the base. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the slot and the plurality of apertures defined in the base are substantially collinear. 19. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first member extends laterally to support pivoting of the retainer perpendicular thereto. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the retainer comprises a plate of uniform thickness in a direction perpendicular to a lateral axis. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the platform portion further comprises a registration member for locking a hitch against rotation with respect thereto. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the registration member further comprises a shoulder spaced to register the hitch substantially flush there-against to substantially prevent rotation. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus further comprises a base having a mount guide integral thereto, the mount having a pivot pivotably securing the mount to the base, and the pivot being translatable along the mount guide. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the mount guide extends in the transverse direction and the pivot extends in the lateral direction to engage the mount guide. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the mount is rotatable about the pivot and translatable with respect to the base to move between a deployed position suitable for towing a towed device, and a stowed position. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the lock comprises a locking pin selectively extending through apertures in the mount and retainer. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the mount guide comprises a slot extending in a transverse direction to receive a second pivot, and wherein the pivot extends laterally between the mount and the base to translate transversely along the slot. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a height adjustment locator to fix the mount with respect to the base against relative translation therebetween. 29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the height adjustment locator comprises a pin and the base and mount are further provided with height adjustment apertures to receive the pin to selectively fix the height of the mount with respect to the base. 30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the slot and the height adjustment apertures are substantially collinear. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the hitch is fixed to the mount to extend substantially between the mount and the retainer in the first position for securely connecting to a towed device. 32. An apparatus for securing a hitch to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:a mount having a platform portion thereof coupled to a hitch;a retainer for selectively retaining an object extending around the hitch, the retainer having a proximal end, and a rearward end;a base secured to a vehicle;a pivot member pivotably securing the mount to the base, the mount being pivotable about the pivot member between deployed and stowed positions; andwherein the hitch is rotatable between a first position and at least a second position relative to the retainer. 33. An apparatus of securing a hitch to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:a base having longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions substantially mutually orthogonal to one another, the base comprising locating apertures extending in the lateral direction;slots located on opposite sides of the base and extending into the base in lateral direction and extending along the base in the transverse direction;a mount for supporting a hitch and having pivot apertures and mount locking apertures;pivots extend ing through the pivot apertures and into the slots, the pivots slidably engaging the slots in the transverse direction;a lock selectively passing through the mount locking apertures and the locating apertures to restrain translation of the mount relative to the base;the mount further comprising:a platform configured to be coupled with the hitch;a retainer for securing towed vehicles to the hitch;a second pivot, the second pivot pivotably securing the retainer to the mount;retainer locking apertures arranged for selective locking of the retainer in open and closed positions; anda second lock selectively engaging the retainer locking apertures and the retainer substantially preventing motion of the retainer relative to the mount.