Tow bar having a single moving part for operatively accommodating pitch and roll movements between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B60D-001/54
B60D-001/00
출원번호
US-0272337
(2005-11-14)
등록번호
US-7445226
(2008-11-04)
발명자
/ 주소
Hahne,Merton
Penlerick,Mark
Crippen,Anthony
출원인 / 주소
Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Company
대리인 / 주소
Schoonover,Donald R.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
4인용 특허 :
39
초록▼
A tow bar for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the tow bar comprising a towing vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towing vehicle; a towed vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towed vehicle; and an interconnecting mechanism connecting the towing vehicle connection m
A tow bar for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the tow bar comprising a towing vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towing vehicle; a towed vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towed vehicle; and an interconnecting mechanism connecting the towing vehicle connection mechanism to the towed vehicle connection mechanism. The interconnecting mechanism defines an interconnection central point and an interconnection vertical axis spaced rearwardly from the interconnection central point. The interconnecting mechanism is structured to accommodate substantially all pitch and roll movements between the towing and towed vehicles at and about the interconnection central point, and to accommodate substantially all yaw movements between the towing and towed vehicles at and about the interconnection vertical axis.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed and desired to be covered by Letters Patent is as follows: 1. A tow bar for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the tow bar comprising: (a) a towing vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towing vehicle, the towing vehicle connection mechanism defining a fore-to-a
What is claimed and desired to be covered by Letters Patent is as follows: 1. A tow bar for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the tow bar comprising: (a) a towing vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towing vehicle, the towing vehicle connection mechanism defining a fore-to-aft oriented towing vehicle axis that is operatively fixed relative to the towing vehicle and to the towing vehicle connection mechanism; (b) a towed vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towed vehicle, the towed vehicle connection mechanism defining a horizontal transversely-oriented towed vehicle axis that is operatively fixed relative to the towed vehicle and to the towed vehicle connection mechanism; and (c) an interconnecting mechanism connecting the towing vehicle connection mechanism to the towed vehicle connection mechanism, the interconnecting mechanism defining: (1) an interconnection central point, and (2) an interconnection vertical axis spaced rearwardly from the interconnection central point; and wherein the interconnecting mechanism includes: (3) a spherically-shaped ball member having a radius and a ball member center point; and (4) a body member having a main cavity with a main cavity center point and a radius of curvature, which is slightly greater than the radius of the ball member, and (5) wherein the ball member is rotatively captured within the body member with the ball member center point and the main cavity center point coinciding with the interconnection central point; and wherein the body member includes: (A) a first body portion having a rearwardly-facing, partially hemispherically-shaped first cavity with a radius of curvature, which is slightly greater than the radius of the ball member, and a center of curvature; (B) a second body portion having a forwardly-facing, partially hemispherically-shaped second cavity with a radius of curvature, which is identical to the radius of curvature of the first cavity of the first body portion, and a center of curvature; (C) a third body portion having a forwardly-facing, partially hemispherically-shaped third cavity with a radius of curvature, which is identical to the radius of curvature of the second cavity of the second body portion, and a center of curvature; and (D) fastening means; and (E) wherein assembly of the first body portion, the second body portion, the third body portion and the ball member with the fastening means forms the main cavity wherein the center of curvature of the first cavity of the first body portion, the center of curvature of the second cavity of the second body portion, the center of curvature of the third cavity of the third body portion and the ball member center point all coincide with the main cavity center point, rotatively capturing the ball member therein; and (d) wherein the interconnecting mechanism is configured and structured to accommodate substantially all pitch and roll movements, including any and all combinations thereof, between the towing vehicle axis and the towed vehicle axis, at and about the interconnection central point; and wherein the interconnecting mechanism is further configured and structured to accommodate substantially all yaw movements, between the towing vehicle axis and the towed vehicle axis, at and about the interconnection vertical axis. 2. The tow bar as described in claim 1 wherein, wherein the second and third body portions are of unitary construction. 3. The tow bar as described in claim 1 wherein, after assembly of the body member with the fastening means, the second and third body portions abut the first body portion along a plane that passes through the interconnection central point. 4. The tow bar as described in claim 1 wherein the interconnecting mechanism further includes: (a) a slot having a slot width, the slot being cooperatively formed between the second and third body portions by assembly of the body member; and (b) a shaft member having a forward end, a rearward end and a diameter, which is slightly smaller than the slot width, the forward end thereof being affixed to the ball member and the rearward end thereof extending rearwardly through the slot. 5. The tow bar as described in claim 4, wherein (a) the shaft member includes a transversely-oriented disc which separates the shaft member into a proximal end and a distal end; and (b) the ball member comprises (1) a proximal portion having a partial bore or throughbore having a diameter dimensioned to fit snugly around the proximal end of the shaft member, and (2) a distal portion having a throughbore having a diameter dimensioned to fit snugly around the distal end of the shaft member; and (c) wherein the spherical shape of the ball member is provided by assembly of the proximal portion of the ball member onto the proximal end of the shaft member and by assembly of the distal portion of the ball member onto the proximal end of the shaft member with the transversely-oriented disc sandwiched between the proximal and distal portions of the ball member. 6. The tow bar as described in claim 4 wherein the interconnecting mechanism further includes: (a) a towbar arm connector affixed to the shaft member; and (b) at least one towbar arm having a forward end and a rear end, the forward end thereof being pivotally connected to the towbar arm connector to pivot about the interconnection vertical axis and the rear end thereof being connected to the towed vehicle connection mechanism. 7. The tow bar as described in claim 6 wherein the at least one towbar arm includes two towbar arms, each having a forward end and a rear end, wherein the rear ends thereof are operatively spaced apart and connected to the towed vehicle connection mechanism and wherein the forward ends thereof are not spaced apart and are pivotally connected to the towbar arm connector to pivot about the interconnection vertical axis. 8. The tow bar as described in claim 7, wherein the forward ends of the two towbar arms can pivot separately or in unison about the interconnection vertical axis. 9. The tow bar as described in claim 4, further comprising: (a) a latching mechanism structured and configured to secure the interconnecting mechanism in a stowed configuration, the latching mechanism including: (1) a first latching device affixed to the ball member, and (2) a second latching device affixed to the body member; and (b) wherein, as the ball member is rotated within the body member to displace the shaft member to a generally upright orientation, the first latching device in conjunction with the second latching device releasably secures the interconnecting mechanism in the stowed configuration. 10. A tow bar for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the tow bar comprising: (a) a towing vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towing vehicle, the towing vehicle connection mechanism (1) including a hitching mechanism structured and configured to be received by a conventional receiver hitch of the towing vehicle, and (2) defining a fore-to-aft oriented towing vehicle axis that is operatively fixed relative to the towing vehicle and to the towing vehicle connection mechanism; (b) a towed vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towed vehicle, the towed vehicle connection mechanism (1) including at least one bracket attached to the towed vehicle, and (2) defining a horizontal transversely-oriented towed vehicle axis that is operatively fixed relative to the towed vehicle and to the towed vehicle connection mechanism; (c) an interconnecting mechanism connecting the towing vehicle connection mechanism to the towed vehicle connection mechanism, the interconnecting mechanism defining an interconnection central point, defining an interconnection vertical axis spaced rearwardly from the interconnection central point, and including: (1) a spherically-shaped ball member having a radius and a ball member center point, (2) a body member having a main cavity with a main cavity center point and a radius of curvature, which is slightly greater than the radius of the ball member, the body member further including: (A) a first body portion having a rearwardly-facing, partially hemispherically-shaped first cavity with a radius of curvature, which is slightly greater than the radius of the ball member, and a center of curvature, (B) a second body portion with a forwardly-facing, partially hemispherically-shaped second cavity with a radius of curvature, which is identical to the radius of curvature of the first cavity of the first body portion, and a center of curvature, and (C) a third body portion with a forwardly-facing, partially hemispherically-shaped third cavity with a radius of curvature, which is identical to the radius of curvature of the second cavity of the second body portion, and a center of curvature, and (D) fastening means, and (E) wherein assembly of the first body portion, the second body portion, the third body portion and the ball member with the fastening means forms the main cavity of the body member wherein the center of curvature of the first cavity of the first body portion, the center of curvature of the second cavity of the second body portion, the center of curvature of the third cavity of the third body portion, and the ball member center point all coincide with the main cavity center point, rotatively capturing the ball member therein; and wherein the second and third body portions abut the first body portion along a plane that passes through the main cavity center point, (3) a slot having a slot width, the slot being cooperatively formed between the second and third body portions by assembly of the body member, (4) a shaft member having a forward end, a rearward end and a diameter which is slightly smaller that the slot width, the forward end thereof being affixed to the ball member, and the rearward end thereof extending rearwardly through the slot, (5) a towbar arm connector affixed to the shaft member, and (6) a pair of towbar arms, each having a forward end and a rear end, wherein the rear ends thereof are operatively spaced apart and connected to the towed vehicle connection mechanism, and the forward ends thereof are not spaced apart and are movably connected to the towbar arm connector to pivot about the interconnection vertical axis; and (d) a latching mechanism structured and configured to secure the interconnecting mechanism in a stowed configuration, the latching mechanism including: (1) a first latching device affixed to the ball member, and (2) a second latching device affixed to the body member, and (3) wherein, as the ball member is rotated within the body member to displace the shaft member along the slot to thereby dispose the shaft member in a generally upright orientation, the first latching device in conjunction with the second latching device releasably secures the interconnecting mechanism in the stowed configuration; and (e) wherein the interconnecting mechanism is configured and structured to accommodate substantially all pitch and roll movements including any and all combinations thereof, between the towing vehicle axis and the towed vehicle axis, at and about the interconnection central point; and wherein the interconnecting mechanism is further configured and structured to accommodate substantially all yaw movements, between the towing vehicle axis and the towed vehicle axis, at and about the interconnection vertical axis.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (39)
George ; Jimmie ; Tyson ; Charles P., Adjustable trailer hitch.
Hahne,Merton; Penlerick,Mark; Crippen,Anthony, Tow bar having a single moving part for operatively accommodating pitch and roll movements between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle.
Schoonover,Donald R., Tow bar having a single, centrally-located ball-and-socket joint for accommodating pitch, yaw and roll movements between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle.
Heider Merle J. (203-12th St. SW. Humboldt IA 50548) Heider Dale J. (1108 8th Ave. SW. Humboldt IA 50548) Heider Leon J. (1107 Third Ave. SW. Humboldt IA 50548) Heider Craig J. (812 S. Taft St. Humbo, Trailer coupler assembly.
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