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A tow bar has a first bar element, a second bar element, and a latch mechanism. The first bar element has a proximal end, a first elongate body, and a latch stop opposite the proximal end. The second bar element has a distal end, a second elongate body, and a latch end opposite the distal end. The f

A tow bar has a first bar element, a second bar element, and a latch mechanism. The first bar element has a proximal end, a first elongate body, and a latch stop opposite the proximal end. The second bar element has a distal end, a second elongate body, and a latch end opposite the distal end. The first bar element is telescopically engaged within the second bar element to slide between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration. The latch mechanism is adapted to abut the latch stop to lock the first and second bar elements in the extended configuration.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A tow bar comprising: a first bar element having a proximal end, a first elongate body, and a latch stop opposite the proximal end, wherein the latch stop is an annular latch stop washer that directly abuts the first bar element and is attached to the first bar element with a bolt positioned thro

1. A tow bar comprising: a first bar element having a proximal end, a first elongate body, and a latch stop opposite the proximal end, wherein the latch stop is an annular latch stop washer that directly abuts the first bar element and is attached to the first bar element with a bolt positioned through the latch stop washer and threadedly engaged with the first bar element;a second bar element having a distal end, a second elongate body, and a latch end opposite the distal end, the first bar element being telescopically engaged within the second bar element to slide between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration; anda latch mechanism adapted to abut the latch stop to lock the first and second bar elements in the extended configuration, the latch mechanism comprising: a locking sear having a sear locking surface and a sear back surface, the locking sear being pivotally mounted on a sear pivot to pivot between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein when the locking sear is in the locking position the sear locking surface abuts the latch stop to lock the first and second bar elements in the extended configuration, and wherein when the locking sear is in the unlocking position, the sear locking surface disengages the latch stop, allowing the first and second bar elements to move to the collapsed configuration;a latch element for locking against the sear back surface to maintain the locking sear in the locking position, the latch element comprising a latch handle and a latch locking surface, the latch element pivotally mounted on a latch housing with a latch pivot to move between a braced position and a release position, wherein when the latch element is in the braced position the latch locking surface abuts the sear back surface to maintain the locking sear in the locking position, and wherein when the latch element is in the release position the latch locking surface does not abut the sear back surface, thereby enabling the locking sear to move away from the locking position towards the unlocking position; anda spring positioned between and contacting both the locking sear and the latch element to bias the locking sear towards the locking position,wherein the latch mechanism further includes a sear lever arm extending outwardly from the locking sear, opposite from the sear pivot, adjacent the latch handle, to provide a lever with which to manually control the operation of the locking sear. 2. A tow bar comprising: a first bar element having a proximal end, a first elongate body, and a latch stop opposite the proximal end;a second bar element having a distal end, a second elongate body, and a latch end opposite the distal end, the first bar element being telescopically engaged within the second bar element to slide between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration;a locking sear having a sear locking surface and a sear back surface, the locking sear being movably mounted to move between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein when the locking sear is in the locking position the sear locking surface abuts the latch stop to lock the first and second bar elements in the extended configuration, and wherein when the locking sear is in the unlocking position, the sear locking surface disengages the latch stop, allowing the first and second bar elements to move to the collapsed configuration;a latch element for locking against the sear back surface to maintain the locking sear in the locking position; anda sear lever arm extending from the locking sear adjacent the a latch handle such that the sear lever arm may be pushed down by the latch handle when the latch handle is pressed down, such that the locking sear is moved to the unlocking position against the a bias of the a biasing element. 3. The tow bar of claim 2, wherein the latch stop is a latch stop washer attached to the first bar element with a fastener. 4. The tow bar of claim 3, wherein the fastener is a bolt positioned through the latch stop washer and threadedly engaged with the first bar element. 5. The tow bar of claim 2, wherein the biasing element is a spring positioned between and contacting both the locking sear and the latch element to bias the locking sear towards the locking position. 6. The tow bar of claim 2, wherein the latch stop includes an annular surface construction that enables a twisting rotation between the first and second bar elements when the sear locking surface bears against the annular surface of the latch stop locking sear. 7. A latch mechanism for a tow bar, the tow bar having first and second bar elements and a latch stop, the latch mechanism comprising:a locking sear having a sear locking surface and a sear back surface, the locking sear being pivotally mounted to move between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein when the locking sear is in the locking position the sear locking surface abuts the latch stop to lock the first and second bar elements in an extended configuration, and wherein when the locking sear is in the unlocking position, the sear locking surface disengages the latch stop, allowing the first and second bar elements to move to a collapsed configuration; anda latch element having a latch handle and a latch locking surface, wherein the latch element is pivotally mounted on a latch pivot to move between a braced position and a release position, such that when the latch element is in the braced position, the latch locking surface abuts the sear back surface to maintain the locking sear in the locking position, and when the latch element is in the release position, the latch locking surface does not abut the sear back surface, thereby enabling the locking sear to move away from the locking position towards the unlocking position,wherein the latch mechanism further includes a sear lever arm extending outwardly from the locking sear, opposite from the sear pivot, adjacent the latch handle, to provide a lever with which to manually control the operation of the locking sear.