A retractable tow hook assembly is connected with a rectangular storage container having a vertical ramp end wall hingedly connected at its bottom edge with the container for displacement about a horizontal pivot axis from an initial vertical closed position downwardly toward an inclined loading pos
A retractable tow hook assembly is connected with a rectangular storage container having a vertical ramp end wall hingedly connected at its bottom edge with the container for displacement about a horizontal pivot axis from an initial vertical closed position downwardly toward an inclined loading position in engagement with the ground. The tow hook assembly includes a support plate that is externally connected with the container adjacent the hinge connection, and a hook member that is displaceable relative to the support plate between an upwardly extending towing position for engagement by the loop of a towing cable when the ramp wall is in the vertical position, and a non-obstructing downwardly-displaced retracted position when the ramp wall is in the downwardly inclined loading position. A stop arrangement prevents displacement of the tow hook member beyond the extended position.
대표청구항▼
1. A retractable tow hook assembly for use in transporting a storage container, comprising: (a) a rectangular storage container (102; 202), including: (1) a container body having a horizontal bottom wall, a pair of vertical parallel spaced side walls, and a vertical first end wall at one end of the
1. A retractable tow hook assembly for use in transporting a storage container, comprising: (a) a rectangular storage container (102; 202), including: (1) a container body having a horizontal bottom wall, a pair of vertical parallel spaced side walls, and a vertical first end wall at one end of the container, said bottom, side and first end walls cooperating to define an open-ended chamber;(2) a normally vertical generally rectangular ramp wall (120; 220) arranged at the other end of the container to close the other end of said chamber, said ramp wall having a horizontal lower first edge portion and a horizontal upper second edge portion; and(3) hinge means (118; 218) connecting said ramp wall lower first edge portion with said container, thereby to permit hinged displacement of said ramp wall about a horizontal hinge axis from an initial vertical closed position toward a downwardly inclined loading position in which said upper second edge portion is in engagement with the ground;(b) a pivotal tow hook assembly, comprising: (1) a horizontal generally-rectangular rigid metal support plate (274; 302) having upper and lower surfaces, a pair of parallel spaced side edges, and a pair of parallel spaced end edges, said support plate containing a slot (276; 306) that extends from one of said end edges in parallel spaced relation between said side edges;(2) a planar vertical tow hook member (272) having a central body portion (272c), and first (272a) and second (272b) end portions; and(3) pivot means (278) connecting said tow hook member first end portion with said support plate lower surface adjacent said slot, thereby to provide pivotal movement of said hook member about a horizontal pivot axis;(4) said hook member being pivotally displaceable between a retracted position extending downwardly from said support plate, and an extended towing position in which said body portion extends upwardly through said slot with said hook member second end portion extending upwardly above said support plate upper surface;(5) said hook member second end portion, when said hook member is in said extended towing position, having a generally vertical edge portion that is directed away from said slot, said vertical edge portion containing a towing recess (284);(c) said support plate being connected with said storage container adjacent said hinge means on the side thereof remote from said container body such that said hook member is operable between said extended towing and said retracted positions when said ramp wall is hingedly displaced between said vertical and said loading positions, respectively. 2. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said hook member is biased by gravity toward said retracted position. 3. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 1, and further including: (d) spring means (300) biasing said tow hook member toward said extended towing position. 4. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said spring means comprise a pair of tension springs (302a, 302b) having first ends connected with said tow hook member first end portion, and second ends connected with said support plate on opposite sides of said tow hook member. 5. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said ramp wall includes a lower first planar section (220a) containing said lower horizontal edge portion, and an upper second planar section (220b) containing said upper second horizontal edge portion, said planar sections being arranged at an obtuse angle with the upper section extending outwardly away from said container chamber, whereby when said ramp wall is in said downwardly inclined position, the angle of inclination of said ramp wall second section relative to ground is greater than the angle of inclination of said ramp wall first section relative to ground. 6. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 5, and further including: (d) support foot means (120c; 220c) mounted on said ramp wall for supporting engagement with the ground when said ramp wall is in said inclined loading position. 7. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said support foot means comprises, when said ramp wall is in said inclined loading position, transverse bar support foot means (120c) that extends downwardly adjacent the junction between said ramp wall sections for engagement with the ground. 8. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said support foot means comprises, when said ramp wall is in said inclined loading position, support flanges (220c) that extend normal to said hinge axis to bridge and reinforce the junction between said ramp wall sections. 9. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said storage container further includes a pair of horizontal parallel spaced longitudinally-extending base beams (260) centrally arranged below said bottom wall, said base beams having end portions (260a) that extend outwardly beyond said ramp wall, said hook member assembly support plate being mounted on said base beam extending end portions. 10. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 9, and further including piston and cylinder hydraulic motor means (222) connected between said base beam extending end portions and the external surface of said ramp wall for displacing said ramp wall between said vertical closed position and said downwardly inclined loading position. 11. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein said support plate contains between said base beam end portions a downwardly extending recess (302a) having a horizontal bottom wall that contains said slot. 12. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 11, and further including at least two protective pegs (308) secured at their lower ends to, and extending upwardly from, said recess bottom wall on opposition sides of said slot, the upper ends of said pegs terminating a the level of the upper surface of said support plate. 13. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivot means includes: (1) a pair of vertical parallel spaced metal stanchion plates (280) having upper ends welded to said support plate lower surface, said stanchion plates extending downwardly from said support plate lower surface parallel with and on opposite sides of said slot; and(2) a horizontal pivot shaft (278) having opposite ends supported by said stanchion plates, respectively, said hook member first end extending between and parallel with said stanchion plates, said pivot shaft extending through a pivot opening contained in said hook member first end portion. 14. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 13, and further including: (g) stop means (288) limiting the pivotal movement of said hook member in said given direction beyond said second position. 15. A retractable tow hook assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein said stop means comprises a pair of stop bars (288a, 288b) extending from the sides of said hook member for contiguous engagement with said support plate lower surface when said hook member is in said second position. 16. A retractable hook assembly, comprising: (a) a horizontal generally-rectangular rigid metal support plate (274; 302) having upper and lower surfaces, a pair of parallel spaced side edges, and a pair of parallel spaced end edges, said support plate containing a slot (276; 306) that extends in parallel spaced relation between, said side edges;(b) a planar vertical hook member (272) having a central body portion (272c), and first (272a) and second (272b) end portions;(c) connecting means connecting said hook member with said support plate for pivotal displacement between an extended towing position in which said hook member second end portion extends upwardly through said slot, and a retracted position in which said second end portion is displaced downwardly below said support plate upper surface;(d) said hook member second end portion, when said hook member is in said extended position, having a generally vertical edge portion that is directed away from said slot, said vertical edge portion containing a towing recess (284) for receiving the loop of a tow cable;(e) spring means (300) biasing said hook member toward said extended towing position; and(f) a roll-off container (202) having a horizontal bottom wall, and vertical side and end walls cooperating with said bottom wall to define a chamber, one of said end walls comprising a ramp wall (220) that is hingedly connected with said bottom wall for pivotal downward displacement about a horizontal hinge axis from a vertical position toward a downwardly inclined loading position, said support plate being externally secured to said container adjacent said hinge axis such that when said ramp wall is hingedly displaced from said vertical position toward said downwardly inclined loading position, said hook member is pivoted downwardly by said ramp wall from said extended towing position toward said retracted position.
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Briggs Stanley E. (200 Circle Dr. Beloit KS 67420), Automatically collapsible trailer hitch for dump trucks.
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