WO1994029132A1

WO1994029132A1 - Towing device

Info

Publication number: WO1994029132A1
Application number: PCT/GB1994/001268
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Winstanley
Original assignee: James Winstanley
Priority date: 1993-06-12
Filing date: 1994-06-13
Publication date: 1994-12-22
Also published as: AU6932994A

Abstract

A towing hitch (10) and an attachment (50) for a towing hitch which comprise a body (13, 51) to prevent movement of a towing ball (14) out of the hitch while the trailer is being towed. The body (13, 51) may be moved clear of the towing hitch socket before the towing ball is removed from the socket.

Description

TOWING DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a towing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

On some occasions a towing hitch of a trailer will become detached from a towbar on the towing vehicle while the vehicle and trailer are in transit. This is obviously very dangerous. The present invention has been made from a consideration of this problem.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a towing hitch comprising an arm having two opposing walls and a connecting member extending between the two opposing walls, the base of the arm having an aperture operable to receive the ball of a towbar, wherein a further movable body extends between the two opposing walls, the said body being movable from a first position in which at least a part of the body restricts downward movement of the ball relative to the towing hitch so as to capture the ball in the towing hitch, to a second position in which the ball may be freely withdrawn from the towing hitch and relative downward movement of the ball may be achieved so as to release the ball from the towing hitch.

Movement of the movable body may be achieved by rotation of an operating body having a non-uniform configuration. The body may have a non-uniform radius of curvature such as an elliptical shaped body. This operating body or a further member connected thereto, such as a handle, may be locked in position. If the towing ball is not located in the hitch the movable body may be locked in the first position so as to prevent insertion of a ball in the hitch and theft of the trailer.

The towing hitch may be used with either conventional towbars in which the towing hitch socket rotates about the ball of the towbar and/or with towbars such as those described in WO 91/08119 in which relative lateral movement between the towbar and hitch is prevented and the ball of the towbar rotates. When used with conventional towbars a small gap should be provided between the movable wall and the ball of the towbar so as to allow rotation of the ball. Means may be provided on the movable body for damping the lateral movement of the towing hitch relative to the ball so as to inhibit snaking. This may be achieved by attaching a friction pad to the side of the movable body which in use is adjacent the ball. The pad may comprise the material used to make brake linings for cars. Adjustment of the distance of the pad from the ball may preferably be achieved in order to compensate for wear of the pad. If however, a rigid connection is reguired between the towing hitch and the ball there is no need to provide a gap between the movable body and wall. In fact the movable body can be used to effect the rigid connection by providing cooperating surfaces on the towbar and movable body. For example, if flat surfaces are provided on say the stem for the towbar and say at the base of the movable body, when the movable body moves into the first position the two flat surfaces engage and prevent relative rotation of the towing hitch and towbar. Alternatively the relative rotation can be prevented by providing a flat surface on a body attached to the ball for cooperation with a part of the towing hitch such as the front of the hitch or a suitable attachment connected to the towing hitch.

Towing hitches for use with either conventional towbars or trailers in which relative movement of the towbar and hitch is prevented and the towing ball rotates ideally have a movable body which may be set in three positions, i.e. the first and second positions as previously defined and a third intermediate position in which the movable body does not engage the ball, but allows rotation of the ball within the towing hitch.

A control member may need to be activated to achieve rotation of the movable body, for example a button may need to be depressed on the handle connected to the body.

The movable body may have a spherical recess so as to be profiled to receive a part of the ball therein.

The movable body may be provided at the base of the towing hitch. In such circumstances the body preferably comprises a plate having an aperture therein so that movement of the plate will not cause the plate to strike the stem for the ball. The plate may be moved into position by a hinge.

This arrangement is suitable for an attachment for a standard towing hitch.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a towing hitch arrangement for location on a towing hitch, said attachment comprising means for securing the attachment to the towing hitch, the arm of the towing hitch and/or the attachment having two opposing walls and a connecting member extending between the two opposing walls, the base of the arm and optionally the attachment having an aperture operative to receive the ball of a towbar, wherein the attachment comprises a movable body which is movable from a first position in which at least a part of the body restricts downward movement of the ball relative to the towing hitch so as to capture the ball in the towing hitch, to a second position in which the ball may be freely withdrawn from the towing hitch and relative downward movement of the ball may be achieved so as to release the ball from the towing hitch. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the attachment comprises a plate which is slidably received on lips extending from the towing hitch. The plate may have flanges for engaging lips on the towing hitch. One end of the plate comprises a groove which is operative to receive the towbar stem which supports the ball of the towbar. The plate may be removable from the towing hitch or captured on the hitch whilst being movable between the first and second positions.

The attachment may comprise a body having a channel extending therethrough which is of sufficient dimensions to receive the towing arm of the towing hitch therethrough. Such a body would have a groove on one end of the base thereof which is operative to receive the step supporting the ball of the towbar.

A further groove would preferably be provided on the other end of the top of the body. Such a groove would be operative to receive the base of any handle which extends upwardly from conventional towing arms of towing hitches.

Such an attachment would be slidably movable between the first and second positions as hereinbefore defined. In fact, as with the plate hereinbefore described, in the second position the body may be removed from the towing arm.

Means may also be provided for temporarily resisting movement of the attachment when in the first position. This may comprise a body, such as a bolt, which is screw threaded to the attachment and which may be brought into engagement with the towing hitch.

A lock may be provided for securing the attachment in the first position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood specific embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig.l shows one towing hitch in accordance with the present invention;

Fig.2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the towing hitch of Fig.l;

Fig.3 is a second towing hitch in accordance with the invention;

Fig. is a towing attachment in accordance with the invention;

Fig.5 shows the towing attachment of Fig.4 in which the movable body thereof is in the second position; Fig.6 is a plan view of a further towing attachment in accordance with the invention;

Fig.7 shows the towing attachment of Fig.6 when in use;

Fig.8 shows a towing member which may be used to tow a towing hitch in accordance with the invention;

Fig.9 is a perspective view of a further towing attachment in accordance with the invention; and

Fig.10 is an end elevation of a still further towing attachment in accordance with the invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a towing hitch 10 comprises an arm 11 made from an "n" shaped length of metal with a connecting wall 12 provided at one end thereof. A substantially "c" shaped wall 13 is provided in the arm. This wall 13 is movable from a first position in which the wall can capture the ball 14 of a towbar in the end of the towing arm 11 and a second position in which the movable "c" shaped wall 13 is retracted from the end wall 12 of the arm and the towing ball 14 can consequently be released from the arm 11. The movable wall 13 is activated by a handle 15 which is connected to a elliptical member 16. Rotation of the handle 15 causes the elliptical member 16 to rotate. As the diameter of the elliptical member 16 is non uniform if the large diameter of the member extends along the axis of the towing arm the "c" shaped wall 13 will be urged towards the end 12 of the hitch thus capturing the ball 14 in the first position. If the large diameter of the elliptical member extends perpendicular to the axis of the towing member the movable wall 13 will not be urged towards the ball 14 and the movable wall 143 is resiliently urged into the second position whereby the ball 14 may be released from the towing hitch. In the embodiment illustrated the handle 15 may also be set in an intermediate third position in which the movable wall 13 captures the ball 14 in the hitch, but is slightly spaced apart from the ball so as to allow free rotation of the ball 14 in the hitch.

In order to turn the handle 15 a button 17 needs to be depressed. The button 17 may be colour coded such that one colour shows when the handle is located at one of the three set positions and another shows when it is not.

A lock 18 is provided on the handle 15 of the towing arm for locking the movable wall 13 in the first position.

When the towing arm is used with towbars in which relative movement between the towbar and towing hitch should be prevented then a flat face 19 is provided at the base of the movable wall 13 for cooperation with a flat face 20 provided on the stem 21 of the ball of the towbar. These two faces 19,20 engage when the movable wall 13 is in the first position so as to prevent rotation of the hitch relative to the towbar alternatively, as shown in Fig. 2, the cooperating flat surfaces 22,23 may be provided on the towing arm itself and a plate connected to the ball of the towbar.

Fig. 3 shows a towing hitch similar to that previously described in which a securing pin 24 additionally extends through depending flanges 25 provided on the longitudinal walls of the towing arm and through the movable wall 13. The securing pin is secured by a chain 26 to the towing hitch or towbar. A lock is generally not needed for this pin.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a towing hitch attachment 30 for a standard towing hitch. The attachment comprises a "u" shaped base part 31, over one end of which a cover 32 is provided. A "u" shaped plate 33 is connected via a hinge 34 to the said end of the attachment. In use the attachment 30 is secured to the standard towing hitch via retaining flanges 35 provided on the base part 31. The plate 33 is then moved about the hinge 34 so that the arms of the plate are received on either side of the stem 38 for the ball 26. A securing pin 39 is then passed through apertures 40 in opposing flanges 41 which depend from the "u" shaped base part 31. The pin 39 maintains the plate 33 in position. Thus the plate 33 may be maintained in a substantially horizontal position so as to prevent relative downward movement of the ball to the hitch. If the pin may be locked in position and the attachment can be locked on the towing hitch then the plate can be locked in this position so as to prevent theft of the trailer.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 an attachment 50 of a towing hitch comprises a base plate 51 and inwardly directed flanges 52,53 projecting from the longitudinal edges thereof. A groove 54 is provided in one end of the base plate. An aperture 55 is provided in one of the flanges of the base plate 51 to one side of the groove 54. In use this receives the arm 56 of a padlock 57. A threaded aperture 58 is provided in one of the flanges 53. A correspondingly threaded bolt 59 is received in the aperture 58. The bolt 59 has a flat head which may be used to turn the bolt 59 into the desired position. In use the plate 51 is used to prevent the ball of a towbar becoming detached from the towing hitch when the towing hitch is in use. The plate is slidably received on the lip provided on the exterior of the base of conventional towing hitches. The attachment is slid back onto the towing arm until the plate 51 is clear of the hole for receiving the towing ball. The ball of the towbar is then received in the socket of the hitch in conventional fashion. The plate is then moved forward again until the arm supporting the towing ball is received in the groove 54. The plate may then be secured in position by rotation of the bolt 59 such that the free end of the belt engages the towing hitch. The arm 56 of the padlock 57 is then received in the aperture 55 to the side of the groove 54. Movement of the plate 51 towards the towing vehicle is prevented by engagement of the base of the groove 54 into the stem of the towbar. Movement of the plate in the other direction is restricted by engagement of the padlock with the end of the towing hitch.

Fig. 8 shows an "anti-snaking" towbar 60 of the type described in WO 91/08119. The towing hitch previously described may be secured to the towbar so as to prevent relative rotation of the hitch and ball. The trailer works by allowing the stem and ball to rotate. The towbar 60 comprises a collar 61 which is secured to the towing vehicle by flanges 62. A stem 63 extends through the collar 61, a towball 64 being located above the collar. A second collar 65 is secured to the stem 63. The two collars 61,65 are urged together by means of a spring 66. A ring of ball bearings 67 is located on one of the collars 61. These ball bearings engage in apertures 68 provided in the other collar 65. As the vehicle and trailer turn corners the stem 63 rotates and the ball bearings 67 disengage the apertures 68. When cornering is complete the spring 66 urges the ball bearings 67 back into the original apertures. Part of the stem below the ball may have at least one flat face which engages a cooperating surface provided on the towing hitch or towing hitch attachment of the invention. The cooperating surfaces prevent relative rotation of the hitch and towball.

Fig. 9 shows an attachment similar to that shown in Fig. 6 except in that the attachment is in the form of an open ended box. A groove 71 is provided in the top of the box. A second groove 72 is provided at the opposite end of the box to the first groove 71. This attachment is operative to engage any type of towing hitch. The second groove 72 prevents the towing hitch handbrake rom restricting rearwards movement of the attachment when the towing hitch is first located on the towing arm. Once the towball is located in the towing hitch the box is moved forwardly as before and a padlock engages the aperture 73 to one side of the first groove 72.

Fig. 10 shows a towing attachment 80 which is received from the side of the towing hitch rather than the front. The attachment 80 has an open ended box structure. The top of one of the side walls 82 of the box is mounted on the remainder of the box by a hinge 83. The other end of the side wall can be secured to the base of the box via a pin 84 which may be received both through the keyhole shaped loops 85 provided at the free end of the movable side wall 82 and the free end of the base plate. A groove 86 is provided in the side of the base plate which is adjacent the movable side wall.

In use the movable side wall 82 is opened and the groove receives the stem of the towbar. The side wall 82 is then brought into abutment with the base and the pin 84 is inserted in the loops. When not in use the device can be stored on the end of the towing arm of the towing hitch or elsewhere.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments have been made by way of illustration only. Many modifications and variations are possible.

A tubular sleeve may be received over the towing arm of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. The sleeve would have a slot in it through which the stem of the handle is received. The sleeve is movable from a first position in which the sleeve is located at the left hand side of the towing arm as illustrated to a second position in which the sleeve covers the socket for the ball of the towbar. The sleeve may be locked in the second position. One example means for securing the tube in the second position would be to provide a second shorter sleeve of the right hand end of the arm as illustrated. Cooperating threads would be provided on the two sleeves as well as extend from one or both of the sleeves and would engage the other sleeve when the sleeves are in the second position.

Claims

1. A towing hitch attachment for location on a towing hitch in order to prevent release of a towing ball therefrom, said attachment comprising means for securing the attachment to the towing hitch, the arm of the towing hitch and/or the attachment having two opposing walls and a connecting member extending between the two opposing walls, the base of the arm and optionally the attachment having an aperture operative to receive the ball of a towbar, wherein the attachment comprises a movable body which is movable from a first position in which at least a part of the body restricts downward movement of the ball relative to the towing hitch so as to capture the ball in the towing hitch, to a second position in which the ball may be freely withdrawn from the towing hitch and relative downward movement of the ball may be achieved so as to release the ball from the towing hitch.

2. A towing attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment is slidingly received on the towing hitch.

3. A towing hitch attachment as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the attachment is removed from the towing hitch when in the second position.

4. A towing hitch attachment as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a groove for receiving a stem supporting a towing ball.

5. A towing hitch attachment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attachment comprises a body having a channel extending therethrough which is of sufficient dimensions to receive a towing arm for the towing hitch therethrough.

6. A towing hitch attachment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the attachment comprises a groove for receiving a handle located on the towing hitch.

7. A towing hitch attachment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attachment comprises means for temporarily resisting movement of the attachment when in the first position.

8. A towing hitch attachment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said means for resisting movement comprises a screw threaded body.

9. A towing hitch attachment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attachment comprises a lock.

10. A towing hitch comprising an arm having two opposing walls and a connecting member extending between the two opposing walls, the base of the arm having an aperture operable to receive the ball of a towbar, wherein a further movable body extends between the two opposing walls, the said body being movable from a first position in which at least a part of the body restricts downward movement of the ball relative to the towing hitch so as to capture the ball in the towing hitch, to a second position in which the ball may be freely withdrawn from the towing hitch and relative downward movement of the ball may be achieved so as to release the ball from the towing hitch.

11. A towing hitch as claimed in claim 10, wherein the movable body is moved by rotation of an operating body having a non-uniform configuration.

12. A towing hitch as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the movable body may be locked in the first position.

13. A towing hitch as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, wherein means are provided to prevent rotation of the towing ball in the hitch.

14. A towing hitch as claimed in any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the towball may rotate freely in the hitch.