Patent ID: 7959180
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: B60D

Abstract:
1. A tow bar for connecting a towing vehicle to a vehicle to be towed, the tow bar comprising: (a) a towing hitch member secured to the towing vehicle, the towing hitch member including a pintle hitch; (b) a towed vehicle hitch member secured to the vehicle to be towed; (c) a head member; (d) a lunette ring connected to the head member and structured to releasably connect the head member to the pintle hitch; (e) a pair of tow bar legs, each tow bar leg having: (f) fore leg connector mechanisms connecting proximal ends of the tow bar legs to the head member wherein the proximal end of at least one of the tow bar legs is pivotally connected to the head member; (g) aft leg connector mechanisms secured to the distal ends of the tow bar legs, the aft leg connector mechanisms being structured to releasably connect the tow bar legs to the towed vehicle hitch member; and (h) a latching mechanism including a locking portion secured to the outer member of each of the tow bar legs near the distal end of the outer member, the locking portion structured to automatically and releasably lock the respective tow bar leg in a deployed configuration, each locking portion including: