Patent ID: 6502847
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: B60D

Abstract:
A tow bar apparatus for use by a towing vehicle having a tow bar receiver to tow a towed vehicle, the tow bar apparatus comprising:a hitch member having a hitching portion and a hitch socket member, the hitching portion being shaped to cooperate with the tow bar receiver to attach the hitch member to the towing vehicle, the hitch socket member having a peripheral lip that defines a central aperture that communicates with an internal chamber of the hitch socket member; a pair of tow bars, each of the pair of tow bars having a first end and a second end, each of the pair of tow bars having a plate ball member at the first end and a hemisphere at the second end, the hemispheres of the pair of tow bars interlocking to form the hitch ball member that is pivotally and rotatably engaged within the internal chamber of the hitch socket member such that each of the pair of tow bars extends out of the internal chamber through the central aperture but the hitch ball member is locked within the internal chamber; a pair of socket members adapted to be attached to the towed vehicle, each of the pair of socket members including a base portion having a sidewall shaped to define an internal chamber, the sidewall defining a top aperture that is shaped to removably receive the plate ball member of one of the pair of tow bars, the sidewall further defining a bar slot that extends from the top aperture into the sidewall, the bar slot being shaped to receive the one of the pair of tow bars when the plate ball member is inserted into the internal chamber, but the bar slot being too small to allow the plate ball member to escape through the bar slot; and means for blocking the top aperture to prevent the plate ball member from escaping from the internal chamber through the top aperture.