Vehicle tow bar

A vehicle tow bar includes a transverse cross member which mounts one elongated leg assembly in fixed position at one end of the cross member and a second elongated leg assembly for movement along the cross member between a collapsed condition closely adjacent the first leg assembly and an erected, operative position at the opposite end of the cross member. Stub shafts reinforce the ends of the cross member at the points of maximum stress. The ends of the leg assemblies opposite the cross member are connected to an apex frame which detachably mounts a socket coupler component of a ball and socket trailer hitch. Each leg assembly includes telescopic sections for adjusting the length of the leg assembly, and a locking pin mechanism releasably interconnects the telescopic sections. A limit pin removably connects the telescopic sections of the one elongated leg assembly and functions when interconnecting the telescopic sections to prevent the sections from separating beyond the position of the locking pin, and functions when removed from the leg assembly to allow separation of the telescopic sections beyond the position of the locking pin, to allow collapsing of the leg assemblies to storage position. A stop pin on each assembly prevents the telescopic sections from disconnecting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to vehicle tow bars, and more particularly to 
collapsible tow bars arranged for permanent or long term attachment to a 
vehicle which is to be towed periodically, as is common with RV 
enthusiasts. 
Specifically, the present invention is an improved construction over my 
earlier vehicle tow bar disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,883. 
Tow bars are known in the art and, until my earlier invention, they 
comprised ridged "A" frame tongue members connected pivotally to the front 
frame of a vehicle and movable between an operative, horizontally 
extending position for connection to a towing vehicle and an inoperative, 
storage position in which the "A" frame tongue member is pivoted and 
locked into a vertically extending position in which the frame and coupler 
projects upwardly above the hood of a car. 
My earlier invention was a vehicle tow bar that comprised a longitudinally 
extending tubular cross bar mounted laterally across the front of a 
vehicle to be towed, the cross bar mounting a longitudinally extensible, 
telescoping reach having a trailer hitch coupler on the front end thereof, 
the reach mounted on the cross bar for lockable sliding movement thereon, 
pivotal rotation thereon and lateral pivotal movement relative thereto. A 
pair of chains connected to the forward position of the reach extend to 
opposite longitudinal ends of the cross bar and are arranged to become 
taut when the reach is telescoped to its maximum length. During hook up, 
the reach is permitted to pivot side-to-side, up and down and telescope 
forward and back so that hook up is greatly facilitated and does not 
require careful positioning of the cars relative to each other in order to 
connect the hitch components. When connected together, the reach is 
tensioned and locked into fully elongated condition, thereby tensioning 
the chains, and retaining the reach in direct, forwardly extending 
position prevented from lateral pivoting. 
Functionally, my earlier tow bar has demonstrated ongoing superior 
performance. However, my earlier construction requires the provision of a 
heavy and particularly strengthened cross bar to support the forces 
exerted on it by the reach which extends forwardly from the unsupported 
center of the cross bar during towing. The particularly heavy cross bar 
and the chains result in considerable weight being added to the front end 
of a car, which is not necessarily desirable to the user. Also, since the 
chains are exposed to the elements during towing, and must be manually 
stored and retried from the chain tray before and after uses, there is the 
tendency for the accumulated dirt on the chains to transfer to the user's 
hands and clothing which poses an incidental inconvenience. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In its basic concept, this invention provides a pivotal, collapsible 
vehicle tow bar which comprises an "A" frame tongue member pivotally 
mounting a trailer hitch coupler at its point, the opposite ends of the 
legs being mounted for pivotal movement about a tubular cross member 
mounted on reinforcing end stub shafts to extend laterally across the 
front end of a vehicle to be towed, one of the "A" frame legs mounted for 
sliding movement along the length of the cross bar and the other leg fixed 
adjacent one longitudinal end of the cross bar, both legs comprising 
longitudinally extensible, two section telescoping members that are 
releasably lockable when the legs are extended to a desired maximum length 
in which the trailer hitch coupler is positioned centrally between and 
forwardly of the pivotal mount of the legs on the cross bar. 
It is by virtue of the forgoing basic concept that the principal objective 
of this invention is achieved; namely, the provision of an "A" frame type 
vehicle tow bar which is collapsible into a very compact storage condition 
and is pivotally moveable throughout a wide range of positions which 
permit connection of the coupler to trailer hitch on a tow vehicle that 
accordingly does not need to be accurately aligned with the vehicle to be 
towed in order to accomplish connection, and distributes the forces of 
towing to the cross bar adjacent its end portions, thereby eliminating the 
requirement, and the resulting expense and weight, of a reinforced cross 
bar and the towing chains of my earlier tow bar. 
Another object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a 
vehicle tow bar of the class described which utilizes a releasable 
telescoping leg locking mechanism that eliminates the occurrence of 
binding when engaged to secure the leg sections in extended condition and 
provides a quick and positive locking engagement when the leg sections are 
telescoped into their locking position. 
Another object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a 
vehicle tow bar of the class described which is significantly lighter in 
overall weight and is more convenient in operation than collapsible 
vehicle tow bars heretofore available in the art have been. 
Another object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a 
vehicle tow bar of the class described which is collapsible into a very 
compact storage condition, making it particularly convenient for use on 
small cars. 
A further object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a 
vehicle tow bar of the class described which may utilize, if desired, a 
detachable hitch coupler that can be removed when the tow bar is in 
storage condition so that the coupler does not protrude laterally beyond 
the side of small cars. 
A still further object and advantage of this invention is the provision of 
a vehicle tow bar of the class described which is of simplified 
construction for economical manufacture and reliability of use. 
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will 
appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with 
the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
For purposes merely of illustration, the tow bar of this invention is shown 
in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 to be mounted on a frame member of a vehicle 10 to be 
towed, as by means of a pair of laterally spaced angle brackets. One leg 
12 of each bracket is secured to the vehicle frame member, permanently as 
by welding or removably as by the bolts 14 illustrated. 
The other leg 16 of each angle bracket extends longitudinally forward of 
the vehicle 10 and secures between them a transverse cross member 18. As 
illustrated, the cross member is a hollow tube and is secured at its ends 
to reinforcing stub shafts 20 welded or otherwise attached non-rotatably 
to the angle brackets. 
Mounted rotatably on one end of the cross member 18 is a sleeve 22. The 
sleeve is retained against axial movement along the cross member by 
confinement between the angle bracket leg 16 and a collar 24 secured to 
the cross member. A bracket 26 is secured to and extends radially outward 
from the sleeve. 
Secured pivotally to the outer end of the bracket 26 by pivot pin 28 is an 
angularly offset end portion 30 of an elongated bar 32. The opposite end 
of the bar is received slidably within one end of an elongated hollow box 
beam 34. The opposite end of the box beam 34 is secured pivotally by pivot 
pin 36 to an apex frame 38. 
The bar 32 and box beam 34 are slidable one relative to the other, in 
telescopic manner, and thus form an elongated leg of adjustable length. 
Adjustment of length is provided by a locking pin 44 arranged for 
retractable reception in aligned openings in the bar and box beam. 
In the embodiment illustrate (FIGS. 4 and 5), the bar 32 is provided with 
an elongated slot 40 intermediate its ends. The inner, solid end portion 
of the bar is provided with a transverse locking opening 42 for the 
retractable reception of locking pin 44. The locking pin also extends 
through aligned openings in opposite sides of the box beam 34. 
Mean is provided for preventing disconnection of the locking pin 44 from 
the box beam. As illustrated, the pin is provided with a longitudinally 
extending diametric slot 46 which traverses an axial bore 48. The slot and 
bore are terminated inwardly of one end of the pin by a cap 50 which 
serves as an abutment for one end of an elongated coil spring 52 contained 
within the bore 48. The opposite end of the coil spring abuts a wire bail 
54 which extends freely through the diametric slot 46. The bail is secured 
at its opposite ends to a plate 56 secured to the box beam. An opening 58 
through the plate serves to guide the locking pin 44 in its retractable 
movement. 
The end of the locking pin opposite the cap 50 is provided with an enlarged 
head 60 for grasping by the fingers in order to retract the locking pin 
from the bar 32. Upon release of the head 60, the coil spring 52 urges the 
locking pin inwardly through the opening in the bar. The inward movement 
of the locking pin is terminated when the bail 54 abuts a plug 62 confined 
within the bore 48 against an annular shoulder 64 defined by a counterbore 
section of the bore 48. 
A limit pin 66 extends removably through aligned openings in the box beam 
34 and through the slot 40 in the bar 32. This limit pin serves to 
restrict outward extraction of the bar from the box beam to the extent 
that the locking pin 44 would be located inwardly of the bar 32. This 
limitation of extraction of the bar avoids the inconvenience of having to 
manually extract the locking pin when it is desired to have the locking 
pin enter the locking opening. 
However, it will be explained hereinafter that at one stage in the 
manipulation of the tow bar it is desired that the bar 32 be extracted to 
a position outwardly of the locking pin 44. This is accommodated by 
removing the limit pin 66, and this is facilitated by providing the limit 
pin with an easily removable cotter 68 extended through an opening in the 
limit pin. 
On the other hand, it is also desired that complete separation of the bar 
32 and box beam 34 be prevented. This is achieved by provision of a stop 
pin 70 which extends through aligned openings in the box beam adjacent the 
inner end thereof, and through the slot 40 in the bar. A conventional, 
substantially permanent cotter pin 72 extends through an opening in the 
stop pin to retain it in operative position. 
A second, longitudinally adjustable elongated leg is provided by a similar 
assembly of components described hereinbefore. Accordingly, these 
components are identified by the same reference numerals which are 
distinguished by a superscript. 
The second leg differs from the first described leg in the following 
respects: The sleeve 22' is not secured against axial movement along the 
cross member 18. Instead, such movement is by providing the sleeve 22' 
with an internal axially extending keyway 74. This keyway is located in 
such manner that when the first and second elongated legs are disposed in 
the vertical plane illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the keyway is aligned 
with a confinement pin 76 secured to the cross member 18. In this position 
of alignment, the sleeve 22' may be moved to the left in FIG. 1-3. When 
the sleeve 22' reaches the leftwardmost position of FIG. 3, the keyway 74 
has received the latch key 78 which is secured to the cross member 18. The 
key prevents rotation of the first and second leg assemblies about the 
axis of the cross member in the fully collapsed position of FIG. 3. 
Another deference resides in the rigid attachment of the box beam 34' to 
the apex frame 38, rather than the pivotal attachment of box beam 34 by 
pivot pin 36. 
A further difference is the omission of a limit pin corresponding to limit 
pin 66. 
The apex frame 38 serves to support a trailer hitch component. In the 
embodiment illustrated, the apex frame mounted the socket coupler 
component 80 of a conventional ball and socket trailer hitch. The ball 
component 82 is mounted on a frame member at the rear end of a towing 
vehicle 84 (FIG. 7), as will be understood. 
In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the socket coupler component 80 is 
arranged for removable attachment to the apex frame 38. Thus, the reach 86 
of the coupler component is provided with a pivot opening intermediate its 
ends for the removable reception of a pivot pin 88 which extends removably 
through aligned openings in the top and bottom plates of the apex frame. A 
removable type cotter 90 is employed to secure the pivot pin 88. 
The outer end portion of the reach 86 is provided with an anchor opening 
for the removable reception of an anchor pin 92. This pin preferably is 
arranged to extend selectively through one or the other of two pairs of 
aligned anchor openings 94 and 96, respectively, in the apex plate. The 
pair of openings 94 is used to secure the coupler component 80 in the 
operative, towing position of FIG. 1 and 7-9. In this position the coupler 
component extends from the apex frame on the longitudinal centerline of 
the tow bar (and towed vehicle 10). The other pair of openings 96 is used 
to secure the coupler component in a storage position. A removable type 
cotter 98 is employed to secure the anchor pin 92 in either position of 
use. 
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the coupler component 80 may be secured against 
free movement in the collapsed, storage position of the tow bar by the 
anchor pin 92. The coupler may be allowed free movement by removing the 
anchor pin. It is preferred, however, that the coupler component be 
removed from the apex frame 38 for separate storage, for example in the 
trunk of the towed vehicle. Removal of the coupler component is 
particularly advantageous when the tow bar is carried by a small 
automobile, since the coupler component may project beyond the lateral 
side of the automobile. 
FIG. 3 shows the tow bar fully collapsed across the front of the vehicle to 
be towed. To bring the tow bar to operative position, the apex frame is 
grasped in the hands and raised upward, pivoting the assembly 
counterclockwise about the axes of the pivot pins 28 and 28'. When the 
assembly is oriented substantially vertically above the cross member 18, 
the elongated second leg of bar 32' and box beam 34' is moved toward the 
right, away from the first leg, by sliding the sleeve 22' along the cross 
member 18. This is accompanied by shortening of the first leg bar 32 and 
box beam 34. To allow this shortening to continue as the second leg 
assembly is moved toward the right, the locking pin 44 must be retracted 
to allow the bar 32 to pass inward. When the sleeve 22' has moved past the 
pin 76, by the latter registering with the keyway 74, the leg assembly is 
pivoted forwardly and downwardly in front of the vehicle 10 to a 
substantially horizontal position. The tow bar now is ready for coupling 
to a towing vehicle 84. 
Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, these illustrate the mode of operation 
of the tow bar when the towing and towed vehicles are misaligned laterally 
relative to their central longitudinal axis. Thus, the locking pins 44 and 
44' are retracted to allow the leg bars 32 and 32' and box beams 34 and 
34' to extend telescopically so as to move the socket coupler component 80 
into registry with the ball component 82 on the towing vehicle 84 (FIG. 
8). When the ball and socket components are securely coupled, the towing 
vehicle 84 is driven forward, or the towed vehicle 10 driven rearward, 
until the locking pins 44 and 44' enter the locking openings 42 and 42', 
respectively. In this condition the elongated legs are secured rigidly 
against further extension or retraction, and the tow bar thus is in 
operative, towing condition. 
When it is desired to collapse the tow bar for storage, the socket 
component 80 is disconnected from the ball component 82, and the leg 
assembly is swung upwardly about the cross member 18 in front of the towed 
vehicle to the vertical position of FIG. 1. The limit pin 66 is removed, 
by removing the cotter 68, and the locking pin 44 is retracted from 
locking opening 42. The leg bar 32 and box beam 34 thus are released for 
extension. 
The second leg bar 32' and box beam 34' are retained in locked condition by 
locking pin 44', and the leg assembly is moved toward the left, as in FIG. 
2, by sliding the sleeve 22' along the cross member 18. This movement is 
accommodated by alignment of keyway 74 and pin 76. 
As the second leg assembly moves leftward toward the first leg assembly, 
the latter assembly elongates to allow the second leg assembly to move 
close to it. The pair of closely coupled leg assemblies then are pivoted 
laterally downward, clockwise about the axes of the pivot pins 28 and 28', 
to the fully folded and collapsed condition shown in FIG. 3. In this 
position the latch key 78 has entered the keyway 74, whereby the leg 
assembly is secured against rotation about the axis of the cross member 
18. 
If desired, the collapsed leg assemblies may be secured further by securing 
a strap or rope around the leg assemblies and cross member. In addition, 
the socket component 80 may be disconnected from the apex frame 38 to 
reduce the lateral length of the stored assembly. 
Referring to FIG. 3, it is to be noted that the arrangement of equal length 
brackets 26 and 26' and offset bar portions 30 and 30' enables the leg 
assemblies to be collapsed to minimum height, whereby to present an 
attractive appearance at the front of a vehicle upon which it is mounted. 
Since the leg assemblies are positioned at the ends of the cross member in 
the operative, towing position, the cross member may be of minimum cross 
section and weight, since the forces of the towing operation are applied 
to the ends of the cross member and stub shafts at the frame-mounted angle 
brackets. 
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications 
and changes may be made in the size, shape, type, number and arrangement 
of parts described hereinbefore without departing from the spirit of this 
invention and the scope of the appended claims.