Towing device for an all-terrain vehicle

A towing device for towing an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) behind a vehicle featuring two parallel support bars for cradling rear wheels of the ATV; a first wheel connected to the first ends of the support bars via a first wheel axle connector and a second wheel connected to the second ends of the support bars via second wheel axle connector; eye rings disposed on the support bars adapted to receive ends of straps, the straps being for securing rear wheels of the ATV; an undercarriage bracket pivotally attached to the first support bar for supporting and securing the rear axle of the ATV; and a curved towing arm having a ball hitch tongue for connecting the towing arm to a hitch of the vehicle and two connecting brackets for engaging and securing a front axle of the ATV.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device for towing an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) behind an automobile or truck, more particularly to an ATV towing device that can be easily compacted for storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Transporting all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) often requires large trailer assemblies, which can be large and cumbersome as well as expensive to obtain. The present invention features a towing device for an ATV. The device of the present invention is easy to use and can be compacted for storage purposes.

SUMMARY

The present invention features a towing device for towing an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) behind a vehicle. The towing device comprises a first support bar and a second support bar each having a first end and a second end, the first support bar and the second support bar are positioned generally parallel to each other, the support bars function to cradle a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel of the ATV; a first wheel and a first wheel axle connector, the first wheel axle connector comprises a first connecting bar having a first end and a second end, and a first axle shaft perpendicularly attached to the first connecting bar, wherein the first end of the first support bar is removably attachable to the first end of the first connecting bar, the second end of the first support bar is removably attachable to the second end of the first connecting bar, and the first wheel engages the first axle shaft; and a second wheel and a second wheel axle connector, the second wheel axle connector comprises a second connecting bar having a first end and a second end, and a second axle shaft perpendicularly attached to the first connecting bar, wherein the second end of the first support bar is removably attachable to the first end of the second connecting bar, the second end of the second support bar is removably attachable to the second end of the second connecting bar, and the second wheel engages the second axle shaft.

The towing device further comprises a first eye ring and a second eye ring disposed on the second support bar near the first end and second end, respectively, and a third eye ring and a fourth eye ring disposed on the first support bar near the first end and second end, respectively, the eye rings are adapted to receive an end of a strap, the strap being used to secure the first rear wheel or the second rear wheel of the ATV; an undercarriage bracket pivotally attached to the first support bar, the undercarriage bracket functions to support and secure a rear axle of the ATV, the undercarriage bracket can pivot between an up position wherein the bracket is oriented generally vertically with respect to a ground surface and a down position wherein the undercarriage bracket is oriented generally horizontally with respect to the ground surface; and a curved towing arm having a first end and a second end, wherein a ball hitch tongue for connecting the towing arm to a hitch of the vehicle is disposed on the first end of the towing arm, wherein a first connecting bracket and a second connecting bracket are each disposed on the second end of the towing arm for engaging and securing a front axle of the ATV, and wherein the towing arm is curved to lift the front axle of the ATV such that front wheels of the ATV are raised off the ground surface.

In some embodiments, the first end of the first support bar is removably attachable to the first end of the first connecting bar via a first hinge pin. In some embodiments, the second end of the first support bar is removably attachable to the second end of the first connecting bar via a second hinge pin. In some embodiments, the second end of the first support bar is removably attachable to the first end of the second connecting bar via a third hinge pin. In some embodiments, the second end of the second support bar is removably attachable to the second end of the second connecting bar via fourth hinge pin. In some embodiments, the undercarriage bracket is pivotally attached to the first support bar via a hinge. In some embodiments, the undercarriage bracket is positioned about halfway between the first end and the second end of the first support bar. In some embodiments, the rear axle of the ATV is secured to the undercarriage bracket via a bracket hinge pin.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIGS. 1-5, the present invention features a towing device100for towing an all-terrain vehicle (ATV)105behind an automobile or truck101. The towing device100of the present invention can be easily disassembled and stored in a compact manner.

The towing device100comprises a first support bar110having a first end111and a second end112, and a second support bar120having a first end121and a second end122. The first support bar110and second support bar120are oriented generally parallel to each other and horizontally with respect to the ground surface. The support bars are for supporting or cradling the rear two wheels108of the ATV105.

The first end111of the first support bar110and the first end121of the second support bar120are connected to a first wheel131via a first wheel axle connector. The first wheel axle connector comprises a first connecting bar210having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end111of the first support bar110attaches to the first end of the first connecting bar210(e.g., via a first hinge pin125a) and the first end121of the second support bar120attaches to the second end of the first connecting bar210(e.g., via a second hinge pin125b). The first wheel axle connector further comprises a first axle shaft215perpendicularly attached to the first connecting bar210, wherein the first wheel131engages the first axle shaft215.

The second end112of the first support bar110and the second end122of the second support bar120are connected to a second wheel132via a second wheel axle connector. The second wheel axle connector comprises a second connecting bar220having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end112of the first support bar110attaches to the first end of the second connecting bar220(e.g., via a third hinge pin125c) and the second end122of the second support bar120attaches to the second end of the second connecting bar220(e.g., via a fourth hinge pin125d). The second wheel axle connector further comprises a second axle shaft225perpendicularly attached to the second connecting bar220, wherein the second wheel132engages the second axle shaft225.

Disposed on the second support bar120near the first end121is a first eye ring141. Disposed on the second support bar120near the second end122is a second eye ring142. The eye rings allow a user to wrap a strap160around the rear wheel108of the ATV or the rear axle109of the ATV105and secure the strap to the second support bar120. In some embodiments, a third eye ring143and a fourth eye ring144are disposed on the first support bar110(e.g., near the first end111and second end112, respectively). As shown inFIG. 1, the first end of the first strap160ais attached to the first support bar110(near the first end111), e.g., via the third eye ring143, wraps over the first rear wheel108a, and attaches to the second support bar120(near the first end121), e.g., via the first eye ring141. The first end of the second strap160bis attached to the first support bar110(near the second end121), e.g., via the fourth eye ring144, wraps over the second rear wheel108b, and attaches to the second support bar120(near the second end122), e.g., via the second eye ring142.

Pivotally attached to the first support bar110(e.g., via a hinge) is an undercarriage bracket180. In some embodiments, the bracket180is disposed about halfway between the first end111and the second end112of the first support bar10. The bracket180is for supporting the rear axle109of the ATV105(see FIG.1). The bracket180can move between an up position and a down position. In the up position (seeFIG. 2andFIG. 5), the bracket180is oriented vertically with respect to the ground surface. In the down position (seeFIG. 3andFIG. 5), the bracket180is oriented horizontally with respect to the ground surface. The bracket180is moved to the down position for storage purposes.

In some embodiments, the rear axle109of the ATV105is secured to the undercarriage bracket180via a bracket hinge pin181(seeFIG. 5). The bracket hinge pin181can be driven through two aligned bracket apertures disposed in the undercarriage bracket180. The apertures are adapted to receive the bracket hinge pin181. Hinge pins and apertures are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

The towing device100further comprises a curved towing arm410having a first end411and a second end412. Disposed on the first end411of the towing arm410is a ball hitch tongue440for connecting the towing arm410to a hitch102of a vehicle (e.g., a truck101). Ball hitch tongues and hitches of vehicles are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Two connecting brackets are disposed on the second end412of the towing arm410for engaging and securing to the front axle of the ATV105. For example, a second connecting bracket482is disposed at the second end412of the towing arm410, and a first connecting bracket481is disposed on the second end412of the towing arm410near the second connecting bracket482(seeFIG. 3). The first connecting bracket481and the second connecting bracket482together are for engaging and securing to the front axle of the ATV105.

The towing arm410is curved to keep the front axle of the ATV105lifted up so that the front wheels of the ATV105are off the ground surface.