Abstract:
The present invention relates to a towing bar assembly that may convert from an articulated assembly extracting a vehicle in an inaccessible location to a rigid assembly for safely towing a vehicle on a road.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an assembly for towing. Specifically, the present invention relates to a towing bar assembly for towing vehicles. In particular, the present invention relates to a towing bar assembly that may convert from an articulating assembly for more easily extracting a vehicle from an inaccessible location to a rigid assembly for more safely towing a vehicle on a road. By having an assembly that may convert from one that articulates to one that is rigid, safe towing can be achieved with heretofore unrealized results. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Assemblies for towing vehicles require many, often competing functions. As in many designs, in order to maximize the functionality of one operation there is often a concomitant reduction in the functionality of another operation. For example, in order to extract vehicles from an inaccessible location, such as a ditch, it is preferable to have a supple and flexible assembly to reach the ditched vehicle. Such assemblies are often woven fabric, multi-strand cable, or other substantially tensile structures. However, after extraction, when towing the vehicle on a road, it is preferable to have a rigid assembly to more securely affix the towed vehicle to the towing vehicle. Such assemblies are often of rigid triangular shape. However, such rigid assemblies, although safer for towing on the road, are of far less use in the extraction process. There is therefore a great need in the art for a towing assembly that can both reach difficult locations and still safely tow the extracted vehicle. 
     Accordingly, there is now provided with this invention an improved towing assembly effectively overcoming the aforementioned difficulties and longstanding problems inherent in towing vehicles. These problems have been solved in a simple, convenient, and highly effective way by which to construct a towing assembly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a towing assembly comprising a hitch and a pair of members pivotally attached to the hitch is disclosed. Each member has a first shaft, a second shaft, and a locking joint therebetween. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a towing bar comprising a lunette, a first shaft attached at one end to the lunette, a second shaft attached at one end to the lunette, a first elbow joint attached to the first shaft at another end, a second elbow joint attached to the second shaft at another end, a third shaft attached at one end to the first elbow joint, and a fourth shaft attached at one end to the second elbow joint is disclosed. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention, an articulating towing assembly comprising a hitch and a pair of members attached to the hitch is disclosed. Each pair of members has two shafts and a locking joint between each of the two shafts of each of the pair of members. The pair of members locked for rigidly securing the orientation thereof with respect to the hitch. 
     As will be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art, a major advantage of the present invention is providing a towing assembly that can both reach difficult locations and still safely tow the extracted vehicle. Additional objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description. 
     The method and apparatus of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed discussion of specific embodiments and the attached figures which illustrate and exemplify such embodiments. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is an orthogonal view of the towing assembly in its extended position. 
         FIG. 1B  is an orthogonal view of the towing assembly in a partially folded position. 
         FIG. 1C  is an orthogonal view of the towing assembly in its fully folded position. 
         FIG. 2  is an orthogonal view of the towing assembly in its extended position attached to a bumper. 
         FIG. 3  is an orthogonal view of the towing assembly in its fully folded position attached to a bumper. 
         FIG. 4  is an orthogonal view of the towing assembly illustrating its range of motion. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following preferred embodiment as exemplified by the drawings is illustrative of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention as encompassed by the claims of this application. 
     The assembly for towing  1 , as illustrated generally in  FIGS. 1-4 , is for extracting an immobilized vehicle and then towing it. The towing assembly  1  is preferably made of steel, of either solid or hollow elements. The towing assembly comprises a hitch  2 , often referred in the industry as a lunette. The hitch  2  is typically of a toroidal shape for engagement with a pintle hook (not shown) attached to a towing vehicle. The hitch may be of a variety of types for such engagement, as is well known to those skilled in the art. Attached to the hitch  2  are two members  4   a  and  4   b . Members  4   a  and  4   b  are each pivotally attached to the hitch  2  by a pin  6   a  and  6   b , respectively. In one embodiment, the pin pivotally attaching the members to the hitch is a threaded bolt having a nut to secure it. In other embodiments, the pin may be a cotterpin or a bolt threaded into the hitch itself. In still other embodiments, a spring loaded detent mechanism may be used. Multiple types of attachments may be used to pivotally attach the members to the hitch, as is well known to those skilled in the art. 
     The two members  4   a  and  4   b  are preferably symmetrical with each other and accordingly member  4   a  has two shafts  8   a  and  10   a  with a joint  12   a  therebetween and member  4   b  has two shafts  8   b  and  10   b  with a joint  12   b  therebetween. It is the shafts  8   a  and  8   b  of members  4   a  and  4   b , respectively that are pivotally attached to the hitch  2 . The orientation of the attachment of the members to the hitch may be fixed in place by a locking mechanism  14   a  and  14   b , respectively. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism fixing the orientation of the members to the hitch is a threaded bolt having a nut to secure it. In other embodiments, the locking mechanism may be a cotterpin or a bolt threaded into the hitch itself. In still other embodiments, a spring loaded detent mechanism may be used. Multiple types of locking mechanisms may be used to lock the orientation of the members to the hitch, as is well known to those skilled in the art. 
     Each of the two shafts of each of the members are attached to one another by the joint  12   a  and  12   b . Typically referred to as an elbow joint by those skilled in the art, the joints  12   a  and  12   b  may also be used to lock the orientation of each of the respective shafts in an aligned position. In one embodiment, the locking joints  12   a  and  12   b  fixing the orientation of the shafts to each other each have pins  16   a  and  18   a , and  16   b  and  18   b . In other embodiments, the pins may be threaded bolts each having a nut to secure it. In yet other embodiments, the locking mechanism may be a cotterpin or a bolt threaded into the joint itself. In still other embodiments, a spring loaded detent mechanism may be used. Multiple types of locking mechanisms may be used to lock the orientation of the shafts with each other, as is well known to those skilled in the art. 
     The aligned position, specifically shown in  FIG. 1A , allows the towing assembly to form a substantially equilateral triangle when the towing assembly is in its extended position. Typically, this aligned position may be achieved when tensile force is substantially equally applied to each pair of shafts of each pair of members. 
     When each of the pins  14   a  and  b ,  16   a  and  b , and  18   a  and  b , are disengaged from their respective joints, the towing assembly may articulate from its extended aligned position through an intermediate position illustrated in  FIG. 1B , to a folded position illustrated in  FIG. 1C . When the towing assembly is in the fully folded position illustrated in  FIG. 1C , each shaft of each member is substantially parallel to each other. 
     Attached to the end of shafts  10   a  and  10   b  are attaching mechanisms  20   a  and  20   b  for attachment to a vehicle to be towed. Many types of such mechanisms may be used, for example, shackles, eye bolts, or universal joints as shown in  FIG. 2 , as is well known to those skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 2  depicts the towing assembly  1  attached to a bumper  22  of a vehicle to be towed. As shown, the bumper  22  has two attaching devices  24   a  and  24   b  for mating with the attaching mechanisms  20   a  and  20   b , respectively. Until the locking pins  14   a  and  b ,  16   a  and  b , and  18   a  and  b  are in engagement with their respective joints, the towing assembly may articulate for ease of attachment to an otherwise inaccessible vehicle. 
       FIG. 3  also depicts the towing assembly  1  attached to a bumper  22  of a vehicle, although in its substantially folded position. In this embodiment, the bumper of the vehicle to which the towing assembly is attached is the towing vehicle. Accordingly, when not in use, it is preferable to have it in its folded position. In this embodiment, it is the hitch  2  that is used to attach to the vehicle to be towed. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the space defined by dotted line  26  illustrates the range of motion of the towing assembly. Thus, although made of rigid components, the towing assembly can articulate through a wide range of motion. This allows attachment to a vehicle when it is in a difficult position for access. 
     When, for example, the ditched vehicle has been extracted from its immobilized position, the towing assembly can be moved from its articulated position ( FIG. 1B ) to its fully extended position ( FIG. 1A ). Having moved into its fully extended, substantially equilateral triangular configuration ( FIG. 1A ), all of the shafts can be locked into their respective locking joints so that the towed vehicle can be more safely towed along a thoroughfare. 
     Although the particular embodiments shown and described above will prove to be useful in many applications in the towing art to which the present invention pertains, further modifications of the present invention will occur to persons skilled in the art. All such modifications are deemed to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.