Patent Abstract:
An apparatus for securing a small recreational vehicle to a bed of a towing vehicle or to a grounding member is provided. The apparatus includes a mounting shaft that is securably positionable proximal to the bed of the towing vehicle or mountable on a grounding member. A receiver is operably attachable to the mounting shaft. A securing device, for example, securing ring, that is attachable to the small vehicle securably engages the receiver to hold the small recreational vehicle on the bed of the towing vehicle or to fasten the small recreational vehicle to the grounding member. In a further embodiment, the apparatus includes a receiver mounting plate that is securably mountable to a sidewall of a bed of a towing vehicle or to a grounding member. A receiver is disposed on the receiver mounting plate, and a securing ring is attachable to said small recreational vehicle. The securing ring securably engages the receiver to hold the small recreational vehicle on the bed of the towing vehicle or to fasten the small recreational vehicle to the grounding member.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for securing a small recreational vehicle to a bed of a towing vehicle. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus for securing an all terrain vehicle (“ATV”) or other small recreational vehicle to a trailer or a bed of a pickup without the use of tie down straps or ropes.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     ATVs and other small recreational vehicles oftentimes must be transported to sites where they are to be driven. To transport the ATV or other small vehicle, the vehicle is usually loaded onto a bed of a pickup truck or a flatbed of a trailer. Once the vehicle is loaded, the ATV is secured to the bed of the pickup or towing vehicle through the use of chains or ropes which are wrapped around various parts of the ATV, including the wheels, axles, and towing hitch. These chains and ropes or other tie down straps are hard to handle and time consuming to attach to the flatbed and the vehicle while at the same time they are often inadequate for securing the vehicles to the pickup trucks or trailers. Oftentimes there is a danger of these chains, ropes, and tie down straps of working their way loose, thereby creating the potential for damage to the towing vehicle, nearby traffic, or the small vehicle itself.  
         [0003]     Different securing systems and anchoring assemblies have been devised to secure the ATVs or other small vehicles to a bed of a pickup or trailer that limit the use of chains, ropes, and tie down straps. Several systems or assemblies require the user to attach a mounting assembly to the flatbed itself of a pickup or a trailer. Such systems have at least two problems.  
         [0004]     By attaching an assembly to the flatbed itself, valuable space, which can be used to haul other equipment or items besides the vehicle, is consumed, thereby limiting the opportunity to maximize the available storing capacity of the pickup truck or the trailer on which the vehicle is placed. A greater concern for the use of assemblies that are attached to the flatbed itself is that such assemblies can compromise the center of gravity for the towing vehicle. On single axle trailers and flatbeds of pickup trucks the optimum placement for the load is between the two supporting axles of the vehicles. For example, for a single axle trailer, the placement of the load will preferably be between the back axle of the transport vehicle to which the trailer is hitched and the axle of the trailer itself. For a pickup truck, it is preferable to place added weight between the front axle of the truck and the back axle. Preferably, the weight of a vehicle loaded on the flatbed of a trailer or a pickup truck will place most of its weight if not all of its weight between these two supporting axles.  
         [0005]     By using assemblies that must be attached to the flatbed, the ability to place the small vehicle on the flatbed in a position that optimizes the center of gravity for the towing vehicle can be compromised. In order for the assemblies to be useful and not overly complicated to use, these assemblies must be attached to the front of the bed between the two supporting axles to allow for easier removal and loading of the vehicle on the flatbed. If the assembly was placed on the back of the bed, it would require the assembly to be unattached every time the vehicle is moved on or off of the bed. By placing the assembly at the front of the bed of the trailer or pickup truck, the bed is effectively shortened and by consequence, the vehicle is moved closer to the back supporting axle. If such a bed is not long enough, then part of the weight of the vehicle will actually be on the outside of the back supporting axle. Such a situation at best does not maximize the center of gravity of the loaded towing vehicle. At worse, it can disrupt the center of gravity of the towing vehicle, causing an unsafe condition for transporting the small vehicle at all but the slowest speeds. By not maximizing the center of gravity of the towing vehicles, these assemblies create opportunity for damage to the towing vehicles as well as unsafe conditions for transporting the small vehicle.  
         [0006]     A need still exists for an apparatus for securing a small recreational vehicle to a bed of a towing vehicle that can be easily used to secure the small vehicle while at the same time optimize the towing space and the center of gravity of the towing vehicle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Various features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.  
         [0008]     The present subject matter provides for an apparatus for securing a small recreational vehicle such as an ATV, snowmobile, lawnmower, etc. to a bed of a towing vehicle. The apparatus has a mounting shaft securably positionable proximal to a bed of a utility vehicle. A receiver is operably attached to the mounting shaft to receive a securing device, for example, a securing ring from a securing ring assembly, that has been attached to the small recreational vehicle. The securing ring securably engages the receiver when the small recreational vehicle is placed on the bed of the towing vehicle, thereby holding the small recreational vehicle on the bed of the towing vehicle. The receiver may be adjustable along the mounting shaft to allow alignment with the securing ring assembly that is attached to the small recreational vehicle.  
         [0009]     In an exemplary embodiment, the receiver comprises a U-shaped bracket with parallel arms extending outward from the mounting shaft. The securing ring fits between the parallel arms of the U-shaped bracket to secure small recreational vehicle to the towing vehicle. In some embodiments, the parallel arms define apertures therein to which fastening device, such as a hitch pin, is positionable. In such embodiments, the securing ring is placed between the parallel arms so that an aperture formed in the securing ring aligns with the apertures formed in the parallel arms. The hitch pin may be placed through both the parallel arms and the securing ring to fasten the securing ring assembly and thereby the small recreational vehicle to the securing apparatus attached to the towing vehicle. The securing ring may then be locked to the receiver. Also a lock may be used instead of a hitch pin to be placed through the apertures of the parallel arms and the securing ring. Other devices may also be used instead of a hitch pin to fasten the securing ring to the receiver.  
         [0010]     The securing ring assembly may be made up of a securing ring that is mounted to a ring plate. The ring plate may be mountable to different parts of the small recreational vehicle including a bush guard or other parts of the frame of the small recreational vehicle. The securing ring assembly may also include a holding plate which is attachable to the ring plate around a portion of the small recreational vehicle, thereby securing the securing ring assembly to the small recreational vehicle without altering the small recreational vehicle.  
         [0011]     The towing vehicle may be a vehicle such as a truck that has a flatbed or a trailer, which could be attached to the back of an automobile. In such embodiments where the towing vehicle is a trailer, a mounting shaft can be attached to the tongue of the trailer, which is attachable to a trailer hitch on an automobile.  
         [0012]     In embodiments where the towing vehicle is a truck, a receiver mounting plate having a unitary U-shaped receiver may be securably mounted to a side wall of the bed of the truck. As described above, a securing ring of a securing ring assembly attached to a small recreational vehicle may then engage a receiver to hold the small recreational vehicle in the bed of the truck. In these embodiments where the securing apparatus is comprised of a unitary U-shaped receiver which is mountable to a side wall of a bed of a towing vehicle, the receiver may be adjustable along a mounting plate to adjust for different placements of the securing ring assembly and for different sizes of the small recreational vehicles.  
         [0013]     In some embodiments of the present subject matter, the mounting shaft used in the securing apparatus may be a U-shaped channel strut. The receiver may be placed in the channel to add lateral support to the receiver as well as to prevent easy detachment of the receiver from the mounting shaft when the securing ring assembly attached to the small recreational vehicle has engaged the receiver.  
         [0014]     In further embodiments, the receiver may be integral to the mounting shaft. While in other embodiments, the receiver may be adjustable along the mounting shaft. By having the receiver adjustable along the mounting shaft, the mounting shaft may be made of a unitary structure, (meaning it is a single unit, not consisting of two separate pieces) while still allowing for proper alignment of the receiver with different positions of the securing ring on a small recreational vehicle or with the different sizes of small recreational vehicles. Further, by having the receiver adjustable along the mounting shaft instead of having the mounting shaft adjustable, the strength of the mounting shaft is not compromised.  
         [0015]     In embodiments of the securing apparatus that use a unitary mounting shaft with a receiver attached thereto or in the embodiment, that employ a unitary U-shaped receiver mounted to a mounting plate, both the mounting shaft and the mounting plate may be affixed to a grounding member or a stable structure such as a wall, a driveway, a foundation, etc., to secure the small recreational vehicle from theft. These stationary positionings of the securing apparatuses allow all the user of the small recreational vehicle to lock up the vehicle when not in use, thereby deterring theft of such a vehicle.  
         [0016]     In a further embodiment, the securing apparatus includes a mounting shaft which extends in a longitudinal length and has a first end and a second end at opposite ends of the longitudinal length of the mounting shaft. A mounting base is integral to the shaft at the first end. The mounting base can be attached to the tongue of the towing vehicle by having the mounting base interact with and engage a holding plate so that the second end of the shaft extends above the bed of the towing vehicle. A U-shaped receiver may then be operably attached to the shaft by securing bolts. The U-shaped receiver has parallel arms and extend outward from the shaft when the receiver is attached thereto. The parallel arms each define an aperture which are in parallel alignment with each other.  
         [0017]     A securing ring that defines a ring aperture may then be attached to the small recreational vehicle. The securing ring fits between the extended arms of the U-shaped receiver when the small vehicle is placed on the bed of a towing vehicle so that the securing ring extends past the apertures defined in the parallel arms, thereby aligning the aperture formed by the securing ring with the apertures in the parallel arms.  
         [0018]     A removable fastening device can then be positioned in the apertures in the parallel arms and through the ring aperture of the securing ring. This securing ring, which is attached to the small recreational vehicle, engages the receiver so that the small recreational vehicle is secured to the bed of the towing vehicle. To accommodate different sized small recreational vehicles or to accommodate different placements of a securing ring, the receiver may be adjustable along the mounting shaft.  
         [0019]     Other features of the present invention will be described in greater detail below through the use of appended figures. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a securing apparatus for securing a small recreational vehicle to a bed of a towing vehicle according to the present subject matter;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows an exposed view of an embodiment of the securing apparatus according to the present subject matter;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows side views of two positions of the securing apparatus on a tongue of a towing vehicle according to the present subject mater;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the securing apparatus in operation on a towing vehicle to secure a small recreational vehicle to the towing vehicle in accordance with the present subject matter;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a securing apparatus according to the present subject matter.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a securing apparatus attached to a side wall of a bed of a truck according to the present subject matter;  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  shows an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of a securing apparatus according to the present subject matter; and  
         [0027]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  show side views of small recreational vehicles secured to beds of towing vehicles using two embodiments of the securing apparatuses according to the present subject matter. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]     Reference will now made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more of examples of which are shown in the figures. Each example is provided to explain the invention, and not as limitations of the invention. In fact, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. It is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations.  
         [0029]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a securing apparatus, generally  10 , used to secure a small recreational vehicle to a bed of a towing vehicle. In particular, in  FIG. 1 , the securing apparatus  10  is secured to a tongue  22  of a towing vehicle, or trailer, generally  20 . The trailer  20  has a flatbed  24  on which a small recreational vehicle, or, in this case, an all terrain vehicle (“ATV”) generally  30 , is placed. The securing apparatus  10  has a mounting shaft  11  integral to a mounting base  18 . To attach the mounting shaft  11  to the tongue  22 , the mounting base  18  can be connected to a holding plate  16  by securing bolts  39  and securing nuts  38 . The mounting base  18  is placed on the bedside  23  of the tongue  22  while the holding plate is placed on the roadside  25  of the tongue  22 . Securing bolts  39  are then placed through apertures in the holding plate  16  and the mounting base  18  in a known manner. Securing nuts  38  are then screwed onto the securing bolts  9  to tighten and hold the mounting base  18  and the mounting shaft  11  in an erect position above the flatbed  24  of the trailer  20 . Other manners for securing the mounting shaft  11  to the trailer tongue  22  as are known in the art may be used. For example, the mounting shaft  11  may be welded onto the tongue  22  or may be removable attached in some other manner.  
         [0030]     The securing apparatus  10  also includes a receiver  12  which can be mountably attached to the mounting shaft  11 . In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the receiver  12  is a U-shaped bracket which opens toward the bed  24  of the trailer  20 . When the small recreational vehicle  30  is driven, pushed or placed on the flatbed  24  of the trailer  20 , a securing device, or securing ring assembly,  13  engages the receiver  12  to allow the small recreational vehicle  30  to be locked onto the trailer. In an exemplary embodiment, a portion of the securing ring assembly enters the U-shaped receiver  12 , and a fastening device  14 , which has a hitch pin, is then placed through apertures  26  (see  FIG. 2 ) formed in the arm of the U-shaped receiver. The fastening device  14  fastens the securing ring assembly  13  and thus by the small recreational vehicle  30  to the mounting shaft, thereby holding the small recreational vehicle  30  to the flatbed  24  of the trailer  20 . The securing ring assembly  13  can be attached to any portion of the small recreational vehicle  30  that will hold the small recreational vehicle  30  in place on the flatbed  24 . Preferably, the securing ring assembly  13  will attach to a portion of the frame of the small recreational vehicle  30 . In the embodiment shown, the securing ring assembly  13  is attached to a bush guard  32  of the ATV  30 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the securing apparatus  10 . As stated before, the mounting shaft  11  may be put in the proper position by placing the mounting base  18  integral to the mounting shaft  11  on the tongue of a trailer or other device and connecting a holding plate  16  opposite the mounting base  18 . For example, the mounting base  18  may be fastened to the holding plate  16  through the use of the securing bolts  39  and securing nuts  38 . By using the securing nuts  38  and securing bolts  39 , the mounting shaft may be securely fastened to a tongue of a trailer or some other device to allow the mounting shaft to be proximal to the flatbed on which a small recreational vehicle is to be placed. At the same time, the securing nuts  38  and the securing bolts  39  allow the securing apparatus  10  to be removal and/or adjustable.  
         [0032]     The mounting shaft  11  shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 2  is a four-walled shaft having mounting apertures  7  defined through the walls that run parallel to the flatbed of a vehicle when the shaft  11  is properly mounted. The receiver  12  can be mounted to the mounting shaft  11 . The U-shaped receiver has mounting apertures  27  which can be aligned with mounting apertures  7  of the mounting shaft  11 , thereby allowing securing bolts  9  to be inserted through both the mounting apertures  27  of the receiver  12  and the mounting apertures  7  of the mounting shaft  11 . Securing nuts  8  may then be screwed onto the securing bolts  9  to secure the receiver  12  to the mounting shaft  11 .  
         [0033]     As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , due to the multiple mounting apertures  7  within the mounting shaft  11 , the placement of the receiver  12  is adjustable in the vertical direction of the arrows V 2 . Further, as stated before, the mounting shaft  11  is also adjustable in a horizontal direction as shown by the arrows V 1 . These adjustable combinations of the mounting shaft and the U-shaped receiver allow for the adjustment of the securing device to adapt to different sized small recreational vehicles. For example, in  FIG. 3 , the receiver  12  of the securing apparatus  10  shown in the solid lines is positioned for the right height of the securing ring  13 , which may be attached to a larger vehicle or attached where the placement of the securing ring assembly is at a higher position on the vehicle. The placement of the receiver  12  so that the securing bolts  9  may be properly placed through the appropriate mounting apertures  7  and then secured through the securing nuts  8  allow for the proper alignment of the receiver  12  to accept the securing ring assembly  13 , thereby allowing the hitch pin  14  to fasten the small recreational vehicle to the mounting shaft  11 .  
         [0034]     This same mounting shaft can be adjusted to fit a different vehicle, for example, a snowmobile, which may extend further into the area of the tongue  22 , of a flatbed and may require the securing ring assembly to be attached at a lower position as depicted in  FIG. 3  as securing apparatus  10 ′ (shown in a dotted outline in  FIG. 3 ). Securing apparatus  10 ′ has been moved further back along the tongue  22  away from the flatbed by loosening the securing nut  38 ′ and the securing bolt  39 ′ to allow the securing apparatus  10 ′ to be shifted. When the securing apparatus  10 ′ is in its proper place, the securing bolts  39 ′ and the securing nuts  38 ′ may be tightened to secure the mounting plate  18 ′ and the holding plate  16 ′ to the tongue  22 , thereby fastening the securing apparatus  10 ′. To accommodate for the lower location of the securing ring  13 ′, the receiver  12 ′ may be removed from its other location and secured to a lower location by placing the securing bolts  9 ′ in the proper mounting aperture  7 ′ and then tightening the U-shaped receiver  12 ′ to the mounting shaft  11 ′ by tightening the securing nuts  8 ′ on the securing bolts  9 ′. In this manner, the receiver  12 ′ may be adjusted to receive the securing ring  13 ′ that is positioned in a different location on the same vehicle, or placed on a different vehicle.  
         [0035]     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that the securing ring assembly  13  may be composed of multiple parts. In the shown embodiment, the securing ring  13  has a ring  19  attached to a ring plate  17 . The ring plate  17  has mounting apertures  21  placed on either side of the securing ring  19 . The securing ring assembly  13  also includes a holding plate  15  that may be placed on the opposite side of the portion of the small recreational vehicle to which the securing ring assembly will be attached. As with the ring plate  17 , the holding plate  15  has mounting apertures  21  that will align with the mounting apertures  21  of the ring plate  17 . In some embodiments, it may be preferable to have multiple sets of mounting apertures in both the holding plate and the ring plate to allow the ring assembly  13  to be adaptable to different positions on a small recreational vehicle or be adaptable to different types of small recreational vehicles. Once the mounting apertures  21  of the holding plate  15  and the ring plate  17  are properly aligned, mounting bolts  29  may be inserted through the mounting apertures of the ring plate  17  and the holding plate  15  to secure the securing ring assembly  13  to the small recreational vehicle. Securing nuts  28  may then be screwed onto the securing bolts  29  to securely hold the securing ring assembly to the small recreational vehicle.  
         [0036]     The securing ring  19  forms a ring aperture  37  which allows the securing ring assembly and thereby the small recreational vehicle to be securely attached to the mounting shaft  11  and thereby to the bed of the towing vehicle to which the mounting shaft  11  is attached. The ring  19  enters the receiver  12  so that the aperture  37  is aligned with the locking apertures  26  in the arms of the receiver  12 . At this point, a hitch pin  14  or other device which may be inserted through the locking apertures  26  as well as the ring aperture  37  to secure the ring assembly  13  to the mounting shaft  11 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the hitch pin  14  has a locking passage  35 , which passes through an end portion of the hitch pin  14 . This locking passage  35  allows a lock or a cotter pin to be placed through the hitch pin  14  to lock the hitch pin  14  in place, thereby further securing the securing ring assembly  13  to the mounting shaft  11 . In this manner, the small recreational vehicle may be secured to a flatbed of the towing vehicle.  
         [0037]     While not necessary, it is beneficial to place the securing ring assembly  13  on the front of a small recreational vehicle, like an ATV, for example. By placing the securing ring assembly  13  on the front portion of an ATV, the ATV can be driven onto the bed of a trailer, truck, or other towing vehicle and the securing ring  19  can be easily aligned with the receiver  12 . When the securing ring assembly is placed on the back of an ATV, the ATV, is most cases, has to be walked onto the bed. At the same time, maneuvering the ATV to align the securing ring  13  with the receiver  12  is also harder because steering of the ATV is done at the end of the ATV furthest away from the securing ring  19 , receiver  12 , and the point of attachment.  
         [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates a further embodiment of a securing device, generally  210 . As with previous embodiments, a mounting shaft  211  may be mounted proximal to a flatbed  24  of a towing vehicle, or in this case a trailer, generally  20 . The mounting shaft  211  has a U-shaped receiver  212  securely mounted thereto. To secure the small recreational vehicle  30  to the mounting shaft  211 , a securing ring assembly  213  is permanently attached to a portion of the small recreational vehicle  30 , in particularly, a bush guard  32 . Unlike the previously securing ring assemblies, the securing ring assembly  213  is permanently attached to the bush guard  32 . In this manner, it makes it harder for someone interested in improperly removing the vehicle from the bed of the towing vehicle from doing so by preventing such a person from detaching the securing ring assembly  213  from the small recreational vehicle  30 . In such an embodiment, the securing ring  213  is made up of a ring plate  217  and a securing ring  19 . The ring plate  217  in this example is welded to the bush guard  32  of the small recreational vehicle  30 .  
         [0039]     Other shapes and designs of ring plate assemblies which may be permanently attached or which may be removably attached to small recreational vehicles can be used without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, a single ring may be screwably attached, welded, or clamped to the frame or some other securable place on a small recreational vehicle. The use of securing bolts and securing nuts are not required. Further, a securing ring attached to a ring plate may also be screwably attached to the small recreational vehicle without the benefit of a holding plate. Other examples of the securing ring assemblies are also known in the art and are covered by the scope of the present invention.  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  shows a further embodiment of a securing apparatus  110 . In this embodiment, the securing apparatus  110  has a mounting shaft  111  which is a U-shaped channel strut that is attached to a mounting base  118 . In operation, a receiver  112  having parallel arms is placed in the channel of the mounting shaft  111  so that the arms of the receiver  112  extend outward. The receiver  112  may be attached at an appropriate height to align a receiver with a securing ring assembly  113 , which may be attached to a small recreational vehicle. To obtain the proper alignment, an aperture in the portion of receiver  112  running parallel to the shaft  111  is aligned with an appropriate mounting aperture  107  through which a securing bolt  109  is placed. A securing nut  108  is then tightened onto the security bolt  109  to securely attach the receiver  112  to the mounting shaft as can be seen in the cut a way view of the mounting shaft  111 . By having the receiver placed on the inside of the channel in shaft  111 , the receiver  112  is prevent from being twisted around the securing bolt  104 . Further, such placement of receiver  112  in the shaft  111  adds lateral support to the receiver  112 .  
         [0041]     The bolt in this example is place inward through the appropriate mounting aperture  107  so that the threaded end extends through the channel of the mounting shaft  111 . The securing nut  108  is then tightened onto the bolt  109 . In this manner, when the securing ring assembly  113  is in an engaged position in the receiver  112 , the receiver  112  cannot be loosened from the mounting shaft  111 . Thereby, possible theft may be deterred.  
         [0042]     A securing ring assembly  113  of the securing apparatus  110  also has a different configuration. The securing ring  119  is cut out of an L-shaped bracket. In this manner, the securing ring  119  serves as the ring as well as the ring plate. Such a securing ring  119  is easily manufactured out of an L-shaped material which can be stamped to form the ring aperture through which a hitch pin  114  may pass. The securing ring  119  may be attached through securing bolts and securing nuts to a holding plate  115 . As described above, mounting apertures  121  in both the securing ring  119  and the holding plate  115  may be aligned to allow insertion of a bolt or some other securing device. In some embodiments, multiple sets of mounting apertures  121  may be placed in the securing ring  119  and the holding plate  115  (only shown in the holding plate  15  in  FIG. 5 ) to allow the securing ring assembly to be attached to different small recreational vehicles or to be attached to the same vehicle in different locations.  
         [0043]     Once the securing ring  119  of the securing ring assembly  113  is placed between the arms of the receiver  112 , the hitch pin  114  may be placed through locking apertures in the arms of the receiver  112  and the ring aperture of securing ring  119 . A lock  140  may then be placed through a passage  135  in the hitch pin  114  to lock the securing ring to the mounting shaft. In this manner, the small recreational vehicle is also secured to the mounting shaft.  
         [0044]     The embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  may also be used to secure the small recreational vehicle in a stationary position. The mounting shaft  111  may be attached to a grounding member  145  such as a cement slab, paved driveway, or some other foundation. Also, the grounding member  145  may be a wall or some other stationary non-movable object. In cases where a wall is used, the mounting shaft may be constructed at a right angle so that the mounting shaft is actually one unitary piece to add strengthened stability to prevent bending or breaking of the mounting shaft. In this manner, the mounting shaft may be mounted to a side of the wall and still allow a small recreational vehicle to be positioned so that it may engage the receiver  112 .  
         [0045]     The mounting shaft  11 ,  111 ,  211  of  FIGS. 1 through 5  are constructed of a unitary piece of metal or other material which may withstand the forces place upon on it. By having mounting apertures  7 ,  107  placed in at least one side of the mounting shaft to allow the receiver  12 ,  112 ,  212  to be adjustable up and down, a situation is avoided where the mounting shaft has to be in two pieces to allow it to be adjustable. By having the mounting shaft  11 ,  111 ,  211  as a unitary piece, the strength of the mounting shaft  11 ,  111 ,  211  is not compromised. If the mounting shaft itself had been made adjustable by being made in two pieces, then it is possible that you are creating weak points within the mounting shaft, thereby making it easier for the small recreational vehicle to be detached from the towing vehicle or a non-movable object depending on the use of securing apparatus  10 ,  110 ,  210 . Therefore, the unitary mounting shaft is beneficial for use in a securing apparatus  10 ,  110 ,  210 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 6  shows a further embodiment of the present subject matter. A securing apparatus  50  is attached to a front sidewall  42  of a towing vehicle  40 , in this example, a truck. The securing apparatus comprises a mounting plate  52  which can be secured to the front side wall  42  by securing bolts  59  in a known manner. The mounting plate may have a receiver  51  which possesses parallel arms  54  that create a receptacle for a securing ring assembly or a securing ring which may be attached to a small recreational vehicle that is to be loaded onto a bed  44  of the towing vehicle  40 . As shown in this embodiment, the receiver  51  and its parallel arms  54  may be permanently attached to the mounting plate  52 . In such an arrangement, multiple holes may be drilled into the front side wall  42  to allow the mounting plate  52  and receiver  51  to be adjusted to the right height to accommodate securing rings positioned at different heights. As discussed above, parallel arms  54  define locking apertures  55 , which allow a lock or a hitch pin or some other device to be inserted through the apertures to secure the small recreational vehicle to the bed of the truck  40 .  
         [0047]     It should be understood by those skilled in the art that other types and designs of receivers may be used in combination with the mounting shaft and the securing ring assembly to form a securing apparatus. These receivers may be self-locking, which, once engaged by a securing ring, automatically hold the ring and do not permit the ring to become loose until such time that a release mechanism is activated. It should be understood that the present subject matter includes such receivers as well as other receivers which are known in the art.  
         [0048]     In such embodiments as shown in  FIG. 6 , it is beneficial to have the securing apparatus  50  centered on the front side wall  42  between the two parallel side walls  46  of the towing vehicle  40  when the securing ring assembly is attached to a center position on the small recreational vehicle. In this manner, the weight of the small recreational vehicle is distributed evenly on the flat bed  40  in a known manner. At such point in time that the vehicle is properly placed on the flatbed  44  of the towing vehicle  40  the tailgate  48  may then be closed.  
         [0049]     In  FIGS. 1 through 4 , with the mounting shafts  11 ,  211  secured to the tongue  22  of a trailer  20 , the mounting shafts  11 ,  211  and the receivers  12 ,  212  attached to the mounting shaft  11 ,  211  are centered relative to the flatbed  24  of the trailer  20 . Thereby, if the securing ring assembly  13 ,  213  is centered on the small recreational vehicle, then the weight of the small recreational vehicle  30  should be evenly distributed across the length of the flatbed  24 . Such a design helps to stabilize the trailer  20  during travel.  
         [0050]      FIG. 7  shows a similar embodiment to the securing apparatus  50  shown in  FIG. 6 . A securing apparatus  150  has a mounting plate  152  having parallel locking walls  156  integral thereto. The parallel locking walls  156  have mounting apertures  157  which are properly aligned to receive and secure a receiver  151 . The receiver  151  has parallel arms  154  which define apertures  155  therethrough to receive a hitch pin, or other fastening device,  124 . Further, the receiver  151  also defines securing apertures  153  that may be aligned with the appropriate mounting apertures  157  to allow a securing bolt  159  to engage both the mounting apertures  157  and the securing apertures  153  to hold the receiver  151  in a proper position to receive a securing ring assembly. To secure the receiver  151  to the locking wall  156 , a securing nut  158  is then tightened onto the end of the securing bolt  159  to lock the receiver  151  in place.  
         [0051]     Other types of mechanisms that allow the receiver  151  to be adjustable may be used. For example, pins, springs, spring pins, etc. can be employed. Any such mechanisms that allow the receiver to be adjustable along a locking wall that is known in the art can be used and is considered within the scope of the present subject matter.  
         [0052]     The mounting plate  152  may be attached to a side wall, preferably, a front side wall, of a towing vehicle in several different manners including permanently attaching the mounting plate  152  to the side wall through welding or some other known manner of attachment. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , a holding plate may be placed on the opposite of the side wall and securing bolts  9  may engage both the mounting plate  152  and the holding plate  149  by passing through the side wall of the towing vehicle. Securing nuts  8  may then be tightened onto the securing bolts  9  to secure the mounting plate  152  to the side wall of the towing vehicle. In such an embodiment, the securing apparatus  150  may be permanently attached to the vehicle while still allowing the receiver  151  to be adjustable in-height to accommodate different positions of the securing ring assembly on a small vehicle or to accommodate different sizes of small recreational vehicles.  
         [0053]     By placing the securing apparatuses on towing vehicles as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3  and  6  and not to the bed of the towing vehicle, several benefits can be realized. For example, as shown in  FIG. 8A , the small recreational vehicle  70  is attached to a front wall  68  of a towing vehicle, in particular, a truck  60 . By having the small recreational vehicle  70  attached to a securing apparatus  80  on the front wall  68  of the flatbed  66  of the vehicle  60  then the placement of the small recreational vehicle  70  is optimized. First, the weight G 1  of the small recreational vehicle  70  is placed between the two load bearing points L 1  and L 2  of the axles  62  and  64  of the vehicle  60 . This placement helps to stabilize the towing vehicle  60  during travel, especially when such vehicles are running at higher rates of speed. Even in such situations where the small recreational vehicle may not fall within these two load bearing points L 1 , L 2 , the position of the small recreational vehicle is still optimized due to the fact that as much of the weight G 1  of the small recreational vehicle  70  as possible is placed between these two load bearing points L 1 , L 2 .  
         [0054]     In a similar manner, a securing apparatus  180  shown in  FIG. 8B  optimizes the placement of the weight of G 2  of a small recreational vehicle  170  between the two load bearing points L 3  and L 4  of the towing vehicle configuration shown. An automobile  161  may tow a trailer  160 , which has a flatbed  166  and a tongue  165 . By placing the securing apparatus  180  on the tongue  165  of the trailer  160 , the small recreational vehicle  170  can be placed at the very front of the trailer bed  166  to insure that the placement of the weight G 2  of the recreational vehicle  170  is optimized between the back axle  162  of the automobile and the axle  164  of the trailer. Again, this placement helps to stabilize the trailer  160  as it is being pulled by the automobile  161 , especially at higher rates of speeds. As stated with the truck shown in  FIG. 8A , even if all the weight G 2  of the small recreational vehicle  170  does not fall between the load bearing points L 3  and L 4 , at least the most optimal amount of such weight will reside between the load bearing points L 3  and L 4  due to the placement of the small recreational vehicle  170  at the front of the flatbed  166 . In this manner the small recreational vehicle can be more safely transported to the areas where it will be used.  
         [0055]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , a further benefit is the storage area still available after placement of the small recreational vehicles  70 ,  170  on the flatbed  66 ,  166 . The extra space allows other equipment and devices or goods to be placed on the bed  66 ,  166  behind the small recreational vehicles. Thereby, the space available on the flatbed  66 ,  166  can be optimized.  
         [0056]     It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. It is intended that the present invention includes such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1