Patent ID: 8657305

Claim:
A self-loading tow dolly comprising: at least two wheels configured to rotate about a spindle, wherein each wheel rotates about its own spindle; structure that releasably attaches each spindle to at least one telescoping support bar in a manner that permits each wheel to move to and from a towed vehicle lowered position and a towed vehicle lifted position, the telescopic support bar comprises an inner support bar having a fixed length and an outer support bar slideably engaged with the inner support bar in a manner that permits the telescoping support bar to be extended and retracted, wherein the structure for releasably attaching each spindle to at least one telescoping support bar further comprises: a first plate containing at least a first aperture and a second aperture; a second plate containing at least a first aperture and a second aperture; the first aperture on the first plate and the first aperture on the second plate are sized to receive the spindle and the spindle is rigidly attached to the first and second plates; and the second aperture on the first plate and the second aperture on the second plate are sized to receive a fastening member which rotatably, releasably attaches each plate to the telescoping support bar; a tubular member rigidly attached to the at least one telescoping support bar and configured to receive the fastening member which rotatably, releasably attaches each plate to the at least one telescoping support bar; at least a bracket rigidly attached to the at least one telescoping support bar wherein the bracket is configured to receive axles and maintain the axles substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the at least onetelescoping support bar; a lift mechanism attached to the at least one telescoping support bar and configured to move at least one of the wheels from the towed vehicle lowered position to the towed vehicle lifted position; a ratchet mechanism releasably attached to at least one of the spindle assemblies; and a release mechanism releasably attached to the at least one telescoping support bar, the release mechanism configured to permit at least one of the wheels to move from the towed vehicle lifted position to the towed vehicle lowered position; and a locking mechanism releasably attached to the at least one telescoping support bar and configured to engage the release lever to hold at least one of the wheels in the towed vehicle lifted position.