Patent ID: 6889995

Claim:
An apparatus for securing a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a. a shank assembly including a shank, the shank being elongated and having a shank axis, the shank having a ball mount at one shank end and a shank fastener at the other shank end, the shank assembly enabling secure retention of the ball mount relative to a clamp member, the towed vehicle being attachable to the ball mount; and b. the clamp member for secure attachment to the towing vehicle, the clamp member including a base, an arm, and a jaw, the jaw being attached to the base, by a pivotal coupling, the clamp member having an inside and an outside surface, the jaw having an upright position and an extended position relative to the base; whereby the jaw has a jaw extension, the jaw extension including a coupling that enables an engaged and a disengaged position of the jaw extension relative to the base, the coupling being in the engaged position relative to the base when the jaw member is in an upright position, the coupling enabling secure retention of the jaw relative to the base whenever a vehicle is to be towed by the towing vehicle; and whereby the shank assembly has a collar, the shank assembly further including a first ballast, the first ballast being concentric with the collar and snugly fitting about the collar, the first ballast abutting the inside surface of the clamp arm, and the shank assembly further including a second ballast, the second ballast abutting the outside surface of the clamp arm.