Patent ID: 7591477

Claim:
A system for capturing a vehicle, comprising: a support adapted for mounting to a bumper of a first vehicle, the support having a pair of laterally opposed side plates; an upper shaft rotatably joined to the pair of laterally opposed side plates, the upper shaft extending therebetween along the lateral direction; at least one actuating arm secured at an upper end thereof to the upper shaft, the at least one actuating arm extending substantially downward and forward from the upper shaft; an engaging member having opposed upper and lower ends, the upper end thereof being secured to the upper shaft, the engaging member extending substantially downward and rearward from the upper shaft; a lower shaft rotatably joined to the pair of laterally opposed side plates, the lower shaft extending therebetween along the lateral direction, the lower shaft being resiliently biased with respect to the pair of laterally opposed side plates; a disc mounted on the lower shaft, the disc having a perimeter and a recess formed in the perimeter, the lower end of the engaging member releasably engaging the recess and selectively locking rotation of the lower shaft; an elongated hook support having opposed first and second ends, the first end being pivotally secured to the lower shaft; and a hook member mounted to the second end of the elongated hook support; wherein, in a locked configuration, the hook member is positioned rearward with respect to the lower shaft in a folded configuration; and wherein pressure applied to the at least one actuating arm generates rotation in the upper shaft with resulting disengagement of the lower end of the engaging member from the recess in the disc and rotation of the lower shaft, thereby unfolding the hook member and rotating the elongated hook support and the hook member into a deployed configuration, the hook member being adapted for grasping the rear bumper of a second vehicle.