DE2328693A1 - Vehicle demountable tow bar - assembled from tubular sections to clip to bumper using open ended retractable hooks - Google Patents

Abstract

The tow bar is made up several tubular sections fitted together with special end sections moulded into open jaws. These contain special hooks which clip over the car bumpers without damaging them. The hooks are retracted into the jaws and secured using a special tool. The middle sections of the tow bar are then clipped in place with spring studs. Swivel joints in the middle sections allow easier fitting. The hook section may lock in the retracted position in the tubes automatically using sprung detents.

Description

Gerhard H i c k e 1, 6000 Frankfurt (Main)

Jaspertstrasse 19th

May 30, 1973

Tow bar

The invention relates to a tow bar consisting of several pipes to be connected to one another for vehicles, two of which can be connected to one vehicle each and both of which can be connected to one another by a center piece.

The known tow bars are designed so that they can be attached to the bumpers, and they are usually designed so that the bumpers Do not damage / ground: The tow bar extension is roughly adapted to the profile of the bumper and is pressed firmly against it.

409881/0092

These extensions are connected to the rod parts in such a way that that they cannot or cannot easily be separated from one another. They are therefore bulky and poor in quality To accommodate trunk; In addition, it requires a considerable effort to train the extension pieces so that they can be attached to each tow bar in such a way that it cannot be damaged.

The invention takes a different route. She has the task posed to create a simple tow bar that is only attached to the bumper in exceptional cases, as a rule can be attached to the tow hook that has recently been mostly available, which can be quickly installed and with a small one Space requirement.

She solves this task in that the two of them at the Fahx- test tube parts to be fastened (tow bar tubes) each · have an open but closable hook and that the two tow hook tubes can be connected to one another via at least one rigid connecting piece.

With such a tow bar, the following advantages can be achieved over the known ones:

The connection between the two vehicles is quickly established: the hooks are v / grounded in the eyelets on the vehicle suspended, locked and connected to one another via the pipe parts. In that the hook openings can be closed the tow bar can turn smoothly during transport and the connection, once established, can turn not solve.

409881/0092

By simply hanging the hook into counterparts it is however, the rigid connection is so articulated that it can yield sufficiently when cornering.

The tow bar according to the invention is not only suitable for being attached to hooks or eyes fixed to the vehicle but it can also be attached to bumpers. For this purpose, a method known in the prior art can be used Extension piece can be used, which has a suspension device for the Ilaken of the invention.

Despite this possibility, the tow bar is dismantled not bulky according to the invention; because the bulky bumper extensions can be removed and / next to the Pieces of pipe, stowed away.

The tow bar according to the invention can therefore be used universally, can be stowed away with very little space and in Can be installed in the shortest possible time.

Open but lockable hooks are to be understood in the context of the invention as snap hooks, but these have the disadvantage that the connection in and against the direction of travel is not conclusive. Hook and Counterparts can move into each other.

For this reason, the invention proposes a further one Feature before to stow the open hooks axially retractable into the tow hook tubes, preferably so retractable so that at least the hook end rests on the end of the pipe, so the hold can no longer come loose by itself.

Λ 0 9 8 8 1/0092

It is particularly advantageous if the hook can be retracted this far is that its counterpart rests on the end of the pipe.

While it is not absolutely necessary, it does but is a preferred embodiment of the invention, if the tow bar, i.e. the hook, cannot be rotated in the tube; this can be achieved if the end of the tow hook tube is compressed.

The tow bar could theoretically consist of only two parts, namely the two snap hook tubes. In this Form, however, the invention would not meet the requirement for compactness in an optimal form, the two tubes would be too long and could not be accommodated in every trunk. Therefore, at least one intermediate pipe should be used are used and all pipe parts are preferably the same To be long.

The additional piece used for mounting on the bumper In this sense, it should also be able to be dismantled in such a way that it can be stowed flat.

These and other features of the invention are evident from the exemplary embodiment shown schematically in the drawings of the invention; show it:

1 with a tow bar according to the invention one open and one closed hook,

2 shows a section through a tow hook tube with a retracted hook,

3 shows a socket wrench,

FIG. 4 is a view of FIG. 2 from the left,

A 0 9 8 8 1/0092

Fig. 5 shows an intermediate tube,

6 the plate of the additional part in plan view,

Fig. 7 the plate of the additional parts in side view and

8 shows the clamping hooks required for this additional part.

The tow bar shown consists of the three tubes 1, 2, 3 and the two hooks 4; the two tow hook tubes 1 and 3 and the hooks 4 are identical, so that only one of the two pipes needs to be described to earth.

The clip hook tube 1 is at one end Io so compressed so that it ends as a flat profile (Fig. 4). This flat profile should have such internal dimensions that & the Hook 4 can be drawn into this profile and is arranged in it so that it cannot rotate.

At a certain distance from the free end of the tow hook tube 1 a perforated disk 5 is arranged in this, which is rolled up at 11 and 12.

The hook 4 is bent from a rod 40, which is provided with a thread at 41, on which a nut 42 " can be screwed on; See nut 42 and perforated washer 5 a compression spring 43 is arranged. Finally, the tow hook tube 1 has several locking holes 13, in which the counter catches 21 of the intermediate tube 2 can lock.

409881/0092 ~ 6 -

The outer diameter of the nut 42 is chosen so that that from the right end of the Schlcpphakenrobres 1 a socket wrench (Fig. 3) introduced and with this the nut can be rotated. The intermediate pipe 2 has at both ends one draw-in 20 each, which is so strong that the ends 20 can be pushed into the tow hook tubes (FIG. 5).

Any of the known ones can be used as an additional plate in order to be able to mount the tow bar on a bumper will; However, that shown in Figs. 6-8 has the advantage that it is very simple and in the smallest of spaces can be stowed. This is achieved in the following ways:

The additional plate 6 has an eyelet 60 in which one of the hooks 4 can be inserted; bores 61 are also provided, in which two clamping hooks 7 can be inserted, and finally a buffer 62 made of soft material is provided, with which this plate is placed against a bumper.

The Spannhciken have grippers 70 with which they top and reach over the bumper edge at the bottom; with dera Bolts 71 are tightened so that the plate 6 firmly is pressed against the bumper.

The three - possibly also four - tow rod parts 1, 2, 3 are - next to each other - preferably in one Packed bag that is tailored to these dimensions; to accommodate the two additional plates - six small parts - can this bag have one or more attachment pockets so that an elongated and optimally compact package is created that can be stored in the trunk to save space; also the socket wrench can be stored in this bag.

409881/0092

2323693

If it has to be towed, the parts are taken out of the bag, the two hooks 4 are - from above or below - hooked into the eyelets fixed to the vehicle, after which by means of the socket wrench the nut 5 is tightened until the crochet is drawn in so far as shown in FIG are that they are no longer open.

Depending on the type of construction, a pressure piece 44 can be provided against the free ends of the tow hook tubes that attaches the eyelet fixed to the vehicle «Domit is an in and against the direction of travel coherent connection between Vehicle and tow bar have been achieved, but taxable evade know; the springs 43 dampen shocks during braking and tightening.

The intermediate pipe 2 is now used; after snap the catches 21 in the holes 13, the rigid connection between the two vehicles is established.

The connection is released in reverse order. Is now. an eyelet fixed to the vehicle or none at all, then the additional plate 6, 7 is attached to the bumper or bumper, using the eyelets 61 as a suspension device v / earth.

The tow bar according to the invention can also be attached to a Hanging coupling to be attached; because the hook 40 can around the foot of the coupling ball can be put around and then pulled into the tow hook tube.

Because the two tow hook tubes have no lateral approaches, they can - without hitting any part of the vehicle - take part in every pivoting movement of the vehicles in curves, so that the tow bar according to the invention is not compliant in and opposite to the direction of travel, in the transverse direction _{Qgßß 1 f QQg} ^

Claims (11)

Claims / 1.) Consists of several pipes that can be connected to one another Tow bar for vehicles, two of which each have a vehicle part and both of which have at least one under each other Middle piece can be connected, characterized in that the two pipe parts to be fastened to the vehicles (Tow hook tubes) each have an open but closable hook and that the two tow hook tubes are preferred üfcer at least one rigid connection piece with each other are connectable. 2. Tow bar according to claim 1, characterized in that the open hooks can be retracted axially so far into the tow hook tubes are that the hook end at least with your sweeping about completes, or is applied to this. 3. Tow bar according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the tow hook tubes get stuck. facing the vehicle The ends are pressed so far that the retracted hook is secured against rotation. 4. Tow bar according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that that the hooks are connected to a rod axially displaceably guided in the tow hook tube or in one piece with it this is made. 5. Tow bar according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that that the hook rod is guided in a perforated disc which is rolled from the outside into the tow hook tubes. - Ο -, 40988 1/0092 6. Tow bar according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that that the hook rod is provided with a thread at its free end and that - seen from the hook - behind a nut is placed on the perforated disc. 7. tow bar according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that that a compression spring is arranged between the perforated disk and the nut. 8. tow bar according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that that between the nut and the inner wall of the tow hook tube such a distance is provided that the nut is introduced by means of a from the free end of this Pohres Socket wrench is rotatable. 9. tow bar according to eiii-äti of / claims 1-8, characterized in that that the individual Kohrteile by means of quick-release fasteners are connectable to each other. 10. Tow bar according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that that the Zvjiüchenrohr at both ends so is drawn in that it can be pushed into the tow hook tubes. 11. Towing device, consisting of several interconnectable Pipe parts and open but closable hooks according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, characterized by an additional attachment plate for bumpers with a counterpart for the hook of the tow tube. 409881/00 92 ^f0 Le e rs e 11 e