Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Utility Patent
1999-03-03
2001-01-02
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C280S420000, C280S422000
Utility Patent
active
06168182
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has to do with a tow bar that includes a closed channel that can be opened. The general purpose of the channel is to protect and hide the safety and electrical cables that connect the towing and towed vehicles.
Y-shaped tow bars are used to link, yet spatially separate, a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. Many jurisdictions require that tow bars be used in conjunction with safety cables so that if the tow bar somehow becomes detached from either the towing or the towed vehicle, the safety cables will retain the towed vehicle behind the towing vehicle until the problem can be fixed. Also, it is typically necessary to provide electrical cabling between the towing and the towed vehicle so that, for example, the brake lights of the towed vehicle may be operated by the brakes of the towing vehicle. Not only are these cables and wires somewhat unsightly, but they also tend to become corroded in their exposed state.
SUMMARY
The present invention comprises a tow bar having a body portion, adapted to be attached to a towing vehicle and a pair of legs joined to the body portion, each leg adapted to be attached to a towed vehicle and at least one of the legs defining a closed channel that can be opened to form an open channel.
In a separate aspect the present invention is a method for partially concealing and protecting a towing safety cable, comprising the following steps. First, the present invention includes the step of providing a tow bar having a body portion adapted to be attached to a towing vehicle and a pair of legs joined to the body portion, with each leg adapted to be attached to a towed vehicle and at least one the legs defining a closed channel that can be opened to form an open channel. Next, the invention includes opening the closed channel to form an open channel and placing the cable in the open channel. Finally, the invention includes closing the open channel to reform the closed channel, which partially conceals and protects the cable.
The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3400293 (1968-09-01), Reichardt
patent: 3817558 (1974-06-01), Eger
patent: 5066034 (1991-11-01), Carr
patent: 5082217 (1992-01-01), Parker et al.
patent: 5306037 (1994-04-01), Robertson
patent: 5765851 (1998-06-01), Parent
patent: 5915715 (1999-06-01), Ford
patent: 5957475 (1999-09-01), Pearen et al.
patent: 6089907 (2000-07-01), Shoblom
Billy C. Ford
Cuff Michael
Culbreth Eric
Siegel Timothy E.
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