Removably Engageable Slider Arms for Tow Truck for Lifting of Towed Vehicles

Abstract

An adjustable engagement system for a tow truck to operatively connect to a vehicle being towed provides slider arms which are removably engageable to conventional tow truck cross bars. The provided slider arms are removably positionable upon opposite ends of the conventional cross bar and adjustable thereon for spacing. Once such spacing is adjusted, locking members can be tightened to hold each slider arm in the chosen position for the towed vehicle.

Claims

1. A system employing removably engageable slider arms which are configured for prevention of damage to underside components of a vehicle being towed, as shown and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURE

[0024] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive, examples of embodiments and/or features of the towing system and components herein. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting.

In the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the two slider arms of the system herein operatively positioned in removable engagements on a conventional cross bar of a towing vehicle which is operatively engaged with a receiver on the towing vehicle, and the distances D1, D2, and D3 maintained by the components to protect the towed vehicle.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the device of FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 3 depicts the slider arms herein in a disengaged configuration where they me operatively slid upon the cross bar as needed, or stored when other components are employed on the crossbar.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a rear perspective view of the device of FIGS. 1-2.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows the conventional operation of the slider arm device herein, wherein it is first positioned upon the ground for engagement with tires of a vehicle, and is subsequently lifted to thereby lift the vehicle having tires engaged thereto.

[0030] FIG. 6 depicts a sectional view of the mount and spacing member herein.

[0031] FIG. 7 depicts a width-adjustable spacing member mode of the system herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0032] In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right, first, second, and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and all such terms are used for convenience only and such are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device and system has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

[0033] Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-7, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 a perspective view and overhead views of the two slider arms 10 of the system herein. As shown, the slider arms 10 are operatively positioned in removable engagements on opposite ends of a conventional cross bar 12 of a towing vehicle 14 which is operatively engaged with a receiver 16 on the towing vehicle 14. As noted, there are multiple terms for such slider arms 10 in the industry, such as wheel grids, slide bars, or receivers and the like, and the employment of the term slider arm 10 herein is for convenience and should in no fashion be considered limiting.

[0034] The slider arms 10 and the components forming them are preferably formed of metal, such as steel, due to the significant weight and forces exerted upon them during use. Each of the first and second slider arms 10 have a mount 18 which is positionable to operative engagement upon a conventional cross bar 12 used by tow trucks. Currently, such an operative engagement is best provided by a passage 20 communicating into one end of the respective mount 18. This passage 20 communicating into the mount 18 is sized with an interior perimeter surface and shape which substantially mirrors the exterior of the intended tow bar 12 and is substantially equal to or just slightly larger than the perimeter of the exterior surface of the tow bar 12 on which it engages. This provides for a sliding removable engagement upon a conventional towing cross bar 12 which is very secure and which prevents rotation of the mount 18 when so engaged.

[0035] In use, the axial passage 20 of each mount 18 is aligned with a respective end of the cross bar 12 and thereafter slid upon the cross bar 12. Once the mount 18 is positioned within the passage 20, locking members 22, such as bolts, threadably engaged through a sidewall of each mount 18 may be tightened. The tightening of the locking members 22 removably holds the mounts 18, and thereby each of the respective slider arms 10, in fixed locations upon the cross bar 12. The locking members 22 providing the removable engagement to the cross bar 12 are preferred since the user may employ these locking members 22 and the sliding engagements of the mounts 18, to thereby position each respective slider arm 10, with a central area of an angled contact area 24 in substantial alignment with the center of tires 26 (FIG. 5) on a vehicle to be towed.

[0036] In all modes of the system, herein, a spacing member 28 is positioned between a top edge 30 of the angled contact area 24 for the tire and a rear edge 12 of the cross bar 12. The spacing member 28, preferably, has a width shown as distance “D1”, in FIGS. 1 and 6 and 7, of at least three inches and can vary between 3-12 inches. This spacing member 28 is particularly preferred to render both the cross bar 12 and the mounts 18 positionable further from each of the angled contacts 24 which are, during towing, positionable to respective contacts thereof against adjacent respective tires 26 of the vehicle being towed.

[0037] Additionally shown in FIG. 1 is distance D2 which is maintained between the open end having the passages 20 on each mount 18 and the side or sidewall of the spacing member 28. By maintaining this distance D2 a minimum distance and void D3 (FIG. 1) is maintained between the two slider arms 10 when they are positioned on the cross bar 12 as far as the cross bar 12 will slide into the passages 20 before they are stopped by the a stop such as an exterior sidewall of the spacing member 18. Currently, distance D2 is between 6-18 inches.

[0038] As noted, the system herein provides for the easy mount and dismount of the slider arms 10 from a conventional cross bar 12 to allow the user more versatility in towing. The slider arms 10, thus, can be removed and re-engaged, as needed, by sliding the passages 20 on each mount 18 onto or off of the cross bar 12, as needed. Additionally, the two slider arms 10 are adjustable for spacing from each other, in their respective positioning on the cross bar 12 to allow a user to substantially align each angled contact 24 with a respective wheel 26 of the vehicle to be towed.

[0039] Also provided are a strap winch 34 which is positioned on each mount 18 of each of the slider arms 10. The strap winch 34 is preferably substantially aligned with a central area of the angled contact 24 which is positioned on the opposite side of the mount 18 and the spacing member 28 from each respective strap winch 34. This strap winch 34 is employable to wind and cinch a securement strap 25 around the tire 26 of the vehicle being towed to hold it in a biased contact against the angled contact 24 and an L-bracket 36 (FIG. 5) which is positioned on the opposite side of the tire 26 from the angled contact 24. Each of the slider arms 10 has a bracket mount 36 engaged thereon with an axial cavity 40 which is configured to allow positioning of one end of such L-brackets 36 within the axial cavity 40 of the bracket mount 36.

[0040] In FIG. 5, as noted, is shown the conventional operation of the slider arm 10 device herein when operatively positioned upon a tow truck cross bar 12. As shown, with the surface of the angled contact 24 contacting with one side of a tire 26 of a vehicle to be towed, and the L-bracket adjusted in the axial passage 40 to be in contact with the opposite side of that tire 26, the tire 26 is supported on two opposing sides for lifting.

[0041] The strap 25 as shown for example in FIG. 5, may be cinched tight over the top surface of the tire 26 by operation of the strap winch 34. Once both tires 26 of a vehicle to be towed are so positioned and secured, the receiver 16 on the towing vehicle 14 is elevated which elevates the cross bar 12 and both of the slider arms 10, herein, along with the vehicle being towed. Of note, such a lifting is conventionally slightly in an arc, and the configuration of the slider arms 10 herein with the spacing member 28 helps prevent damage to the components of the vehicle between the two tires 26, for example the radiator or oil pan, which such a lifting along an arc may cause.

[0042] Shown in FIG. 7, in an adjustable mode of the spacing member 28 wherein the distance D1 can be adjusted by sliding one end of the spacing member outward in a direction away from the mount 18 in a telescopic fashion with a locking connector 29 which may be tightened or engaged to hold it in a chosen position and a chosen distance D1. This allows the user to change the distance of the spacing member 28 where more space is needed.

[0043] While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the removably engageable slider arms which are configured for preventing towed vehicle damage, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth.

[0044] Further, while all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the towing invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure as well as the claims which follow, and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are anticipated within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.