GB2252290A

GB2252290A - Improvements in and relating to towing apparatus for trailers

Info

Publication number: GB2252290A
Application number: GB9102288A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Andrew Coulstock; Mark Christopher Coulstock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-02-02
Filing date: 1991-02-02
Publication date: 1992-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 2011-02-02
Also published as: GB9102288D0; GB2252290B

Abstract

Apparatus for securing a trailer to a motor driven vehicle which comprises a towing hitch 1 for securement to a tow ball of the vehicle. The hitch includes a rearwardly projecting member 3 to which one end of a towing cable 4 is anchored. A winch is attached to the other end of the cable 4 and the hitch includes a hollow shaft 5 whose end remote from the winch is shaped internally to receive the rearwardly projecting member 3 of the towing hitch. Means 9 is provided for selectively locking the projecting member within the shaft. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in and Relating to Towing Apparatus for Trailers This invention relates to towing apparatus for trailers and more especially to devices for securing a towing hitch of a trailer to a tow ball of a motor driven vehicle.

A problem faced by users of trailers such as caravans occurs when it is necessary to align the trailer with the towing vehicle to enable the towing hitch of the trailer to be secured to the tow ball of the vehicle. With even the smallest and lightest of caravans, such alignment can prove to be both laborious and time consuming. Indeed, even when the trailer and vehicle are properly aligned, it is still necessary to lift the front end of the trailer in order to locate the towing hitch onto the vehicle's tow ball. The same is true when unhitching a trailer from a vehicle.

The present invention sets out to provide apparatus for attaching a towing hitch of a trailer to a towing ball of a motor driven vehicle which does not suffer from the disadvantage referred to above.

According to the present invention in one aspect there is provided apparatus for securing a trailer to a motor driven vehicle, the apparatus comprising a towing hitch for securement to a tow ball of the vehicle and including a rearwardly projecting member to which one end of a towing cable is anchored, a winch to which the other end of the cable is attached, a hollow shaft for mounting on the trailer whose end remote from the winch is shaped internally to receive the rearwardly projecting member of the towing hitch, and means for selectively locking the projecting member within the shaft.

The winch may be manually operated. Alternatively, the winch may be driven by an electric or other form of motor. The towing cable is preferably a steel cable.

One or more guide rollers may be provided within the shaft interior for cable passing therethrough. The rearwardly projective member of the towing hitch is preferably of generally frusto-conical configuration, the shaft interior capable of receiving the member being similarly dimensioned.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a hitching device in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view from above of part of the device illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of a part of the device illustrated in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a side view of the apparatus in its closed position.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings comprises a towing hitch 1 which fits onto the tow ball 2 of a motor driven vehicle and is lockable thereto. The hitch 1 has a frusto-conical rearwardly projecting member 3 which serves as an anchorage for a steel cable 4. The cable 4 passes through a hollow shaft 5 and is secured at its end remote from the anchorage 3 to a winch 6. A guide roller 7 is positioned towards one end of the shaft 5 to assist free movement of the cable 4. The end of the shaft 5 remote from the winch 6 is shaped internally to receive the member 3 and a locking device 8 is provided selectively to lock the member 3 within the recessed end of the shaft 5.

A release lever 9 is provided to enable the hitch 1 and member 3 with cable attached to be released from the shaft In use, the shaft 5 and winch 6 are secured to a trailer. The winch may be mounted on the shaft or be separate therefrom. When it is desired to attach the trailer to a motor driven vehicle, the member 3 is released from the shaft 5 and the hitch 1 is moved manually towards the vehicle by unwinding from the winch 6 a length of cable sufficient to enable the hitch 1 to be located on the tow ball 2 of the vehicle.

Once the hitch 1 has been secured to the tow ball 2, the winch 6 is operated to draw the trailer towards the vehicle until the member 3 has entered the recessed end of the shaft 5 and is secured thereto by operation of the lock 8.

When it is required to release the trailer from the vehicle, the towing hitch 1 is simply removed from the tow ball 2 of the vehicle and the winch operated to draw the member into the recessed end of the shaft 5 if it has been recessing to draw cable from the winch during the unhitching process.

The winch may be manually operated or may be motor driven.

It will be appreciated that by means of the device described, hitching of a trailer to a vehicle can be effected both simply and without effort.

The apparatus described may be supplied as a kit for fitting to existing trailers using conventional fittings or may be supplied as a fitment on new trailers.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of devices in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Apparatus for securing a trailer to a motor driven vehicle, the apparatus comprising a towing hitch for securement to a tow ball of the vehicle and including a rearwardly projecting member to which one end of a towing cable is anchored, a winch to which the other end of the cable is attached, a hollow shaft for mounting on the trailer whose end remote from the winch is shaped internally to receive the rearwardly projecting member of the towing hitch, and means for selectively locking the projecting member within the shaft.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the winch is manually operated.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the winch is driven by an electric or other form of motor.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the towing cable is a steel cable.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein at least one guide roller is provided within the shaft interior for cable passing therethrough.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the rearwardly projecting member of the towing hitch is of generally frusto-conical configuration, the shaft interior capable of receiving the member being similarly dimensioned.

7. Apparatus for securing a trailer to a'motor driven vehicle substantially as herein described and as described in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.