Towing hitch

Abstract

A towing hitch includes a frame having a forward portion selectively connected to the receiver hitch of a towing vehicle, and a rearward portion having a pair of elongated bars pivotally connected thereto for removable connection to a vehicle to be towed. Each bar has a pivot arm connected to the rearward end thereof, said pivot arms and bars all pivotal within a single plane, so that the pivot arms may be folded into a storage position adjacent and parallel .Iadd.to .Iaddend.the bars. Selective locking apparatus permits the pivot arms to be extended to a towing position aligned with the bars and locked in the towing position. The bars are pivotally connected to a pivot block which is pivotally mounted to the forward portion of the frame, so as to permit the pivot block, and attached bars and arms to pivot from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical storage position. The pivot block is mounted on a rotatable yoke, such that the bars and pivot arms are rotatable, as a unit, along an axis parallel to the direction which a vehicle is being towed.

I claim: 
     
       1. A towing hitch, comprising: a frame having a forward portion for selective removable connection to a towing vehicle, and a rearward portion for selective removable connection to a vehicle to be towed;   said forward portion including a generally horizontal forwardly extending member adapted for selectively lockable receipt within a conventional receiver hitch;   said rearward portion including first and second elongated bars having forward and rearward ends, the forward ends of said bars pivotally connected to a pivot bolt for pivotal movement within the same plane about said pivot bolt;   .[.a first pivot arm pivotally connected at a forward end to the rearward end of said first bar for pivotal movement coplanar with said first and second bars;   a second pivot arm pivotally connected at a forward end to the rearward end of said second bar for pivotal movement coplanar with said first and second bars;   connection means connected to rearward ends of said pivot arms for selective removable connection to a vehicle to be towed;   means connected to said first pivot arm and first bar for selectively locking said FIrst pivot arm and first bar in axial alignment;   means connected to said second pivot arm and second bar for selectively locking said second pivot arm and second bar in axial alignment;.].   said rearward portion further including a pivot block having upper and lower surfaces, forward and rearward ends, and opposing side surfaces, pivotally connected to said forward portion on a generally horizontal pivot axis extending through said side surfaces of the pivot block;   said pivot bolt being mounted through the upper and lower surfaces of said pivot block, rearwardly of and perpendicular to the pivot block pivot axis, so as to pivot with said pivot block;   said pivot block connected for pivotal movement between a storage position, wherein the pivotal plane of the .[.arms and.]. bars is generally vertical, and a towing position, wherein the pivotal plane of the .[.arms and.]. bars is generally horizontal.   
     
     
       2. The hitch of claim 1, further comprising means on said forward portion for selectively locking said pivot block in storage position. 
     
     
       3. The hitch of claim 1, wherein said pivotal connection of the pivot block to the forward portion further comprises: a pin having forward and rearward ends, rotatably connected to said forward portion for free rotatable movement about the pin's longitudinal axis;   a pair of spaced-apart, parallel arms projecting rearwardly from the rearward end of said pin;   said arms for pivotal movement within a plane parallel to said arms and about an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of said pin. .Iadd.4. The hitch of claim 1, further comprising   a first pivot arm having a forward end and a rearward end, said first pivot arm pivotally connected at said forward end to the rearward end of said first bar for pivotal movement coplanar with said first and second bars;   a second pivot arm having a forward end and a rearward end, said second pivot arm pivotally connected at said forward end to the rearward end of said second bar for pivotal movement coplanar with said first and second bars; and   connection means connected to said rearward ends of said pivot arms for selective removable connection to said vehicle to be towed.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd..  The hitch of claim 4, further comprising: means connected to said first pivot arm and first bar for selectively locking said first pivot arm and first bar in axial alignment; and   means connected to said second pivot arm and second bar for selectively locking said second pivot arm and second bar in axial alignment. .Iaddend..Iadd.6. A towing hitch, comprising:   a frame having a forward portion for selective removable connection to a towing vehicle, and a rearward portion for selective removable connection to a vehicle to be towed;   said forward portion including a generally horizontally forwardly extending member adapted for selectively lockable receipt within a conventional receiver hitch;   said rearward including first and second elongated bars having forward and rearward ends, the forward ends of said bars pivotally connected to a pivot bolt for pivotal movement within the same plane about said pivot bolt;   said rearward portion further including a pivot member having upper and lower surfaces, forward and rearward ends, and opposing side surfaces, pivotally connected to said forward portion on a generally horizontal pivot axis extending through said side surfaces of the pivot member;   said pivot bolt being mounted through the upper and lower surfaces of said pivot member rearwardly of and perpendicular to the pivot member pivot axis, so as to pivot with said pivot member;   said pivot member connected for pivotal movement between a storage position, wherein the pivotal plane of the bars is generally vertical, and a towing position, wherein the pivotal plane of the bars is generally   
     
     
        horizontal. .Iaddend..Iadd.7.  A towing hitch, comprising: a frame having a forward portion for selective removable connection to a towing vehicle, and a rearward portion for selective removable connection to a vehicle to be towed;   said forward portion including a generally horizontal forwardly extending member adapted for selectively lockable receipt within a conventional receiver hitch;   said rearward portion including first and second elongated bars having forward and rearward ends, the forward ends of said bars pivotally connected to a pivot bolt for pivotal movement within the same plane about said pivot bolt;   said rearward portion further including pivot means for pivotal movement of said rearward portion about a transverse horizontal axis, said transverse horizontal axis located forwardly of and perpendicular to said pivot bolt, said pivot means allowing for pivotal movement of said rearward portion between a storage position, wherein the pivotal plane of the bars is generally vertical, and a towing position, wherein the pivotal plane of   
     
     
        the bars is generally horizontal. .Iaddend..Iadd.8.  A towing hitch, comprising: a frame having a forward portion for selective removable connection to a towing vehicle, and a rearward portion for selective removable connection to a vehicle to be towed;   said forward portion including a generally horizontal forwardly extending member adapted for selectively lockable receipt within a conventional receiver hitch;   said rearward portion including first and second elongated bars having forward and rearward ends, the forward ends of said bars pivotally connected to a pivot bolt for pivotal movement within the same plane about said pivot bolt;   a first pivot arm pivotally connected at a forward end to the rearward end of said first bar for pivotal movement coplanar with said first and second bars;   a second pivot arm pivotally connected at a forward end to the rearward end of said second bar for pivotal movement coplanar with said first and second bars;   connection means connected to rearward ends of said pivot arms for selective removable connection to a vehicle to be towed;   means connected to said first pivot arm and first bar for selectively locking said first pivot arm and first bar in axial alignment;   means connected to said second pivot arm and second bar for selectively locking said second pivot arm and second bar in axial alignment;   said rearward portion further including a pivot block having upper and lower surfaces, forward and rearward ends, and opposing side surfaces, pivotally connected to said forward portion on a generally horizontal pivot axis extending through said side surface of the pivot block;   said pivot block being mounted through the upper and lower surfaces of said pivot block, rearwardly of and perpendicular to the pivot block pivot axis, so as to pivot with said pivot block;   said pivot block connected for pivotal movement between a storage position, wherein the pivotal plane of the arms and bars is generally vertical, and a towing position, wherein the pivotal plane of the arms and bars is   
     
     
        generally horizontal. .Iaddend..Iadd.9.  The hitch of claim 8, further comprising means on said forward portion for selectively locking said pivot block in storage position. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. The hitch of claim 8, wherein said pivotal connection of the pivot block to the forward portion further comprises: a pin having forward and rearward ends, rotatably connected to said forward portion for free rotatable movement about the pin's longitudinal axis;   a pair of spaced-apart, parallel arms projecting rearwardly from the rearward end of said pin;   said arms for pivotal movement within a plane parallel to said arms and about an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of said pin. .Iaddend.