# US 10,308,085 B2 · Tow kit having thimble slider

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- Number: US 10,308,085 B2
- Document ID: US10308085B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/565,311
- Filed: 2015-12-22
- Published: 2018-04-19
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-24
- Applicants: Actuant Corporation
- Inventors: Wesley Paul Conger; Adam Ross Baldwin; Luis S. Padilla; Michael Charles Greenwood; Dennis J. Weber; Brett Edward Burke
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308085B2

## CPC

- B60D 1/18: Tow ropes, chains or the like
- B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS

## Abstract

A tow kit is disclosed having a thimble slider engaged with a plurality of tethers. The thimble slider may have a generally C-shaped body with a back portion and opposing end portions. The thimble slider may also have a channel formed within outer surfaces of the back and opposing end portions, and an elongated separator connected to an inner surface of the back portion and extending in a direction generally orthogonal to the back portion to define two portions. A tether can engage the channel to equally distribute weight applied to the two ends of the tether. A sling can engage the inner surface of the back portion. At least one other tether can engage the sling.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thimble slider, comprising:
a generally C-shaped body having a back portion and opposing end portions;
a channel formed within outer surfaces of the back and opposing end portions; and
an elongated separator connected to an inner surface of the back portion and extending in a direction generally orthogonal to a length direction of the back portion,
wherein an inner surface of the channel is coated with a friction reducer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The thimble slider of claim 1, wherein the channel has a generally semi-circular cross-section.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The thimble slider of claim 2, wherein:
the elongated separator divides an interior of the generally C-shaped body into two substantially identical spaces; and
the inner surface of the back portion is curved and generally concentric with the channel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The thimble slider of claim 1, further including a release guard located at a side of the elongated separator opposite the back portion of the generally C-shaped body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The thimble slider of claim 4, wherein the opposing end portions of the generally C-shaped body each includes a recess configured to receive an end of the release guard.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The thimble slider of claim 5, further including at least one fastener configured to removably connect the release guard to the elongated separator.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The thimble slider of claim 1, further including a flange extending from each side of the generally C-shaped body at each of the opposing ends in a direction generally aligned with an axis of the elongated separator.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The thimble slider of claim 7, wherein:
the flange has an inner edge connected to the generally C-shaped body, an outer edge, and ends connecting the inner and outer edges; and
the ends flare outward away from the elongated separator.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The thimble slider of claim 8, further including a plurality of holes formed in the flange along the outer edge.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The thimble slider of claim 9, further including cordage laced through the plurality of holes.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The thimble slider of claim 8, wherein a flare curvature of the ends of the flange is about the same as a curvature of the inner surface of the back portion of the generally C-shaped body.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The thimble slider of claim 1, wherein a diameter across the generally C-shaped body is about 3-5 times a diameter of the channel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The thimble slider of claim 1, further comprising a tether release guard selectively extending across the channel to releasably retain a tether within the channel.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The thimble slider of claim 13, further including a sling release guard located opposite the back portion of the generally C-shaped body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The thimble slider of claim 14, further including at least one fastener configured to removably connect the sling release guard to the generally C-shaped body.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The thimble slider of claim 1, wherein the friction reducer is a polymer coating.

### Claim 17

A tow kit for connecting a first machine to a second machine, the tow kit comprising:
a thimble slider, including:
a generally C-shaped body having a back portion and opposing end portions;
a generally semi-circular channel formed within outer surfaces of the back and opposing end portions;
an elongated separator connected to an inner surface of the back portion and extending in a direction generally orthogonal to a length direction of the back portion, the elongated separator dividing an interior of the generally C-shaped body into a first space and a second space; and
a sling having a first end passing through the first space in the generally C-shaped body of the thimble slider, and a second end passing through the second space;
at least a first tether passing through the channel of the thimble slider and having ends coupled to the first machine; and
at least a second tether having a first end configured to receive the sling and a second end connected to the second machine.