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US 2008/0157507 A1Published application
Device, system and method for automated tow coupling
OwnerEliahu Tayarinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tow hook coupling device to automatically align and couple a tow hook of a first vehicle onto a female member of a second vehicle when the two vehicles are brought into proximity. The female member has a lateral attachment that is suitable to be grabbed by a hook, and the male member has a shaft, a hook connected to the shaft and an elevation guide extension. Upon contact of the guide extension with the lateral attachment, the shaft is raised to align the hook to couple with the lateral attachment.
Claims20
A tow coupling system comprising:
- a first coupling member attached to a first vehicle, said first member comprising a lateral attachment, said lateral attachment suitable to be grabbed by a hook;
- a second coupling member attached to a second vehicle, said second member comprising:
- a shaft;
- a hook connected to said shaft;
- and
- an elevation guide extension;
- wherein upon contact of said guide extension with said lateral attachment, said shaft is raised to align said hook to couple with said lateral attachment.
4 more elements
A tow coupling device comprising:
- a hook;
- an elevation shaft;
- and
- an elevation guide rod,
- wherein said elevation guide rod adjusts a height of said elevation shaft upon contact with a coupling member to which said hook is to couple, said elevation guide rod to align a height of said hook to said coupling member.
2 more elements
A method of coupling a tow hook comprising:
- moving a first coupling member of a first vehicle into contact with a second coupling member of a second vehicle;
- exerting an upward force on an elevation guide attached to said second member, said upward force generated by a contact of said elevation guide with said first member;
- securing a hook of said second member onto said first member;
- and
- releasing said hook from said second member, said hook tethered to said second vehicle by a chain.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.