Retractable hook for roll-off containers

A retractable tow hook assembly for use in transporting a storage container, comprising:

• (a) a rectangular storage container (102;
• 202), including:
• (1) a container body having a horizontal bottom wall, a pair of vertical parallel spaced side walls, and a vertical end wall at one end of the container, said bottom, side and end walls cooperating to define a chamber;
• (2) a vertical generally rectangular ramp wall (120;
• 220) arranged at the other end of the container, said ramp wall having a horizontal lower first edge portion;
• and
• (3) hinge means (118;
• 218) connecting said ramp wall first edge portion with said container, thereby to permit hinged displacement of said ramp wall about a horizontal hinge axis from an initial vertical position toward a downwardly inclined loading position in engagement with the ground;
• (b) a pivotal tow hook assembly, comprising:
• (1) a horizontal generally-rectangular rigid metal support plate (274;
• 302) having upper and lower surfaces, a pair of parallel spaced side edges, and a pair of parallel spaced end edges, said support plate containing a slot (276;
• 306) that extends in parallel spaced relation between said side edges;
• (2) a planar vertical tow hook member (272) having a central body portion (272c), and first (272a) and second (272b) end portions;
• and
• (3) pivot means (278) connecting said tow hook member first end with said support plate lower surface adjacent said slot, thereby to provide pivotal movement of said hook member about a horizontal pivot axis;
• (4) said hook member being pivotally displaceable between a retracted position extending downwardly from said support plate, and an upwardly extending towing position in which said body portion extends upwardly through said slot and said hook member second end portion extends upwardly above said support plate upper surface;
• (5) said hook member second end portion, when said hook member is in said extended position, having a generally vertical edge portion that is directed away from said slot, said vertical edge portion containing a towing recess (284);
• (c) said support plate being connected with said storage container adjacent said hinge means on the side thereof remote from said container body, whereby when said ramp wall is in said downwardly inclined loading position, said hook member is in said retracted position, and when said ramp wall is in said vertical position, said hook member may be pivoted upwardly from said retracted position toward said extended position, thereby to permit connection of a tow cable loop (6a) to said hook member towing recess.

A retractable hook assembly, comprising:

• (a) a horizontal generally-rectangular rigid metal support plate (274;
• 302) having upper and lower surfaces, a pair of parallel spaced side edges, and a pair of parallel spaced end edges, said support plate containing a slot (276;
• 306) that extends in parallel spaced relation between, said side edges;
• (b) a planar vertical hook member (272) having a central body portion (272c), and first (272a) and second (272b) end portions;
• (c) connecting means connecting said hook member with said support plate for displacement between an upwardly extending towing position in which said hook member second end portion extends upwardly through said slot, and a retracted position in which said second end portion is displaced downwardly below said support plate upper surface;
• (d) said hook member second end portion, when said hook member is in said extended position, having a generally vertical edge portion that is directed away from said slot, said vertical edge portion containing a towing recess (284) for receiving the loop of a tow cable;
• and
• (e) a roll-off container (202) having a horizontal bottom wall, and vertical side and end walls cooperating with said bottom wall to define a chamber, said support plate being externally secured to said container adjacent the junction of said bottom wall and one of said end walls.