# US 2018/0022175 A1 · Systems, Devices, and/or Methods for Managing Towing

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- Number: US 2018/0022175 A1
- Document ID: US20180022175A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/644,806
- Filed: 2017-07-09
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-21
- Inventors: Shawn Connelly
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022175A1

## CPC

- B60D 1/46: vertically
- B60D 1/025: {comprising release or locking lever pins}
- B60P 3/127: {on a tow dolly}
- B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)

## Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a tow bar. The tow bar is constructed to be coupled to a towing vehicle and a slingshot motorcycle. The tow bar defines a rectangular aperture. A length of the rectangular aperture is smaller than a diameter of a central tire of the slingshot motorcycle. The tow bar can be fixedly coupled to a pair of chains. Each of the pair of chains is coupleable to a bumper of the towing vehicle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a tow bar, the tow bar constructed to be coupled to a towing vehicle and a slingshot motorcycle, the tow bar defining a rectangular aperture, a length of the rectangular aperture smaller than a diameter of a central tire of the slingshot motorcycle, the tow bar fixedly coupled to a pair of chains, each of the pair of chains coupleable to a bumper of the towing vehicle;
a hitch member releasably coupleable to the tow bar, the hitch member constructed to be releasably coupled to either (a) a towing hitch port of the towing vehicle, or (b) a hitch coupler offset adapter; and
a ramp, the ramp releasably coupleable to the tow bar, the ramp constructed to facilitate coupling of the slingshot motorcycle to the tow bar via rolling a central wheel of the slingshot motorcycle up or down the ramp.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
the slingshot motorcycle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a retaining hook coupled to the hitch member, the retaining hook coupleable to the towing vehicle to restrain the hitch member from uncoupling from the towing hitch port of the towing vehicle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
the hitch coupler offset adapter, the hitch coupler offset adapter comprising:
a hitch member sleeve that is constructed to engage with and be releasably coupled to the hitch member;
an adjustable offset post, the adjustable offset post defining a plurality of apertures, each of the plurality of apertures constructed to allow the tow bar to ride at a different elevation relative to the towing hitch port of the towing vehicle; and
a hitch coupler member that is constructed to be releasable coupled to the towing hitch port of the towing vehicle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
the hitch coupler offset adapter, the hitch coupler offset adapter comprising:
a hitch member sleeve that is constructed to engage with and be releasably coupled to the hitch member;
an adjustable offset post, the adjustable offset post defining a plurality of apertures, each of the plurality of apertures constructed to allow the tow bar to ride at a different elevation relative to the towing hitch port of the towing vehicle, wherein the adjustable offset post is fixedly coupled to the hitch member sleeve; and
a hitch coupler member that is constructed to be releasable coupled to the towing hitch port of the towing vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
the hitch coupler offset adapter, wherein the hitch coupler offset adapter is coupled to the hitch member via a threaded fastener, the hitch coupler offset adapter comprising:
a hitch member sleeve that is constructed to engage with and be releasably coupled to the hitch member;
an adjustable offset post, the adjustable offset post defining a plurality of apertures, each of the plurality of apertures constructed to allow the tow bar to ride at a different elevation relative to the towing hitch port of the towing vehicle, wherein the adjustable offset post is fixedly coupled to the hitch member sleeve; and
a hitch coupler member that is constructed to be releasable coupled to the towing hitch port of the towing vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
the hitch coupler offset adapter, the hitch coupler offset adapter comprising:
a hitch member sleeve that is constructed to engage with and be releasably coupled to the hitch member;
an adjustable offset post, the adjustable offset post defining a plurality of apertures, each of the plurality of apertures constructed to allow the tow bar to ride at a different elevation relative to the towing hitch port of the towing vehicle; and
a hitch coupler member that is constructed to be releasable coupled to the towing hitch port of the towing vehicle, wherein the hitch coupler member is releasably coupled to the adjustable offset post via a threaded fastener.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a ramp flange that is constructed to releasably couple the ramp to the tow bar.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a tow bar head, the tow bar head defining part of the rectangular aperture, the tow bar head comprising a pair of substantially planar plates, wherein each of the substantially planar plates is coupled to a back plate, wherein:
the back plate is coupled to two sides of the tow bar, the back plate and two sides of the tow bar defining three sides of the rectangular aperture; and
the hitch member is coupleable to the tow bar via sliding the hitch member between the pair of substantially planar plates.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a tow bar head, the tow bar head defining part of the rectangular aperture, the tow bar head comprising a pair of substantially planar plates, wherein the hitch member is coupleable to the tow bar via sliding the hitch member between the pair of substantially planar plates, wherein a handle is fixedly coupled to the tow bar head, the handle constructed to allow a user to lift the tow bar.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the tow bar is coupleable to the hitch member via a threaded fastener.

### Claim 12

A method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising:
causing a system to be coupled to a towing vehicle, the system comprising:
a tow bar, the tow bar constructed to be coupled to the towing vehicle and a slingshot motorcycle, the tow bar defining a rectangular aperture, a length of the rectangular aperture smaller than a diameter of a central tire of the slingshot motorcycle, the tow bar fixedly coupled to a pair of chains, each of the pair of chains coupleable to a bumper of the towing vehicle;
a hitch member releasably coupleable to the tow bar, the hitch member constructed to be releasably coupled to either (a) a towing hitch port of the towing vehicle, or (b) a hitch coupler offset adapter; and
a ramp, the ramp releasably coupleable to the tow bar, the ramp constructed to facilitate coupling of the slingshot motorcycle to the tow bar via rolling a central wheel of the slingshot motorcycle up or down the ramp

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
causing the ramp to be releasably coupled to the tow bar.