Automobile lifting and towing equipment

In an automotive vehicle lifting and towing truck equipment or the like having a rearwardly extending crane and means for positioning a substantial end portion of the crane close to the ground for vehicle lifting purposes, the improvement which comprises:

• a pair of two-pronged outwardly and oppositely opening claw members each having spaced prongs adapted to be positioned below a wheel one prong on each side of the ground contact of the wheel, said pair being adapted when said prongs are so positioned and lifted to cradle a pair of wheels of the vehicle,
• means for attaching said claw members near the end of said portion of said crane and adapting said pair of members to be swingable about an intermediate upright axis whereby said pair of claw members may be positioned along lines at selected angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of said end portion of said crane,
• means effective on positioning of said attaching means near the ground and between a pair of wheels of a vehicle to be towed for locating said claw members directly under respective ones of the wheels with the prongs positioned on opposite sides of the ground engaging portion of the respective wheels whereupon the lifting of said crane portion will lift the vehicle with the pair of wheels cradled in said claw members, and including the further improvement wherein each of said pair of claw members is pivotally mounted on said attaching means and including means biasing said pair inwardly toward one another on their sides remote from said end portion whereby said pair of claw members is open rearwardly of the truck and upon movment of said attaching means toward a pair of automotive vehicle wheels the respective inner sides of the prongs of said claw members on the side of the attaching means adjacent the truck first engage the wheels and the pair of claws are rotated against the force of the biasing means and move the far prongs of the claw members under the wheels on the sides away from the truck, whereby the means for mounting may be lifted to cradle the wheels in said claw members and lift the automotive vehicle.

In an automotive vehicle lifting and towing truck equipment or the like having a rearwardly extending crane and means for positioning a substantial end portion of the crane close to the ground for vehicle lifting purposes, the improvement which comprises:

• a pair of two-pronged outwardly and oppositely opening claw members each having spaced prongs adapted to be positioned below a wheel one prong on each side of the ground contact of the wheel, said pair being adapted when said prongs are so positioned and lifted to cradle a pair of wheels of the vehicle,
• means for attaching said claw members near the end of said portion of said crane and adapting said pair of members to be swingable about an intermediate upright axis whereby said pair of claw members may be positioned along lines at selected angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of said end portion of said crane,
• means effective on positioning of said attaching means near the ground and between a pair of wheels of a vehicle to be towed for locating said claw members directly under respective ones of the wheels with the prongs positioned on opposite sides of the ground engaging portion of the respective wheels whereupon the lifting of said crane portion will lift the vehicle with the pair of wheels cradled in said claw members, and the further improvement wherein said end portion of the crane is a substantially straight elongated member including a longitudinally movable section and pivoted on said crane about a horizontal axis, said elongated member being movable from a position substantially parallel to the ground to an upright position, the further improvement which comprises a power means mounted on said elongated member for selectively moving said section longitudinally outwardly and inwardly and effective in its innermost position for swinging said end portion to and from its upright position.

In an automotive vehicle lifting and towing equipment or the like having a rearwardly extending crane and means for positioning a substantial end portion of the crane close to the ground for vehicle lifting purposes, the improvement which comprises:

• a pair of two-pronged outwardly and oppositely opening claw members each having spaced prongs adapted to be positioned below a wheel one prong on each side of the ground contact of the wheel, said pair being adapted when said prongs are so positioned and lifted to cradle a pair of wheels of the vehicle,
• means for attaching said claw members near the end of said portion of said crane and adapting said pair of members to be swingable about an intermediate upright axis whereby said pair of claw members may be positioned along lines at selected angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of said end portion of said crane,
• means effective on positioning of said attaching means near the ground and between a pair of wheels of a vehicle to be towed for locating said claw members directly under respective ones of the wheels with the prongs positioned on opposite sides of the ground engaging portion of the respective wheels whereupon the lifting of said crane portion will lift the vehicle with the pair of wheels cradled in said claw members, said improvement further including a detachable boot for mounting on one of said prongs for decreasing the effective distance between said prongs to afford quick adjustment of the spacing of the prongs for lifting a wheel having a diameter too small for effective lifting by said pair of prongs.

In an automotive vehicle lifting and towing truck equipment or the like having a rearwardly positioned boom member, the improvement comprising:

• a pair of two-pronged oppositely opening claw members each constructed and arranged to be positioned below a vehicle wheel one prong on each side of the ground contact of the wheel, said pair being adapted when said prongs are so positioned and lifted to cradle a pair of wheels of a vehicle;
• means for mounting said claw members near the end of said boom member and for positioning the claw members adjacent respective ones of a pair of vehicle wheels,
• means effective upon the positioning of said claw members adjacent respective ones of a pair of vehicle wheels for locating said claw members in position below the wheels whereby upon lifting of said boom member the wheels are cradled in said claw members and vehicle may be lifted to a position for towing,
• and including the further improvement wherein said means effective upon positioning of said claw members is actuated by engagement of a prong of each pair with a respective one of the wheels.