Folding tow bar apparatus and methods

A tow bar apparatus mountable on a first vehicle for attachment to a second vehicle, the tow bar apparatus comprising:

• a support mountable to the first vehicle;
• two jointed arms each pivotally mounted to the support at one end of each arm and to each other at an opposite end of each arm;
• coupling means interconnected with at least one of the jointed arms adjacent the opposite ends of the jointed arms for attaching the tow bar to the second vehicle;
• and
• lock means associated with each jointed arm for selectively locking each of the jointed arms, each of the lock means including:
• a first member;
• a second member with opposing portions, the second member rigidly mounted to the first member;
• a third member slidably mounted between the opposing portions of the second member, the third member being slideably moveable in a longitudinal direction relative to the second member, an end of the third member including an angled surface at an angle less than 90.degree. relative to the longitudinal direction;
• spring means for biasing the third member toward the first position to define a gap between the first member and the third member, the third member moveable in the longitudinal direction against the biasing means to a second position to provide access to the gap;
• and
• a projection pivotally mounted to the first member, the projection including an end portion with a U-shaped cross-section with two end legs and a middle leg between the end legs, the middle leg being positionable in the gap to lock the projection from movement relative to the first arm, the projection and the first member forming pivotal portions of the jointed arm, the projection being moveable toward the gap during relative rotational movement of the projection and the first member subsequent to locking of the jointed arm, the middle leg of the projection further being slidably engageable with the angled surface of the third member during relative rotational movement of the projection and the first member subsequent to locking of the jointed arm to slidably move the third member to the second position wherein the middle leg of the projection is positionable relative to the gap such that the spring means biases the third member toward the first position to lock the projection and the first member from relative rotational movement, the first member positioned between the end legs of the projection in the locked position.

A tow bar apparatus mountable on a first vehicle for attachment to a second vehicle, said tow bar apparatus comprising:

• a support mountable to the first vehicle to be towed;
• a first arm with first and second ends;
• first pivot means for pivotally mounting the first end of the first arm to the support;
• a second arm with first and second ends;
• second pivot means for pivotally mounting the first end of the second arm to the support;
• a third arm with first and second ends;
• third pivot means for pivotally mounting the second end of the first arm to the first end of the third arm;
• a fourth arm with first and second ends;
• fourth pivot means for pivotally mounting the second end of the second arm to the first end of the fourth arm;
• fifth pivot means for pivotally mounting the second end of the third arm to the second end of the fourth arm;
• first lock means for selectively locking said third pivot means to prevent relative rotational movement between the first arm and the third arm, wherein said first lock means includes:
• a first member;
• a second member slidably mounted to the first member;
• spring means for biasing the second member toward the first position to define a gap between the first and second members, the second member moveable to a second position to provide access to the gap;
• the first member, the second member, and the spring means forming at least a portion of the first or third arms;
• the other of the first or third arms including a projection which is positionable in the gap to lock the first and third arms from relative rotational movement;
• and
• the rotational being moveable toward the gap during relative rotational movement of the first and third arms subsequent to locking, the projection further being slidably engageable with the second member to slidably move the second member to the second position wherein the projection is positionable relative to the gap such that said spring means biases the second member toward the first position to lock the first and third arms from relative rotational movement;
• second lock means for selectively locking said fourth pivot means to prevent relative movement between the second arm and the fourth arm;
• coupling means interconnected with at least one of the third and fourth arms for attaching the tow bar apparatus to the second vehicle to tow the first vehicle, wherein the coupling means is pivotally moveable relative to both the third and fourth arms;
• and
• means for selectively locking the coupling means to one of the third and fourth arms in a first position and in a second position for preventing relative rotational movement between the coupling means and the third or fourth arm, the first position locking the coupling means in a vehicle towing position for use in towing the first vehicle, the second position locking the coupling means in an apparatus stowing position for use in stowing the tow bar apparatus on the first vehicle.