US 7,510,204 B2
Towing device for vehicle
Ryuuta Inoue, Shizuoka-ken (Japan); and Masatoshi Takeshita, Shizuoka-ken (Japan)
Assigned to Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha, Shizuoka (Japan)
Filed on Apr. 19, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/406,780.
Claims priority of application No. 2005-120667 (JP), filed on Apr. 19, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2006/0232043 A1, Oct. 19, 2006
Int. Cl. B60D 1/155 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 280—491.3  [280/494] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A towing device capable of coupling a rear part of a front vehicle and a front part of a rear vehicle, the towing device comprising:
a support shaft configured to be positioned on the rear part of the front vehicle such that an axis of the support shaft extends vertically;
a coupled portion configured to be positioned on the front part of the rear vehicle; and
a tow bar having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being capable of being removably coupled to the coupled portion, the proximal end being coupled with the support shaft to be pivotable about the axis of the support shaft;
a grip member configured to be coupled with a vehicle to a lateral side of and forward of the support shaft, the grip member having an upper portion disposed at an elevation at least partially below that of the tow bar;
wherein the tow bar can be pivoted from an extended position in which the distal end can be coupled to the coupled portion to a storage position in which the tow bar can be accommodated in the space below the rear part of the front vehicle, wherein when in the storage position, the upper portion of the grip member engages the tow bar.