The invention relates to a retractable tow hitch for passenger cars in particular.

Various types of retractable tow hitches are known. In general, the retractable tow hitches are movable between a position of use, in which the tow hitch extends rearward from the car, in longitudinal direction of the car, and a position of storage, shielded from the surroundings, extending in a plane substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of the car. In one type of retractable tow hitch, disclosed in DE-A-195.21.896, the tow rod is provided with the tow ball at one end and with a nose at the other end. The tow rod is provided with sideward projecting stubs that in the position of use, or operative position, are received in recesses arranged in the lower edge of a vertical sleeve which is fixed to the car. At a location at the side of the stubs facing the ball end, the tow rod is attached to two vertical suspension rods, which are vertically movable. The sleeve is furthermore provided with an aperture for accommodation of the nose. When the tow hitch is to be moved from the position of use to the position of storage, the locking nose is released so as to permit the tow rod to tilt downward with its ball end, the stubs moving out of the recesses and the tow hitch being suspended from the

suspension rods. As a result, the tow ball will assume a lowered position, below the level of the bumper of the car. Then the tow hitch is rotated about a vertical axis over 90 degrees, bringing the tow rod into an orientation transverse to the longitudinal direction of the car, in the position of storage. In this position of storage, the tow rod is held in position by suspension from the suspension rods, allowing the tow rod some freedom of movement in a vertical plane perpendicular to the stubs. In addition, in the position of storage, the tow ball remains at a relatively low level.

A further embodiment is disclosed in German patent application 10004523, in which a tow rod provided with a ball is attached to a vertically extending rod, which rod can be rotated about a vertical axis and can be moved up and down by a motor. The lower end of the slidable rod must be moved to a level enabling an unhindered passage underneath the bumper during rotation of the tow hitch between an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the car and a rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car.

In another type of retractable tow hitch, disclosed in German patent application 198 26 618, the tow rod has a vertically extending mounting portion which is accommodated in a vertical housing secured to the car so as to be slidable up and down as well as to be rotatable about a vertical axis over 90 degrees. When being moved by operating means from the position of use to the position of storage, the tow rod is lowered, then rotated about an angle of 90 degrees and finally raised. In order to permit an unimpeded movement of the tow ball underneath the bumper, the distance over which the tow rod is lowered must be rather large, with the same consequences for the length of the tow rod portion and its vertical guide. European patent application 1.090.782 discloses a retractable tow hitch, which is pulled into the position of use and locked therein by means of an electromotor. After

release of the locking, the tow hook can be rotated over 90 degrees, about a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the passenger car, into a horizontal orientation. In that position, the tow hook can be lowered to expose a hinge and then be rotated over 90 degrees about a vertical axis so as to bring the tow hook into engagement with a holder for keeping the tow hook in a position of storage. In a preferred embodiment the whole movement of the tow hook between both positions is carried out by the electromotor.

It is an object of the invention to provide a retractable tow hitch of simple construction.

It is another object of the invention to provide a retractable tow hitch that is easy to be transferred from the position of use to the position of storage and back again, possibly by hand.

From one aspect, the invention provides a tow hitch assembly comprising a tow hitch member having a tow hitch rod and a tow hitch ball, and a holder device for the tow hitch member, wherein the holder device comprises holder parts which are to be fixedly secured to the vehicle, such as a passenger car, wherein the tow hitch member is connected to the holder device so as to be rotatable about more than one axis for movement with respect to the holder parts and the vehicle between a primary orientation in which the tow hitch ball has a low position and at least a first and a second secondary orientation in which the tow hitch ball has a higher position, wherein said more than one axis intersect at a location which is stationary in vertical level during said movement, the assembly further comprising a locking device for locking the tow hitch member in at least said first secondary orientation, said locking device being located between the inner end of the tow hitch member and the tow hitch ball, in particular at a location along the tow hitch rod. Such an embodiment enables a simple build-up of an easy-to-use retractable tow hitch assembly.

In case the first secondary position corresponds to the position of use, the pulling forces exerted on the tow hitch member during use can be taken by the locking device, so that the rotational connection of the tow hitch member to the vehicle can be relieved from those pulling forces to a large extent.

In a further embodiment, the tow hitch member is connected to the holder device for said movement in a non- motorized manner, preferably by hand and by gravity. This embodiment is in particular low-cost and therefore affordable to many users .

In a further simple embodiment, the holder device comprises a holder member which forms part of the holder parts and is to be fixed -directly or indirectly- to the vehicle, and the tow hitch member is attached to the holder member by means of a hinge having more than one axis of rotation, such as a ball hinge.

For ease of operation, in particular in case the tow hitch member is moved by hand, the ball hinge may be provided with guide edges for guiding the movement of the tow hitch member during said movement.

The tow hitch member may be rotatable with respect to the holder parts or the vehicle about a first axis and about a second axis which is at an angle to the first axis, wherein the first axis has a dominant upward directional component, and is preferably substantially vertical and wherein the second axis has a dominant horizontal directional component and is preferably substantially horizontal. In another embodiment, of the tow hitch assembly according to the invention, the holder device comprises a holder member which is rotatable with respect to the vehicle about a first axis and the tow hitch member is rotatable with respect to the holder member about a second axis which is at an angle to the first axis. In this embodiment, the rotational connection between tow hitch member and vehicle is built up from two or more rotational

connections that may be non-coincident, spaced from one another.

Here too, the first axis may have a dominant upward directional component, and is preferably substantially vertical. Likewise, the second axis may have a dominant horizontal directional component and is preferably substantially horizontal.

The holder member may be elongated and the rotation axis coincides with a longitudinal axis of the elongated holder member.

In a further development of the above described embodiments, the locking device is provided with operation means for locking and/or unlocking the locking device by hand, so that the tow hitch member can be transferred from a position of use to a position of storage and vice versa by hand, rendering the construction simple and keeping the manufacturing costs low.

In a further embodiment, the locking device comprises first locking means which are fixed to the holder device, said tow hitch member being provided with second locking means, wherein the assembly is furthermore provided with third locking means for locking the first and second locking means to each other in said first secondary orientation of the tow hitch member. The holder device may be provided with fourth locking means arranged for locking cooperation with the second locking means and preferably the third locking means for locking the fourth and second locking means to each other in said second secondary orientation of the tow hitch member, wherein, preferably, the fourth locking means provide a positioning means for the tow hitch member in its second secondary orientation.

The first and fourth locking means may be oriented substantially transverse to each other, and/or the first and second secondary orientations of the tow hitch member are substantially transverse to each other, corresponding to the position of use and the position of storage.

In a simple and reliably working structure, the first and fourth locking means comprise holes and the third locking means comprise a locking pin insertable in said holes, wherein preferably the tow hitch bar is provided with a hole forming the second locking means. Such a locking pin is easy to handle.

The first locking means may comprise two plates fixedly secured to the holder parts, wherein the plates leave an upward passage free for movement of the tow hitch member towards and away from the first secondary position.

In all embodiments, the tow hitch member may be attached to the holder device at an inner end of the tow hitch member. In that case the rotational components may be more easily shielded from the rear side of a passenger car, as the distance from the tow hitch ball will be largest here. In addition, such a location distal from the tow hitch ball facilitates the handling of the tow hitch member by hand.

In a further embodiment, in the first secondary orientation the tow hitch ball is located at a higher level than in a second secondary orientation. Usually, in its first secondary orientation the tow hitch member is in its position of use, and in its second secondary orientation the tow hitch member is in its position of storage. Prom another aspect, the invention provides a tow hitch assembly comprising a tow hitch member having a tow hitch rod and a tow hitch ball, and a holder device for the tow hitch member, wherein the holder device is provided with means for mounting the holder device to a vehicle, such as a passenger car, and a holder member, wherein holder member is attached to the holder device so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis, the tow hitch member at an inner end thereof being attached to the holder member so as to be hingeable about a hinge axis substantially transverse to the rotation axis.

In further development of this embodiment, that is stably operable, the holder member is elongated and the

rotation axis coincides with a longitudinal axis of the elongated holder member. The hinge axis and the rotation axis may intersect, and/or in the position of use the rotation axis is vertical, and/or the hinge axis is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis.

From another aspect, the invention provides a tow hitch assembly comprising a tow hitch member having a tow hitch rod and a tow hitch ball, and a holder device for the tow hitch member, wherein the holder device is provided with means for mounting the holder device to a vehicle, such as a passenger car, wherein the tow hitch member is attached to the holder device so as to be rotatable about more than one axis for movement with respect to the vehicle between a primary orientation in which the tow hitch ball has a low position and at least a first and a second secondary orientation in which the tow hitch ball has a higher position, the assembly further comprising a locking device for locking the tow hitch member in at least one of said secondary orientations, said locking device comprising a hole in the tow hitch member and a locking pin which is insertable in said hole.

The locking device may comprise a locking member fixedly attached to the vehicle and provided with a hole for passage of the locking pin. The locking device may be located between the inner end of the tow hitch member and the tow hitch ball.

Said more than one axis may intersect at a location which is stationary in vertical level during said movement. From another aspect, the invention provides a tow hitch assembly comprising a tow hitch member having a tow hitch rod and a tow hitch ball, and a holder device for the tow hitch member, wherein the holder device is provided with means for mounting the holder device to a vehicle, such as a passenger car, and an elongated holder member, wherein the tow hitch member is rotatable about a rotation axis substantially parallel to the elongated holder member,

the tow hitch member being attached to the holder member by a hinge so as to be hingeable about a hinge axis substantially transverse to the rotation axis between a primary orientation in which the tow hitch ball has a low position and at least a first and a second secondary orientation in which the tow hitch ball has a higher position.

From another aspect, the invention provides a tow hitch assembly comprising a tow hitch member having a tow hitch rod and a tow hitch ball, and a holder device for the tow hitch member, wherein the holder device is provided with means for mounting the holder device to a vehicle, such as a passenger car, and a holder member, wherein the tow hitch member is attached to the holder member so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis, the tow hitch member being attached to the holder member by a hinge so as to be hingeable about a hinge axis substantially transverse to the rotation axis between a primary orientation in which the tow hitch ball has a low position and at least a first and a second secondary orientation in which the tow hitch ball has a higher position.

From another aspect, the invention provides a tow hitch assembly comprising a tow hitch member having a tow hitch rod and a tow hitch ball, and a holder device for the tow hitch member, wherein the holder device is provided with means for mounting the holder device to a vehicle, such as a passenger car, wherein the tow hitch member is hinged to the holder device so as to be rotatable about more than one axis to enable transfer of the tow hitch member between a primary orientation in which the tow hitch ball has a low position and at least a first and a second secondary orientation in which the tow hitch ball has a higher position, further comprising a locking device for locking the tow hitch member in at least said first secondary orientation, said locking device being located between the inner end of the tow hitch member and the tow hitch ball. The hinge may be a ball hinge. The ball hinge

may have a housing fixed to the holder device and a ball secured to the tow hitch bar, wherein the housing is provided with one or more guiding edges for guiding the hinging movement of the ball in the housing. The ball may be connected to the tow hitch bar, preferably the inner end thereof, by a connector, such as a rod, and the housing has guide edges for the connector.

From another aspect, the invention provides a passenger car provided with a tow hitch assembly according to the invention. In a simple embodiment, the car comprises a rear cross beam, wherein the holder device is attached to the rear cross beam. Preferably, in the second secondary orientation, the tow hitch ball is located below the rear cross beam. The aspects and measures described and/or shown in the application can where possible also be used individually. Said individual aspects and other aspects may be the subject of divisional patent applications related thereto. The invention will be elucidated on the basis of exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the tow hitch assembly according to the invention, from the rear side; Figures IA-C show details, from the rear and from the front, respectively, of the front end of the tow hitch assembly of figure 1;

Figure 2A shows a first stage in the retraction of the tow hook of the tow hitch assembly of figure 1; Figure 2B shows a second stage in the retraction of the tow hook of the tow hitch assembly of figure 1;

Figure 2C shows a third stage in the retraction of the tow hook of the tow hitch assembly of figure 1;

Figure 2D shows a fourth stage in the retraction of the tow hook of the tow hitch assembly of figure 1;

Figure 2E shows a final, locking stage in the retraction of the tow hook of the tow hitch assembly of

f igure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the tow hitch assembly according to the invention, in a side view, in the position of use; Figures 3A-C show details of the hinge connection of the tow hitch member of the tow hitch assembly of figure 3;

Figure 4 shows the tow hitch assembly of figure 3 in a stage of movement from the position of use towards the position of non-use;

Figure 4A shows a detail of figure 4;

Figure 5 shows the tow hitch assembly of figure 3 in a further stage of movement from the position of use towards the position of non-use; and Figure 6 shows the tow hitch assembly of figure 3 in yet a further stage of movement from the position of use towards the position of non-use.

In figure 1 the tow hitch assembly 1 according to the invention includes a cross beam or bar 100 which is to be attached to the chassis of a passenger car (not shown) and forms part of a holder device for a tow hitch member 2.

The tow hitch assembly 1 thus comprises a tow hook (tow hitch member) 2, which at its outer end is provided with a ball 3 which forms a unity with a tow bar or rod 4, which serves to attach the tow hook 2 to fastening means attached to the cross beam or bar 100 and to transfer towing forces exerted on the ball 3 to the cross beam 100 and through the cross beam 100 to the chassis of the vehicle. As can be seen in figures IB and 1C, a short vertical rod 14 has been attached to the cross beam 100. The rod 14 is attached to the cross beam 100 in a rotary- fixed manner by means of nuts 26a and 26b and locking rings (not shown) . A sleeve or ring 13 has been mounted on a lower portion of the vertical rod 14 extending below the cross beam 100, so as to be freely rotatable about an axis S of

the vertical rod 14, supported by nut 26c which is locked on rod 14 (figure IB) .

Two vertical plates 15a, 15b form one fixed unity with the sleeve ring 13, so as to be rotatable therewith about axis S, and form a generally inverted U-shaped member with the sleeve or ring 13.

At their lower end, the plates 15a, 15b have been provided with aligned holes, through which a horizontally oriented bolt 16 extends, fastened to the plates 15a,b by means of nut 17 and bolt head 18.

The tow bar 4 has an outer inner end 5, which is provided with a horizontally extending bore or hole 6. As can be seen in figures IB and 1C, the bolt 16 extends through the hole 6, the tow bar inner end 5 being in part accommodated within a space formed between the plates 15a, 15b. The connection of the tow bar inner end 5 to the plates 15a, 15b by means of the bolt 16 is such that the tow bar 4 is rotatable about an axis T of bolt 16 in a vertical plane, with respect to the plates 15a, 15b. As can be seen in all figures, at the rear side of the vertical rod 14 two inclined plates 10a, 10b have been secured by welding to the cross beam 100 and define a generally V-shaped space. At their lower ends, the plates 10a, 10b merge into vertical and parallel lower plate ends 11a, lib, which are spaced apart so as to enable the accommodation of the tow bar 4 in between them.

The lower end plates 11a, lib have been provided with aligned holes 12a,b, for accommodation of a locking pin 21 of a locking member 20, as can be seen in figure IA. The locking member 20 has been provided with a handle 22 at one end, and with a locking groove 24 at its other end, vide figure IB. A locking spring clamp 23 has been slid transversely over this outer end of the pin 21, accommodated in the groove 24, so that the locking pin 21 is secured against removal.

At a distance from its inner end 5 the tow bar 4 has been provided with a transverse hole 7, which is

dimensioned to closely receive the pin 21 when aligned with the holes 12a,b.

As can be seen in figures IB and 1C, the lower plate 11a has been provided with a plate 30, that is oriented in a vertical plane and, considered in the horizontal plane, is at an angle of 90 degrees to the lower plate 11a. The plate 30 slopes downward at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, and is provided with a hole 31, which is dimensioned to closely receive the pin 21, as will be discussed later.

In case the user wants to transfer the tow hitch assembly 1 from the position of use depicted in figure 1 to the retracted position of storage depicted in figure 2E, he takes the ring 23a of locking wire 23 and pulls the locking clamp 23 towards him, so as to release it from the groove 24 and from the outer end of the pin 21 (figure 2A) .

He then takes the handle 22 of locking member 20, to pull the pin 21 out of the holes 12a, 12b of the lower plates 11a, lib and hole 7 of the tow bar 4 (figure 2B) . Then the tow bar 4 is attached to the rear cross beam 100 (indirectly) at its inner end 5 by hinge pin 16 only. As a consequence, the tow bar 4 will be able to cant freely downwards in direction C (figure 2C) , to a position in which the tow hook 2 rests on a sub surface, in particular the pavement.

In that position, the user can easily take the ball 3 so as to move the tow hook 2 to the position in figure 2D, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the car, in which movement (arrow D) the inner end 5 of the tow bar 4 will be rotated about vertical axis S, about an angle of

90 degrees.

Then the user puts his hand below the tow bar 4 and urges the tow hook 2 upward in direction E into the position depicted in figure 2E, in which the tow bar 4 is adjacent the plate 30. The user ensures that the hole 7 is aligned with the hole 31 in plate 30, and then takes the handle 22 of locking member 20, and inserts the pin 21

into, first, hole 7 of tow bar 4 and then into hole 31 of plate 30. The plate 30 may serve as an abutment for tow rod 4 preventing further rotation of the tow rod 4 about the axis S during the insertion of the pin 21. Finally, he takes the clamping wire 23 by its ring 23a, and places the clamping wire 23 on the pin 21 again, after which it is clampingly accommodated in groove 24 of the pin end to lock the pin end. The tow hook 2 is then secured in the position of storage, parallel to the cross beam 100. As can be seen in figures 2A and 2E the level of the ball 3 in the position of storage is lower than the level of the ball 3 in the position of use, which is realised by a suitable location of hole 31 and by suitable location and dimensions of the plate 30. In case the user wants to use the tow hitch assembly 1 again, the aforementioned steps are executed in reverse order.

The second exemplary embodiment of a tow hitch assembly according to the invention, depicted in figures 3- 6, comprises a tow hitch assembly 101, attached to a cross bar 100 which is to be secured to a vehicle (further not shown) . Two vertical plates 110a,b have been fixedly secured to the beam 100. The plates 110a,b define a vertical space 160 in which tow hitch member 102 can be accommodated, in the position of use depicted in figure 3.

Tow hitch member 102 comprises a tow hitch ball 103 and a tow bar 104 having an inner end 105. Halfway, the tow bar 104 has been provided with a transverse through- hole 107, which hole 107 can be aligned with holes 112a,b in vertical plates 110a,b. In order to secure the tow hitch member 2 in the position of use, a pin 121 is inserted through the holes 112a,b and 107 and secured in that position, in a manner not shown but similar to the securing of the pin 21 in the previous example. At their front edges, the plates 110a,b are connected to each other by a transverse, vertical plate 115. A bearing housing 132 is fixedly attached to the plate

115, and defines (vide figures 3A-C) a housing for bearing ball 131, which is fixedly attached to the inner end 105 of tow bar 104 via neck 130.

In the position of use, vide also figure 3B, the neck or rod 130 extends through a rearward directed opening

134 of bearing housing 132. The opening 134 is limited by flanged edge 134a, which extends in a vertical plane, perpendicular to the neck 130.

As can be seen in figures 3A and 3C, the edge 134a is interrupted to leave a passage 135 free. The passage 135 merges into opening 136 in the bearing housing 132, which opening 136 is limited by edge 133.

Fixed to the plate 110a, perpendicular thereto, is a plate 150, which is provided with a hole 151, for accommodation of the pin 121 for storing the tow bar 104 in the position of non-use.

In order to transfer the tow bar 104 from the position of use of figure 3, via the intermediate positions depicted in figures 4, 5 and 6, to a position of non-use (not shown) , the user removes the locking pin 121, as a result of which the tow bar 4 will fall downward in direction C. In this movement, the neck 130 passes through the opening 135, the tow bar 4 rotating about a horizontal axis T through the centre of the ball bearing 131/132, guided by the side plates 110a,b. This motion of the tow bar 104 can take place under the influence of gravity due to the tow bars 4 own weight.

The opening 136 allows the tow bar 4 to cant downwards until the tow bar 104 hits the ground. Then, the user can grasp the tow bar 104, and rotate it about, for instance a vertical axis through the centre of the ball bearing 131/132 to a position below the locking plate 150

(figure 6) , and then upwards to bring the hole 107 in line with the hole 151, after which the locking pin 121 can be inserted and secured to lock the tow bar 104 in the position of non-use.

The ball bearing 131/132 permits various other

directions of movement, for instance a combined rotation about a vertical axis and a rotation about a horizontal axis T which rotates together with the ball 131.

As can be seen, all movements and locking and unlocking actions can be performed by hand (from the outside of the car) , rendering the tow hitch assembly discussed simple in construction and therefore of low cost.

The tow hitch assembly according to the invention, including the parts for its operation/movement, is located outside the car with all its components, so that no particular provisions inside the car need to be made for mounting and operating the tow hitch assembly.