Motorcycle towing device

Abstract

A motorcycle towing device includes a substantially vertical member and a substantially horizontal member being interconnected for supporting a motorcycle wheel. A draw bar is connected to at least one of the members for insertion into a receiver mounted on a vehicle. The draw bar has a given outer dimension being smaller than an inner dimension of the receiver. A projection mounted on the draw bar is movable outwardly beyond the given outer dimension of the draw bar for contacting the receiver.

1 . A motorcycle towing device, comprising: 
 a substantially vertical member and a substantially horizontal member being interconnected for supporting a motorcycle wheel;    a draw bar connected to at least one of said members for insertion into a receiver mounted on a vehicle, said draw bar having a given outer dimension being smaller than an inner dimension of the receiver; and    a projection mounted on said draw bar and movable outwardly beyond said given outer dimension of said draw bar for contacting the receiver.    
   
   
       2 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said draw bar and the receiver have rectangular cross sections, and said draw bar is divided into a main section and a wedge forming said projection.  
   
   
       3 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 3 , wherein said wedge is movable outwardly beyond said given outer dimension of said draw bar in two directions for contacting two inner surfaces of the receiver.  
   
   
       4 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 3 , which further comprises a bracket connected at one end to said wedge and having an adjusting screw at another end, said bracket moving said wedge outwardly by turning said screw.  
   
   
       5 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a backing plate integral with said draw bar, said backing plate and said substantially vertical member each having a plurality of holes formed therein permitting vertical adjustment of a combination of said backing plate and said draw bar on said vertical member.  
   
   
       6 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 5 , wherein said draw bar can be completely drawn into the receiver with virtually no space remaining between said backing plate and the receiver and no intervening mechanism, for reducing lateral sway to a minimum.  
   
   
       7 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a backing plate integral with said draw bar, said draw bar being mounted vertically eccentrically on said backing plate for changing a vertical height of said draw bar by rotating said draw bar through 180°.  
   
   
       8 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 5 , wherein said holes in said backing plate are slotted permitting precise height adjustment of the motorcycle wheel.  
   
   
       9 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said substantially vertical member and said substantially horizontal member are U-shaped channels for holding the motorcycle wheel.  
   
   
       10 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 1 , which further comprises supports flexibly interconnecting said substantially vertical and substantially horizontal members with play.  
   
   
       11 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said substantially vertical and substantially horizontal members are movable between a folded condition and an unfolded condition, said substantially vertical and substantially horizontal members being substantially mutually perpendicular in said unfolded condition for supporting the motorcycle wheel and being substantially mutually parallel in said folded condition.  
   
   
       12 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 11 , which further comprises supports interconnecting said substantially vertical and substantially horizontal members and permitting movement between said folded and unfolded conditions.  
   
   
       13 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a handgrip securing harness connected between at least one of said substantially vertical and substantially horizontal members and handgrips of the motorcycle.  
   
   
       14 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 13 , wherein said handgrip securing harness includes straps connected between at least one of said substantially vertical and substantially horizontal members and the handgrips of the motorcycle.  
   
   
       15 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 14 , which further comprises sleeves slipped over the handgrips of the motorcycle and connected to said straps.  
   
   
       16 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 14 , wherein said straps are ratcheting cargo straps having self-ratcheting loops.  
   
   
       17 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 14 , wherein said straps include: 
 two substantially horizontal straps each connected between a respective one of the handgrips of the motorcycle and an upper region of said substantially vertical member; and    two oblique straps each connected between a respective one of the handgrips of the motorcycle and a lower region of said substantially vertical member.    
   
   
       18 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a ramp having a surface for guiding the motorcycle wheel onto said substantially horizontal member, and a tongue to be inserted into a slot formed in said substantially horizontal member, said tongue being long enough to bind against said substantially horizontal member in said slot when said ramp touches the ground.  
   
   
       19 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 1 , which further comprises hooks each connected to a respective end of a bumper of a vehicle, and frame straps connected from said hooks to a mounting fork for the motorcycle wheel.  
   
   
       20 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a locking pin to be inserted through holes formed in said draw bar and corresponding holes in the receiver.  
   
   
       21 . The motorcycle towing device according to  claim 1 , which further comprises cradles mounted to at least one of said substantially vertical and substantially horizontal members for securing a tire disposed on the motorcycle wheel centrally at least at one of said substantially vertical and substantially horizontal members.