Towing device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The towing device shown in the drawings includes a sleeve 1 having a flange 2, an externally threaded surface 3 on which a spring washer 4 and locknut 5 are located, an internal bore 6, an annular groove 7 and a longitudinally extending groove 8.
The towing device further includes an element 20 comprising a towball 21, a flange 22, a shank 23, transverse bores 24 and a longitudinal bore 25.
The longitudinal bore 25 is internally screwthreaded at 26 and an externally threaded screw 27 having a screwdriver slot 28 and spring locating pin 29 is received in that thread 26.
The bore 25 also contains a spring 31 and actuator 32.
The bores 24 contain balls 33.
The actuator 32 is enlarged at 34, has a spring locating pin 35 and projects from a recess 36 in the towball 21.
A pin 37 projects from the shank 23.
In use, the sleeve 1 is fitted to an appropriately shaped hole in a draw bar of a vehicle with the flange 2 uppermost and the spring washer 4 and locknut 5 are used to secure it to the draw bar.
The element 20 is then aligned above the bore 6 and is rotated so that the pin 37 is aligned with the groove 8.
The shank 23 is then inserted in the bore 6 and the actuator 32 is depressed to move the enlarged portion at 34 away from the balls 33 against the bias imparted by the spring 31.
The balls 33 can then retract into the bores 24.
When the flanges 2 and 22 are in abutment, the balls 33 will be aligned with the groove 7 and if the actuator 32 is released it will be moved by the spring 31 to cause the balls 33 to project outward of the shank 23 to locate in that groove and thereby capture the element 20 to the sleeve 1.
To remove the element 20 it is only necessary to depress the actuator 32 and lift the element 20 from the sleeve 1.
The above described device is simple to use and will enable towballs to be changed or removed when not required.
The claims form part of the disclosure of this invention.
Modifications and adaptations may be made to the above described without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which includes every novel feature and combination of features disclosed herein