摘要 |
An apparatus for stowing and extending for removal a towing dolly used for towing automotive vehicles. The apparatus is formed from a generally vertical support stand which is secured to the bed of a towing vehicle. Pivotally connected to the support stand is a first arm having a range of motion extending from a near vertical storage position to a near horizontal load/unload position. Pivotally attached to the first arm is a second arm which is in a near vertical position during loading and remains in a near vertical position as the first arm is pivoted into the storage position, such that the two arms are now nearly parallel. This relationship is maintained by a gas spring pivotally connected to the support stand and the second arm such that the gas spring maintains a generally parallel configuration with the first arm. A dolly mount is attached to the end of the second arm for releasably securing a towing dolly to the vertical arm. A second embodiment is disclosed whereby a pair of generally parallel, vertically disposed arms are pivotally connected in a spaced apart relation between the support stand and the dolly mount to form a parallelogram linkage. A gas spring is pivotally connected between the support stand and the dolly mount for controlling pivotal rotation of the arms whereby an operator may quickly load and unload a towing dolly from the apparatus.
|