VEHICLE-TOWING APPARATUS WHICH IS COMPACTABLE FOR STORAGE IN A VEHICLE
A towing apparatus, the apparatus includes two or more parallel wheel assemblies, one or more load-bearing platform, operationally coupled one or more of the wheel assemblies, and an expansion mechanism for changing a transverse distance between the two parallel wheel assemblies to reversibly configure the towing apparatus alternately between a closed state and an open state.
1 . A towing apparatus comprising:
a. at least two parallel wheel assemblies,
b. at least one load-bearing platform, operationally coupled to at least one of said wheel assemblies, and
c. an expansion mechanism for changing a transverse distance between said two parallel wheel assemblies to reversibly configure the towing apparatus alternately between a closed state and an open state.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
d. two ramps for enabling a vehicle to move onto and off of said at least one load-bearing platform.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the towing apparatus comprises two load bearing platforms that are substantially adjacent to each other when the towing apparatus is in said closed state.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 where said expansion mechanism includes two hydraulic cylinders operationally coupled to said at least one load-bearing platform.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 where one of said two hydraulic cylinders also serves as a gate for securing a towed vehicle.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:
d. a safety latch for securing said hydraulic cylinder when said hydraulic cylinder serves as said gate.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the towing apparatus comprises four load-bearing platforms for being positioned beneath four wheels of a towed vehicle wherein each of said load-bearing platforms includes two parallel struts, a first said strut for being positioned behind one of said wheels of said towed vehicle and a second said strut for being positioned in front of said wheel, for each of said four wheels.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 where each load-bearing platform includes a mechanism for adjusting a distance between said two parallel struts.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the towing apparatus is adapted to be reversibly configured alternately in a lowed state for vehicle entry and exit and in a raised state for unobstructed travel.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising at least one scissor lift for reversibly configuring the towing apparatus alternately in said lowered state and said raised state.
11 . The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder for reversibly configuring the towing apparatus alternately in said lowered stand and in said raised state.
12 . The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:
d. two ramps for moving a vehicle onto and off of said at least one load-bearing platform.
13 . The apparatus of claim 9 where said at least one load-bearing platform is configured in said lowered state to lie sufficiently low so as to allow entry and exit of a towed vehicle.
14 . The apparatus of claim 12 where said two ramps are adapted to be positioned perpendicular to said at least one load-bearing platform to secure a towed vehicle.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a width of the towing apparatus, when configured in said closed state, is at most about 50% of a width of the towing apparatus when configured in said open state.
16 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a width of the towing apparatus, when configured in said closed state, is at most about 30% of a width of the towing apparatus when configured in said open state.
17 . The apparatus of claim 1 where a width of the towing apparatus, when configured in said closed state, is at most about 10% of a width of the towing apparatus when configured in said open state.
18 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a winch for operatively moving a vehicle onto and off of the towing apparatus.