AN AUTOMOTIVE TOW HITCH DEVICE
The present invention relates to an automotive tow hitch device including a body for coupling to a vehicle, and defining a receiver for receiving a shackle arrangement for coupling to another vehicle. Advantageously, either vehicle can be used to tow and extract the other vehicle when stuck using the shackle arrangement,
1 . An automotive tow hitch device including a body configured for coupling to a first vehicle, and defining a receiver configured for receiving a shackle arrangement for coupling to a second vehicle, wherein the receiver includes a receiver aperture having a sloped portion configured to reduce wear on the shackle arrangement when the shackle arrangement is received in the receiver aperture.
2 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein either the first vehicle or the second vehicle can be used to tow and extract the other vehicle when stuck using the shackle arrangement.
3 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the body defines a tail configured for being received within the first vehicle and a head configured for protruding from the first vehicle.
4 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the tail defines one or more fastener apertures, each of the fastener apertures being configured for receiving a respective fastener.
5 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the tail is squarish.
6 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the tail has a chamfered end.
7 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the head defines the receiver.
8 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the head is rounded.
9 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the head defines an inclined end to facilitate reflection of light.
10 . (canceled)
11 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the receiver aperture is not more than 23 mm, in at least one of a horizontal plane and a vertical plane.
12 . (canceled)
13 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the receiver aperture has rounded edges configured to impede damage to the shackle arrangement under tension.
14 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device is integrally formed from billet metal.
15 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device is anodized.
16 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shackle arrangement includes a soft shackle.
17 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the soft shackle is formed from at least one of a resilient material and rope.
18 . An automotive tow hitch device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the soft shackle includes a shackle head configured for coupling to a tail to form an endless loop passing through the receiver aperture.
19 . (canceled)
20 . An automotive tow method, comprising:
coupling a body of a device to a vehicle; and
coupling a shackle arrangement, received in a receiver of the body, to another vehicle,
wherein the receiver includes a receiver aperture having a sloped portion configured to reduce wear on the shackle arrangement.
21 . An automotive tow hitch system, comprising:
a shackle arrangement; and
an automotive tow hitch device including a body configured for coupling to a first vehicle, and defining a receiver configured for receiving the shackle arrangement for coupling to a second vehicle, wherein the receiver includes a receiver aperture having a sloped portion configured to reduce wear on the shackle arrangement when the shackle arrangement is received in the receiver aperture.