Patents by Inventor Lee H. Duncan

Lee H. Duncan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5429382
    Abstract: A vehicle tow bar includes a transverse cross member which mounts one pivotal, elongated leg assembly in fifth position at one end of the cross bar and a second pivotal, elongated leg assembly for movement across the cross bar between a collapsed condition closely adjacent the first leg assembly and an erected, operative position at the opposite end of the cross member. The ends of the leg assemblies opposite the cross member are connected to an apex frame which mounts a socket coupler component of a ball and socket type trailer hitch. Each leg assembly includes telescopic sections for adjusting the length of the leg assembly. A spring loaded locking piston in one leg section of each leg assembly is arranged, when the leg sections are extended, to project into a locking socket in the other leg section of the leg assembly, to secure the leg sections in extended condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Inventor: Lee H. Duncan
  • Patent number: 5224960
    Abstract: A vehicle tow bar includes a transverse cross member which mounts one pivotal, elongated leg assembly in fixed position at one end of the cross member and a second pivotal, elongated leg assembly for movement along the cross member between a collapsed condition closely adjacent the first leg assembly and an erected, operative position at the opposite end of the cross member. Stub shafts reinforce the ends of the cross member at the points of maximum stress. The ends of the leg assemblies opposite the cross member are connected to an apex frame which mounts a socket coupler component of a ball and socket type trailer hitch. Each leg assembly includes telescopic sections for adjusting the length of the leg assembly, and the locking mechanism releasably interconnects the telescopic sections to secure the latter in fully extended, operative towing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventor: Lee H. Duncan
  • Patent number: 5147095
    Abstract: An easily and quickly demountable and stowable vehicle tow bar comprises a substantially Y-shaped frame, the angled towing arms of which are pivoted at a base member for lateral movement relative to one another, and the forwardly projecting center arm, or hitch-mounting reach member, is mounted on the base member for releasable sliding movement relative thereto between an inoperative, extended condition and an operative, retracted condition in which its rear end portion extends between the angled towing arms, link members interconnecting the rear terminal end of the reach member and the opposite towing arms to maintain the reach immovably in position extending equidistantly between the arm members when the reach is in locked, retracted condition for towing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Inventor: Lee H. Duncan
  • Patent number: 5071153
    Abstract: A vehicle tow bar includes a transverse cross member which mounts one elongated leg assembly in fixed position at one end of the cross member and a second elongated leg assembly for movement along the cross member between a collapsed condition closely adjacent the first leg assembly and an erected, operative position at the opposite end of the cross member. Stub shafts reinforce the ends of the cross member at the points of maximum stress. The ends of the leg assemblies opposite the cross member are connected to an apex frame which detachably mounts a socket coupler component of a ball and socket trailer hitch. Each leg assembly includes telescopic sections for adjusting the length of the leg assembly, and a locking pin mechanism releasably interconnects the telescopic sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Inventor: Lee H. Duncan
  • Patent number: 4577883
    Abstract: A vehicle tow bar comprises a longitudinally extending, tubular cross bar mounted laterally across the front of the vehicle to be towed, the cross bar mounting for longitudinal movement thereon, pivotal rotation thereabout, and laterally pivotal movement relative thereto, a longitudinally extensible, two section telescoping reach having a hitch coupler mounted on its forwardmost end arranged for connection to an associated hitch ball component on a tow vehicle. A pair of tow chains connect opposite longitudinal ends of the cross bar to the forwardmost end of the reach and are arranged to become taut when the reach is extended to a desired maximum length. A locking screw on the rear section of the reach releasably engages the forward section of the reach to move the latter forwardly in order to tension the chains attached thereto and to prevent inward collapsing of the telescoping sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Inventor: Lee H. Duncan