US 12,280,624 B2
Self-aligning, rotating D-ring for recovery vehicles
Coty L. Riddle, Chickamauga, GA (US)
Assigned to Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc., Ooltewah, TN (US)
Filed by Coty L. Riddle, Chickamauga, GA (US)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/499,055.
Prior Publication US 2023/0115353 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. B60D 1/24 (2006.01); B60D 1/36 (2006.01); B60D 1/48 (2006.01)
CPC B60D 1/247 (2013.01) [B60D 1/36 (2013.01); B60D 1/488 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotatable, automatically self-aligning device mounted on or associated with a recovery vehicle for supporting and pulling a load, and designed to accommodate both axial and side pulls for the load, comprising:
an outer housing rigidly attached to the recovery vehicle, or to an apparatus or component associated with the recovery vehicle, the outer housing being located in a first plane;
a base plate confined in a second plane parallel to or coincident with the first plane and located adjacent to the outer housing, the base plate being capable of rotating relative to the outer housing;
a structural member having one or more apertures, the structural member attached to, or formed as part of, the base plate; and
at least one shackle pinned to the one or more apertures of the structural member, the shackle being capable of rotating with the base plate, and thereby causing the device to automatically self-align along a centerline of the shackle relative to a direction of the load when a cable threaded from the recovery vehicle through the shackle, pulls an attached load.