BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to systems and methods of towing, hitching, and connecting devices. In particular, this disclosure relates to tow devices, hitches, and connections for towing item containers behind vehicles, both autonomous and manually guided.

SUMMARY

Methods and apparatuses or devices disclosed herein each have several aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this disclosure, for example, as expressed by the claims which follow, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description” one will understand how the described features provide advantages that include towing and connections.

In some variants, a tow hitch is disclosed herein that can releasably couple to a wire container. The tow hitch can include a main body. The main body can have a front face, a top side, and/or a bottom side. The tow hitch can include a hitch receiver that can be disposed on the front face. The tow hitch can include at least one top flange that can be disposed on the top side of the main body. The tow hitch can include at least one small flange that can be disposed on the top side of the main body proximate the at least one top flange. The tow hitch can include at least one bottom flange that can be disposed on a bottom side of the main body opposite the at least one top flange.

In some variants, the tow hitch can include at least one support structure. The at least one support structure can be coupled to the front face of the main body and the hitch receiver. The at least one support structure can extend in a transverse direction from a longitudinal direction of the hitch receiver.

In some variants, the hitch receiver can be formed having an aperture formed therein. The aperture can extend a length of the hitch receiver.

In some variants, a portion of a perimeter of the aperture can be defined by the front face of the main body.

In some variants, the at least one top flange can include a first vertical portion, a horizontal portion, and/or a second vertical portion. The first vertical portion can be coplanar with the front face of the main body. The horizontal portion can extend perpendicularly from the first vertical portion. The second vertical portion can extend perpendicularly from the horizontal portion such that the second vertical portion is parallel to and offset from the first vertical portion.

In some variants, the tow device can include two top flanges spaced apart from each other.

In some variants, the two top flanges can be horizontally spaced apart such that the two top flanges and two bottom flanges can fit in spaces between adjacent vertical wires of a wire container.

In some variants, the at least one bottom flange can include a horizontal portion and a vertical portion. The horizontal portion can extend perpendicularly from the bottom side of the main body. The vertical portion can extend perpendicularly from the horizontal portion.

In some variants, the tow hitch can include two bottom flanges that can be spaced apart from each other.

In some variants, the at least one small flange can include a single member that can extend away at an angle from a front face of the main body.

In some variants, the at least one small flange can secure the tow hitch to a wire container with a snap fit. The at least one small flange can snap under a third horizontal wire of the wire container when a force is applied to the tow hitch, which can result in a first horizontal wire applying a force against the at least one top flange and the third horizontal wire applying a force against the at least one small flange.

In some variants, a tow hitch is disclosed herein that can releasably couple to a wire container. The tow hitch can include a main body. The main body can have a first end and a second end. The tow hitch can include a hitch receiver that can be disposed on the first end. The tow hitch can include a locking member. The locking member can include an actuator that can selectively move from a locked position to an unlocked position. The tow hitch can include two flanges that can be disposed on the second end of the main body. The tow hitch can include two small flanges that can be disposed on the bottom surface of the main body and at the second end.

In some variants, a hook can be disposed on a surface of the main body such that the tow device can be hung for storage.

In some variants, the hitch receiver can include a cylindrical cross section.

In some variants, the hitch receiver can be formed having an aperture therein that extends a length of the hitch receiver.

In some variants, the two flanges can each include a horizontal portion that can be parallel to a bottom surface of the main body.

In some variants, the two small flanges can each include a single member that can extend away from the bottom surface at an angle.

In some variants, the actuator of the locking member can selectively change between a lock position and unlock position. An engagement portion of the locking member can interface with a mating portion of a tow device when the actuator is changed to the lock position. The engagement portion of the locking member may not interface with the mating portion of a tow device when the actuator is changed to the unlock position.

In some variants, the hitch receiver can extends through the main body.

In some variants, the first end of the main body can be narrower than the second end of the main body.

