Tow ropes are helpful instruments for getting automobiles unstuck whereas off-roading, however Toyota could have discovered a approach to enhance them.
In a patent utility printed by the US Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) Aug. 1, 2023, Toyota describes a retractable tow rope that rolls out from a reel put in on a car—a bit like a winch.
Toyota retractable tow rope patent picture
Such a system would enable drivers to regulate the size of the tow rope by reeling it in or out, eliminating slack and creating the strain wanted to tow one other car. With typical tow ropes, slack is taken out by driving the towing car ahead till the rope achieves stress, however this is not all the time potential in tight areas, Toyota notes within the utility.
As described within the patent utility, the tow rope, which Toyota says might be both heavy-duty material like nylon and polyester or a metal cable, has notches for adjustability. These can be utilized to safe the rope to the tow hitch of the towing car, as soon as it is reeled out to the optimum size, whereas a hook or different connector on the finish of the rope is mounted to the car being towed.
Toyota retractable tow rope patent picture
Within the utility, Toyota says the reel would probably be housed in a rear wheelwell. This does not look like the best location to entry, however the utility additionally states that the reel could possibly be designed to be retrofitted to present automobiles, and even to be detachable.
Patent purposes do not all the time preview production-ready options, however the timing of this one is fascinating. It is surfacing simply as Toyota is including Trailhunter variants of its off-road fashions, catering to overlanding fanatics. The automaker first confirmed a Tundra Trailhunter idea on the 2022 SEMA present, and confirmed earlier this 12 months {that a} Trailhunter grade will likely be a part of the redesigned 2024 Tacoma lineup. The Land Cruiser can also be returning to the U.S. for the 2024 mannequin 12 months, offering yet one more potential utility.
