U.S. patent application number 16/014303 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-22 for adaptation of a front winch device on a vehicle to raise a load to the rear of a vehicle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Carl L. Anderson. Invention is credited to Carl L. Anderson.
Application Number | 20180334365 16/014303 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57147378 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180334365 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anderson; Carl L. |
November 22, 2018 |
ADAPTATION OF A FRONT WINCH DEVICE ON A VEHICLE TO RAISE A LOAD TO
THE REAR OF A VEHICLE
Abstract
A method of connecting a cable of a winch mounted on a front of
a vehicle to an object to the rear of the vehicle includes
removably placing a first support member including a first cable
guide member extending from the first support member on a first
surface of the vehicle so that the first support member contacts
the surface of the vehicle. The method further include extending
the cable from the winch rearward to be seated in the first cable
guide member and to extend rearward therefrom. The method also
include connecting the cable to the object to the rear of the
vehicle.
Inventors: |
Anderson; Carl L.; (Chicora,
PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Anderson; Carl L. |
Chicora |
PA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57147378 |
Appl. No.: |
16/014303 |
Filed: |
June 21, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15139431 |
Apr 27, 2016 |
10005647 |
|
|
16014303 |
|
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62153160 |
Apr 27, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B66D 1/60 20130101; B66D
1/00 20130101; B66D 1/36 20130101; B60P 3/00 20130101; B60P 1/00
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B66D 1/36 20060101
B66D001/36; B66D 1/00 20060101 B66D001/00; B60P 3/00 20060101
B60P003/00; B60P 1/00 20060101 B60P001/00; B66D 1/60 20060101
B66D001/60 |
Claims
1. A method of connecting a cable of a winch mounted on a front of
a vehicle to an object to the rear of the vehicle, comprising:
removably placing a first support member comprising a first cable
guide member extending from the first support member on a first
surface of a roof of the vehicle so that the first support member
rests on the first surface of the vehicle without interconnection
between the first support member and the roof of the vehicle via a
connector; extending the cable from the winch rearward to be seated
in the first cable guide member and to extend rearward therefrom;
and connecting the cable to the object to the rear of the
vehicle.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising removably placing a
second support member comprising a second cable guide member
extending from the second support member on a second surface of the
vehicle to the rear of the first support member; and extending the
cable from the first cable guide member rearward to be seated in
the second cable guide member and to extend rearward therefrom
before connecting the cable to the object to the rear of the
vehicle.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the cable does not contact the
vehicle between the winch and the first cable guide member when the
cable is drawn taut thereover and the cable does not contact the
vehicle between the first cable guide member and the second cable
guide member when the cable is draw taut over the first cable guide
member and the second cable guide member.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the vehicle comprises a rearward
cargo compartment and the method further includes activating the
winch after connecting the cable to the object to the rear of the
vehicle to lift the object to the rear of the vehicle into the
cargo compartment.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein the first cable guide member
comprises a first pulley wheel and the second cable guide member
comprises a second pulley wheel, the first pulley wheel and the
second pulley wheel rotating upon activating the winch.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first support member and the
second support member are movably connected.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the first support member is
connected to the second support member such that the first support
member is rotatable relative to the second support member.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the vehicle is a utility task
vehicle and the first surface and the second surface of the utility
task vehicle are portions of the roof thereof.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein a lower surface of the first
support member conforms to a contour of the first surface of the
roof.
10. The method of claim 3 wherein a lower surface of the second
support member rests on the second surface without interconnection
between the second support member and the second surface of the
vehicle via a connector when the second support member is in
operative connection with the first surface and the second cable
guide member extends from an upper surface of the second support
member.
11. A system for connecting a cable of a winch mounted on a front
of a vehicle to an object to the rear of the vehicle, comprising: a
first support member comprising a first cable guide member
extending from the first support member, the first support member
being adapted to be removably placed on a first surface of a roof
of the vehicle so that the first support member rests on the first
surface of the vehicle without interconnection between the first
support member and the roof of the vehicle via a connector when the
cable is in operative connection with the first cable guide
member.
12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a second support
member comprising a second cable guide extending from the second
support member, the second support member being adapted to be
removably placed on a second surface of the vehicle to the rear of
the first support member so that the first support member rests on
the second surface of the vehicle without interconnection between
the second support member and the roof of the vehicle via a
connector when the cable is in operative connection with the second
cable guide member.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the first cable guide member is
adapted so that, after placement of the first support member on the
first surface of the vehicle, the cable does not contact the
vehicle between the winch and the first cable guide member when the
cable is draw taut over the first cable guide member, and wherein
the second cable guide member is adapted so that, after placement
of the second support member on the second surface of the vehicle,
the cable does not contact the vehicle between the first cable
guide member and the second cable guide member when the cable is
draw taut over the first cable guide member and the second cable
guide member.
14. The system of claim 12 wherein the first cable guide member
comprises a first pulley wheel and the second cable guide member
comprises a second pulley wheel.
15. The system of claim 12 wherein the first support member is
connected to the second support member so that the second support
member can be rotated relative to the first support member.
16. The system of claim 11 wherein a lower surface of the first
support member conforms to a contour of the first surface of the
roof.
17. The system of claim 11 wherein a lower surface of the second
support member conforms to a contour of the second surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation patent application of
U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/139,431, filed
Apr. 27, 2016, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 62/153,160, filed Apr. 27, 2015, the
disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The following information is provided to assist the reader
in understanding technologies disclosed below and the environment
in which such technologies may typically be used. The terms used
herein are not intended to be limited to any particular narrow
interpretation unless clearly stated otherwise in this document.
References set forth herein may facilitate understanding of the
technologies or the background thereof. The disclosure of all
references cited herein are incorporated by reference.
[0003] A winch is a mechanical device used to pull in, let out, or
otherwise adjust the tension of a rope or wire cable. A winch may,
for example, include a drum, spool or barrel a about which the rope
or wire cable is windable. The winch may further include manually
operated crank or a powered device in operative connection with the
drum to control winding of the rope or wire cable therearound.
[0004] In a typical winch, an electric motor may provide power to a
reduction gear mechanism, which turns the winch drum and winds a
wire rope. A brake automatically engages the winch drum when the
winch motor is stopped and there is load on the wire rope. A clutch
allows the winch drum to be disengaged from the drive train to
enable the drum to rotate freely. Electrical controls, which may
include a remote control, are provided to allows a user to operate
the winch
[0005] Winches may, for example, be mounted to the front or rear of
vehicles. Very often, winches are mounted to the front of vehicles
to, for example, to pull a vehicle out of a stuck position or over
rough terrain. A winch may also be used to move or apply force to
objects. Trucks, All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), Utility Task Vehicles
(UTVs) and similar vehicles are often provided with a front mounted
winch (that is, a winch mounted to the front of a vehicle).
SUMMARY
[0006] In one aspect, a method of connecting a cable of a winch
mounted on a front of a vehicle to an object to the rear of the
vehicle includes removably placing a first support member including
a first cable guide member extending from the first support member
on a first surface of the vehicle so that the first support member
contacts the surface of the vehicle. The method further include
extending the cable from the winch rearward to be seated in the
first cable guide member and to extend rearward therefrom. The
method also include connecting the cable to the object to the rear
of the vehicle.
[0007] The method may further include removably placing a second
support member comprising a second cable guide member extending
from the second support member on a second surface of the vehicle
to the rear of the first support member; and extending the cable
from the first cable guide member rearward to be seated in the
second cable guide member and to extend rearward therefrom before
connecting the cable to the object to the rear of the vehicle.
[0008] In a number of embodiments, the cable does not contact the
vehicle between the winch and the first cable guide member when the
cable is drawn taut thereover and the cable does not contact the
vehicle between the first cable guide member and the second cable
guide member when the cable is draw taut over the first cable guide
member and the second cable guide member.
[0009] In a number of embodiments, the vehicle includes a rearward
cargo compartment and the method further includes activating the
winch after connecting the cable to the object to the rear of the
vehicle to lift the object to the rear of the vehicle into the
cargo compartment.
[0010] The first cable guide member may, for example, include a
first pulley wheel and the second cable guide member may, for
example, include a second pulley wheel, wherein the first pulley
wheel and the second pulley wheel rotate upon activating the
winch.
[0011] In a number of embodiments, the first support member and the
second support member are movably connected. The first support
member may, for example, be connected to the second support member
such that the first support member is rotatable relative to the
second support member. In a number of embodiments, the vehicle is a
utility task vehicle and the first surface and the second surface
of the utility task vehicle are portions of the roof thereof.
[0012] In a number of embodiments, a lower surface of the first
support member rests freely on the first surface when the first
support member is in operative connection with the first surface
and the first cable guide member extends from an upper surface of
the first support member. A lower surface of the second support
member may also rest freely on the second surface when the second
support member is in operative connection with the first surface
and the second cable guide member extends from an upper surface of
the second support member. As used herein, the phrase "rests freely
on" indicates that the support member is not interconnected with
the surface of the vehicle via, for example, any connector during
use thereof which must be removed to remove the support member from
contact with the surface. The support member simply rests on the
surface.
[0013] In another aspect, a system for connecting a cable of a
winch mounted on a front of a vehicle to an object to the rear of
the vehicle, includes a first support member including a first
cable guide member extending from the first support member. The
first support member is adapted to be removably placed on a surface
of the vehicle so that the first support member contacts the
surface of the vehicle. The system may further include a second
support member including a second cable guide extending from the
second support member. The second support member is adapted to be
removably placed on a surface of the vehicle to the rear of the
first support member so that the first support member contacts the
surface of the vehicle.
[0014] In a number of embodiments, the first cable guide member is
adapted so that, after placement of the first support member on the
first surface of the vehicle, the cable does not contact the
vehicle between the winch and the first cable guide member when the
cable is draw taut over the first cable guide member. The second
cable guide member may be adapted so that, after placement of the
second support member on the second surface of the vehicle, the
cable does not contact the vehicle between the first cable guide
member and the second cable guide member when the cable is draw
taut over the first cable guide member and the second cable guide
member.
[0015] In a number of embodiments, the first cable guide member
includes a first pulley wheel and the second cable guide member
comprises a second pulley wheel. The first support member may, for
example, be connected to the second support member so that the
second support member can be rotated relative to the first support
member.
[0016] In a number of embodiments, the lower surface of the first
support member is adapted to rest freely on the first surface when
the first support member is in operative connection with the first
surface, and the first cable guide member extends from an upper
surface of the first support member. In a number of embodiments, a
lower surface of the second support member is adapted to rest
freely on the second surface when the second support member is in
operative connection with the first surface, and the second cable
guide member extends from an upper surface of the second support
member.
[0017] The present devices, systems, and methods, along with the
attributes and attendant advantages thereof, will best be
appreciated and understood in view of the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates side view of a UTV or side-by-side
including an embodiment of a system hereof to adapt or convert a
front-mounted winch to operate upon an object to the rear of the
vehicle.
[0019] FIG. 2A illustrates a rear perspective view of the vehicle
of FIG. 1A with the cargo box lifted and the system hereof in
place.
[0020] FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of the roof of the
vehicle of FIG. 1A with the system hereof in place.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the system of FIG.
1A.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a system hereof in
place upon a truck.
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged side view of an assembly or
component of the system of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] It will be readily understood that the components of the
embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures
herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different
configurations in addition to the described representative
embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed description of the
representative embodiments, as illustrated in the figures, is not
intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, as claimed, but is
merely illustrative of representative embodiments.
[0025] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment"
or "an embodiment" (or the like) means that a particular feature,
structure, or characteristic described in connection with the
embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the
appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment"
or the like in various places throughout this specification are not
necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
[0026] Furthermore, described features, structures, or
characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or
more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific
details are provided to give a thorough understanding of
embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize,
however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without one
or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components,
materials, et cetera. In other instances, well known structures,
materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to
avoid obfuscation.
[0027] As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular
forms "a," "an", and "the" include plural references unless the
context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to
"cable guide member" includes a plurality of such cable guide
members and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art,
and so forth, and reference to "the cable guide member" is a
reference to one or more such cable guide members and equivalents
thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. Recitation
of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a
shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value
falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, and
each separate value, as well as intermediate ranges, are
incorporated into the specification as if individually recited
herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any
suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise
clearly contraindicated by the text.
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates side, schematic view of a UTV or
side-by-side vehicle 10 including an embodiment of a system 100 in
operative connection therewith. System 100 adapts or converts a
front-mounted winch 200 of vehicle 10 to operate upon an object to
the rear of the vehicle. A side-by-side is, for example, a small,
two-person or six-person, four-wheel drive, off-road vehicle, also
called a UTV or ROV (Recreational Off highway Vehicle).
Side-by-sides such as vehicle 10 have a side-by-side seating
arrangement. Vehicle 10 includes a bed or cargo box 20 at the rear
of vehicle 10. As illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 1, cargo box
20 may be lifted or inclined in the manner of a dump trailer.
[0029] In a number of embodiments, devices, systems and methods
hereof operate to convert or adapt a front mounted winch such as
winch 200 to operate on an object or objects to the rear of a
vehicle upon which the winch is mounted. As illustrated, for
example, in FIG. 1 a connective line in, for example, the form of a
rope, wire cable or steel cable 210 (as known in the winch arts)
from winch 200 is directed over vehicle 10 via a system 300. System
300 may, for example, operate to prevent contact or pinch points
between cable 210 and the surface of vehicle 10.
[0030] In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3, system
300 includes an assembly including a first support member 310a and
a second support member 320 which are movably (for example,
rotatably connected) via, for example, a hinge 314. This
conformation allows system 300 to conform to the roof contour or
shape of vehicle 10. A first or lower surface of first support
member 310a contacts the roof of vehicle 10. Contact member may be
provided on the ends of support member hereof to, for example,
contact an end of a roof or other vehicle component, but are not
required. First support member 310a includes or has connected
thereto a first line/cable guide member 320a extending from an
upper or second surface (opposite the first surface thereof) of
support member 310a which contacts cable 210 and guides cable 210.
First guide member 320a in a number of embodiments includes a
rotatable wheel such as a pulley wheel which rotates about axis
322a. As known in the pulley arts, a pulley wheels includes a
channeled or grooved surface (that is, a curved channel between two
flanges) to seat/guide cable 210. Providing a rotating element to
contact cable 210 in first guide member 320a (such as a pulley
wheel) assists in minimizing friction and facilitated winding and
unwinding of cable 210 around drum 220 of winch 200 and may also
assist in limiting shear forces between the support member 310a and
the surface of vehicle roof 30.
[0031] Similar to first support member 310a, second support member
310b of the assembly includes a first or lower surface which
contacts the roof of vehicle 10. Second support member 310b
includes or has connected thereto a second line/cable guide member
320b extending from an upper or second surface (opposite the first
surface thereof) of second support member 310b, which may be
identical to first guide member 320b. Like first guide member 320a,
second guide member 320a contacts cable 210 and guides cable 210.
In a number of embodiments, second guide member 320b includes a
rotatable wheel such as a pulley wheel which rotates about an axis
322b.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 2B, in use of system 300 in
connection with an object to the rear of vehicle 10, one first
places system 300 on roof 30 of vehicle 10. Cable 210 is then
released, unwound from drum 220 of winch 200 and moved rearward
relative to the orientation of vehicle 10 over vehicle 10 so that
cable 210 is seated in first guide member 320a and second guide
member 320b. Cable 210 is drawn further rearward over cargo box 20
and past the rear tailgate of vehicle 10. Cable guide members 320a
and 320b are positioned so that cable 210 does not contact vehicle
10 (other than possibly on the bed of cargo box 30 or tailgate,
where slight cosmetic damage, denting or scratching may not be a
concern) when cable 210 is drawn taut. In any case, there is
preferably no contact of cable 210 with vehicle 10 between the
farthest rearward guide member and winch 200. At this point in
time, cable 210 is connected to an object to which force is to be
applied. Cable 210 can, for example, be connected to the object via
a connector 212 as illustrated in FIG. 2A. Winch 200 may then be
activated to apply force to the object to move it or to lift it
into cargo box 20. Objects of varying weight (for example, 0 to 400
pounds, 0 to 1000 pounds or greater) can readily be lifted into
cargo box 20. The surface areas of support members 310a and 310b
may, for example, be adjusted (for example, increased) to support
more force thereon without damage to vehicle 210. Cargo box 20 can
be tilted to inclined when lifting an object into cargo box 20.
After the object is which cargo box 20, cargo box 20 may then be
placed into its non-inclined, transport position. A ramp or ramps
can optionally be used when drawing the object into cargo box 20 or
another bed.
[0033] Many hunters use UTVs such as vehicle 10 for transportation
while hunting. Rather than dragging large game such as a deer,
cable 210 can be attached to the deer via connector 212 (for
example, by and the neck of the deer or other wild game) and the
dear can be drawn into or lifted into cargo box 20 upon activation
of winch 200. Use of winch 200 to lift heavy object into a vehicle
may, for example, help in preventing injuries to hunters.
[0034] As described above, system 300 prevents cable 210 from
contacting vehicle 10 when cable 210 is drawn taut during use to
apply force to an object. Support members 310a and 310b provide
support for cable guide members 320a and 320b and distribute force
over a sufficient area to prevent damage to the surface of vehicle
10 (or another vehicle in connection with which the systems hereof
are used).
[0035] The system hereof can be adapted or modified for use with
virtually any vehicle including a front mounted winch. For example,
FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a system 300' hereof for use in
connection with a vehicle/truck 410. In this embodiment, system
300' includes a first support member 310a' from which a first
(cable) guide member 320a' (for example, a pulley wheel as
described above) extends. First support member 320b' is placed on
hood 440 of vehicle 410. System 300' further includes a second
support member 310b' from which a second guide member 320b' (for
example, a pulley wheel) extends and a third support member 310c'
from which a third guide member 320c' (for example, a pulley wheel)
extends. In the illustrated embodiment second support member 310b'
and third support member 310c are connected via an intermediate
member 312' and hinging connectors 314' and 316' so that the
assembly thereof conforms to the contour of roof 430 of vehicle
410. As illustrated in FIG. 4, cable 210' of a front-mounted winch
200 is drawn rearward to pass over/through guide members 320a',
320b' and 320c', and then to pass over bed 420 and the rear
tailgate 422 of vehicle 410 so that cable 210' does not contact
areas of vehicle 410 that are desirable to be protected from
damage. In many trucks, rear tailgate 422 can be readily removed or
released to swing to a wide angle (as illustrated in FIG. 4) to
further facility use of system 300' hereof.
[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged view of an embodiment of
first support member 310a'. In the illustrated embodiments, first
support member 310a' includes a first or upper member 312a' which
may be formed from a high-strength material such as a metal. First
guide member 320a' is attached to and supported by upper member
312a'. A second or intermediate member 314a' is attached to a lower
surface of first member 312a. Second member 314a may, for example,
be made from a resilient material (for example, a polymer foam) to
assist in conformation of first support member 310a to hood 440 of
vehicle 410. A third or lower member 316a' is attached to the
bottom surface of second member 314a'. Third member 316a may, for
example, be formed from a flexible material which may assist in
preventing damage to hood 440 and/or forming a stable
(non-slipping) connection between first support member 310a and
hood 440.
[0037] When not in use, the components, assembly and/or assemblies
of the systems hereof can simply be removed from their resting
positions on the vehicle and stored for later use. In a number of
embodiments, the support member or members of the systems hereof
simply rest upon a surface or surfaces of the vehicles. As no
cooperating connectors are required in a number of the embodiment
described herein, no tools are required to place the systems hereof
in operative connection with the vehicle or to remove the system
from operative connection with the vehicle. Once again, the one or
more support members of the system may simply rest upon the surface
of the vehicle. A portion of the a system hereof may, for example,
be designed to cooperate with a portion of a vehicle in an engaging
(for example, in a hooking or interconnecting fashion). No
structural change is required of the vehicle. A support member of a
system hereof may include one or more cable guide members as
described herein. Support members hereof may be rigid or exhibit
some flexibility. Moreover, the systems hereof are easily stowed in
a vehicle for use at any time.
[0038] In general, force applied to the cable guide member(s) on a
support member while applying force to an object to the rear of the
vehicle via the winch cable assists in holding the support member
in position. The support member may have sufficient surface area
(as readily determined for its position on the vehicle and the
operating weight/force range of the system using well-known
engineering principles) to distribute the force on the support
member in a manner to prevent damage (for example, scratching or
denting) to the vehicle surface.
[0039] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings set
forth a number of representative embodiments at the present time.
Various modifications, additions and alternative designs will, of
course, become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the
foregoing teachings without departing from the scope hereof, which
is indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing
description. All changes and variations that fall within the
meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced
within their scope.
* * * * *