Reversible portable winch with bidirectional ratchet teeth

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention involves unique winches for attachment to utility racks such as ladder utility racks attached to truck beds and the like. The winches involve the use of support structures from which they may be installed and removed for portability and reversibility.

[0004] 2. Information Disclosure Statement

[0005] The following represents patents which illustrate pick-up truck cargo bed utility racks and others which illustrate winches:

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,203 to Ronald W. Pope, describes a load-tie-down system which includes a load-supporting structure having a side support and a second support. A winch assembly is operably mounted on the load-supporting structure and includes a winch frame having a crosspiece and two struts projecting downward from the crosspiece. A winch drum is rotatably mounted between the two struts of the winch frame and a belt is attached at one end to and wound around the winch drum. A hook is attached to the free end of the belt. The belt is anchored by the hook attaching to an anchor located on the winch frame. The anchor includes a bar on the winch frame around which the hook may fasten. A lock to restrain the rotation of the winch drum is also included having a ratchet wheel attached to the winch drum and a pawl pivotally attached to the winch frame. The winch drum and anchor are located so that the belt may extend around the crosspiece and a load and then anchor on the winch frame.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,320 to David Christensen describes a ladder utility rack for pick-up truck cargo beds. It has two parallel horizontal base rails and at least two vertical stanchion units. Each base rail has horizontal and vertical running surfaces and each is adapted to nest atop and against sidewalls of a cargo bed. These base rails are not connected to one another except via the stanchion units. These units have vertical legs running from each of the base rails upwardly and inwardly and terminate at a commonly connected horizontal cross member. A second embodiment includes an additional set of rails, i.e. mounting rails, which run parallel to the base rails and, together with the base rails, form a horizontal platform for mounting items thereon to be transportable.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,280 to David Christensen, describes a ladder utility rack for pick-up cargo beds. It has two parallel horizontal base rails and at least two vertical stanchion units. Each base rail has at least three contiguous walls, including at least one horizontal and one vertical running wall and each is adapted to nest atop and against sidewalls of a cargo bed. These base rails are not connected to one another except via the stanchion units. These units have vertical legs running from each of the base rails upwardly and inwardly and terminate at a commonly connected horizontal cross member. A preferred embodiment includes rails which are unistructurally formed, e.g. extruded, including portions in the form of an upright or inverted “U”.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,549 to Clarence Ogrodnick, describes a support frame which is secured within the cargo box of a pick-up truck. The frame supports a drive train comprising a differential driven by a motor. One differential shaft drives a first cable winch while the other shaft incorporates a clutch to drive a second and third winch either independently from each other or in unison. A system of pulleys ensures that cable wind on the first and second winches is toward the front of the cargo box while on the third winch it is toward the rear. The cable ends are secured to a cargo platform. When the electric motor is engaged the first and second winches are rotated, in a counterclockwise direction which winds the cable into the winch body. The retracting cable first raises and then draws the platform onto the frame. During this process the third winch freewheels and releases cable as necessary. Unloading the platform requires that the clutch mechanism is engaged to couple the second and third winches together. The motor is reversed and the first, second, and third winches rotate in a clockwise direction. The third winch retracts cable while the first and second winches release cable. The retracting cable, draws the platform off the support frame and toward the rear of the cargo box. As the platform draws far enough rearward to tilt off the support frame, the clutch is disengaged and the third winch freewheels, leaving the platform to continue to lower under its own weight.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,844 to Robert D. Anderson, describes an improved winch crank assembly for use on typical flatbed trailers whereon cargo is secured using flexible straps. It permits the rapid winding of the straps onto the winch and reduces the time required for winding the straps by tenfold or more. The winch crank assembly comprises a portable crank assembly wherein a single crank can be used to wind the straps onto a plurality of winches on a single trailer. In addition, the portability allows the user to conveniently carry the crank for use on other truck trailers.

[0011] Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby.

[0012] The present invention is a reversible, portable winch for attachment to a utility rack. It includes a shaft for rotation; a take-up reel for winding and unwinding a flexible securing strap, the take-up reel being connected to the shaft and affixed thereto for rotation therewith; a flexible securing strap attached to the take-up reel at a first end thereof; a plurality of bidirectional pawl-engaging teeth located about the shaft and so as to permit rotation of the take-up reel and the shaft by being engaged and disengaged with a pawl; a winding mechanism connected to the shaft or the take-up reel for winding the shaft and the take-up reel; support for supporting the shaft and the pawl. The winch is connected via its shaft to a support and the pawl may be movably connected to the support as well. In preferred embodiments, the support is a component of a utility rack such as a ladder utility rack attached to the cargo bed of a pickup truck or the top of a motor vehicle.

[0013] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the winding mechanism is a gripping wheel located on the shaft of the winch. In another embodiment, the winding mechanism is a removable handle. In yet another embodiment, the winding mechanism may be both a gripping wheel and a handle.

[0014] In other preferred embodiments the support for the winch shaft and for the pawl is a support block which may be attached to a utility rack. In highly preferred embodiments, the support block is a gusset, such as a gusset which connects a top cross member to a vertical member of a utility rack.

[0015] The present invention should be more fully understood when the specification herein is taken in conjunction with the drawings appended hereto wherein:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of a present invention utility rack and reversible, portable winch with bidirectional ratchet teeth;

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a side cut view of one embodiment of a present invention reversible, portable winch with bidirectional ratchet teeth;

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a left end view of the winch shown in FIG. 2;

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a cut right side view of the winch shown in FIG. 2 as taken along cut line AB of FIG. 2;

[0020] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a portion of a utility rack with a support block attached thereto for receiving both a winch and a separate pawl;

[0021] FIG. 6 shows a side view of alternate embodiment bidirectional ratchet teeth which may be used in the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 7 shows a partial side view of an alternative embodiment handle member for engaging, rotating and disengaging a present invention winch axle of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of a gusset adapted as a support block for a present invention winch mounted at the intersection of a vertical support and a cross member of a utility rack;

[0024] FIG. 9 shows a side view of another alternative present invention bidirectional ratchet teeth and pawl; and,

[0025] FIG. 10 shows a partial side cut view of an alternative utility rack adapted with winch axle and pawl mounting orifices for rooftops of vehicles.

[0026] The present invention is a reversible, portable winch which includes bidirectional ratchet teeth. Due to the portability and reversibility of the winch, a user is able to remove, reverse and install for winding with the wheel to the right of the shaft or to the left of the shaft in opposite, mirror positions utilizing a single, simple pawl and having a single manner of installation.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of a truck rack with a reversible, portable winch with bidirectional ratchet teeth. Thus, truck 1 has attached to its bed 13 a utility rack 3 having side rails such as vertical column 7 and, in this case, two stanchions are included in the rack. Rear stanchion 17 includes substantially vertical columns 7 and 9 and horizontal, connecting cross-member 11. Stops, such as stop 5, are also included. Front stanchion includes substantially vertical columns 21 and 23 and horizontal connecting cross member 19. In this case, beam 15 has been secured to the utility rack by present invention reversible, portable, bidirectional winches 31 and 51. Winch 31 and winch 51 are substantially identical with one being reversed relative to the other.

[0028] Referring now specifically to winch 31, it includes a spool 33 which has on one side, a wheel handle 37, and on its other side, a set of bidirectional ratchet teeth 35 for engagement and disengagement with pawl 41. Pawl 41 has a pin on which it pivots or rotates for locking and unlocking with teeth 35 to tighten, hold and then loosen strap 39. Strap 39 is connected to the spool 33 and has a securing hook on its opposite end (not shown). Winch 51 is similar and has a security strap 47 with hook 49. Removable handle 45 is attached to shaft 43 and may be used to tighten spool 33 with pawl 41 then locking into an appropriate tooth. Thus, straps 39 and 47 secure beam 15 to the rack by being tightened by the handles and locked into place by the pawls, as described.

[0029] As an alternative to going directly through substantially vertical column 9, there may be a support block attached to substantially vertical column 9 which could be attached by channel mechanisms, or otherwise. It could be removable and would act as a support for the winches in place of the main column structure itself. This support block would enable a user to retrofit existing utility racks and would have appropriate orifices positioned functionally for the winch shaft and pawl pin.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a side cut view of an alternative present invention winch 201. FIG. 3 shows a left side view thereof and FIG. 4 shows a right partially cut side view thereof along line A-B. Taking these figures collectively, like parts are like numbered and they will be discussed together.

[0031] Winch 201 includes shaft 203 with handle engagement end 205 and spool 207 at its apposite end. The outer most flange of spool 207 is a gripping wheel 209. The inner flange 211 includes extended walls 215 and 219 with bidirectional teeth such as tooth 213 (FIGS. 2 and 4). Security strap 231 extends therefrom and is removably connected thereto via attachment 217. Pawl 221 pivots on pin 223 for locking and unlocking with the bidirectional teeth. Orifices 225 and 227 on right end 205 on shaft 203 are adapted to receive locking pins and handle connections. Also, right end 205 could be modified to have a hexagonal cross-section for use in conjunction with a handle such as that shown in FIG. 7, which is more fully described below.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a substantially vertical column 501 of a utility rack, with a support block 503 attached thereto. Support block 503 may be connected to substantially vertical column 501 via direct bolting, via inter-connecting channels with locks, or by nuts, bolts and brackets such as bracket 509. Support block 503 includes winch shaft orifice 505 for receiving a winch shaft such as winch shaft of FIG. 2. Orifice 507 is strategically located relative to orifice 505 and adapted to receive a pawl pin such as for pawl 511. By “strategically located” is meant that it is positioned to permit engagement and disengagement of a pawl with bidirectional ratchet teeth of a present invention winch.

[0033] FIG. 6 shows a partial cut side view of an alternative embodiment set of bidirectional ratchet teeth. Thus, flange 601 includes extended rectangular teeth 603 and 605, for example, with cut outs such as cut out 607. These could replace the bidirectional teeth of FIG. 2 and still function well with a pivoting pawl, such as pawl 609 shown in FIG. 6.

[0034] FIG. 7 shows a side partial view of an alternative handle design which may be used to tighten a present invention winch shaft. Here, non-spool shaft end 711 is hexagonal with flat edges and handle 701 has a head with opening 705. Opening 705 has a wider end 709 and a narrower end 707. A user may push the handle grip 703 forward to disengage it and pull handle grip 703 back so that narrow end 707 engages shaft 711 for rotation. This engage-rotate-disengage-reengage process may be repeated to achieve maximum tautness of the winch and securing strap.

[0035] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a gusset 801 which is used to support a cross member 11 with a vertical column 7 of a utility rack 17, here at the point where vertical column 7 and connecting cross-member 11 (from FIG. 1) are connected to one another. Gusset 801 is attached to vertical column 7 with nut 831 and bolt 833, and is attached to connecting cross-member 11 with nut 835 and bolt 837. Gusset 801 includes an upright wall 803 with locking channel 805 and horizontal wall 807. Thus, upright wall 803 would be attached against the inside of vertical column 7 of FIG. 1 and horizontal wall 807 would be attached to the underside of connecting cross-member 11 of FIG. 1. There are right and bottom walls 811 and 809, respectively, to create the substantially irregular block form and a cross member wall 821 with various geometries 817 and 819 for possible attachments. Large circular orifice 813 is adapted to receive a shaft of a present invention winch. Likewise, smaller orifice 815 is the correct size and properly located to receive a pawl pin. The pawl pin may be inserted first and then kept in place (rotatably maintained) in orifice 815 by virtue of flange 211 shown in FIG. 2 when the shaft is subsequently inserted in orifice 815. Additionally, the shaft may be kept in place by a pin such as a pin placed in orifice 825 of shaft 203 shown in FIG. 2 and/or a removable handle such as shown in FIG. 1. Nuts 831 and 835 and bolts 833 and 837, respectively, are used to secure gusset 801 to utility rack 17.

[0036] FIG. 9 shows a partial cut side view of another alternative embodiment set of bidirectional ratchet teeth. Thus, flange 901 includes extended rectangular teeth 903 and 905, for example, with semicircular cut outs such as cut out 907. These could replace the bidirectional teeth of FIG. 2 and still function well with its pivoting pawl 909.

[0037] FIG. 10 shows a partial side view of a panel truck 921 with a present invention utility rack 927 adapted to receive a present invention winch and pawl (not shown). There is a mounting bracket 929 and a mirror image opposite bracket on the opposite side (not shown). Mounting bracket 929 is mounted to panel truck drain gutter 925, located on roof 923, with bolt and nuts 933 and L-bracket 938, as shown. Mounting bracket 929 is connected to horizontal cross member 937 with bolts 939 and 941 and nuts 943 and 945. This creates a utility rack which may be used similarly to that shown in FIG. 1, except that it is attached to the roof of a panel truck or other motor vehicle and utilizes mounting brackets instead of uprights. Mounting bracket 929 has a large orifice 951 adapted to receive a present invention winch such as shown in FIG. 2 and mounted in a similar fashion to that shown in FIG. 1. Smaller orifice 953 is adapted to receive a pawl such as that shown in the Figures above. Subsequently, the use of a present invention winch and pawl mounted in mounting bracket 929 would be operated in the same fashion as described above.

[0038] Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.