Patent Application
20080038103
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a log skidder attachment 10 for an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). Attachment 10 comprises an All Terrain Vehicle 12 having a front end 14 and a rear end 16 as well as a seat 18, wheels 20 and a steering mechanism 22 as is usual to such vehicles. A counterweight 30 is mounted on the front end and an ATV hitch 32 is located on the rear end. A support sleeve 40 is mounted on the rear end spaced apart from the ATV hitch and is located above the hitch when the ATV is in the use position as shown in
A first brace bar 50 has a first end 52 accommodated in the ATV hitch and a second end 54 spaced apart from the rear end. A second brace bar 60 has a first end 62 accommodated in support sleeve 40 and a second end 64 spaced apart from the rear end and spaced apart from and above the second end of the first brace bar. A first brace bracket 70 is mounted on the first brace bar near second end 54 of the first brace bar, and a second brace bracket 72 is mounted on the second brace bar near second end 64 of the second brace bar.
A winch mechanism 80 is mounted on the first and second brace bars via the first and second brace brackets and includes a pulley system 82 that is located spaced apart from and near second end 64 of the second brace bar. A turning mechanism 84 is located near first brace bar 50 and can include a hand crank 86 or an electric motor 88 or both. A cable 90 is connected to the turning mechanism and to the pulley system and a hook element 92 is connected to the cable to be located adjacent to the second ends of the first and second brace bars. The hook element is attached to a log L to attach the log to the All Terrain Vehicle.
A log attachment mechanism 100 is fixedly mounted on second end 54 of the first brace bar and includes a chain 102 which depends from second end 54 of the first brace bar and which is attached to the log to attach the log to the All Terrain Vehicle.
Use of attachment 10 can be understood from the teaching of
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
