Patent Application
20080168929
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a detachable winch mounting assembly that provides unfettered removal, installation and simultaneous use of the winch and a motor vehicle trailer.
2. Background Art
Loading and unloading of motor vehicles on a trailer platform can be hazardous to property as well as personnel. Motor vehicle trailers equipped with electric winches are expensive and subject the winch equipment to possible theft or premature failure due to exposure to the elements. Removable winch cradles are available; however, they utilize the receiver intended for the trailer hitch. Therefore, the user can attach a winch or a trailer but not both at the same time. After-market, permanently mounted winch platforms are available for many vehicles, but they alter the vehicle appearance and usually require professional installation at a considerable cost. Most winch platforms are designed for front of vehicle application while rear-mounted winch platforms frequently interfere with access and use of the vehicle's rear storage area. Permanently mounted winch platforms must be sold with the vehicle or professionally removed at considerable expense.
A detachable winch assembly requires no alteration of the tow vehicle or trailer. It can be installed on any suitable vehicle equipped with a draw bar-type receiver and coupled with virtually any car trailer or car dolly. The perpendicularly mounted square steel portal provides independent and unfettered access to the winch device and the trailer hitch ball. Therefore, the trailer remains securely attached to the two-vehicle while the non-operable motor vehicle is winched onto the trailer or car dolly. Once the vehicle is secured, the winch can be removed and safely stored in the tow vehicle. This device is appropriate for off-road front of vehicle winch applications as well, if the vehicle is so equipped.
The various embodiments, features and advances of the present invention will be understood more completely hereinafter as a result of a detailed description thereof in which reference will be made to the following drawings:
The apparatus of the present invention consists of welded square steel tubing of a size compatible with draw bar-type trailer hitch receivers common on many new motor vehicles and after-market tow-hitch devices. The assembly is configured with a vertical steel tube welded to a horizontal steel tube that slides into the vehicle's draw bar-type receiver. The opposite end of the horizontal tube provides a portal that accommodates a conventional draw bar trailer tongue and ball. The vertical steel tube is fortified with a ¼ inch plate steel gusset. This tube provides a portal for ¼ inch thick steel plate designed to accommodate many portable electric winch designs. The plate is welded to a square steel tube reinforced with a steel collar and ¼ inch plate steel gussets.
As shown in the accompanying drawings of
A second unit consists of tubes 12,14,16 and gusset 24. Tubes 12 and 14 are welded together in an end-weld fashion as indicated in
Having thus disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will now be apparent that variations and modifications thereof may be readily perceived by those of skill in the relevant art having the benefit of the Applicant's teaching herein. Accordingly, the scope hereof is to be limited only by the appended claims and their equivalents.
