# US 10,308,488 B2 · Load-facing winch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,488 B2 - Document ID: US10308488B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/282,256 - Filed: 2016-09-30 - Published: 2018-04-05 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-30 - Assignees: Hall Labs LLC - Applicants: David R. Hall; Daniel Madsen; Benjamin Taylor; Joe Fox; Lloyd J. Wilson - Inventors: David R. Hall; Daniel Madsen; Benjamin Taylor; Joe Fox; Lloyd J. Wilson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308488B2 ## CPC - B66D 1/365: {by means of pivotably mounted drums or barrels} - B66D 1/28: Other constructional details - B66D 1/38: by means of guides movable relative to drum or barrel - B66D: CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS (winding or unwinding ropes or cables for feeding or storage purposes B65H; rope or cable winding or unwinding mechanisms for lifts B66B) ## Abstract A system and method for a load-facing winch are described for hauling or lifting loads at least 30° from center of the primary support object. The load-facing winch includes a winch-mount that includes a housing, a center-pivot, a mounting-plate, and a plurality of springs. The mounting-plate is attached to the winch and tilts and/or turns about the center-pivot, which allows the winch to face the load. By directing the winch to face the load, angular resistance against a moving fairlead may be reduced. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A winch comprising: a motor; a rotatable drum for winding a line; wherein the rotatable drum is connected to the motor; a winch-line-guide for positioning the line during winding, comprising: an elongated rod extending longitudinally within a frame for the rotatable drum and in substantially parallel relation to the axis of rotation of the drum, a fairlead through which the line penetrates, wherein the fairlead is connected to the rod, and wherein the fairlead is movable along the length of the rod; a winch-mount comprising: a housing; wherein the housing is attached to a primary support object; a center-pivot; wherein the center-pivot is attached to the housing; wherein the axis of rotation of the center-pivot is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum, and the axis of rotation of the center-pivot passes through the drum; a mounting-plate to which the rotatable drum is attached; wherein the mounting-plate is rotatably connected to the center-pivot; a plurality of springs each attached at one end to the housing and at the other end to the mounting-plate for biasing rotation of the mounting plate about the center-pivot; and wherein, when the fairlead is unable to move along the length of the guide rod due to a force of a load working against a movement direction of the fairlead, the winch and mounting plate rotate about the center-pivot such that the force of the load is relieved, and the fairlead is able to move along the length of the guide rod. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the winch-mount further comprises one or more spring-securement brackets that extend from the housing or mounting-plate, and to which one or more springs are attached. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the springs attached to the housing and mounting plate are directly secured to the housing and mounting-plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the winch-mount comprises one or more compression springs, variable springs, coil springs, flat springs, serpentine springs, cantilever springs, coil springs, volute springs, or wave spring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein one or more springs of the winch-mount are comprised of steel alloys, carbon steel, ferrous metals, stainless steels, non-ferrous metals, or oil tempered spring wire. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the housing of the winch-mount is cylindrical and the mounting-plate is disc-shape, allowing the mounting-plate to rotate within the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the mounting-plate of the winch-mount comprises a center-hole through which the center-pivot penetrates. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The winch of claim 7, wherein a tip of the center-pivot of the winch-mount comprises a sphere, a plate, a rhombus, or a polyhedron, upon which the mounting-plate oscillates, turns, rotates, balances, pivots, tilts, teeters, vacillates, hovers, hangs, or sways. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the winch-mount further comprises one or more protrusions, attachments, flanges, extensions, shelves, depressions, grooves or other surface discontinuities on the mounting-plate that interact with the springs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the winch-mount further comprises one or more spacers, insertions, or attachments between the frame for the rotatable drum and the mounting-plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the plurality of springs of the winch-mount comprise less compressional resistance than a force necessary to move the fairlead in a direction opposite a load. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the plurality of springs of the winch-mount comprise one or more lubricants. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the plurality of springs of the winch-mount are arranged parallel, perpendicular, or diagonal to the mounting-plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the mounting-plate of the winch-mount comprises one or more folds, bends, creases, or curvatures such that the mounting plate rotates as much as 180° from rest. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the mounting-plate of the winch-mount is comprised of materials with a stronger composition than resistance applied by the plurality of springs. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the mounting-plate of the winch-mount rotates about the center pivot as much as 360° from rest. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the housing of the winch-mount comprises one or more of latches, clamps, and other securement mechanisms for securing the housing to the primary support object.