Winch assembly
AssigneeCequent Trailer Products, Inc.
InventorsEric Anderson, Joseph J. Peschmann, Kawa-She-Quoen Okerlund, Todd Walstrom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to apparatus for a winch assembly. The winch assembly may be secured to a towing trailer and arranged to assist in loading and unloading cargo from the trailer. The winch assembly may include mechanisms, systems, and features to make the winch assembly easy to assemble and use, increase the service life of the winch assembly, and improve the consistency of the performance of the winch assembly. Embodiments of a winch assembly disclosed include novel drive systems, novel ratchet and pawl systems, novel systems for guiding a winch strap, novel systems for securing the winch assembly to a towing trailer, and a novel frame member for a winch assembly.
Claims19
A winch assembly comprising:
- a one-piece frame having at least one side;
- a drive system located within said frame, said drive system comprising:
- a winch drum;
- two outer drive gears capable of engagement with said winch drum;
- and
- an inner drive gear located between said outer drive gears, wherein said inner drive gear and said outer two drive gears operate independent of one another.
A winch assembly comprising:
- a one-piece frame having two sides;
- a drive system located within said frame, said drive system comprising:
- a winch drum including two drum gears;
- a drive shaft having two ends;
- a pair of inner bearings located on either end of said drive shaft;
- a pair of outer bearings located adjacent said inner bearings on said drive shaft, wherein said inner and outer bearings support said drive shaft within said frame;
- two outer drive gears located on said drive shaft and capable of engagement with said drum gears;
- and
- an inner drive gear located on said drive shaft and between said outer drive gears, wherein said inner drive gear and said outer two drive gears operate independent of one another;
- a pin located through a bushing located in said frame, wherein said pin is capable of engagement with said inner drive gear;
- and
- an adjustable handle that may be assembled to either end of said drive shaft to permit use on either side of said frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.