Winch winder adapter for a rotary power tool and method
AssigneeProstar Solutions, LLC
InventorREESE T. PRESLEY
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A winch winder adapter for a rotary power tool, such as a drill or power screwdriver, to quickly and easily wind-up the strap on the winch bracket. For example, the strap may be wound up by inserting the adapter into the collar of the winch drum and actuating the rotary power tool. The high speed output rotation of the tool rotates the adapter which, when coupled to the collar, quickly rotates the drum and winds-up the strap. This can be helpful especially when there may be numerous cargo strap winches along the length of a cargo vehicle.
Claims20
An adapter for a rotary power tool to wind a winch winder having a rotatable collar with an opening, the adapter comprising:
- a frusto-conical body tapered from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the body is dimensioned to be received by an opening in a collar of a winch winder;
- a shank extending from the body's proximal end and rigidly coupled with the body such that rotation of the shank causes concomitant rotation of the body, wherein the shank is dimensioned to be driven by a rotary power tool;
- and
- wherein the body includes a gripping portion formed from a deformable material, wherein the gripping portion deforms when the body is inserted into the opening in the collar to frictionally engage an inner surface of the collar so that rotation of the body rotates the collar.
The adapter of claim 3, wherein the body is formed from one or more of a deformable rubber or plastic.
An adapter for a rotary power tool to wind a winch winder having a rotatable collar with an opening, the adapter comprising:
- a tube having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the tube defines an internal cavity;
- a detent disposed at least partially within the internal cavity of the tube, wherein the detent is movable between an extended position that extends outwardly from the tube and a retracted position within the internal cavity, wherein the detent positioned to be alignable with a transverse hole disposed in a collar of a winch winder so that when the detent is in the extended position, the detent engages the periphery of the hole to create an engagement between the collar and the adapter;
- a shank extending from the proximal end of the tube, wherein the shank is operably coupled with the tube such that rotation of the shank causes concomitant rotation of the tube, wherein the shank is dimensioned to be driven by a rotary power tool, wherein the shank is movable between a first position and a second position;
- a shaft disposed at least partially within the internal cavity of the tube and extending from the shank, wherein the shaft moves toward a detent engaging position when the shank moves toward the second position and the shaft moves toward a detent disengaging position when the shank moves toward the first position, wherein the shaft moves the detent to the extended position when moving toward the detent engaging position;
- and
- a spring urging the shank toward the first position.
A method for winding a winch winder using a rotary power tool, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a shank of a winch winder adapter to a chuck of a rotary power tool, wherein the winch winder adapter includes a body extending from the shank that rotates concomitant with the shank;
- inserting a leading end of the body into an opening in a rotatable collar of a winch winder;
- coupling at least a portion of the body with the collar such that rotation of the body causes concomitant rotation of the collar;
- and
- winding the winch winder by actuating the rotary power tool to rotate the collar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.