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US 2011/0297903 A1Published application
Winch assembly
AssigneeSure-Fab LLC
InventorJoseph August Hraban
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A winch assembly includes a winch and a hitch assembly coupled to the winch. The hitch assembly includes an attachment bar, a spear receiving portion and a spear configured to be seated in the spear receiving portion. A cable is coupled to the winch and the spear for extending and/or retracting the spear relative to the spear receiving portion.
Claims20
A winch assembly for use with a vehicle, comprising:
- an attachment bar configured to be coupled to the vehicle;
- a spear receiving portion coupled to the attachment bar and having an inner arcuate surface, the spear receiving portion further defining a first open end and a second open end opposite the first open end;
- a spear having an outer arcuate surface configured to pass through the second open end of the spear receiving portion and seat within the spear receiving portion;
- a winch coupled to the attachment bar;
- and
- a cable coupled to the spear and the winch and configured to pass through the first open end of the spear receiving portion.
3 more elements
A hitch assembly for use with a winch maintaining cable, comprising:
- an attachment bar configured to support the winch;
- a spear receiving portion coupled to the attachment bar and having an inner arcuate surface, the spear receiving portion further defining a first open end and a second open end;
- and
- a spear having an outer arcuate surface configured to pass through the second open end of the spear receiving portion and seat within the inner arcuate surface of the spear receiving portion.
1 more element
A method of operating a winch assembly, comprising:
- providing a hitch assembly, comprising:
- an attachment bar;
- a spear receiving portion coupled to the attachment bar and having an inner arcuate surface, the spear receiving portion further defining a first open end and a second open end;
- and
- a spear having an outer arcuate surface configured to pass through the second open end of the spear receiving portion and seat within the inner arcuate surface of the spear receiving portion;
- coupling a winch to the attachment bar;
- coupling a cable to the winch and the spear;
- and
- retracting the cable so that the spear seats within the spear receiving portion.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.