# US 4,391,432 A · Winch operating handle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,391,432 A - Document ID: US4391432A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/259,521 - Filed: 1981-05-01 - Granted: 1983-07-05 - Earliest claimed: 1981-05-01 - Inventors: Jean F. Baud - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4391432A ## CPC - B66D 1/7431: {driven manually only} - B66D 1/7468: {Handles} - Y10T 74/20726: Pedal controlled - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An improved winch is provided which is useful in tightening and adjusting ropes, rigging, lines and sheets. The winch includes a rotatable winch member having a central non-circular aperture extending therethrough and a crank member having a shaft portion which has a non-circular cross-section complementary with the shape of the aperture and interengageable therewith so that rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the winch member. A handle member is hinged to the upper end of the shaft portion so as to pivot between an operating position at right angles with the shaft portion to facilitate rotation of the shaft portion and winch member and an inoperative stowable position projecting from the end of the shaft portion in alignment with the axis thereof. The handle portion has a size and configuration so as to fit through the aperture in the winch member so that when it is in an inoperative stowed position the crank member including the handle portion extends downwardly through the aperture in the winch member to its stowed position with only a minimum projection thereabove. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An improved winch of the type which is useful in tightening and adjusting ropes, rigging, lines and sheets comprising; a winch mounting post having a hollow interior and a through aperture from end to end, means for mounting said post to a fixed support, a winch member having a through passageway and being rotatably mounted on the post with the post extending into the passageway of the winch member, a portion of the winch member extending beyond the post and having the surfaces thereof forming part of the passageway with a non-circular cross-section, the outer surface of the winch member overlying the non-circular cross-section portion and the post extending within the passageway, the outer surface of the winch forming the operable bearing surface for adjusting of the ropes, riggings, lines and sheets, a crank member having a shaft portion which has a non-circular cross-section complementary with the shape of the non-circular portion of the passageway and interengageable therewith so that meshing of the shaft with the surfaces forming the non-circular portion of the passageway and rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the winch member, a handle member hinged to the upper end of the shaft portion so as to pivot between an operating position at right angles with the shaft portion to facilitate rotation of the shaft portion and winch member and an inoperative stowable position projecting from the end of the shaft portion in alignment with the axis thereof, said handle portion having a size and configuration so as to fit through the passageway in the winch member so that when it is in an inoperative stowed position the crank member including the handle portion extends downwardly through the passageway in the winch member, the through aperture in the post, and a communicating opening in the support to its stowed position with only a minimum projection thereabove. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An improved winch as set forth in claim 1 in which a handle grip is secured to the outer end of the handle member and which projects radially beyond the sides of the handle member and which serves as a stop resting on the upper surface of the winch member when the crank member is in its stowed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An improved winch as set forth in claim 1 in which a stop member is removably secured to the lower end of the shaft portion and which projects radially beyond the sides of the shaft portion to prevent accidental removal of the crank member from the winch member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An improved winch as set forth in claim 1 in which interengageable ball and socket recesses are formed on the proximate portions of the handle and shaft portions of the crank member so as to releasably retain the handle portion in either operative or inoperative positions. ### Claim 5 An improved crank member for use in operating a winch assembly including a winch mounting post having a hollow interior and a through aperture from end to end, means for mounting said post to a fixed support, a winch member having a through passageway and being rotatably mounted on the post with the post extending into the passageway of the winch member, a portion of the winch member extending beyond the post and having the surfaces thereof forming part of the passageway with a non-circular cross-section, the outer surface of the winch member overlying the non-circular cross-section portion and the post extending within the passageway, and the outer surface of the winch forming the operable bearing surface for adjusting the ropes, riggings, lines and sheets, said crank member comprising a shaft portion which has a non-circular cross-section complementary with the shape of the non-circular portion of the passageway and interengageable therewith so that meshing of the shaft with the surfaces forming the non-circular portion of the passsageway and rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the winch member, a handle portion hinged to the upper end of the shaft portion so as to pivot between an operating position at right angles with the shaft portion to facilitate rotation of the shaft portion and winch member and an inoperative stowable position projecting from the end of the shaft member in alignment with the axis thereof, said handle portion having a size and configuration so as to fit through the passageway in the winch member so that when it is in an inoperative position the crank member including the handle portion extends downwardly through the passageway in the winch member, the through aperture in the post, and a communicating opening in the support to a stowed position with only a minimum projection thereabove. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An improved crank member as set forth in claim 5 in which a handle grip is secured to the outer end of the handle member and which projects radially beyond the sides of the handle member so as to serve as a stop to rest on the upper portion of the winch member when the crank member is in its stowed position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) An improved crank member as set forth in claim 5 in which a stop member is removably secured to the lower end of the shaft portion and which projects radially beyond the sides of the shaft portion so as to prevent accidental removal of the crank member from the winch member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) An improved crank member as set forth in claim 5 in which interengageable ball and socket recesses are formed in the proximate portions of the handle and shaft portions of the crank member so as to releasably retain the handle portion in either operative or inoperative position.