US 5,064,078 AGranted

Combination portable hoist, crane, and vehicle towing apparatus

OwnerJohn C. Van Stavereninventor

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Abstract

A combination portable hoist, crane, and automobile towing mechanism is adaptable into three configurations. As a portable hoist, a vertical mast and hydraulically actuatable boom are mounted on a standard support having support legs oriented in a "V", with the hoise boom positioned between the support legs. As a portable crane, the mast and boom are mounted onto a platform on a modified truck bumper in a manner to pivot 360 degrees about the axis of the vertical mast. The portable crane can therefore load and remove objects to/from the truck bed. As an automobile towing mechanism, the mast and boom are locked in position within the plane of movement of the boom normal to the vehicle rear bumper. A typical automobile bumper and axle attachment towing device is attached to the boom chain. Stabilizer bars orient the bumper and axle attachment towing device parallel to and spaced from the vehicle bumper, so that the tow vehicle may elevate one end of a towed vehicle for towing in a conventional manner.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A combination portable hoist, vehicle mounted crane and vehicle mounted automobile towing mechanism, comprising:

(a) a support assembly (40);
(b) a fixed length vertical mast removably mountable upon said support assembly and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said vertical mast;
(c) a boom pivotally attached to said vertical mast in a manner to pivot in a vertical plane about a horizontal pivot axis, said boom including a chain or cable and hook mounted to the free end thereof;
(d) a modified vehicle bumper (39) mountable to a conventional vehicle;
(e) a towing mechanism (45) for attaching onto and lifting one end of a motor vehicle, said towing mechanism being removably mountable onto, and totally supported by, said modified vehicle bumper and said boom;
and
(f) power telescoping extension means for pivoting said boom about said horizontal pivot axis of said vertical mast, said extension means being pivotally mounted to said vertical mast at one end thereof and to said boom at the other end thereof wherein said support assembly comprises a support platform which is supported from said modified vehicle bumper by at least two legs.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/650,402Filed 4 Feb 1991 · continuation
Priority: 26 Sep 1989
Granted: 12 Nov 1991
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B66C 23/44
Mounted on road or rail vehicles; Manually-movable jib-cranes for use in workshops; Floating cranes: jib-cranes adapted for attachment to standard…
B60P 1/548
The crane being detachable from the vehicle: and having a first pivot on a vertical axis
B60P 3/125
For salvaging damaged vehicles: by supporting only part of the vehicle, e.g. front- or rear-axle
B66C 23/48
Mounted on road or rail vehicles; Manually-movable jib-cranes for use in workshops; Floating cranes: manually-movable jib cranes for use in workshops