Adjustable chain vehicle tie-down apparatus
OwnerNorman R. Westerdaleinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tie-down system for securing vehicles to the ramps of a vehicle-hauling trailer includes a hollow winch axle extending transversely across the ramp and a chain extending through the winch axle. The winch axle has a chain-engaging end on one side of the ramp for selectively engaging the chain, and a gear-supporting end with a two-way gear/pawl arrangement for selectively locking the winch axle with respect to the ramp. An elastomeric bushing is disposed on the winch axle between the winch axle and the ramp structure to absorb peak chain loads during use. A novel ladder arrangement formed on the ramp adjacent the chain-engaging end of the winch axle permits the chain to be threaded therethrough laterally with respect to the ramp to position the chain at a desired angle with respect to the vehicle.
Claims15
An improved tie-down system for securing a vehicle to a ramp of a vehicle-hauling trailer, comprising:
- chain means for securing the vehicle to the ramp;
- tightening means mounted on the ramp and connectable to the chain means for adjusting the length of the chain means with respect to the vehicle, the tightening means comprising a rotatable hollow winch axle extending transversely across the ramp, including a first chain-engaging end on one side of the ramp for selectively engaging the chain means to connect the chain means to the tightening means and to permit adjustment of the length of the chain means with respect to the tightening means, and a second end on the other side of the ramp, said chain means extending through said hollow winch axle from said first end to said second end;
- ladder means on the ramp for positioning a portion of the chain means extending from the chain-engaging end at a desired angle with respect to the vehicle on the ramp;
- and
- locking means on the ramp for locking the tightening means against rotation with respect to the ramp.
An improved tie-down system for securing a vehicle to a ramp of a vehicle-hauling trailer, comprising:
- chain means for attaching the vehicle to the ramp;
- tightening means comprising a rotatable hollow winch axle extending transversely across the ramp, having a first chain-engaging end on one side of the ramp and a second gear-supporting end on the other side of the ramp, the chain means extending through said hollow winch axle from said first end to said second end;
- ladder means projecting from the ramp adjacent the chain-engaging end for positioning a portion of the chain means extending from the chain-engaging end at a desired angle with respect to the vehicle on the ramp;
- locking means on the ramp comprising a two-way pawl arrangement for selectively engaging a gear mounted on the gear-supporting end of the hollow axle;
- and
- slot means formed in the chain-engaging end for selectively radially and axially locking the chain means to the tightening means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.