Portable hitch-mounted winch
OwnerJohn D. Rayinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable winch for mounting on a hitch component of a vehicle comprises a cable reel retractor portion and a vehicle attachment portion. The vehicle attachment portion may be a ball hitch receptor, or it may comprise a drawbar insertable into the receiver portion of a hitch. An electrical connector insertable in an existing vehicle receptacle provides power to a gear motor of the retractor portion through a extend/retract switch. One embodiment provides electrical power for the gear motor from a cigarette lighter of the vehicle. Another embodiment provides electrical power for the gear motor from a trailer lighting connector of the vehicle.
Claims14
A portable winch apparatus for attachment to a ball hitch of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a retractor portion comprising a cable reel and an electric motor operably attached to the cable reel for retracting and extending a cable wound about the cable reel;
- a ball hitch receptor fixed to the retractor portion, the ball hitch receptor engageable with the ball hitch of the vehicle and;
- a battery attached to the retractor portion, the battery operably connected to the electric motor through a switch.
A portable winch apparatus for attachment to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a retractor portion comprising a cable reel and an electric motor operably attached to the cable reel for retracting and extending a cable wound about the cable reel;
- a vehicle attachment fitting fixed to the retractor portion, the vehicle attachment fitting attachable to a complementary fitting on the vehicle;
- an electrical plug connected to the electric motor by an electric cable;
- and
- an electric cable wind-up reel attached to the retractor portion, the electric cable operably engaged with the wind-up reel whereby the electric cable is extendable and retractable onto the wind-up reel.
A portable winch apparatus for attachment to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a retractor portion comprising a cable reel and an electric motor operably attached to the cable reel for retracting and extending a cable wound about the cable reel;
- a vehicle attachment fitting fixed to the retractor portion, the vehicle attachment fitting attachable to a complementary fitting on the vehicle;
- and
- an electrical supply connector electrically connected to the electric motor, the electrical supply connector of predetermined dimensions to fit a trailer lighting connector attached to the vehicle wherein the electric motor is energized by operation of a lighting switch in the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.