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US 7,114,897 B1Granted
Vehicle support and retention system for a vehicle transporter
AssigneeBoydstun Metal Works Inc.
InventorsRobert D. Boydstun, IV, John Thomas Huey, Paul Joseph Heger, James K. Carey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle support and restraint system for a vehicle transporter permits the operator to consistently and securely install either soft tie-down or hard tie-down cargo vehicle restraint while standing at ground level.
Claims14
A restraint for a vehicle having a wheel supportable by an elongate vehicle support, said restraint comprising:
- (a) a winch shaft rotatably affixed to said vehicle support;
- and
- (b) an elongate, flexible member having a first end portion restrainable to said winch shaft, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion between said first end and said second end portions, said second end portion and said intermediate portion respectively restrainable by said vehicle support, and a surface extending between said second end portion and said intermediate portion, said surface being capable of engaging and thereby restraining a circumferential surface of a wheel when said second end portion and said intermediate portion of said member are restrained by said vehicle support and tension is exerted in said member by winding said member on said winch shaft;
- said first end, said second end and said intermediate portions of said flexible member being respectively restrainable in alternative transverse positions with respect to said elongate vehicle support and winch shaft so as to align said flexible member laterally with said wheel.
1 more element
A restraint for a vehicle having a wheel supportable by an elongate vehicle support, said restraint comprising:
- (a) a winch including a winch shaft mounted for rotation but otherwise constrained relative to said vehicle support;
- and
- (b) an elongate, flexible member having a first end portion restrainable to said winch, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion between said first end and said second end portions, said second end portion and said intermediate portion respectively restrainable by said vehicle support, and a surface extending between said second end portion and said intermediate portion, said surface being capable of engaging and thereby restraining a circumferential surface of a wheel when said second end portion and said intermediate portion of said member are restrained by said vehicle support and tension is exerted in said member by winding said member on said winch;
- said first end, said second end and said intermediate portions of said flexible member being respectively restrainable in continuously adjustable, alternative transverse positions with respect to said elongate vehicle support and said winch shaft so as to align said flexible member laterally with said wheel despite small variations in lateral positioning of said wheel on said vehicle support.
1 more element
A restraint for a vehicle having a wheel supportable by an elongate vehicle support, said restraint comprising:
- (a) a winch including a winch shaft mounted for rotation but otherwise constrained relative to said vehicle support;
- (b) an elongate, flexible member having a first end portion restrainable to said winch, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion between said first end and said second end portions, said second end portion and said intermediate portion respectively restrainable by said vehicle support, and a surface extending between said second end portion and said intermediate portion, said surface being capable of engaging and thereby restraining a circumferential surface of a wheel when said second end portion and said intermediate portion of said member are restrained by said vehicle support and tension is exerted in said member by winding said member on said winch;
- said first end, said second end and said intermediate portions of said flexible member being respectively restrainable in alternative transverse positions with respect to said elongate vehicle support and said winch shaft so as to align said flexible member laterally with said wheel;
- and
- (c) a transducer capable of emitting at least one of an audible indication and a tactile indication of a magnitude of a tension force exerted in said flexible member by said winch.
2 more elements
A restraint for a vehicle having a wheel supportable by an elongate vehicle support, said restraint comprising:
- (a) a winch including a winch shaft mounted for rotation but otherwise constrained relative to said vehicle support, said winch shaft including portions defining an axially elongate slot;
- and
- (b) an elongate, flexible member having a first end portion restrainable to said winch and movable in said axially elongate slot to alternative positions transverse to said elongate vehicle support, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion between said first end and said second end portions, said second end portion and said intermediate portion respectively restrainable by said vehicle support, and a surface extending between said second end portion and said intermediate portion, said surface being capable of engaging and thereby restraining a circumferential surface of a wheel when said second end portion and said intermediate portion of said member are restrained by said vehicle support and tension is exerted in said member by winding said member on said winch;
- said first end, said second end and said intermediate portions of said flexible member being respectively restrainable in alternative transverse positions with respect to said elongate vehicle support and said winch shaft so as to align said flexible member laterally with said wheel.
1 more element
A restraint for a vehicle having a wheel supportable by an elongate vehicle support, said restraint comprising:
- (a) a winch including a winch shaft mounted for rotation but otherwise constrained relative to said vehicle support and a winch drum axially movable with respect to said winch shaft but constrained to rotate with said winch shaft;
- and
- (b) an elongate, flexible member having a first end portion engageable with said winch drum, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion between said first end and said second end portions, said second end portion and said intermediate portion respectively restrainable by said vehicle support, and a surface extending between said second end portion and said intermediate portion, said surface being capable of engaging and thereby restraining a circumferential surface of a wheel when said second end portion and said intermediate portion of said member are restrained by said vehicle support and tension is exerted in said member by winding said member on said winch;
- said first end, said second end and said intermediate portions of said flexible member being respectively restrainable in alternative transverse positions with respect to said elongate vehicle support and said winch shaft so as to align said flexible member laterally with said wheel.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.