Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-17
2004-03-30
Boehler, Anne Marie (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C024S12900C, C211S018000, C248S304000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06712379
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a lifting and towing device and a method for using such lifting and towing device, and in particular, is directed to a tow hook designed for quick and secure attachment of a chain, tow rope, etc., for example, for pulling a vehicle or for suspending cargo therefrom.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various designs for tow hooks, especially as used with respect to vehicle towing devices, are known. Examples include that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,806 entitled “Dual Function Vehicle Tow Hook”, U.S. Pat. No. D341,117 entitled “Rear Tow Hook For An Automobile”, and D368,246 entitled “Add-On Vehicle Tow Hook.” While all of these prior art hook devices enable a user to contact a rope, cable or chain to such device in order to tow a vehicle, the design of such hooks does not permit effective towing without the risk that, due to possible slackness in the rope or cable during the towing operation, the hook might become detached from the rope or cable. Moreover, other prior art designs which utilize a hook with a spring retaining device, are often more expensive to produce due to their complexity of manufacture (e.g., requiring two or more pieces to be pivotally mounted together) and furthermore do not permit easy detachment of a cable or rope in all circumstances. Moreover, none of the prior art devices provides for a multi-dimensional retaining ability by which the strength of the tow device is not affected regardless of the force vectors applied to such device during a towing or lifting operation.
There is a long felt, but unsolved need for a simple lifting, towing and connecting device which can be manufactured in a one piece design, that permits multi-dimensional forces being applied to such device without the risk that a rope, cable or chain would be detached undesirably therefrom. The present invention thus alleviates the risk that an undesired detachment of a cable, chain or rope from such connecting device will occur in the event of a decrease in the tensioning of the rope, chain or cable during a lifting or towing operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to one or more devices having a body and at least three separate prongs, with a first and second of such prongs being curved in substantially the same direction whereas the third prong is curved in an opposite direction intersecting the other two curved prongs. A chain, rope or cable can be interlaced so as to reside in the interior of the prongs and once interlaced, the rope, chain or cable will not be capable of exiting the interior of the body configured by the overlapping curved prongs without purposeful de-interlacing of such cable, rope or chain from the device. As such, the device finds particular application in situations where it is not desirable to have detachment of a chain, rope or cable when tension is released, for example, in a vehicle towing operation. The device of the present invention can be manufactured as a one piece unit and can be manufactured from any suitable material. In one embodiment, the material is sufficiently buoyant so that it can float on water, making the present invention suitable for use as a connector for use in water sports, such as water skiing. Various other embodiments of the present invention include additional prongs, such as a five or six membered prong devices wherein the prongs are spaced at particular desired angles emanating away from each other and having various angled curvatures with respect to opposing prongs, as well as with respect to adjacent prongs. Other configurations and uses for the present invention are set forth below and are described in the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 86119 (1869-01-01), Allport
patent: 595458 (1897-06-01), Bailey
patent: 735445 (1903-08-01), Banks
patent: 1585840 (1926-05-01), Fahnestock
patent: 1649655 (1927-11-01), Benson
patent: 2154610 (1939-04-01), Fleury
patent: 2658247 (1953-11-01), Heuer
patent: 3055333 (1962-09-01), Ryan
patent: 3749820 (1973-07-01), Langlie et al.
patent: 3865423 (1975-02-01), Ross
patent: D240351 (1976-06-01), Generalis et al.
patent: 4097015 (1978-06-01), Frishman
patent: 4373463 (1983-02-01), Beaudette
patent: 4771137 (1988-09-01), Thompson
patent: 5054806 (1991-10-01), Chester
patent: D341117 (1993-11-01), Sundstedt
patent: 5447241 (1995-09-01), Bureau
patent: D368246 (1996-03-01), Hinnant et al.
patent: 5951416 (1999-09-01), Allen et al.
Graham Dennis L.
Lucero Edward
Boehler Anne Marie
Sheridan & Ross P.C.
LandOfFree
Lifting and towing device and method of using same does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Lifting and towing device and method of using same, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Lifting and towing device and method of using same will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3188832