Brakes – Vehicle – On ground
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-30
2001-02-13
Oberleitner, Robert J. (Department: 3613)
Brakes
Vehicle
On ground
C188S007000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186283
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the field of tools related to vehicles, and pertains more particularly to apparatus for stabilizing a vehicle during winching operations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many utility and all-terrain vehicles, and emergency vehicles as well, are equipped with a winch. A winch is most often attached to a vehicle by a secure bolting or welding arrangement to a frame, bumper, or other member that is designed to provide a secure and stable mount.
A winch typically comprises an arrangement of meshed gears driven by a power input and operationally attached to a rotary cable-spool. A length of steel cable or the like is provided with one end fixedly attached to the spool. Various apparatus may be affixed to the free end of the cable, which may be removeably attached to an object to be pulled, or to a stable object such as a tree to facilitate a reverse pull.
A winch may be electrically powered, manually operated, or powered by some other power source. In some apparatus, often termed a come-along, a cable may be attached to the vehicle and to another vehicle or object, and a ratcheting apparatus is provided between the two which has the effect of shortening the cable to provide a pulling effect. The overall effect is the same as using a winch.
As is known in the art, there are multiple uses for a winch that range from freeing stuck vehicles, to operations such as stump puling, post pulling, and the like. As a general rule, winches are designed to have different pull loads or strengths for differing situations. For example, a heavier vehicle may require a more powerful winch whereas a lighter vehicle a less powerful winch and so on. The winch has many documented uses and is well known in the art.
A serious problem that may occur during a winching operation is that the vehicle with the winch may not be anchored effectively. In this instance a stuck vehicle that is much heavier than a rescue vehicle will likely remain stuck, as the rescue vehicle supporting the winch will simply move toward the stuck vehicle during operation. This instability is due to the simple fact that the resistance of the stuck vehicle is simply greater than the pulling power of the pulling vehicle.
In conventional situations makeshift boards or wheel blocks may be used to constrain a vehicle from rolling or sliding forward during winching. Sometimes weight may be added to a vehicle by way of placing rocks or other heavy payloads into a truck bed. These techniques aid only marginally. Furthermore, such makeshift techniques are generally burdensome and time consuming.
What is clearly needed is a method and apparatus for anchoring and stabilizing a winch-operating vehicle such that the vehicle will remain fixed under application of pulling force much greater than would typically cause such a vehicle to roll or slide.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a vehicle anchor is provided, comprising a stop for blocking a track or wheel of a vehicle, the stop having a first edge, a second edge, and an elevated center portion separating the edges; a tether having a first end fixedly attached to the stop and a second end with an interface for connecting to a vehicle member. In one embodiment the stop is a portion of a tubing cut longitudinally, and the tubing may be a section of standard pipe. Angle iron and other geometric shapes may also be used.
In a preferred embodiment the tether is a length of chain, but could also be a length of fiber strap. In some embodiments the stop has a protruding lip portion to one side of the elevated center portion, the lip portion for engaging the track or wheel of the vehicle. In some embodiments as well, the tether attaches to the stop to one side of the elevated center portion. In some cases the vehicle member to which the tether attaches is a storage and deployment apparatus for storing and deploying the vehicle anchor, which may be integrated with a winch attached to the vehicle.
In another aspect of the invention a system for anchoring a vehicle during a pulling operation is provided, comprising a vehicle anchor having a stop for blocking a track or wheel of a vehicle, the stop having a first edge, a second edge, and an elevated center portion separating the edges, and a tether having a first end fixedly attached to the stop and a second end; and a storage and deployment apparatus connected to the second end of the tether, such that the stop may be stored in a retracted position and deployed by feeding out the tether to place the stop proximate the track or wheel. In some embodiments of the system the storage and deployment apparatus is a winch.
In yet another aspect of the invention a method for anchoring a vehicle during a pulling operation is provided comprising steps of (a) placing a stop having a first edge, a second edge, and an elevated center portion separating the edges in front of a track or wheel of the vehicle; and (b) securing a tether having a first end fixedly attached to the stop by a second end to a vehicle member in a manner that the tether allows the vehicle track or wheel to roll up on the elevated center portion, but not to pass over the stop. In this method, in step (b), the vehicle member is a storage and deployment apparatus for storing the stop and deploying the stop for placement in step (a).
In the apparatus and methods of the invention taught in enabling detail below, for the first time, a vehicle blocking apparatus is provided that effectively anchors a vehicle during a pulling operation to several times the force which other, conventional methods and apparatus provide.
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patent: 5437128 (1995-08-01), Gremillion
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patent: 5850715 (1998-12-01), Francis
patent: 5033411 (1993-12-01), None
Boys Donald R.
Central Coast Patent Agency
Central Coast Patent Agency
Oberleitner Robert J.
Talavera Melanie
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