Material or article handling – Vehicle attached auxiliary carriers
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-02
2003-03-11
Krizek, Janice L. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Vehicle attached auxiliary carriers
C212S180000, C254S323000, C414S540000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06530738
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vehicle mounted article loader devices, and, more particularly, to a vehicle mounted article loader apparatus especially adapted for use on an all terrain vehicle (ATV).
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hoists that are mounted on a vehicle when needed and removed from the vehicle when not needed are known in the art. In this respect, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,806,063, 5,419,672, 5,662,451, 5,791,858, and 5,975,831.
More specifically, both U.S. Patent Nos. 4,806,063 and 5,791,858 disclose vehicle mounted hoists that have a winch mounted on a vertically oriented strut. Because the winches are mounted on the struts, the struts must be equipped with winch attachment devices. To avoid the complexities of struts that require winch attachment devices, it would be desirable if a vehicle mounted hoist were provided with a winch that is not attached to a vertically oriented strut. Also, both U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,806,063 and 5,791,858 disclose vehicle mounted hoists that are mounted on trailer hitches of vehicles. However, some vehicles do not have trailer hitches, so it would be desirable if a vehicle mounted hoist were provided that need not be attached to a trailer hitch.
Both U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,662,451 and 5,975,831 disclose a vehicle mounted hoist that is attached to an all terrain vehicle. In both of these hoists, a vertical strut is provided that is perpendicular to a horizontal plane. By being vertically straight up, a vertical strut does not extend over a side of the vehicle. As a result, it may be difficult for an article that is being hoisted vertically along side of the vehicle, such as a carcass of a game animal, to be lifted straight up at the side of the vehicle before it is moved horizontally to the interior of the vehicle. It would be easier to lift an article vertically at the side of the vehicle if a strut leaned away from the vehicle. Moreover, if a strut leans away from the vehicle, it would be desirable if stabilizers were provided to limit the degree of leaning that the strut undergoes. If leaning struts are not stabilized, a heavy weight on a leaning strut could cause the strut to bend or collapse.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,672 may be of interest for its disclosure of a hoist mounted on the tailgate of a pickup truck.
Still other features would be desirable in a vehicle mounted article loader apparatus. For example, preferably strut stabilizers should stabilize a strut under load not only from collapsing horizontally, but also from twisting laterally. If a strut supporting a heavy load were to either collapse horizontally or to twist laterally, then the load may move out of control.
Also, when an article loader apparatus is mounted on a vehicle, it would be desirable if the mounting of the loader apparatus to the vehicle does not result in damage to the vehicle. In this respect, it would be desirable if mounting the loader apparatus to the vehicle does not require drilling of holes in parts of the vehicle.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use vehicle mounted hoists, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a vehicle mounted article loader apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) provides a winch that is not attached to a vertically oriented strut; (2) is not attached to a trailer hitch; (3) has a strut that leans away from the vehicle; (4) has stabilizers to limit the degree of leaning that the strut undergoes; (5) stabilizes a strut under load from collapsing horizontally and from twisting laterally; and (6) is mounted to the vehicle without requiring drilling of holes in parts of the vehicle. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique vehicle mounted article loader apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides an article loader apparatus for mounting on a vehicle and includes a vehicle mounting assembly which includes mounting means for mounting the vehicle mounting assembly onto the vehicle. A strut connector is connected to the vehicle mounting assembly. A strut member is connected to the strut connector for supporting the strut member on the vehicle mounting assembly. A cable guide is connected to a distal end of the strut member. A winch assembly is connected to the vehicle mounting assembly. The winch assembly includes a winch motor and a winch cable controlled by the winch motor. The winch cable is threaded through the cable guide. A stabilizer member connecting means is connected to a distal end of the strut member, and a pair of stabilizer members are connected between the stabilizer member connecting means and the vehicle. In a first mode of use, the strut connector leans toward the front of the vehicle causing the strut member to lean toward the front of the vehicle. In a second mode of use, the strut connector leans toward the rear of the vehicle causing the strut member to lean towards the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle can be an all terrain vehicle (ATV). The stabilizer members can be stabilizer chains. The mounting means include a bottom mounting plate, a top mounting plate, and fasteners connected between the bottom mounting plate and the top mounting plate. The fasteners include bolts and nuts. The strut member is a metal pipe. The cable guide means includes a cable guide ring. The stabilizer member connecting means includes a stabilizer connector ring. By using the article loader apparatus, a person can lift a heavy article, such as a deer carcass, into a vehicle without undue strain and effort.
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved vehicle mounted article loader apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved vehicle mounted article loader apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved vehicle mounted article loader apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved vehicle mounted article l
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