Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02471191 2004-06-16
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
Winch apparatus has long been used to secure straps
to retain loads and objects, as on trucks and trailers.
A winch assembly is typically secured in a bracket which
is typically welded or otherwise secured to a base, such
as the bed or other portion of a truck trailer or the
like.
At least one strap is attached to and secured to
a winch drum wherein registering openings are provided
through which the winch bar is extended. The winch bar
is manually operated to rotate the drum to tighten the
strap or straps to retain an object or load.
A long standing problem has been unintentional or
undesirable rotation of the winch bar elongate handle
portion in the drum openings, when the bar is not
manually held. With such rotation, which is typically
in a conical path because of an inclined angle between
an insertion portion of the bar and an elongate handle
portion, the bar rotates in a conical pattern. Hazards
to persons and property thus result, and there has been
a history of many injuries to persons and property caused
by the freely rotating winch bar.
The present invention eliminates such hazardous
rotation of a winch bar in the openings of a winch drum.
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The winch drum openings, comprise at least one pair of
openings in diametrically opposite positions in an annular
winch drum member. The openings are polygonal, and
typically hexagonal or square, so the winch bar cannot
rotate because the winch bar insertion portion has a cross-
sectional configuration like those of the openings in the
drum member.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is
provided a winch bar and winch drum combination, comprising:
a winch bar insertion portion having a polygonal cross-
sectional configuration adapted to fit in openings of
similar cross-sectional polygonal configuration in a winch
winding drum, and an elongate handle portion of the winch
bar disposed at an acute angle relative to the insertion
portion for manual grasping thereof for manipulation to
rotate the winch winding drum to exert tension force on a
retaining strap secured on the winding drum to retain
objects secured by the strap, whereby with said winch bar
insertion portion of polygonal cross-sectional configuration
engaged in similarly configured diametrically opposite ones
of said openings of the winch winding drum, relative
rotation between the winch bar and the winch winding drum
openings is prevented to prevent the winch bar from swinging
about the winch winding drum openings in a generally conical
pattern, thereby preventing injury to persons and damage to
property.
According to another aspect of the invention,
there is provided a winch bar and cooperating ratchet drive
winch combination for exerting securing tension force on at
least one winding strap to secure at least one object on a
vehicle, said winch bar comprising: a winch bar insertion
portion for insertion into diametrically opposed polygonal
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openings in an annular drum of said ratchet drive winch, an
elongate winch bar handle portion disposed at an angle
relative to the insertion portion, said winch bar insertion
portion having a polygonal cross-sectional configuration
adapted for cooperation with said annular drum polygonal
openings to engage and fit therein to prevent relative
rotation between the winch bar and the drum openings,
whereby rotation of the winch bar relative to the annular
drum is prevented with no rotation of the bar handle portion
in a swinging pattern, whereby hazards to persons and
property are prevented, and whereby manual manipulation of
the handle portion to rotate the winch drive exerts tension
force on the at least one winding strap to exert restraining
force on at least one object on the vehicle.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a winch bar
according to the invention in relation to a winch winding
drum;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a winch bar of the
invention in operational assembly with a winch assembly;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3 in
Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view showing two
ratchet drive winch assemblies mounted on a truck bed
with securement straps extending therefrom;
Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of a winch
bar of the invention in operative relation with a ratchet
drive winch and a binding strap;
Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a prior art winch
bar having a cylindrical insertion portion disposed in
circular openings of a drive winch drum; and
Fig. 7 is a perspective view, similar to the view
of Fig. 2, showing a winch bar and a winch drum with
cooperating rectangular cross-section winch bar and
winch drum openings.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, a winch bar 10 according
to the invention has a generally hexagonal cross-section
end portion 12 adapted to fit in and extend through
diametrically opposite hexagonal openings 14 in a drum
16. The drum is rotatably mounted in a bracket 17 welded
to a truck bed or other structure, and has spaced-apart
openings 14, as shown, to receive a mandrel 18 having
thereon a slot 20 to receive a strap 22. The bracket
17 is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 as comprising two members
welded to a truck bed surface, and in Fig. 7 another form
of bracket 17', partially shown, is adapted to be secured
beneath a truck bed or other member. A ratchet 24,
partially shown in Figs. 2 and 7, is operatively connected
between the mandrel and the bracket to prevent the drum
from releasing the strap until it is manually released.
The ratchet mechanism 24, partially shown in Fig. 2, is
conventional and is not illustrated or described in
detail. The strap is inserted through the web slot 20
in the mandrel 18 and is pulled through. One or two
straps are preferably wound twice about the mandrel to
prevent slippage, which can result in problems and damage.
Each strap extends about an object or item (_not shown)
to be retained, as on a freight truck or trailer.
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The winch bar is insertable through and fits in
the diametrically opposed openings 14 (Fig. 1) or 15
(Fig. 7), as shown. The winch bar has a tapered end
portion to facilitate insertion and handling. The drum
has an annular wall member 26, a large central opening
28, and a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed
opemings. The openings may typically be of an hexagonal
configuration (Figs. 1 and 2) or square configuration 15
of Fig. 7. The winch bar has corresponding cross-
sectional configurations of its insertion portion, as
shown.
The winch bar has its elongate handle or bar
portion 34 disposed at an acute angle relative to its
insertion portion 12, as shown in Fig. 1. The handle
portion is preferably knurled as indicated at 36 in Fig.
7, in order to provide for better manual gripping.
Another type of highly frictional surface may be provided.
The drum 16 is rotatable by manual operation of the winch
bar, pulling on the bar tightening the strap or straps 22
(Figs. 4 and 5) which are secured in tightened position
by the ratchet mechanism to secure and retain an object
or load (not shown) on a truck bed or other surface.
Accidents and injuries to persons have occurred
because of conventional circular openings in the winding
drum to receive the winch bar. Because of the angular
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inclination of the handle portion of the winch bar relative
to the insertion end portion 12 thereof, the winch bar
end portion rotates in the drum openings in a generally
conical pattern, as indicated by arcuate arrows in Fig. 6.
In such a swinging arc, the handle portion 34 of a winch
bar can strike objects and persons. Many injuries have
resulted from such accidental free rotational conical
motion of the winch bar.
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