ATV lift and carry apparatus

• US 6,461,095 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David P. Puska
• Original Assignee: David P. Puska
• Inventors: Puska, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischetti, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US09/636,618
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 414/462, 414/540, 414/917, 414/547, 224/401, 224/921, 172/439
• US Class Current: 414/462
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/06 movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks vehicle aspects B60 - B62; vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading or unloading B60P1/00; low-lift hand trucks for transporting goods B62B3/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/13 Handlers utilizing parallel links

Abstract

An ATV lift and carry apparatus for lifting heavy objects upon the rack member mounted to an ATV. The ATV lift and carry apparatus includes a main support assembly being adapted to be securely attached to an ATV; and also includes a hitch mounting member being adapted to adjustably attach to a hitch of the ATV; and further includes a rack support member being pivotally mounted to the hitch mounting member; and also includes a rack member being pivotally attached to the rack support member and being adapted to be supported upon the ATV; and further includes a lift assembly for lifting objects upon the rack member.

Claims

1. An ATV lift and carry apparatus comprising:

a main support assembly being adapted to be securely attached to an ATV;

a hitch mounting member being adapted to adjustably attach to a hitch of the ATV;

a rack support member being pivotally mounted to said hitch mounting member;

a rack member being pivotally attached to said rack support member and being adapted to be supported upon the ATV;

a lift assembly for lifting objects upon said rack member; and

wherein said rack support member includes a frame having an elongate end member, and also having elongate side members securely attached at ends of said elongate end member, and further having a cross member extending between and being securely attached to said elongate side members, and also having elongate converging members each having a first end being securely attached to a respective said elongate side member and each having a second end portion which is securely attached to said second end portion of the other said elongate converging member, said second end portions of said elongate converging members being pivotally attached with a fastener to said hitching mounting member.

2. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said main support assembly includes a first elongate member, a plurality of bracket members securely attached to said first elongate member and being adapted to fasten to the ATV, and also includes a first arm member having a first end and a second end, said second end of said first arm member being securely attached to said first elongate member, and further including a second arm member having a first end and a second end, said second end of said second arm member being pivotally attached to said first end of said first arm member, and also includes a mounting bracket being securely attached at said first end of said second arm member and being adapted to securely fasten to a back of the ATV.

3. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein said first arm member includes a slot disposed in said first end thereof, and said second arm member includes slots disposed in said first and second ends thereof.

4. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein said mounting bracket includes a main portion which is securely attached to said second arm member, and also includes end portions which are integrally connected to said main portion and which are angled relative to said main portion, each of said end portions having a plurality of holes disposed therethrough for mounting said mounting bracket to the ATV.

5. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said hitch mounting member includes a plate-like member having a plurality of holes disposed therethrough for adjustably mounting said hitch mounting member to the hitch of the ATV, and also includes brackets securely attached to sides of said plate-like member and extending outwardly therefrom.

6. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said rack member includes a frame having elongate end and side members and elongate cross members, and also includes a support bar being securely attached to and spaced from said frame, and further includes brackets being securely attached to one of said elongate end members of said frame for pivotally mounting said rack member to said elongate side members of said rack support member.

7. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein said lift assembly includes a winch mounting member which is adapted to securely fasten to an axle of the ATV, and also includes a winch being securely and removably mounted to said winch mounting member and having a motor, a spool connected to said motor, a cable carried by said spool and having a hook at an end of said cable, and a winch bracket member, and further includes a first pulley mounted in said slot of said first arm member and in said slot of said second end of said second arm member, and also includes a second pulley mounted in said slot in said first end of said second arm member, and further includes a roller member being mounted to one of said elongate end members of said frame of said rack member, and also includes a third pulley mounted to said cross member of said rack support member, said pulleys and said roller member being adapted to carry said cable.

8. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 7, wherein said winch mounting member includes a pair of arcuate plate-like members, and also includes a pair of spacing members securely attached to and extending outwardly from one of said arcuate plate-like members and being in contactable relationship with the other of said arcuate plate-like members, and further includes a mounting plate support member being securely attached to and extending outwardly from one of said arcuate plate-like members, and also includes a winch mounting plate being adjustably fastened to said mounting plate support member and being adapted to support said winch.

9. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein each of said arcuate plate-like members of said winch mounting member includes a curved main portion which is adapted to engage about the axle of the ATV and also includes end portions having holes disposed therethrough.

10. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein said mounting plate support member and said winch mounting plate have holes disposed therethrough for allowing said winch mounting plate to be adjustably fastened with fastening members to said mounting plate support member.

11. An ATV lift and carry apparatus comprising:

a main support assembly being adapted to be securely attached to an ATV;

a hitch mounting member being adapted to adjustably attach to a hitch of the ATV;

a rack support member being pivotally mounted to said hitch mounting member;

a rack member being pivotally attached to said rack support member and being adapted to be supported upon the ATV;

a lift assembly for lifting objects upon said rack member;

wherein said main support assembly includes a first elongate member, a plurality of bracket members securely attached to said first elongate member and being adapted to fasten to the ATV, and also includes a first arm member having a first end and a second end, said second end of said first arm member being securely attached to said first elongate member, and further including a second arm member having a first end and a second end, said second end of said second arm member being pivotally attached to said first end of said first arm member, and also includes a mounting bracket being securely attached at said first end of said second arm member and being adapted to securely fasten to a back of the ATV;

wherein said first arm member includes a slot disposed in said first end thereof, and said second arm member includes slots disposed in said first and second ends thereof;

wherein said mounting bracket includes a main portion which is securely attached to said second arm member, and also includes end portions which are integrally connected to said main portion and which are angled relative to said main portion, each of said end portions having a plurality of holes disposed therethrough for mounting said mounting bracket to the ATV;

wherein said hitch mounting member includes a plate-like member having a plurality of holes disposed therethrough for adjustably mounting said hitch mounting member to the hitch of the ATV, and also includes brackets securely attached to sides of said plate-like member and extending outwardly therefrom; and

wherein said rack support member includes a frame having an elongate end member, and also having elongate side members securely attached at ends of said elongate end member, and further having a cross member extending between and being securely attached to said elongate side members, and also having elongate converging members each having a first end being securely attached to a respective said elongate side member and each having a second end portion which is securely attached to said second end portion of the other said elongate converging member, said second end portions of said elongate converging members being pivotally attached with a fastener to said brackets of said hitching mounting member.

12. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 11, wherein said rack member includes a frame having elongate end and side members and elongate cross members, and also includes a support bar being securely attached to and spaced from said frame, and further includes brackets being securely attached to one of said elongate end members of said frame for pivotally mounting said rack member to said elongate side members of said rack support member.

13. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein said lift assembly includes a winch mounting member which is adapted to securely fasten to an axle of the ATV, and also includes a winch being securely and removably mounted to said winch mounting member and having a motor, a spool connected to said motor, a cable carried by said spool and having a hook at an end of said cable, and a winch bracket member, and further includes a first pulley mounted in said slot of said first arm member and in said slot of said second end of said second arm member, and also includes a second pulley mounted in said slot in said first end of said second arm member, and further includes a roller member being mounted to one of said elongate end members of said frame of said rack member, and also includes a third pulley mounted to said cross member of said rack support member, said pulleys and said roller member being adapted to carry said cable.

14. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein said winch mounting member includes a pair of arcuate plate-like members, and also includes a pair of spacing members securely attached to and extending outwardly from one of said arcuate plate-like members and being in contactable relationship with the other of said arcuate plate-like members, and further includes a mounting plate support member being securely attached to and extending outwardly from one of said arcuate plate-like members, and also includes a winch mounting plate being adjustably fastened to said mounting plate support member and being adapted to support said winch.

15. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein each of said arcuate plate-like members of said winch mounting member includes a curved main portion which is adapted to engage about the axle of the ATV and also includes end portions having holes disposed therethrough.

16. An ATV lift and carry apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein said mounting plate support member and said winch mounting plate have holes disposed therethrough for allowing said winch mounting plate to be adjustably fastened with fastening members to said mounting plate support member.

17. An ATV lift and carry apparatus comprising:

a main support assembly being adapted to be securely attached to an ATV, said main support assembly including a first elongate member, a plurality of bracket members securely attached to said first elongate member and being adapted to fasten to the ATV, and also including a first arm member having a first end and a second end, said second end of said first arm member being securely attached to said first elongate member, and further including a second arm member having a first end and a second end, said second end of said second arm member being pivotally attached to said first end of said first arm member, and also including a mounting bracket being securely attached at said first end of said second arm member and being adapted to securely fasten to a back of the ATV, said first arm member including a slot disposed in said first end thereof, and said second arm member including slots disposed in said first and second ends thereof, said mounting bracket including a main portion which is securely attached to said second arm member, and also including end portions which are integrally connected to said main portion and which are angled relative to said main portion, each of said end portions having a plurality of holes disposed therethrough for mounting said mounting bracket to the ATV;

a hitch mounting member being adapted to adjustably attach to a hitch of the ATV, said hitch mounting member including a plate-like member having a plurality of holes disposed therethrough for adjustably mounting said hitch mounting member to the hitch of the ATV, and also including brackets securely attached to sides of said plate-like member and extending outwardly therefrom;

a rack support member being pivotally mounted to said hitch mounting member, said rack support member including a frame having an elongate end member, and also having elongate side members securely attached at ends of said elongate end member, and further having a cross member extending between and being securely attached to said elongate side members, and also having elongate converging members each having a first end being securely attached to a respective said elongate side member and each having a second end portion which is securely attached to said second end portion of the other said elongate converging member, said second end portions of said elongate converging members being pivotally attached with a fastener to said brackets of said hitching mounting member;

a rack member being pivotally attached to said rack support member and being adapted to be supported upon the ATV, said rack member including a frame having elongate end and side members and elongate cross members, and also including a support bar being securely attached to and spaced from said frame, and further including brackets being securely attached to one of said elongate end members of said frame for pivotally mounting said rack member to said elongate side members of said rack support member; and

a lift assembly for lifting objects upon said rack member including a winch mounting member which is adapted to securely fasten to an axle of the ATV, and also including a winch being securely and removably mounted to said winch mounting member and having a motor, a spool connected to said motor, a cable carried by said spool and having a hook at an end of said cable, and a winch bracket member, and further including a first pulley mounted in said slot of said first arm member and in said slot of said second end of said second arm member, and also including a second pulley mounted in said slot in said first end of said second arm member, and further including a roller member being mounted to one of said elongate end members of said frame of said rack member, and also including a third pulley mounted to said cross member of said rack support member, said pulleys and said roller member being adapted to carry said cable, said winch mounting member including a pair of arcuate plate-like members, and also including a pair of spacing members securely attached to and extending outwardly from one of said arcuate plate-like members and being in contactable relationship with the other of said arcuate plate-like members, and further including a mounting plate support member being securely attached to and extending outwardly from one of said arcuate plate-like members, and also including a winch mounting plate being adjustably fastened to said mounting plate support member and being adapted to support said winch, each of said arcuate plate-like members of said winch mounting member including a curved main portion which is adapted to engage about the axle of the ATV and also including end portions having holes disposed therethrough, said mounting plate support member and said winch mounting plate having holes disposed therethrough for allowing said winch mounting plate to be adjustably fastened with fastening members to said mounting plate support member.