Winch winding tool

• US 6,705,597 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Winch Winder Company
• Original Assignee: Winch Winder Company
• Inventors: Reilly, Thomas J., Ruck, James C., Ruck, Philip D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, EMMANUEL MONSAYAC
• Application Number:
  US10/277,460
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 254/223, 254/199, 254/222, 254/247, 254/376, 410/12, 410/96, 410/100, 410/103, 410/156
• US Class Current: 254/223
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0846 winding up or storing of straps
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 54/585 Reels for rolling tape-like material, e.g. flat hose or strap, into flat spiral form; Means for retaining the roll after removal of the reel
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/305 Arrangements to facilitate driving by a portable drill
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 3/18 Power-operated hoists

Abstract

A tool is provided for winding a strap or other flexible component onto a winch. The tool is inserted into the axial opening of the winch spindle and includes a longitudinal slot that receives the inner end of the strap. The tool also includes a head portion that is lockably interengagable with a drive component of a rotary drive apparatus. The rotary drive apparatus is interengaged with the tool and rotatably driven such that the tool turns the spindle to wind the strap thereon.

Claims

1. A tool operably engagable with a rotary drive apparatus for winding a winch, which winch includes a yoke and a generally tubular spindle mounted rotatably in the yoke, the spindle including a central opening, the winch also including an elongate strap, an inner portion of which is attached to the spindle and extends across the opening thereof, at least one end of the spindle being open such that the central opening of the spindle is exposed, said tool comprising:

a head portion for lockably interengaging the rotary drive apparatus such that the head portion and the rotary drive apparatus are rotatable in unison; and

an elongate body portion connected to and extending from said head portion for axially rotating in response to operation of the rotary drive apparatus, said elongate body being introducable into the central opening of the winch spindle and having a slot formed longitudinally therein for receiving the portion of the flexible strap extending across the central opening, said elongate body portion being axially rotatable by the rotary drive apparatus for engaging the inner portion of the flexible strap and driving the spindle axially rotatably such that the strap is windable onto the spindle.

2. The tool of claim 1 in which said elongate body portion has a generally tubular shape.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said means for lockably and releasably interengaging include a receptacle formed in said head portion for receiving and interengaging said rotary driven power tool, said receptacle communicating with said axial opening in said body portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said longitudinal slot and said body portion includes a generally parallel pair of slotted sections that communicate with an axial opening formed through said body portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for lockably and releasably interengaging include a receptacle formed in the head portion for receiving and operably interengaging the rotary drive apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said receptacle has a square shape.

7. The tool of claim 1 in which the head portion is unitarily connected to said elongate body.

8. The tool of claim 1 in which said head portion and said body portion are axially rotatable in response to operation of the rotary drive apparatus when the apparatus is operably attached to said tool.

9. The tool of claim 1 further including a universal joint device for interconnecting said head portion and the rotary drive apparatus.

10. The tool of claim 9 in which said head portion is permanently secured to said universal joint.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotary drive apparatus comprises a hand crank.

12. The tool of claim 1 wherein the rotary drive apparatus comprises a power driven mechanism.

13. A tool operably engagable with a rotary drive apparatus for winding a winch, which winch includes a yoke and a generally tubular spindle mounted rotatably in the yoke, the spindle including a central opening, the winch also including an elongate strap, an inner portion of which is attached to the spindle and extends across the opening thereof, at least one end of the spindle being open such that the central opening of the spindle is exposed, said tool comprising:

a head portion that is lockably attachable to the power drive apparatus such that the head portion and the rotary drive apparatus are rotatable in unison; and

an elongate body portion connected to and extending from said head portion for axially rotating in response to operation of the rotary drive apparatus, said elongate body being introducible into the central opening of the winch spindle and having a slot formed longitudinally therein for receiving the portion of the flexible strap extending across the central opening, said elongate body portion being axially rotatable by the rotary drive apparatus for engaging the inner portion of the flexible strap and driving the spindle axially rotatably such that the strap is windable onto the spindle.