Speedy winch adapter

• US 9,156,652 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2014
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan R. Warboys, Rosemary Warboys
• Original Assignee: Alan R. Warboys, Rosemary Warboys
• Inventors: Warboys, Alan R., Warboys, Rosemary
• Primary Examiner(s): WILEY, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US14/149,632
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 403/322.4, 4031091-1098, 811/801, 254/376, 173/29, 173/132
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0846 winding up or storing of straps
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0853 Tools for manipulating straps or tighteners
• 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: B65H 79/00 Driving-gear for devices for forwarding, winding, unwinding, or depositing material, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A winch adapter including a unitary body having both a primary and a smaller secondary casing. A pair of levers, with handles, are pivotally attached to the secondary casing. A lug disposed on each lever opposite the handle is inserted through a hole in the primary casing and is maintained therein by tension from an associated elastic band against each lever, but the handle on each lever can be depressed to pull the lugs from their respective holes. The outer casing can then be inserted over a winch nipple with its own pair of holes, at which time, the handles would be released, causing the lugs to be inserted through holes on both the primary casing and the winch nipple. An air gun can then be used with the secondary casing and a drive on the secondary casing, allowing the air gun to rotate the winch adapter and the winch.

Claims

1. A winch adapter in combination with a winch, the winch adapter comprising:

a unitary body including a primary casing and a secondary casing, the primary casing being cylindrical and having an inner diameter, the secondary casing being cylindrical;

a pair of levers comprising a first lever and a second lever;

wherein the first lever has two ends comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first lever is pivotally attached to the secondary casing;

wherein the second lever has two ends comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the second lever is pivotally attached to the secondary casing;

wherein the first lever is pivotally attached to the secondary casing one hundred eighty degrees from the location the second lever is pivotally attached to the secondary casing;

a pair of handles comprising a first handle and a second handle, wherein the first handle is attached to the first end of the first lever;

further wherein the second handle is attached to the first end of the second lever;

a first pair of holes comprising a first hole and a second hole, wherein each of the holes of the first pair of holes are located on the primary casing;

wherein each of the holes of the first pair of holes are located one hundred eighty degrees from each other;

a first pair of lugs comprising a first lug and a second lug, wherein each lug is cylindrical;

wherein the first lug is attached to the second end of the first lever and is insertable through the first hole of the first pair of holes,

wherein the second lug is attached to the second end of the second lever and is insertable through the second hole of the first pair of holes;

an elastic band, wherein the elastic band encircles the primary casing;

further wherein the elastic band forces the second end of the first lever against the primary casing;

further wherein the elastic band forces the second end of the second lever against the primary casing;

a hollowed-out square drive disposed within the secondary casing, the drive configured to receive a tool for transmitting torque to the winch adapter;

a cylindrical winch nipple attached to the winch, the cylindrical winch nipple having an outer diameter;

a second pair of holes comprising a first hole and a second hole, wherein each hole of the second pair of holes is located on the cylindrical winch nipple, further wherein the first hole of the second pair of holes is located one hundred eighty degrees from the second hole of the second pair of holes;

wherein each of the handles of the pair of handles are grasped and pushed in, thereby causing each of the lugs of the pair of lugs to exit their respective holes;

further wherein the cylindrical winch nipple is inserted into the primary casing;

further wherein the first hole of the first pair of holes on the primary casing is aligned over the first hole on the second pair of holes on the cylindrical winch nipple;

further wherein the second hole of the first pair of holes on the primary casing is aligned over the second hole on the second pair of holes on the cylindrical winch nipple;

further wherein the pair of handles are released, thereby allowing the first lug to be inserted through the first hole of the first pair of holes on the primary casing and the first hole on the second pair of holes on the cylindrical winch nipple, further thereby allowing the second lug to be inserted through the second hole of the first pair of holes on the primary casing and the second hole on the second pair of holes on the cylindrical winch nipple.

2. A winch adapter in combination with a winch according to claim 1 wherein the winch adapter further comprises:

a pair of pivot mechanisms comprising a first pivot mechanism and a second pivot mechanism;

wherein the first pivot mechanism is located on the secondary casing, further wherein the first lever is pivotally attached to the secondary casing via the first pivot mechanism;

further wherein the second pivot mechanism is located on the secondary casing, further wherein the second lever is pivotally attached to the secondary casing via the second pivot mechanism.

3. A winch adapter in combination with a winch according to claim 2 wherein each of the levers of the pair of levers is flush with the primary casing.

4. A winch adapter in combination with a winch according to claim 3 wherein the winch adapter further comprises:

a pair of fasteners comprising a first fastener and a second fastener;

wherein each fastener is inserted through the elastic band and the primary casing.

5. A winch adapter in combination with a winch according to claim 4 wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical winch nipple is slightly less than the inner diameter of the primary casing.

6. A winch adapter in combination with a winch, the winch adapter comprising:

a unitary body including a primary casing and a secondary casing, the primary casing being cylindrical and having an inner diameter, the secondary casing being cylindrical;

a pair of levers comprising a first lever and a second lever;

wherein the first lever has two ends comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first lever is pivotally attached to the secondary casing;

wherein the second lever has two ends comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the second lever is pivotally attached to the secondary casing;

wherein the first lever is pivotally attached to the secondary casing one hundred eighty degrees from the location the second lever is pivotally attached to the secondary casing;

wherein each of the levers of the pair of levers is flush with the primary casing;

a pair of pivot mechanisms comprising a first pivot mechanism and a second pivot mechanism, wherein the first pivot mechanism is located on the secondary casing, further wherein the first lever is pivotally attached to the secondary casing via the first pivot mechanism, further wherein the second pivot mechanism is located on the secondary casing, further wherein the second lever is pivotally attached to the secondary casing via the second pivot mechanism;

a pair of handles comprising a first handle and a second handle, wherein the first handle is attached to the first end of the first lever;

further wherein the second handle is attached to the first end of the second lever;

a first pair of holes comprising a first hole and a second hole, wherein each of the holes of the first pair of holes are located on the primary casing;

wherein each of the holes of the first pair of holes are located one hundred eighty degrees from each other;

a first pair of lugs comprising a first lug and a second lug, wherein each lug is cylindrical;

wherein the first lug is attached to the second end of the first lever and is insertable through the first hole of the first pair of holes,

wherein the second lug is attached to the second end of the second lever and is insertable through the second hole of the first pair of holes;

an elastic band, wherein the elastic band encircles the primary casing;

further wherein the elastic band forces the second end of the first lever against the primary casing;

further wherein the elastic band forces the second end of the second lever against the primary casing;

a pair of fasteners comprising a first fastener and a second fastener, wherein each fastener is inserted through the elastic band and the primary casing;

a hollowed-out square drive disposed within the secondary casing, the drive configured to receive a tool for transmitting torque to the winch adapter;

a cylindrical winch nipple attached to the winch, the cylindrical winch nipple having an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical winch nipple is slightly less than the inner diameter of the primary casing;

a second pair of holes comprising a first hole and a second hole, wherein each hole of the second pair of holes is located on the cylindrical winch nipple, further wherein the first hole of the second pair of holes is located one hundred eighty degrees from the second hole of the second pair of holes;

wherein each of the handles of the pair of handles are grasped and pushed in, thereby causing each of the lugs of the pair of lugs to exit their respective holes;

further wherein the cylindrical winch nipple is inserted into the primary casing;

further wherein the first hole of the first pair of holes on the primary casing is aligned over the first hole on the second pair of holes on the cylindrical winch nipple;

further wherein the second hole of the first pair of holes on the primary casing is aligned over the second hole on the second pair of holes on the cylindrical winch nipple;

further wherein the pair of handles are released, thereby allowing the first lug to be inserted through the first hole of the first pair of holes on the primary casing and the first hole on the second pair of holes on the cylindrical winch nipple, further thereby allowing the second lug to be inserted through the second hole of the first pair of holes on the primary casing and the second hole on the second pair of holes on the cylindrical winch nipple.