The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 09, 1998
Michael J Thompson, Lakeside, AZ (US);
Other;
Abstract
A winch and rail assembly support structure is adapted to mount to a front of a vehicle. A winch is supported by the winch and rail assembly support structure. A rail assembly is configured to removably connect to the winch and rail assembly support structure. The rail assembly comprises two opposing elongated rails, each elongated rail comprising two opposing tracks, and a pulley supported at a distal end of the rails. A fork assembly comprises an elongated fork support arm configured to span between the rails, a pair of forks configured to connect to the fork support arm, and a plurality of roller wheels connected to the elongated fork support arm. A first pair of the roller wheels is configured to ride within the two opposing tracks of a first one of the rails, and a second pair of the roller wheels is configured to ride within the two opposing tracks of a second one of the rails. A flexible elongated member is configured to extend from the winch, over the pulley, and from the pulley to the fork support arm. The fork support arm is configured to connect to the flexible elongated member. When the winch is operated in a first direction, the flexible elongated member pulls the fork assembly upward along the rails, and when the winch is operated in a second direction, the fork assembly is lowered along the rails.