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:
Feb. 18, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 25, 2001
David Christensen, Hopewell Mercer County, NJ (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention is a support rack with a built-in winch component. The rack unit includes at least two upright members and at least one horizontal support member connected at opposite ends to each of the upright members, and at least one shaft-receiving orifice located on and passing through either an upright member and/or horizontal support member. In some preferred embodiments, a plurality of the orifices may be included, e.g. at lower and higher levels of the uprights, as well as on the horizontal supports. Also, in some preferred embodiments, gussets are included to connect the uprights to the horizontal supports. These gussets may include shaft-receiving orifices. The upright members provide attachment to a motor vehicle, e.g. as part of the uprights, or as separate components. The winch component has a shaft, a strap take-up reel, a one-way ratchet mechanism, a wind-up mechanism, and a lock-release mechanism, with the shaft being rotatably positioned within a shaft-receiving orifice on the uprights, horizontal supports or gussets.