Patent ID: 6390452
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: B62D,B66D

Abstract:
An improved safety device for use in a winch assembly having a winch reel rotatable upon a drive shaft, said winch reel taking up and letting out a flexible member having a first and second end and being attached to said reel proximate said first end,the improved safety device comprising: i) a carrier for carrying a load, the carrier including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having means for supporting the load, and the second portion being engaged with the second end of the flexible member from remote the winch reel, the second portion of the carrier including a detent portion; ii) a latch actuating member, the latch actuating member being directly mounted on the drive shaft of said winch reel and having an axis of rotation in common with the axis of rotation of said winch reel, the latch actuating member being rotatable simultaneously with the winch reel as said winch reel is rotated, said latch actuating member including control means for controlling the motion of a latch operator when the winch reel is rotated, the latch operator being moveably mounted to the winch assembly; iii) the control means for said latch operator controlling the motion of the latch operator between a first and a second position; iv) a latch moveably mounted to said winch assembly and being selectively moveable by said latch operator between a latched position and an unlatched position when the latch operator moves between the first and second positions respectively; v) the latch having detent means for retaining said carrier proximate a stored position should the flexible member break; whereby as the drive shaft and the winch reel rotate thereby simultaneously moving the latch operator from the first position when the winch reel and drive shaft are not operated and the load is in the stored position, to the second position when the winch reel and drive shaft are operated and the load is being moved to an accessible position from the stored position as the flexible member is let out, the latch is also moved respectively from the latched position whereat the detent means of the latch is positioned substantially adjacent to the detent portion of the second portion of the carrier to secure the carrier in the stored position should the member break and preclude the loss of the load, to an unlatched position whereat said detent means of the latch is positioned substantially remote the detent portion of the second portion of the carrier, whereat the load is free to move by the letting out or taking up of the flexible member to and from the accessible position.