Patent ID: 9016990
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
1. A removable anchor for use in supporting a winching cable associated with a vehicle used for recovering disabled vehicles and having a vehicle surface over which the winching cable may pass, the vehicle surface having one or more anchor connectors comprising slots, and at least some of the slots having a slot insertion shape and a slot locking shape, comprising: a projection member having a relatively thin elongate body portion and a relatively thicker distal end, the projection member being shaped and sized to fit into a varying-width slot on the vehicle surface, the varying-width slot having an area of narrower width and an area of wider width, and wherein the distal end is shaped and sized to fit into only the slot insertion shape and not the slot locking shape, and the body portion is shaped and sized to fit into the slot locking shape; a crown attached to, or integrally forming a part of, the projection member, the crown being configured for connecting use with a winching cable guide mechanism comprising one or more snatch blocks attached to the anchor and guiding the winching cable; wherein when the distal end of the projection member lies within the slot insertion shape and the body portion of the projection member does not lie within the slot locking shape, the projection member is in a first, removable position in which the anchor can be readily removed from the slot, and wherein when the distal end of the projection member lies within the slot insertion shape and the body portion of the projection member lies within the slot locking shape, the projection member is in a second, locked position in which the anchor is removably retained in the slot and resists an external pulling force exerted on the anchor; whereby the anchor is removably connected to the slot on the vehicle surface, and the anchor connectors do not substantially protrude above the vehicle surface.