Abstract:
A connector for automobile winches comprises a generally cylindrical body with a winch drive shaft receiving end and a crank receiving end. The drive shaft receiving end is provided with a pair of opposed openings through which a retaining pin, attached to the winch drive shaft is passed, thereby creating an universal joint. The crank receiving end is provided with an insert adapted to receive an end of the crank. The connector is designed to extend outside of the vehicle body and at an upward angle to facilitate operation of the winch. The invention also eliminates the need for carrying long cranks.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a handle for winch assemblies for spare wheels of automotive vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many vehicles such as pick up trucks, etc., include a spare wheel that is stored under the vehicle frame. Such vehicles are provided with a winch mechanism to lower the spare wheel from the stored position or for raising the wheel into the stored position. 
     One of the problems associated with the winch mechanism lay in the need for the operator to crawl under the vehicle to raise or lower the spare wheel. One solution to this problem is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,264 (incorporated herein by reference) wherein the winch mechanism is mounted close to the outer body of the vehicle This arrangement, however, affects the aesthetics of the vehicle. In a more common solution, the winch mechanism is normally provided with a handle to assist the wheel lowering or raising operation. 
     However, the known winch assemblies have other associated problems. For example, some of the proposed winch assemblies involve complicated ratchet mechanisms which require maintenance to ensure proper operation and add considerably to the weight of the vehicle Another problem lies in positioning the winch handle. To assist this operation, some of the known winch assemblies include extendable handles which are held in place with springs and the like. This, again, results in mechanisms that are subject to failure. 
     Another winch assembly is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,523, which is herein incorporated by reference. In this reference, as illustrated in FIG. 1, an elongate crank is used to actuate a winch, which is mounted under the vehicle body. To assist the engagement between the winch and the crank, a conduit is provided to guide the crank into engagement with the winch. Although this assembly alleviates some of the problems of the other known devices, it requires that a long crank be always maintained in the event that the spare wheel is required. Also, as discussed below, the assembly taught by this reference requires the operator to bend to the level of the winch in order to turn the crank. This forces the operator to an uncomfortable position. 
     The present invention seeks to alleviate the problems associated with the prior art winch mechanisms. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a connector for a winch on an automobile wherein the winch includes a drive shaft, the connector generally comprising a cylinder having a first end for connecting with the drive shaft and a second end extending through the vehicle body adapted to receive a crank. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features of the preferred embodiments of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear end of a vehicle illustrating a prior art winch assembly. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the winch handle of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the winch handle shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is an end cross sectional view through section I—I of the winch handle of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is an end cross sectional view through section II—II of the winch handle of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is an end view of the winch handle of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 7 is a partial side cross sectional view through section III—III of the winch handle of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 8 is a detailed view of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a partial side cross sectional view through section IV—IV of the winch handle of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a winch assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention when in place in a vehicle. 
     Figure 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the winch assembly of FIG. 2 in another orientation. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, the prior art teaches vehicles  10  having a spare wheel  12 , which is normally stored under the vehicle body. To store the wheel  12 , it is first attached to a clamp  14 , which, in turn, is attached to a free end of a cable  16 . The cable is attached, at its opposite end, to a winch  18 . A crank  20  is used to operate the winch  18 . To accomplish this, the crank  20  is formed as an elongated rod so as to enable the operator to reach the winch  18  located under the vehicle body. A guide  22  is also provided to assist the operator in engaging the winch  18  with the elongate crank  20 . Further detail of this mechanism is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,523, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. As can be seen in FIG. 1, another problem with the prior art devices lies in the fact that, in order for the crank to cooperate with the winch, it must be positioned generally parallel to the ground. This positioning causes discomfort for the operator who must bend to the level of the crank to actuate the winch. 
     As mentioned previously, the present invention provides a handle or connector for allowing rotational motion from a crank to be transferred to a winch, thereby eliminating the need for an elongated crank as in the prior art discussed above. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate one embodiment of the connector of the present invention. As shown, the connector, shown generally at  30 , comprises a main shaft  32  having a crank receiving end  34  and a winch connecting end  36 . The main shaft  32  generally comprises a hollow cylinder. The crank receiving end  34  is provided with a fluted portion  38  to facilitate location of the crank (not shown). Within the crank receiving end  34 , an insert  40  is provided for engaging the crank. The insert includes a slot  42  into which the crank end is inserted. The winch connecting end  36  includes a pair of slots  44 ,  46  for engaging a pin on the winch. This arrangement is discussed further below. In the preferred embodiment, the insert  40  is press fit into the crank receiving end  34  of the connector  30 . Preferably, the insert is fit within the connector so as to withstand a torque of 37 Nm. To assist these preferred requirements, the insert preferably is formed with 12 sides so as to provide longitudinal ridges for gripping the inner surface of the connector. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a partial cross sectional end view of the insert  40  and the slot  42  wherein one end of a crank is inserted. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates another cross sectional view of the insert wherein a drain hole  48  is shown provided in the insert  40 . 
     FIG. 6 is an end view of the crank receiving end  34  of the connector showing the insert  40 , the slot  42  and the drain hole  48 . Similarly, FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross section of the end  34 . 
     FIG. 7 shows an cross sectional view of the winch receiving end  36  of the connector. As shown, the winch receiving end is provided with a pair of opposing slots  44  and  46 , which are described further below. The end  36  also is provided with a ring  50 , which is fitted over the end of the connector  30 . The ring  50  is shown in more detail in FIG.  8 . The purpose of the ring  50  is also discussed further below. As shown in FIG. 8, the ring  50  is provided with a chamfered end  51  so as to facilitate fastening of the ring  50  to the connector. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates the connector  30  of the preferred embodiment when attached to the body of a vehicle. As shown, the connector  30  extends from a drive shaft  52  of the winch and through and opening  53  in the vehicle body  54 . The connector  30  is attached to the winch drive shaft  52  by passing a retaining pin  56  through one of slots  44  or  46  on the winch receiving end  36  of the connector  30 , through the drive shaft  52  and through the opposite slot on the end  36  The retaining pin  56  is attached to the winch drive shaft  52  so as to prevent the pin from being dislodged. As illustrated, the connector is positioned so that the crank receiving end  34  is preferably exposed so as to facilitate insertion of a crank. The connector  30  is preferably maintained in place by means of a rubber grommet  58 , which permits rotation of the connector. 
     In operation, one end of a crank (not shown) is inserted into the slot  42 . The crank is then rotated by means of the crank. Such rotational force is then transmitted by the connector to the winch drive shaft  52 , which, in turn, actuates the winch to raise or lower the spare tire (not shown). The slots  44  and  46  are provided to act as a universal joint to result in rotation of the drive shaft. That is, at times when the retaining pin  56  is vertical, such as shown in FIG. 10, the length of the slots  44  and  46  allows the winch drive shaft to be driven on an angle. Therefore, such slots permit the connector  30  to be mounted at an upward angle as shown, thereby avoiding the necessity for the operator to bend during the operation of the winch. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates the connector of FIG. 10 after a 45° rotation. As shown, at this point, when the retaining pin  56  is horizontal, the retaining pin and the width of the slots  44  and  46  act as pivot points to rotate the drive shaft  52 . 
     To further facilitate the rotation of the connector and drive shaft, the ring  50  is preferably made of a plastic material such as, for example, Santoprene™ brand plastic material. Such a material allows the connector end  36  to rotate without rattling. The ring  50  is preferably affixed to the connector with an adhesive. 
     Further, in the preferred embodiment, the connector is treated for inhibiting corrosion. The insert is also preferably made from copper infiltrated steel. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the connector  30  comprises a cylinder having a total length of 184.25 mm, a thickness of 1.5 mm and an outer diameter of 25.4 mm. Other dimensions of the preferred embodiment are as follows: 
     1) the insert  40  has a length of 34 mm and a diameter of 22.97 mm taken across its corners. 
     2) the slot  42  on the insert  40  has a width of 10.76 mm and a length of 28 mm. 
     3) the drain hole  48  of the insert  40  has a diameter of 6.3 mm. 
     4) the fluted end  38  of the connector has a length of 19.5 mm and is angled at 12° from the connector body  32 . 
     5) the slots  44  and  46  of the connector have dimensions of 4.8 mm×16 mm (+/−0.25 mm) 
     The dimensions provided above are for comparison purposes only. As will be appreciated, other combinations of dimensions are also possible. 
     As will be appreciated, the present invention provides an easy means of using automobile winches. The invention overcomes some of the deficiencies in the prior art by allowing operation of the winch without the need for bending to the winch level and by eliminating the need for carrying a long crank for engaging the winch. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims appended hereto.