Abstract:
A unit that includes a winch, a standard for the winch, a platform and a ramp and which can be disassembled for storage and easily and quickly set up to move a device, such as a scooter or a wheelchair or the like, onto another vehicle, such as a van or a car or the like.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the general art of lifting devices, and to the particular field of winches. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Vehicles, such as automobiles, are generally designed in structure to carry objects and people inside the vehicle structure. Objects can be carried in either the passenger compartment or in the baggage section or trunk of the automobile. Additionally, automobiles frequently carry objects externally to the trunk or passenger compartment areas, such as objects which are either too large or are not appropriately structured for being carried in the passenger compartment or trunk. 
   Numerous type vehicle attachments for the roof top, side, front or rear end both permanently and semi-permanently affixed to the vehicle have been proposed. The structure, alignment and positioning of these carriers have generally been dictated by the exact type of object that the carrier is designed to accommodate. For example, roof top carriers have been designed and structured to carry relatively light objects, such as luggage, boxes and the like which can be fitted easily on the roof top. Carriers structured for the use on the rear of the vehicle are used for many purposes, such as, for example, bicycles, small vehicles, light motorcycles, and similarly irregularly structured objects which do not lend themselves readily to being carried on a vehicle roof or other areas because of their cumbersome shape or weight characteristics. 
   The transportation of wheelchairs when not in use presents a difficult problem because of their bulky weight and unusual shape. Typically, in order to transport a wheelchair by way of an automobile, it must be ordinarily loaded into the back seat area of the vehicle which is tedious, awkward and time consuming. Additionally, the wheelchair consumes considerable space that could otherwise be used for additional occupants of the automobile. Additionally, there is considerable risk of damage to the upholstery of the interior of the vehicle. 
   In considering and reviewing the array of all the carriers structured for use on the rear of any vehicle such as automobiles, generally all require that the object to be borne on the carrying platform be physically lifted by an individual&#39;s own efforts up and onto the platform itself. Thus, if a person of minimal or limited strength must lift an object which is cumbersome or of substantial weight, it may either be impossible or most difficult to lift the object onto the carrying platform. Indeed, the lifting of any object of any substantial weight or awkward construction by any person may involve a risk of physical injury which may be perilous. Furthermore, most existent carrier devices for the rear end of a vehicle are not readily and completely storable into a compact, unobtrusive device when not it use. 
   In light of the foregoing state of the art of external vehicle carriers, there is a need for a carrier which is strongly constructed and which will facilitate the lifting of the object onto the carrier; and which carrier can be easily retracted into an unobtrusive and compact storage position when not in use, and thence be readily transformed from this storage position for actual use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a unit that includes a winch, a standard for the winch, a platform and a ramp and which can be dissembled for storage and easily and quickly set up to move a device, such as a scooter or a wheelchair or the like, onto another vehicle, such as a van or a car or the like. 
   Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a winch tower element included in the overall unit embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a sleeve used in the overall unit. 
       FIG. 3  is a powered winch mounted on the winch tower. 
       FIG. 4  shows a platform in combination with the sleeve. 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of an assembled unit embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative form of the winch tower. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a base plate used in conjunction with the alternative form of the winch tower. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the alternative form of the winch tower connected to the base plate shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is shows the alternative form of the unit in the assembled condition. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in A vehicle moving unit  10  that is used to move a vehicle, such as a wheelchair or scooter or the like, from one location, such as on the ground, to another location, such as in a van or the like. 
   Unit  10  comprises a tower unit  12  which includes an L-shaped tube  14  that has a first end  16  which is a bottom end when the tower unit is in use such as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5  and a second end  18  which is a top end when the tower unit is in use. A plurality of fastener-accommodating holes, such as fastener-accommodating hole  20 , are defined through the tower unit adjacent to first end  16  thereof. A mounting hole  22  is defined through the tower unit adjacent to second end  18  thereof. 
   A sleeve element  30  includes a body  32  which has a first end  34  which is sized to slidably attach to first end  16  of the tower unit to couple the sleeve element to the tower unit, and a second end  36 . A plurality of fastener-accommodating holes, such as fastener-accommodating hole  38 , are defined through the body of the sleeve element adjacent to first end  34  of the sleeve element. A fastener  40  is accommodated in the fastener-accommodating holes of the tower unit and the sleeve element and couples the sleeve element to the tower unit. 
   A winch unit  50  is mounted on tower unit  12  adjacent to second end  18  of the tower unit. The winch unit is a powered winch unit and includes a handle  52  that is used in the event of a power failure and a power source  54  which can be a battery or the battery of the vehicle being used to transport the chair or scooter. In the case of the battery of the vehicle, the connection between the winch and the vehicle battery can be via the cigarette lighter of the transport vehicle. 
   Unit  10  further includes a platform element  60  fixedly connected to the sleeve element by bands  62  or the like, and includes a first end  64  located adjacent to the sleeve element. A second end  66  is spaced apart from second end  36  of the sleeve element. A ramp element  70  is fixedly connected to second end  66  of the platform element at an oblique angle θ thereto. 
   An alternative form of the vehicle moving unit is shown in  FIGS. 6-9  as vehicle moving unit  10 ′. Vehicle moving unit  10 ′ comprises a winch tower  80  which includes a base element  82  which has a first surface  84  that is a bottom surface when the base element is in use and a second surface  86  that is a top surface when the base element is in use. Base element  80  further includes a plurality of lugs, such as lug  88 , on first surface  84  of the base element and a post  90  fixedly mounted on the base element. Post  90  includes a first end  92  fixed to the base element and a second end  94  spaced apart from the base element and which is a top end when the winch tower is in use. 
   Unit  10 ′ further comprises a base plate  100  which includes a first surface  102  that is a top surface when the base plate is in use and a second surface  104  that is a bottom surface when the base plate is in use. A plurality of lug-accommodating slots, such as lug-accommodating slot  106 , are defined through the base plate in positions located to accommodate the lugs of the base element of the winch tower to couple the winch tower to the base plate. 
   Base plate  100  is fixedly anchored to a support surface S, such as the floor of a van or the like. As indicated in  FIG. 8 , lugs  88  are oriented next to associated lug-accommodating slots  106 , inserted and turned to couple the base plate to the base element and hence to the support surface. A winch unit  50 ′ is mounted on the winch tower unit adjacent to second end  94  of post  90 . Like the above-discussed winch unit  50 , winch unit  50 ′ is a powered winch unit and includes a handle  52 ′ which is used in the event of a power failure, and a power source, such as a battery  54 ′. 
   It is noted that the platform element and the ramp element described above can also be used in conjunction with the vehicle moving unit shown in  FIGS. 6-9  and just described in the manner disclosed above with respect to the unit described in connection with  FIGS. 1-5 . The platform element would be connected to the base element of unit  10 ′ and the ramp element would be connected to the platform element in the manner described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-5 . 
   Both vehicle moving units are used in the same manner. The winch tower is set up on a van or a truck or other such vehicle, the platform element is adjusted to reach the end of the support area of the vehicle, the ramp element is attached to the end of the platform element to extent down to the ground. A vehicle, such as a powered wheelchair, a scooter or the like, is moved onto the platform via the ramp element using the winch which is attached to the vehicle. The vehicle can then be winched into the desired position and location for transport. 
   While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.