Winch mounting system

A mounting system for securing a winch to a hauling platform has a mounting base with a mounting base table. The mounting base has an anchoring attachment, a leg, and a mounting attachment. Upon installation, a bottom member bottom surface rests against a hauling platform vertically projecting component expanded top lip top surface. A rear member front surface rests against a hauling platform vertically projecting component outside surface. A vertical clamp component front surface rests against a hauling platform vertically projecting component inside surface. An “L”-shaped screw clamping fastener clamps against a bottom surface of the hauling platform vertically projecting component expanded top lip. A screw clamping fastener is tightened to affix the mounting attachment into position. A leg second end rests against and is located on the hauling platform vertically projecting component inside surface. The system has a winch attached to the anchoring attachment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Based on historic literature, the known use of winches has been around since at least the fifth century BC. Winches in common use today are varying forms of a similar basic design. Even though winches are often used on an around heavy equipment and in the construction industry, lighter duty versions are found among the standard tools of many homeowners. Often a user will use a winch with a ramp to load a mobile object into the bed of a pickup truck, since the pickup truck bed is typically elevated from a ground surface. The present invention teaches a novel winch mounting system to secure a winch in an advantageous location for use when loading a mobile object onto a hauling platform.

SUMMARY

The present invention features a mounting system for securing a winch to a hauling platform distal end. In some embodiments, the system comprises a mounting base. In some embodiments, the mounting base comprises a generally horizontal mounting base table. In some embodiments, the mounting base comprises an anchoring attachment generally centrally located on the table. In some embodiments, the mounting base comprises a leg, generally “C”-shaped in a vertical plane. In some embodiments, the mounting base comprises a generally horizontally longitudinal mounting attachment located on the leg bottom surface close to and generally parallel to a table anterior edge.

In some embodiments, the mounting attachment comprises a planar bottom member and a planar rear member. In some embodiments, a rear member top edge is located on a bottom member anterior edge. In some embodiments, an adjustable angular clamp is located on the mounting attachment.

In some embodiments, upon installation, a bottom member bottom surface of the mounting attachment rests against a hauling platform vertically projecting component expanded top lip top surface. In some embodiments, a rear member front surface of the mounting attachment rests against a hauling platform vertically projecting component outside surface. In some embodiments, a vertical clamp component front surface of the angular clamp rests against a hauling platform vertically projecting component inside surface. In some embodiments, an “L”-shaped screw clamping fastener clamps against a bottom surface of the hauling platform vertically projecting component expanded top lip. In some embodiments, a screw clamping fastener is tightened to affix the mounting attachment into position on a hauling platform vertically projecting component. In some embodiments, a leg second end rests against and is located on the hauling platform vertically projecting component inside surface to affix the mounting base table in a horizontal plane.

In some embodiments, the system comprises a winch. In some embodiments, the winch is attached to the anchoring attachment and can be removed if desired.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular element referred to herein:100Mounting system110Winch112Winch control extension cord114Winch harness116Winch cable117Winch cable first end118Winch cable second end120Hauling platform130Hauling platform distal end140Hauling platform vertically projecting component150Hauling platform vertically projecting component expanded top lip160Hauling platform vertically projecting component outside surface170Hauling platform vertically projecting component inside surface180Trailer hitch ball200Mounting base300Mounting base table310Table top surface320Table bottom surface330Table anterior edge340Table posterior edge350Table first side360Table second side400Anchoring attachment410Aperture420Attaching ring500Leg510Leg top surface515Leg bottom surface520Leg first end530Leg second end540Leg middle section550Leg brace600Mounting attachment700Bottom member710Bottom member top surface720Bottom member bottom surface730Bottom member anterior edge740Bottom member posterior edge800Rear member810Rear member front surface820Rear member back surface830Rear member top edge840Rear member bottom edge900Angular clamp905Horizontal clamp component910Horizontal clamp component top surface915Horizontal clamp component bottom surface920Horizontal clamp component anterior edge925Horizontal clamp component posterior edge930Vertical clamp component935Vertical clamp component front surface940Vertical clamp component back surface945Vertical clamp component top edge950Vertical clamp component bottom edge955Screw clamping fastener960“L”-shaped screw clamping fastener965Fastener

Referring now toFIGS. 1-7, the present invention features a mounting system (100) for securing a winch (110) to a hauling platform distal end (130). In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a mounting base (200). In some embodiments, the mounting base (200) comprises a generally horizontal mounting base table (300) having a table top surface (310), a table bottom surface (320), a table anterior edge (330), a table posterior edge (340), a table first side (350), and a table second side (360).

In some embodiments, the mounting base (200) comprises an anchoring attachment (400) generally centrally located on the table.

In some embodiments, the mounting base (200) comprises a leg (500), generally “C”-shaped in a vertical plane, having a leg top surface (510), a leg bottom surface (515), a leg first end (520), a leg second end (530), and a radial bend located in a leg middle section (540). In some embodiments, the leg top surface (510) of the leg first end (520) is located on the table bottom surface (320). In some embodiments, the leg (500) is located generally perpendicular to the table anterior edge (330). In some embodiments, the leg (500) is located generally perpendicular to the table bottom surface (320). In some embodiments, the leg middle section (540) projects generally out and away from the table posterior edge (340). In some embodiments, the leg second end (530) curves and projects downwardly from and away from the table bottom surface (320). In some embodiments, the leg second end (530) curves and projects back toward a vertical plane comprising the table anterior edge (330).

In some embodiments, the mounting base (200) comprises a generally horizontally longitudinal mounting attachment (600) located on the leg bottom surface (515) close to and generally parallel to the table anterior edge (330). In some embodiments, the mounting attachment (600) comprises a planar bottom member (700) having a bottom member top surface (710), a bottom member bottom surface (720), a bottom member anterior edge (730), and a bottom member posterior edge (740). In some embodiments, the mounting attachment comprises a planar rear member (800) having a rear member front surface (810), a rear member back surface (820), a rear member top edge (830), and a rear member bottom edge (840). In some embodiments, the rear member top edge (830) is located on the bottom member anterior edge (730).

In some embodiments, an adjustable angular clamp (900) is located on the mounting attachment (600). In some embodiments, the angular clamp (900) comprises a horizontal clamp component (905) having a horizontal clamp component top surface (910), a horizontal clamp component bottom surface (915), a horizontal clamp component anterior edge (920), and a horizontal clamp component posterior edge (925). In some embodiments, the angular clamp (900) comprises a vertical clamp component (930) having a vertical clamp component front surface (935), a vertical clamp component back surface (940), a vertical clamp component top edge (945), and a vertical clamp component bottom edge (950). In some embodiments, the vertical clamp component top edge (945) is located on the horizontal clamp component posterior edge (925).

In some embodiments, the vertical clamp component (930) comprises a generally horizontally located screw clamping fastener (955) located therein in a manner facilitating rotation. In some embodiments, the horizontal clamp component (905) comprises a generally vertically located “L” shaped screw clamping fastener (960) located therein in a manner facilitating rotation.

In some embodiments, the horizontal clamp component bottom surface (915) is adjustably located on and affixed to the bottom member top surface (710) of the mounting attachment (600) via a fastener (965).

In some embodiments, upon installation, the bottom member bottom surface (720) of the mounting attachment (600) rests against a hauling platform vertically projecting component expanded top lip top surface (155). In some embodiments, the rear member front surface (810) of the mounting attachment (600) rests against a hauling platform vertically projecting component outside surface (160). In some embodiments, the vertical clamp component front surface (935) of the angular clamp (900) rests against a hauling platform vertically projecting component inside surface (170). In some embodiments, the “L”-shaped screw clamping fastener (960) clamps against a bottom surface of the hauling platform vertically projecting component expanded top lip (150). In some embodiments, the screw clamping fastener is tightened to affix the mounting attachment (600) into position on the hauling platform vertically projecting component (140).

In some embodiments, the leg second end (530) rests against and is located on a hauling platform vertically projecting component inside surface (170) to affix the mounting base table (300) in a horizontal plane.

In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a winch (110). In some embodiments, the winch (110) is attached to the anchoring attachment (400) and can be easily removed.

In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a plurality of legs (500) located in a horizontally planar offset from one another. In some embodiments, the spacing between the legs (500) is adjustable in a horizontal plane. In some embodiments, the plurality of legs (500) can be used to anchor a mobile object located on the hauling platform (120). In some embodiments a tire or wheel of the mobile object can be secured between two legs (500).

In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a winch control extension cord (112) operatively connected to the winch (110).

In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a winch harness (114) for attaching to a mobile object to be loaded on the hauling platform (120), wherein a winch cable first end (117) is attached to the winch harness (114), wherein a winch cable second end (118) is attached to the winch (110). In some embodiments, the winch harness (114) comprises a “U”-shape.

In some embodiments, the anchoring attachment (400) comprises an aperture (410) located on the mounting base table (300).

In some embodiments, the anchoring attachment (400) comprises an attaching ring (420) located on the mounting base table (300).

In some embodiments, the anchoring attachment (400) comprises a trailer hitch ball (180) located on the mounting base table (300).

In some embodiments, the mounting attachment (600) is located on the table bottom surface (320).

In some embodiments, a leg brace (550) comprises a leg brace first end disposed on a first leg (500) close to the first leg second end (530). In some embodiments, a leg brace (550) comprises a leg brace second end disposed on a second leg (500) close to the second leg second end (530).

In some embodiments, the leg (500) is tubular. In some embodiments a protective cap is disposed on the leg first end (520). In some embodiments, a protective cap is disposed on the leg second end (530). In some embodiments, a protective plug is disposed on the leg first end (520). In some embodiments, a protective plug is disposed on the leg second end (530).

In some embodiments, the mounting base table (300) is constructed from wood. In some embodiments, the mounting base table (300) is constructed from metal. In some embodiments, the mounting base (200) is constructed from metal.

In some embodiments, the mounting attachment (600) is coated with a mar resistant coating. An example of a mar resistant coating would be a rubber or a plastic.

As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. For example, an embodiment wherein the mounting base is about 10 inches in length includes a mounting base that is between 9 and 11 inches in length.