Personal recreation/utility vehicle lift and anti-theft device

A land based recreation and utility vehicle lift and anti-theft device and system. The device includes an elongated support post including a ground-engaging fulcrum connected to, and laterally offset in one direction from, the lower end of the support post. A first pivotal connection of the support post is positioned laterally therefrom in the opposite direction from the fulcrum and adapted for pivotal connection to a drawbar or tubular member of the PRV. A locking bar is also pivotally connected at one end to the support post and preferably connectable at the other end to the drawbar or frame member at a point spaced from the first pivotal connection after the corresponding end of the vehicle is lifted from contact with the support surface by pivotal movement of the support post about the fulcrum whereby the lifted end of the vehicle is maintained in a lifted position for service and as a theft deterrent.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to devices attachable to one end or the other of a personal recreational and utility vehicle (PRV) such as a snowmobile, a 3 or 4 large-wheeled ATV and the like, and more particularly to such a device and system which will elevate one end of such a vehicle for maintenance and for anti-theft purposes.

2. Description of Related Art

The use of off-road type land-based personal recreation and utility vehicles (PRVs) has obviously become extremely popular. Such vehicles include snowmobiles and various personal all terrain recreation and utility vehicles which enable off-road transport and recreation of one or two persons in virtually all weather and ground conditions. However, when not in use and not lockably deployed on a trailer or within a building, such PRVs have become extremely susceptible to theft. When sitting alone or unattended in a generally unlocked situation, two or more thieves may easily roll, then lift, or simply “hot wire” and drive such recreational vehicles away or into a tow or haul vehicle in a matter of moments without much risk of being caught or seen.

Moreover, the servicing of such vehicles is somewhat difficult wherein, for example, the rear axle of a land-based wheel supported recreational vehicle must be serviced either to maintain or repair drive train or substructure or simply replace tires when worn or requiring exchange. As these vehicles may weigh several hundred pounds, although still remaining easily subject to thieves as above described, nonetheless holding one end of such a vehicle above ground for any length of time during servicing is at best extremely difficult.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,417 to Weaver teaches a stabilizing arm including a support pivotally, rotatably or slidably disposed in the support sleeve fitted to a conventional trailer hitch. A releasable locking apparatus for locking together support posts and a drawbar of a vehicle for prevention of theft is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,969 to Broughton.

An anti-theft device attachable to a snowmobile is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,002 to Knutson and Rorie, et al. discloses an apparatus for securing a recreational vehicle to a towing vehicle or to a grounding member in U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,415. U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,260 to Zimmerman teaches an apparatus having a lift bar for securing an ATV to a trailer.

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

The present invention provides a manually actuated device for easily lifting one axle or end of any compatible land-based recreational or utility vehicle for servicing of the associated components, drive train and wheels thereof. Once deployed, the device will maintain the elevated positioning of the axle, wheels and corresponding end of the PRV while servicing thereof is completed. By adding a locking feature to the connectable pivot points of the device, the anti-theft feature of the invention is thereby deployed wherein the elevated wheels and axles or snowmobile drive belt of the PRV being raised from contact with the ground or other support surface cannot be easily stolen or at least driven away by bypassing a key actuated ignition system, for example.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a land based recreation vehicle lift and anti-theft device and system, the vehicle having a drawbar or transverse tubular member for attachment thereto. The device includes an elongated support post including a vehicle support surface engaging fulcrum connected to, and laterally offset in one direction from, the lower end of the support post when in use. A first pivotal connection of the support post is positioned laterally therefrom in another direction opposite that of the fulcrum and is spaced above the lower end and adapted for pivotal connection to the drawbar or tubular member. A locking bar is pivotally connected at one end thereof to the support post above the lower end, a free end of the locking bar being connectable, preferably lockably, to the drawbar or frame member of the vehicle at a point spaced from the first pivotal connection when the corresponding end of the vehicle is lifted from contact with the support surface by pivotal movement of the support post about the fulcrum away from the vehicle whereby the lifted end of the vehicle is preferably lockingly maintained in a lifted position for service and as a theft deterrent.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an anti-theft and lifting device for land-based recreational and utility wheeled and belt-driven vehicles (PRVs).

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device which completely elevates one drive axle of a multi-axle land-based recreational vehicle to completely separate the drive wheels from the ground or other support surface.

Yet another object of this invention is to utilize an existing drawbar of a land-based personal recreational vehicle for attachment of a device which will elevate one end of the recreational vehicle for serviceability and anti-theft purposes.

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative and not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference of the drawings and by study of the following descriptions.

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in reference figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered to illustrative rather than limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, the device is there shown generally at numeral10deployed and ready for use as seen inFIG. 1immediately adjacent the rear of a land-based personal wheeled recreational vehicle (PRV) shown generally at numeral A and as part of the system of the invention. This PRV A includes spaced wide ground flotation-type rear wheels B operably mounted to the chassis engine and drive train and rotatable about a transverse axis C passing through this rear wheel arrangement. For towing purposes, this PRV A includes a drawbar D centrally located and longitudinally extending rearwardly for connection to a conventional trailer hitch or other towing arrangement.

The device10includes an upright elongated support post12made of tubular channel material for light-weight rigidity and having laterally extending frame members16connected at the lower end of the support post12extending orthogonally rearwardly to a transverse fulcrum bar14which defines an outer fulcrum edge34. A diagonal brace44extending between the fulcrum bar14and a mid point of the support post12is provided for added rigidity and strength.

The device10also includes a drawbar connecting member18which is connected to just below a mid point of the support post12which laterally extends forwardly with respect to the PRV in an opposite direction to that of the fulcrum bar14. A distal end of the drawbar connecting member18, a mating pivotal connection is adapted for pivotal connection at20to the rear or distal end of the drawbar D about a first pivotal axis40. This pivotal connection20may be in the form of a transverse pin locked in place or a conventional lockable trailer ball and socket arrangement which affords the pivotal connection function at this first pivotal connection20about the transverse axis40seen inFIGS. 1 and 3.

The device10further includes a locking bar22which is pivotally connected by a threaded bolt and locking nut at one end24thereof transversely to the upright support post12just above the ground or vehicle support surface G. This locking bar22is pivotally movable in the direction of arrow46about a second pivotal axis36and includes a connecting aperture26formed transversely to the distal end thereof. A pulling handle30is attached adjacent the upper end of the support post12for added leverage in manual grasping thereof during deployment of the device10as will be described herebelow.

As best seen inFIG. 6, after the pivotal connection is made at20between the distal rear end of the drawbar D and the drawbar connecting member18about transverse axis40to establish the first pivotal connection20, the device10will rest atop the ground G as shown in solid lines. To elevate the rear wheels B and axis C of the PRV A, handle30is grasped and pulled arcuately rearwardly in the direction of arrow32. The pre-established movement produced by the pivotal rearward movement of the upper end of the support post12will be the pivoting of the fulcrum bar14about the fulcrum line34which causes the entire device10to move into the pre-established position shown in phantom inFIG. 6.

The first pivotal connection20develops an angular rather than a linear relationship between the drawbar connecting member18and the drawbar D and the PRV A experiences a lifting and rearward movement of the rear wheels B and a rearward movement of the front wheels E which maintain contact with the ground G. At a predetermined angular movement of the device10, the locking bar22may be pivoted about the second pivotal connection24in the direction of arrow46to align the aperture26with a transverse aperture28formed into the drawbar D adjacent the distal end thereof. A pin (not shown) is slid through the aligned apertures26and28at which time the handle30may be released and the lifted orientation of the rear wheels V will be thereby maintained with the entire weight of the rear portion of the PRV previously carried on wheels E now being carried along the fulcrum34and the fulcrum bar14.

In this elevated configuration and deployed position of the device10, maintenance activity on the rear portion of the PRV may be effected. Tires B may be changed, axle oil replenished, brakes serviced and the like. To implement the anti-theft aspect of this disclosure, the pins utilized at the first and second pivotal connections20and24may be in the form of either elongated hasps of locks or non-removable threaded bolts or pins so that the elevated arrangement shown in phantom inFIG. 6may not be disturbed except by someone having the necessary unlocking key or combination or tool to remove one of these pins at28,20or24. Preferably, the primary aspect in maintaining the elevated and locked deployment of the device10is at the pinned connection at28between the drawbar D and the distal end of the locking bar22.

Referring now toFIGS. 4 and 5, in lieu of connection to an existing drawbar D of a PRV as previously described, many such vehicles include a transverse bumper shown in phantom at H connected to either the front or rear of the PRV. Moreover, typically these tubular bumpers H are round or circular in cross section for manufacturing convenience and uniform strength. The drawbar connecting member is accordingly modified at18′ to be connectively supporting a transverse attaching bar52which includes flexible arcuate collars50attached to each end of the lifting bar52and laterally extending therefrom. These arcuate collars50snappingly engage over the tubular bumper H to establish the first pivotal connection about axis J. A separate transverse aperture28is established through the support frame D′ for the transverse bumper H so that the locking bar22may be pivotally pinned as previously described once the end portion of the PRV has been elevated.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permeations and additions and subcombinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permeations, additions and subcombinations that are within their true spirit and scope.