Hoist apparatus

A hoist for lifting game animals or other loads comprises a boom mounted on a support column in communication with a base. The boom is rotatable relative to the base, which is insertable within a draw bar-type hitch receiver. The boom, support column and base are modular components that advantageously allow for quick assembly/disassembly of the hoist and compact storage of the hoist components. Further, the length of the hoist is adjustable to compensate for the size of the game animal or load being lifted. Additionally, a light source is attached to the hoist to illuminate the area near the hoist to increase safety during operation of the hoist. Finally, a dual draw bar for increasing the utilization of a draw bar-type hitch is included. The dual draw bar has at one end a draw bar adapter and at the opposite end a first and a second receiver section for utilization with draw bar-type accessories.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates generally to a hoist, and more particularly, to a 
modular hoist utilized with a draw bar-type hitch receiver. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Hunting has become a very popular sport in the past few years. The number 
of participants has not only increased, but also diversified. Women, young 
adults and even supervised children have started hunting. The old pickup 
truck used to be the only vehicle utilized by the hunter. With the 
introduction of sport utility vehicles and even four-wheel drive cars, 
however, the need to ease common problems with hunting game animals is 
very high. Currently, a large tree, gambrel and block and tackle are 
needed in order to dress a bagged game animal if dressing facilities are 
not available. Normally, the car, sport utility vehicle or pickup cannot 
be driven to the nearest tree without some risks involved. Such risks 
include getting stuck, damaging the vehicle, land or crops. Therefore, not 
only does the game animal have to be packed to the dressing location, but 
the required game-dressing equipment, including coolers for transporting 
the game, also must be packed from the vehicle to this location. 
Additionally, some current game hoists cannot aid in transferring the game 
animal from one location to another. Typical game hoists are limited to 
lifting or lowering the game animal over the same location. For example, 
this limitation makes it awkward and difficult to transfer the game animal 
from the dressing location to a vehicle or trailer that is utilized to 
transport the game animal. 
Similarly, some current game hoists are problematic because they are a 
fixed length. The fixed length of current game hoists requires a large 
vehicle or trailer to accommodate the entire span of the game hoist. This 
presents problems in packing and transporting such game hoists. Also, 
fixed length game hoists are difficult to set up and utilize, as they tend 
to be very heavy and cumbersome. Finally, fixed length game hoists do not 
have the ability to compensate for the size of the game animal, leading to 
difficulty in handling and dressing the game animal as it is suspended 
from the game hoist. 
Further, the dressing of a game animal frequently takes place in the dark. 
If an animal is taken in the morning or midday hours, the hunter will 
usually continue to hunt until dark to get in a full day of hunting due to 
time constraints. Since many hunters only have the availability to hunt on 
weekends, these hunters attempt to maximize their hunting time during the 
daylight hours of the weekend. As such, a weekend hunter's daylight time 
in the woods is precious. The result is that a game animal taken in 
daylight hours is often left to be dressed in the hours of dusk or 
darkness. In these dark conditions the ease and safety of dressing the 
game animal is reduced, as sharp dressing tools are being utilized under 
conditions of limited sight. Thus, there is a need to improve upon these 
conditions. 
Additionally, the vehicles used by the hunter typically have a draw 
bar-type hitch receiver. These draw bar-type hitch receivers used on 
trucks, sport utility vehicles or cars provide the owner with the limited 
utility of attaching a trailer to the vehicle. Usually there are other 
accessories that are used along with the trailed item, however, and often 
it is inconvenient or impossible for these accessories to be stored in the 
vehicle or with the trailered item. Further, current draw bar-type hitch 
receivers are limited by only providing use for a single trailer hitch. 
The draw bar-type hitch receiver may be utilized for other accessories, 
but this requires the trailered item to be disconnected. This leads to 
problems with moving and storing the trailered item, as well as leading to 
problems in moving the game animal. Thus, there is a need for increasing 
the number of uses of a draw bar-type hitch receiver. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, the present invention provides a reasonably-priced, modular 
hoist for use with any draw bar-type receiver hitch. The hoist is the 
relatively easy to assemble, disassemble, pack and is compactly stowed. 
The hoist for lifting a game animal or other load comprises a base adapted 
for adjustable insertion within a draw bar-type hitch receiver, a support 
column having an end in removable communication with the base, and a boom 
in removable communication with the support column. The boom is rotatable 
relative to the base to enable the game animal or load to be easily 
transferred to any area adjacent to the hoist. Also, the hoist has an 
adjustable length to compensate for the size of the game animal or load. 
The length of the hoist may be changed by adjusting the removable, fixed 
positioning of each of the hoist components relative to the adjacent 
component. Additionally, support column may comprise a first support 
member removably adjustable within a second support member to further 
provide modularity and to enable changing the length of the hoist. 
Further, by including a base that is directly insertable in any draw 
bar-type hitch receiver, the present invention not only adds safety to the 
cleaning of game with the assistance of a hoist, but also adds the 
convenience of being at the vehicle's location. 
Another feature of the present invention is a light source removably 
attachable to the hoist. The light source is battery-operated or plugged 
into the vehicle's trailer lights. The light source insures additional 
safety while using sharp dressing objects, illuminating the game animal 
and the areas adjacent to the hoist. 
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, a dual draw 
bar for use with a draw bar-type hitch receiver is disclosed. The dual 
draw bar is attached at one end to a vehicle draw bar-type hitch receiver 
and at the other end has a first and second receiver for attachment to 
trailered items or accessories. The distance between the first receiver is 
adjustable relative to the second receiver with a multiple hole and pin 
locking mechanism, for example. The dual draw bar advantageously allows a 
draw bar-type hitch receiver to be combined with numerous other 
accessories to more efficiently utilize the capabilities of the hitch 
receiver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, one 
embodiment of a modular hoist 10 for lifting and moving a game animal 12 
for cleaning and dressing, comprises a swiveling boom 14 removably 
attached to a support column 16 that is similarly removably attached to a 
base 18. Boom 14 is rotatable relative to base 18 such that a game animal 
12 or another load supported by hoist 10 may be easily moved from the 
ground to a vehicle 20 or trailer 22, for example, adjacent to the hoist. 
The components of hoist 10 are advantageously modular, thereby allowing 
for quick and easy assembly and disassembly. Further, the modular design 
of hoist 10 beneficially allows for compact storage of the hoist. 
Additionally, the position of the components of hoist 10 are adjustable 
relative to each other to provide an adjustable length, l, of boom 14 
relative to base 18. When hoist 10 is disposed perpendicular to the 
ground, the adjustable length l of hoist 10 allows the height of the hoist 
to be easily adjusted to compensate for the size of game animal 12 being 
dressed. Finally, base 18 is adjustably positionable within a draw 
bar-type hitch receiver 24 that may be affixed to vehicle 20, for example. 
As such, packing game animal 12 over long distances may be avoided as 
hoist 10 may be utilized at the location of the game animal by assembling 
the hoist directly into draw bar-type hitch receiver 24, such as on 
vehicle 20 that may be driven to the location. Thus, one embodiment of the 
present invention comprises an adjustable height, modular, swiveling hoist 
10 that is sized to mount within draw bar-type hitch receiver 24 for the 
convenient dressing and cleaning of game animal 12 and for easy 
assembly/disassembly and compact storage. 
Base 18 preferably comprises base support member 26 having a draw bar 
portion 28 for insertion within draw bar-type hitch receiver 24 and a base 
column 30 in communication with support column 16. Base 18 may 
additionally comprise a dual draw bar 32, as will be discussed in detail 
below. Base support member 26 preferably comprises hollow, rectangular 
metal tubing. As one skilled in the art will realize, however, base 
support member 26 may be constructed from other materials having the 
strength to support the load of hoist 10 and may have other configurations 
allowing insertion within draw bar-type hitch receiver 24 and 
communication with support column 16. Draw bar portion 28 and base column 
30 may be formed as one piece, or they may be separate pieces that are 
fixedly attached, such as by welding or other similar methods. Base 
support member 26 may be an L-shaped member, such that draw bar portion 28 
is preferably a substantially horizontal section of base support member 
26, while base column 30 forms an adjacent, substantially vertical 
section. Base support member 26 may take other shapes, however, like an 
inverted T-shape, such that base 18 positions boom 14 for properly lifting 
a load. 
Draw bar portion 28 further comprises a plurality of apertures 34, one of 
which is aligned with aperture 36 of draw bar-type hitch receiver 24 (FIG. 
2) or with aperture 37 of dual draw bar 32 (FIG. 1). The alignment of 
apertures 34 and 36 or 37 allows the adjustable attachment of the draw bar 
portion to the draw bar-type hitch receiver with the use of securing 
mechanism 38a or 38e, such as a pin, latching pin, bolt, or other similar 
device. The size of the external cross-section of draw bar portion 28 is 
preferably smaller than the size of the internal cross-section of a draw 
bar-type hitch receiver to allow the insertion of the draw bar portion 
within the draw bar-type hitch receiver. Yet, the size of the external 
cross-section of draw bar portion 28 is large enough to prevent the 
rotation of the draw bar portion within the draw bar-type hitch receiver. 
Draw bar portion 28 advantageously allows hoist 10 to be utilized with 
vehicle 20 or other object having a draw bar-type hitch receiver. When 
used with vehicle 20, hoist 10 thus allows a cellular or digital phone 
that is mounted or stored in the vehicle to be conveniently used to call 
in and report the game to the proper authorities, as is typically required 
by law, prior to dressing game animal 12. 
Similarly, base column 30 is sized for removable communication with support 
column 16. Preferably, base column 30 has a square cross-section that fits 
inside support column 16, which has a round, tubular cross-section, 
thereby allowing rotation of the support column relative to the base 
column. As one skilled in the art will realize, however, there are 
numerous combinations of shapes for base column 30 and support column 16 
that allow relative rotation between the two columns. Other suitable 
examples include: a round support column inside a square, tubular base 
column; a round base column inside a square, tubular support column; as 
well as other triangular, t-shaped, L-shaped, etc. cross-sections inside 
round, tubular cross-sections. Alternatively, base column 30 and support 
column 16 may be in fixed, removable communication, such as by pinning, 
bolting, slotting or using some other similar method to prevent the 
relative rotation of the two columns. In this alternate embodiment, the 
support column and the base column may have corresponding apertures that 
may allow for the adjustable positioning of the support column relative to 
the base column, thereby contributing to the adjustable length l of the 
hoist. 
As mentioned above, support column 16 preferably rotates relative to base 
18 and is also preferably adjustable in length. The adjustable length of 
support column 16 advantageously contributes to the adjustable length l of 
hoist 10, as well as providing for the compact storage of hoist 10. 
Support column 16 preferably comprises a first support member 40 in 
rotatable communication with base 18 and a second support member 42 in 
rotatable communication with boom 14. Second support member 42 telescopes 
within first support member 40 to provide support column 16 with an 
adjustable length. Second support member 42 is removably adjustable within 
first support member 40 by placing securing mechanism 38b through aperture 
44 on the upper end of first support member and through one of the 
corresponding plurality of apertures 46 on the lower end of the second 
support member. The cross-sections of first and second support members 40 
and 42 are sized to allow telescoping communication between the members 
while maintaining a substantially parallel positioning of the longitudinal 
axis of each member. Preferably, first and second support members 40 and 
42 comprise round, hollow metal tube sections, where the external 
cross-section, or outer diameter, of the second support member is less 
than the internal cross-section, or inner diameter, of the first support 
member to allow the telescoping action of the members. As one skilled in 
the art will realize, however, there are many other shapes and 
configurations for support column 16 that would allow hoist 10 of the 
present invention to function as described herein. In an alternate 
embodiment, the second support member may comprise a second plurality of 
apertures at the upper end that communicate with an aperture at the lower 
end of the boom so as to allow the adjustable positioning of the boom 
relative to the support column by affixing a securing mechanism between 
the apertures. 
Boom 14 preferably comprises a boom column 48 fixedly attached to a boom 
arm 50 that carries the weight of game animal 12 or another load. Boom arm 
50 is supported by an angled brace 52 that extends to boom column 48, 
where the brace increases the load capacity of the boom arm. Boom column 
48 is in rotatable communication with support column 16, and preferably 
with second support member 42. Preferably, boom arm 50 and brace 52 
comprise metal sections, more preferably square or rectangular metal tube 
sections. Similarly, boom column 48 preferably comprises a hollow, round 
metal tube section sized such that the internal fit cross-section, or 
inner diameter, of the boom column is greater than the external 
cross-section, or outer diameter, of support column 16, preferably second 
support member 42. As one skilled in the art will realize, however, there 
are many other shapes and configurations for boom 14 that would allow 
hoist 10 of the present invention to function as described herein. Boom 
column 48 slides over second support member 42 until the upper end of the 
second support member contacts boom arm 50 which blocks of one end of the 
boom column. Alternatively, pins, blocks or other stopping mechanisms may 
be mounted inside or through boom column 48 to limit the depth of 
insertion of second support member 42 within the boom column. Thus, boom 
14 is rotatable relative to base 18 to allow game animal 12 or another 
load to be swung into any desired area adjacent to hoist 10. 
Additionally, boom column 48, support column 16 and base column 30 have 
substantially parallel longitudinal axes. The substantially parallel 
positioning of the longitudinal axes of boom column 48, support column 16 
and base column 30 provide a substantially straight, vertical position for 
hoist 10 when the hoist is mounted in draw bar-type hitch receiver 24, 
perpendicular to the ground. Further, the substantially parallel 
positioning of the axes prevents the components of hoist 10 from becoming 
cockeyed and efficiently transfers the load on boom 14 to draw bar-type 
hitch receiver 24. 
Hoist 10 additionally comprises a winch 54 having a rope or cable 56 that 
is fed through a first and second pulley 58 and 60 attached to boom arm 50 
with attachment mechanism 62, such as hooks and eyelets. Alternatively, a 
cleat may be used instead of winch 54 to secure rope 56 to hoist 10. Winch 
54 is preferably manually operated, but may be electrically operated 
through a connection to the electrical system of vehicle 20, a battery, or 
other similar connection. At the end of rope or cable 56 opposite from 
winch 54, various lift devices 64 may be attached to aid in securing game 
animal 12 or other types of loads. For example, lift device 64 such as a 
gambrel may be affixed to cable 56 such that game animal 12 may be lifted 
by hoist 10 for dressing and cleaning. Other suitable lift devices 64 for 
attachment to the end of cable 56 include hooks, bars, straps and other 
similar devices. 
In another embodiment, as mentioned above, base 18 additionally comprises a 
dual draw bar 32 for utilization with draw bar-type hitch receiver 24 to 
increase the capabilities of the draw bar-type hitch receiver. Dual draw 
bar 32 connects base support member 26 to draw bar-type hitch receiver 24 
through a first receiver 66, while having a second receiver 68 available 
for attachment to trailered items or other accessories. Dual draw bar 32 
is made of universal conformities to adapt to and be used with any 
existing accessories available at this time for any draw bar-type hitch 
receiver. Thus, dual draw bar 32 advantageously increases the number of 
uses of a draw bar-type trailer hitch assembly by allowing two accessories 
to be used at one time with one draw bar-type hitch receiver. 
Dual draw bar 32 has the shape of a lower case letter "h" lying on it's 
left side. First receiver 66 comprises a tubular first receiver section 70 
sized to receive a typical draw bar, such as draw bar portion 28 of base 
support member 26. A first mating section 72 projects substantially 
perpendicularly from first receiver section 70 and communicates with a 
second mating section 74 projecting from second receiver 68. Preferably, 
first mating section 72 comprises a hollow tube having an internal 
cross-section greater than the external cross-section of second mating 
section 74, which also comprises a hollow tube. First mating section 72 
additionally comprises a plurality of apertures 76 corresponding to an 
aperture (not shown) in second mating section 74 that allows the distance 
between the mating sections to be adjusted. A securing mechanism 38c 
disposed through the apertures removably fixes the relative distance 
between first and second receivers 66 and 68. The ability to adjust the 
distance between first and second receivers 66 and 68 advantageously 
allows clearance for tailgates or tire racks, for example. 
Similarly, second receiver 68 comprises at one end a second receiver 
section 78 and at the opposite end a draw bar adapter 80. Second receiver 
section 78 is preferably tubular and is sized to receive a typical draw 
bar. As such, the internal cross-sectional dimension of second receiver 
section is greater than the external cross-sectional dimension of a 
typical draw bar. Conversely, draw bar adapter 80 is sized to fit within a 
hitch receiver, such as draw bar-type hitch receiver 24 of vehicle 20. 
Additionally, apertures 82 and 84 located on second receiver section 78 
and draw bar adapter 80, respectively, align with corresponding apertures 
in the draw bar-type hitch receiver and in the draw bar such that securing 
mechanisms 38d and 38a may removably attach the components. 
Dual draw bar 32 advantageously allows first receiver 66 to be utilized 
with one draw bar accessory while simultaneously allowing second receiver 
68 to be utilized by another draw bar assembly, all the while being 
removably attached to a hitch receiver, such as draw bar-type hitch 
receiver 24. For example, referring to FIG. 2, dual draw bar 32 allows 
vehicle 20 to not only tow trailer 22 through trailer ball attachment 86 
removably attached to second receiver 68, but also to use hoist 10 on 
first receiver 66 without separately disconnecting the trailer and setting 
up the hoist. Additionally, a hitch step 88 is attached to first receiver 
66, such as with u-bolts or by welding, to provide a platform to stand 
upon to reach onto the roof of a vehicle or to more easily reach or step 
inside the back of the vehicle. Referring to FIGS. 3-5, dual draw bar 32 
allows vehicle 90 to not only tow a trailer 22, 22', 22" on second 
receiver 68, but also carry any other items such as gas, oil or equipment 
used with items being towed on the trailer, on a receiver hitch basket 92, 
92' type of carrier on first receiver 66. Referring to FIGS. 6-7, dual 
draw bar 32 allows vehicle 90 to use a receiver hitch basket 92', 92" on 
second receiver 68 while using another receiver hitch basket 92 and a 
bike/ski carrier 92'" on first receiver 66. Other combinations will be 
obvious to one skilled in the art, such as allowing the vehicle to tow a 
camper and carry a receiver basket type carrier for the generator, gas 
grill, etc., or allowing the vehicle to tow a camper and use a bike/ski 
carrier. Further, dual draw bar 32 may be used as an extension to the draw 
bar-type hitch receiver to allow a sharper turning radius while towing a 
trailer, especially on vehicles with a spare tire mounted on the rear 
door. By allowing a sharper turning radius, dual draw bar 32 reduces the 
probability of jackknifing the trailer while in reverse. Therefore, the 
use of dual draw bar 32 increases the capability of a typical draw 
bar-type hitch receiver. 
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, hoist 10 may further comprise a removably 
attachable light source 94 for illuminating the area near the hoist. Light 
source 94 may be energized through an electric cord that connects to the 
trailer lights of vehicle 20. Alternatively, light source 94 may be 
battery-operated. Light source 94 is preferably removably attached to boom 
14 through hinge 96 and mounting bracket 98 that is secured to boom arm 50 
with a securing device 100, such as a bolt, pin, latching pin, etc., 
disposed through an aperture 102 As one skilled in that art will realize, 
however, numerous configurations may be utilized to attach light source 94 
to hoist 10, and the light source may be attached to portions of the hoist 
other than the boom arm. Light source 94 advantageously is adjustable, 
such that the light may be directed in any direction. Light source 94 
thereby improves the safety of utilizing hoist 10, especially when 
dressing and cleaning game animal 12 with sharp dressing objects during 
dusk or at night. Thus, light source 94 advantageously illuminates the 
area near hoist 10, or game animal 12 or some other load attached to the 
hoist, thereby improving the safety of the hoist. 
In operation, one embodiment of the present invention is assembled starting 
with dual draw bar 32 being inserted into draw bar-type hitch receiver 24 
mounted on a vehicle and locked into place with securing mechanism 38d. As 
stated above, the relative distance between first receiver 66 and second 
receiver 68 may be adjusted with securing mechanism 38c. Draw bar portion 
28 of base support member 26 is then inserted within first receiver 
section 70 and locked in place with securing mechanism 38d. Second support 
member 42 is then inserted into first support member 40 using securing 
mechanism 38b for adjustment to lock the two together at a desired length 
l. Then, boom column 48 of boom 14 is slid onto support column 16 at the 
top of second support member 42 to form a boom assembly. The boom assembly 
is lifted to a vertical position and inserted over base column 30 of base 
support member 26. Then, lift device 64 such as a gambrel is then attached 
to game animal 12 to be hoisted. Rope/cable 56 from hoist 10 is then 
connected to lifting device 64. Therefore, game animal 12 is lifted with 
the assistance of either a multiple block and tackle assembly or winch 54. 
After cleaning and dressing, game animal 12 may be moved onto an object 
adjacent to hoist 10 with boom 14 being swiveled to the desired position. 
Hoist 10 may then be disassembled in a reverse fashion from the above 
assembly instructions, and compactly stowed for future use. 
Thus, the present invention allows the hunter to clean and dress game 
anywhere they wish, with the assistance of a vehicle with a class three 
receiver hitch. This hoist also assists with the loading of very large 
game onto the vehicle to which the hoist is mounted, or a trailer for 
transportation, or the butcher table or any place that might be difficult 
to lift large game. 
Although the invention has been described with reference to these preferred 
embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations 
and modifications of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled 
in the art. For example, besides using the male/female-type adapters 
described above for removably interconnecting the various components of 
the hoist, other known connection methods that allow adjustment between 
the components may be utilized. Further, the tubular shape of the 
components may be varied to accomplish the same result. Thus, the present 
disclosure is intended to cover all such modifications and equivalents.