Abstract:
Apparatus and method for loading articles, such as wild game or the like, into an all terrain vehicle (ATV). The device provides a tripod-type support on the front upper part of the ATV having a pulley at its apex whereby the cable from a winch on the front of the ATV is passed over the pulley and then extends over the ATV to the rear of the ATV where a sled is placed on the rear of the ATV so that an article placed at the base of the sled can be pulled up the sled and loaded into the ATV.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to all terrain vehicles (ATV) and, more particularly, is concerned with a device for loading articles into an ATV. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Devices for loading articles into ATV&#39;s have been described in the prior art, however, none of the prior art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,738 dated Mar. 11, 2003, Maxwell disclosed a vehicle mounted article loader apparatus. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,451 dated Sep. 2, 1997, Muzzi, et al., disclosed a game hoist. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,748 dated Sep. 30, 2003, Horner, Sr., disclosed a big game hoist and carrier assembly. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,063 dated Feb. 21, 1989, York disclosed a portable wild game hoist. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,831 dated Nov. 2, 1999, Martin disclosed an ATV-mounted game hoist. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,991 dated Oct. 31, 2000, Myers, Jr., disclosed a vehicle mounted hoist apparatus. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,771 dated Dec. 5, 2000, Montz disclosed a game hoist with rotating boom. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,549 dated Sep. 2, 2003, Woods, Jr., disclosed a hoist apparatus. In U.S. Patent Application Publication U.S. 2005/0254925 dated Nov. 17, 2005, Braquet disclosed a lift apparatus for an all terrain vehicle. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,246 dated Jan. 2, 2007, Sherrod disclosed a retractable, rotating ATV mounted lift boom. In U.S. Patent Application Publication U.S. 2002/0048504 dated Apr. 25, 2002, Jacobs disclosed an ATV mechanical lift. In U.S. Patent Application Publication U.S. 2001/0043852 dated Nov. 22, 2001, Maxwell disclosed a vehicle mounted article loader apparatus. 
     While these devices for loading articles may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for loading articles, such as wild game or the like, into an all terrain vehicle (ATV). The present invention provides a tripod-type support on the front upper part of the ATV having a pulley at its apex whereby the cable from a winch on the front of the ATV is passed over the pulley and then extends over the ATV to the rear of the ATV where a sled is placed on the rear of the ATV so that an article placed at the base of the sled can be pulled up the sled and loaded into the ATV. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a device for easily loading articles into an ATV. A further object of the present invention is to provide a device which can be easily used by the operator of an ATV. A further object of the present invention is to provide a device which can be easily and relatively inexpensively manufactured. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3-5  are perspective views of portions of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings.
           10  present invention     12  all terrain vehicle (ATV)     14  front     16  rear     18  seat     20  handlebars     22  upper front hood     24  cargo area     26  top rung of cargo basket     28  lower rung of cargo basket     30  tripod     32  sled     34  winch     36  cable     38  end of cable     40  top end of sled     42  bracket     44  lower end of sled     46  means for length adjustment     48  pin     50  apertures     52  pulley     54  rail     56  outer legs     58  rotatable fastener     60  center legs     62  support block     64  notch     66  end of central leg     68  pivot     70  channel     72  arrow     73  arrow     74  surface of ground     76  article     78  roller       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims.  FIGS. 1-5  illustrate the present invention wherein a device for loading articles onto an all terrain vehicle (ATV) is disclosed. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , shown therein is the present invention  10  comprising an all terrain vehicle (ATV)  12  showing the front  14 , rear  16 , seat  18 , handle bars  20 , upper front hood area  22 , cargo area  24 , top rung of cargo basket  26 , lower rung of cargo basket  28 , tripod  30 , sled  32 , winch  34  with top and side rollers  78 , cable  36 , end of cable  38 , top end of sled  40  having a bracket  42  extending downwardly therefrom so that bracket  42  encases or captures the top rung  26  of the cargo basket so as to secure the sled on the top of the cargo basket. Tripod  30  has outer legs  56  having fastener  58  rotatably mounted on rail  54  with one end  66  of central leg  60  mounted in notch  64  of block  62 . Note that many ATV&#39;s have a cargo basket which is only approximately as high as the lower rung  28  shown on  FIG. 1  so that with those ATV&#39;s bracket  42  would rest on the rung  28  of those type ATV&#39;s. Also shown is the lower end of the sled  44  and a means for length adjustment  46  using a removable adjustment pin  48  and a plurality of apertures  50  running longitudinally along each of the legs of the sled. In operation, cable  36  extends from the winch  34  over the pulley  52  of the tripod  30  over the top of the handlebars  20  and the top of the cargo basket  26 , or  28 , then over the upper end  40  of the sled  32  down toward the lower end  44  of the sled wherein the end  38  of the cable is tied to the article which is to be pulled back up the sled and into the cargo area  24 . Pulley  52  is at an effective height so that the cable  36  is suspended above the ATV  12  so that the cable is free to operate properly. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , shown therein is the present invention  10  comprising an all terrain vehicle (ATV)  12  showing the front  14 , rear  16 , seat  18 , handle bars  20 , upper front hood area  22 , cargo area  24 , top rung of cargo basket  26 , lower rung of cargo basket  28 , tripod  30 , sled  32 , winch  34  with top and side rollers  78 , cable  36 , end of cable  38 , top end of sled  40  having a bracket  42  extending downwardly therefrom so that bracket  42  encases or captures the top rung  26  of the cargo basket so as to secure the sled on the top of the cargo basket. Tripod  30  is shown in both the raised and folded position. Note that many ATV&#39;s have a cargo basket which is only approximately as high as the lower rung  28  shown on  FIG. 1  so that with those ATV&#39;s bracket  42  would rest on the rung  28  of those type ATV&#39;s. Also shown is the lower end of the sled  44  resting on the supporting surface  74  of the ground and a means for length adjustment  46 , using a removable adjustment pin and a plurality of apertures  50  running longitudinally along each of the legs of the sled so that the legs are telescopic. Sled  44  is stored in the cargo basket  24  when the sled is not in use and the sled is in the retracted position; the sled is removed from the basket and extended when the sled is to be used. In operation, cable  36  extends from the winch  34  over the pulley  52  of the tripod  30  over the top of the handlebars  20  and the top of the cargo basket  26 , or  28 , then over the upper end  40  of the sled  32  down toward the lower end  44  of the sled wherein the end  38  of the cable is tied to the article  76  which is to be pulled back up the sled and into the cargo area  24 . Sled  32  may have left and right parallel members or may have a planar construction so that it can be stored in the retracted position. Other previously disclosed elements are also shown. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , therein is shown tripod  30  in the folded position along with the rail  54  which is disposed on the hood  22  (not shown but see  FIG. 1 ) of the ATV wherein tripod  30  has a pair of outer legs  56  having one end rotatably fastened at  58  to the rail so that the legs  56  can pivot about the rail by means of the rotatable fastener  58 . Also shown is a center leg  60  disposed between legs  56  having an end  66  along with a support block  62  disposed on the top rear portion of hood  22  having a notch  64  therein so that one end of the central leg  66  can be placed in the notch  64 . Also shown is a pivot member  68  passing through the legs  56 ,  60  and pulley  52 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , therein is shown the end  66  of leg  60  being rotatably positioned as shown by arrow  72  and  73  so that it can be placed in the notch  64  of the block  62 . Other previously disclosed items are also shown. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , therein is shown tripod  30  in the raised position with the end  66  of the central leg  60  disposed in the notch  64  of the support block  62  so that the pulley  52  is positioned at the apex of the support legs  56  and  60  so that the cable of the winch of the ATV can be placed in the track  70  of the pulley  52  so that the pulley is at an effective height so that the cable is suspended above the ATV so that the cable is free to operate properly. Other previously disclosed items are also shown.