Patents by Inventor Darren G. Fretz

Darren G. Fretz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Fairlead with integrated remote socket
    Patent number: 11319197
    Abstract: Systems are provided for fairleads, including a frame. The frame includes a first opening and a second opening. The first opening extends through the frame from a front-facing surface of the frame to a rear-facing surface of the frame. The second opening extends through the frame from the front-facing surface of the frame to the rear-facing surface of the frame. A cable extends through the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Eric Vaughn
  • SYSTEMS FOR WINCH ROPE INTERFACES AND RECOVERY RIGGING MOUNTABLE TO A WINCH FAIRLEAD AND/OR VEHICLE BUMPER
    Publication number: 20220024735
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for rigging interfaces couple to winch cable terminals that protect outer surfaces of fairleads and rigging devices as connections between objects. In one example, a rigging interface may include curved surfaces adapted to nest against a fairlead. In another example, a rigging device may have one or more removable elements allowing for coupling of the device to other objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Jackson C. Wang
  • Fairlead systems for winch rope interfaces and recovery rigging mountable to a winch fairlead and/or vehicle bumper
    Patent number: 11167963
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for rigging interfaces couple to winch cable terminals that protect outer surfaces of fairleads and rigging devices as connections between objects. In one example, a rigging interface may include curved surfaces adapted to nest against a fairlead. In another example, a rigging device may have one or more removable elements allowing for coupling of the device to other objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Jackson C. Wang
  • WINCH INCLUDING A MOTOR MOUNTED CONTACTOR
    Publication number: 20210261390
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a winch including a motor and a contactor assembly coupled around the motor. In one example, the contactor assembly is coupled around and in face-sharing contact with a portion of an outer surface of the motor. Additionally, the contactor assembly may include two or more coils spaced apart from one another within the contactor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Bryan Averill, Clark Brumet, Thomas Paasch, Kevin Christensen
  • Winch including a motor mounted contactor
    Patent number: 11001482
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a winch including a motor and a contactor assembly coupled around the motor. In one example, the contactor assembly is coupled around and in face-sharing contact with a portion of an outer surface of the motor. Additionally, the contactor assembly may include two or more coils spaced apart from one another within the contactor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Bryan Averill, Clark Brumet, Thomas Paasch, Kevin Christensen
  • FAIRLEAD WITH INTEGRATED REMOTE SOCKET
    Publication number: 20210130143
    Abstract: Systems are provided for fairleads, including a frame. The frame includes a first opening and a second opening. The first opening extends through the frame from a front-facing surface of the frame to a rear-facing surface of the frame. The second opening extends through the frame from the front-facing surface of the frame to the rear-facing surface of the frame. A cable extends through the first opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Eric Vaughn
  • Winch including integrated contactor and motor
    Patent number: 10781085
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a winch including a motor and a contactor assembly positioned within a same housing. In one example, the contactor assembly is positioned at an end of an armature of the motor and may include a controller configured to control winch component operation. The contactor assembly is electrically coupled to the armature via a plurality of electrically conductive brushes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Bryan Averill, Clark Brumet, Thomas Paasch, Kevin Christensen
  • Fairlead with a lighting system
    Patent number: 10767821
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a fairlead, and in particular to fairlead including an integrated lighting system. In one example, a fairlead may comprise a frame, the frame including a central, first opening and a second opening disposed above the first opening. The second opening may house an integrated lighting system, the integrated lighting system including a plurality of lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Craig A. Clark, Bryan Averill
  • Portable winch
    Patent number: 10766749
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an externally actuatable pulling tool assembly. An example system may include a drum enclosing an externally actuatable input drive shaft, an output driven shaft, and a torque-limiting device positioned in-between the externally actuatable input drive shaft and the output driven shaft. The output driven shaft may be coupled to a transmission with a ring gear, the ring gear meshing with a plurality of teeth on an output end of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Adam K. Reiner, Bryan Yoder, Shao-Hua Lin, Mei-Ling Cheng, Wei-Chen Lin, Timothy D. Krueger, Steven W. Shuyler
  • Winch including integrated contactor and motor
    Patent number: 10662036
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a winch including a motor and a contactor assembly positioned within a same housing. In one example, the contactor assembly is coupled to the motor and includes two or more coils spaced apart from one another within a contactor housing of the contactor assembly and a brush assembly including a plurality of brushes surrounding a rotational axis of the motor and arranged axially to the motor armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Bryan Averill, Clark Brumet, Thomas Paasch, Kevin Christensen
  • Winch including rotatable tie structure
    Patent number: 10625995
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a winch including a rotatable tie structure. In one example, a winch may include a tie structure coupled to a top side of a winch. Notches formed in main cross rails of the tie structure enable rotation of the tie structure relative to a housing of the winch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Vaughn, Darren G. Fretz
  • Winch
    Patent number: 10618783
    Abstract: A winch includes a motor having a motor housing including a motor case and an integrated first drum support attached to the motor case for closing an end of the motor case. A gear reduction unit is drivingly attached to the motor and has a gear housing including a gear case and second drum support attached to the gear case. A tie plate is connected to the first and second drum supports. A control unit is removably mounted to the tie plate. A rotatable drum is supported by the first and second drum supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Bryan M. Averill, Steven W. Shuyler, Bryon M. Borntrager, Kyle A. Hartelt, Glenda M. Steele
  • Composite fairlead with a wear plate
    Patent number: 10562743
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a fairlead, and in particular to a hawse fairlead. In one example, the fairlead may include a wear insert positioned within a first opening of a fairlead frame configured to guide a rope and/or cable. The wear insert may be constructed from a denser material than the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Darren G. Fretz
  • FAIRLEAD WITH A LIGHTING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20200018450
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a fairlead, and in particular to fairlead including an integrated lighting system. In one example, a fairlead may comprise a frame, the frame including a central, first opening and a second opening disposed above the first opening. The second opening may house an integrated lighting system, the integrated lighting system including a plurality of lights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Craig A. Clark, Bryan Averill
  • WINCH
    Publication number: 20190322499
    Abstract: A winch includes a motor having a motor housing including a motor case and an integrated first drum support attached to the motor case for closing an end of the motor case. A gear reduction unit is drivingly attached to the motor and has a gear housing including a gear case and second drum support attached to the gear case. A tie plate is connected to the first and second drum supports. A control unit is removably mounted to the tie plate. A rotatable drum is supported by the first and second drum supports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Bryan M. Averill, Steven W. Shuyler, Bryon M. Borntrager, Kyle A. Hartelt, Glenda M. Steele
  • Fairlead with a lighting system
    Patent number: 10443793
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a fairlead, and in particular to fairlead including an integrated lighting system. In one example, a fairlead may comprise a frame, the frame including a central, first opening and a second opening disposed above the first opening. The second opening may house an integrated lighting system, the integrated lighting system including a plurality of lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Craig A. Clark, Bryan Averill
  • Winch
    Patent number: D866115
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Trey Durkee
  • Remote
    Patent number: D880431
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Christopher J. Boudreau, Thomas R. Paasch
  • Winch
    Patent number: D898321
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Eric Vaughn, Jackson C. Wang
  • Control pack
    Patent number: D898322
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darren G. Fretz, Eric Vaughn, Jackson C. Wang