Patents Assigned to TKA Fabco Corp.
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Patent number: 6554253Abstract: A torque-limited winch assembly is provided including: a winch supported on a winch shaft for rotation therewith, a first enclosed chamber for housing the winch including a housing wall formed to include an opening to receive the winch shaft, a torque-override apparatus, a second enclosed chamber separated from the first chamber for receiving the torque-override apparatus including a shell having a radially-extending peripheral rim, and means for retaining the peripheral rim in fixed engagement with the housing wall so that the shell is prevented from rotating with respect to the housing wall, wherein there is a backing plate cooperating with the housing wall to define the first chamber for containing the winch and cooperating with the shell to define the second chamber for containing the torque-override apparatus, wherein the means for retaining the peripheral wall includes a two part connector comprising a plurality of tangs that each engage within one of a plurality of slots.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1997Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: TKA Fabco Corp.Inventors: Ludwig P. Dobmeier, Jeffrey Greaves, Donald Joseph Beneteau
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Patent number: 6547219Abstract: A winch assembly includes a winch coupled to a bracket, a carrier having first and second members, and a latch coupled to one of the bracket and the first member. A flexible member extends through apertures extending through the first and second members. The first member includes a first end disposable through an aperture of the second member and a second end which may not pass through the aperture of the second member. The latch engages the other of the bracket and the first member upon a tire being moved toward a stored position. The first member is disengagable from the bracket to allow the tire to be moved to an accessible position.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2002Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: TKA Fabco Corp.Inventors: Ludwig P. Dobmeier, Jeffrey Greaves, Donald Joseph Beneteau
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Patent number: 6499724Abstract: A winch assembly includes an actuating mechanism coupled to a winch and a latch. Rotation of the winch in a first direction drives the actuating mechanism to position the latch at a first position. The actuating mechanism includes a clutch allowing further rotation of the winch in the same direction after the latch is positioned.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2000Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: TKA Fabco Corp.Inventors: Ludwig P. Dobmeier, Jeffrey Greaves, Donald Joseph Beneteau
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Patent number: 6390452Abstract: This invention provides a safety mechanism for a winch assembly when storing a load, such as a tire under a vehicle or a boat on a trailer, in a raised or stored position. The invention finds particular application to a spare tire, but those skilled in the art will appreciate the broader benefits of such a structure when used with a winch assembly for other uses such as a boat winch for a trailer or any analogous use wherein it is desirable to secure a load in the raised or stored position. A unique actuator is described with an improvement of the invention, which includes a control path therewith to control a rod end and thereby actuates in a preferred embodiment a latch by converting rotary motion to linear motion.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1992Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: TKA Fabco Corp.Inventors: Ludwig P. Dobmeier, Jeffrey Greaves
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Patent number: 6293522Abstract: This invention provides a safety mechanism for a winch assembly when storing a load, such as a tire under a vehicle or a boat on a trailer, in a raised or stored position. The invention finds particular application to a spare tire, but those skilled in the art will appreciate the broader benefits of such a structure when used with a winch assembly for other uses such as a boat winch for a trailer or any analogous use wherein it is desirable to secure a load in the raised or stored position. A unique actuator is described with an improvement of the invention, which includes a control path therewith to control a rod end and thereby actuates in a preferred embodiment a latch by converting rotary motion to linear motion.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2001Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Assignee: TKA Fabco Corp.Inventors: Ludwig P. Dobmeier, Jeffrey Greaves
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Publication number: 20010010369Abstract: This invention provides a safety mechanism for a winch assembly when storing a load, such as a tire under a vehicle or a boat on a trailer, in a raised or stored position. The invention finds particular application to a spare tire, but those skilled in the art will appreciate the broader benefits of such a structure when used with a winch assembly for other uses such as a boat winch for a trailer or any analogous use wherein it is desirable to secure a load in the raised or stored position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2001Publication date: August 2, 2001Applicant: TKA Fabco Corp.Inventors: Ludwig P. Dobmeier, Jeffrey Greaves