Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Ratcliff

Bruce E. Ratcliff 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).

  • Patent number: 7175162
    Abstract: A hoist provides high mechanical advantage and accurate positioning, driven by hand or with a powered rotary implement such as a drill. The hoist includes flexible tension members, such as chains, cables or straps, for applying force and tension to a load. A load nut is connected to the tension members for high mechanical advantage from rotational drive input to a load screw threadedly connected to the load nut. Alongside the tension members are guides forming channel-like spaces within which the flexible tension members travel. The guides, or portions of the guides, pass through the load nut in most forms of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Bruce E. Ratcliff
  • Patent number: 5971178
    Abstract: A hoist is constructed for powered drive by an impact tool. The hoist includes tension means for applying a force in tension to a load. Gear means are operatively associated with the tension means for producing a tension force in the tension means. The gear means include a gear element which provides a positive hold of the produced tension force when the gear means are not being driven. Impact fitting means are connected to the gear element for enabling the gear means to be power driven by an impact tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Bruce E. Ratcliff
    Inventors: Bruce E. Ratcliff, Ralph A. Ratcliff