Patents by Inventor Clifford K. Fitch

Clifford K. Fitch 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).

  • Self-tailing winch
    Patent number: 4303225
    Abstract: Known winches for sailing boats have flanges which are perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The instant invention comprises a self-tailing winch in which the upper flange is inclined in relation to the axis of rotation and follows the rotation of the drum. In operation, the rope rises along the drum as it is taken up by the winch. When the rope has reached the underside of the flange, it is automatically clamped, and, since the flange is inclined, the rope will become loose during rotation of the flange as the drum lets out the rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: Sten Engwall
    Inventors: Sten Engwall, Clifford K. Fitch
  • Self-maintaining winches
    Patent number: 4252298
    Abstract: A resilient ring is provided as an attachment to fit around the barrel of a winch for jamming the end turn of a loaded rope wound around the barrel against the adjacent turn thereby obviating the need to apply manual tension to the tail of the rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Assignee: Sten Engwall
    Inventor: Clifford K. Fitch