Winch system

Claim 2

A self-contained winch system comprising: a. a vehicle having a floor portion, b. winch means and a base frame mounting said winch means thereon, c. an indexing frame, d. means rotatably mounting said base frame and winch means on said indexing frame for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, and e. track means interconnecting said vehicle floor portion and said indexing frame for sliding movement of said indexing frame between a stowed position overlying said vehicle floor portion and an operating position displaced outwardly from said stowed position.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 further comprising: a. vertically adjustable leg means pivotally mounted on said track means adjacent an outer end thereof.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 further comprising: a. stabilizing chain means extending from said track means to said vehicle.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 further comprising: a. means for locking said indexing means in either said stowed or said active positions thereof.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4 wherein said track means includes stationary and movable track assemblies and said locking means comprises: a. a pair of oUtwardly projecting rod members mounted on the stationary track assembly for movement substantially transversely of said stationary track assembly, b. bushing means mounted on said stationary track assembly and slidably receiving outer ends of said rods, and c. means defining spaced openings along the movable track assembly alignable with said bushing means on said stationary track assembly when said movable track assembly is in either its stowed or active positions, and d. lever means for simultaneously moving said rods into and out of said openings in said movable track assembly.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1 wherein said track means comprises: a. a stationary track assembly mounted on said floor portion of said vehicle, and b. a movable track assembly slidable along said stationary track assembly and carrying said indexing frame adjacent an outer end thereof.

Claim 8

The system of claim 6 wherein: a. said vehicle includes a closed compartment, b. said floor portion is positioned within said compartment, c. said stationary track assembly is mounted on said floor portion within said compartment, and d. said movable track assembly is slidable along said stationary track assembly between said stowed position wherein said base frame mounting means is received within said compartment and said operating position wherein said base frame mounting means is disposed outwardly of said compartment.

Claim 9

The system of claim 1 wherein said means rotatably mounting said base frame and winch means on said indexing frame for rotation about a substantially vertical axis comprises: a. socket means mounted on one of said frames, and b. a stub shaft mounted on the other of said frames and rotatably received in said socket.

Claim 10

The system of claim 8 further comprising: a. means on said indexing frame for locking said base frame against said rotational movement.

Claim 11

A winch system comprising: a. a motor vehicle having an enclosed compartment including a floor portion, b. an upper, stationary track assembly mounted on said floor portion within said compartment, c. a lower movable, track assembly engaging said upper track assembly and movable therealong between a stowed position beneath said upper track assembly and within said compartment and an active position displaced from said stowed position outwardly of said compartment, d. means for locking said lower track assembly in either said stowed or said active positions, e. an indexing frame mounted on an outer end of said lower track assembly, f. means defining a socket on said indexing frame, g. a lever arm mounted on said indexing frame for pivoting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, h. a substantially vertically oriented stud pivotally attached to said lever and slidably received in a collar on said indexing frame displaced radially outwardly from said socket, i. a winch base frame, j. a winch mounted on said base frame, k. a stub shaft projecting substantially vertically downwardly from said base frame and rotatably received in said socket, l. means defining a plurality of stud receiving apertures disposed circumferentially about said stub shaft and displaced radially outwardly therefrom the same distance said stud is displaced from said socket, m. a pair of vertically adjustable stabilizing legs pivotally mounted on said outer end of said lower track assembly, and n. a pair of stabilizing chains attached to said outer end of said lower track assembly and a portion of said motor vehicle.

Claim 12

A winch system comprising: a. a motor vehicle having an enclosed compartment including a floor portion, b. an upper, stationary track assembly mounted on said floor portion within said compartment, c. a lower movable, track assembly engaging said upper track assembly and movable therealong between a stowed position beneath said upper track assembly and within said compartment and an active position displaced from said stowed position outwardly of said compartment, d. means for locking said lower track assembly in either said stowed or said active positions, e. an indexing frame mounted on an outer end of said lower track assembly, f. means defining a socket on said indexing frame, g. a lever arm mounted on said indexing frame for pivoting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, h. a substantially vertically oriented stud pivotally attached to said lever and slidably received in a collar on said indexing frame displaced radially outwardly from said socket, i. a winch base frame, j. a winch mounted on said base frame, k. a stub shaft projecting substantially vertically downwardly from said base frame and rotatably received in said socket, l. means defining a plurality of stud receiving apertures disposed circumferentially about said stub shaft and displaced radially outwardly therefrom the same distance said stud is displaced from said socket, m. a pair of vertically adjustable stabilizing legs pivotally mounted on said outer end of said lower track assembly, and n. a pair of stabilizing chains attached to said outer end of said lower track assembly and a portion of said motor vehicle.