Synthetic resin ratchet winch

Claim 2

A ratchet winch formed primarily of synthetic resin, which comprises: a. a synthetic resin base adapted to be anchored on the deck of a boat, b. a metal post the lower end portion of which is embedded in said base, said post having thread means at the upper end thereof, c. a synthetic resin drum rotatably mounted on said post in the absence of bearings therebetween, d. first pawl and ratchet means to associate said drum with said base in such manner that said drum may only rotate in one direction relative to said base, said first pawl and ratchet means being formed of synthetic resin and including pawl means integral with said base, e. a synthetic resin cap rotatably mounted on said post over said drum, f. a screw extended through said cap and threaded said thread means to hold said cap on said drum, g. second pawl and ratchet means to associate said cap with said drum in such manner that said cap may only rotate in one direction relative to said drum, said second pawl and ratchet means being formed of synthetic resin and including pawl means integral with said cap, and h. crank means removably mounted on said cap to permit manual driving thereof.

Claim 3

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which a relatively large-diameter metal element is welded to the lower end of said post and generally perpendicularly thereto, said element being embedded in said base.

Claim 4

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said post is hollow, and in which said thread means is formed internal and is in a plug fixedly mounted at the upper end of said tubular post.

Claim 5

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said pawl means comprises at least one flexural beam having a cross-sectional shape sufficiently thin that said beam will flex substantially, and further comprises at least one elongated pawl formed integrally with said beam and having a relatively thick cross-sectional shape, one end of said pawl being adapted to lock with one of the ratchet teeth of the associated ratchet means when said beam is in one flexed condition, and being released from said tooth when said beam is in another flexed condition, said pawl being located, when said beam is in said one flexed condition, that the longitudinal axis of said pawl is intersected generally perpendicularly by a radius passing through the axis of said post, the intersection point of said radius with said longitudinal axis being within said pawl, whereby said pawl is loaded generally in compression and thus has much strength despite the fact that said pawl is formed of synthetic resin instead of metal.

Claim 6

A ratchet winch, which comprises: a. a base formed of synthetic resin and adapted to be anchored nonrotatably on a support, said base having a post extending upwardly therefrom, b. a synthetic resin boss formed on the upper side of said base and integrally therewith, c. pawl means formed of synthetic resin, said pawl means being integral with said boss, d. a drum mounted rotatably on said post, said drum having a recessed lower end provided interiorly with ratchet teeth and which fits around said boss and around said pawl means, said pawl means and said ratchet teeth cooperating with each other to permit rotation of said drum in only a single direction relative to said base, e. a cap rotatably mounted on said post over said drum, said cap being formed of synthetic resin, said cap having a synthetic resin boss formed integrally therewith on the lower side thereof and exTending downwardly into said recessed upper end portion of said drum, and f. pawl and ratchet means to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum, said pawl and ratchet means comprising ratchet teeth provided interiorly on a recessed upper end portion of said drum, said pawl and ratchet means further comprising synthetic resin pawl means provided integrally on said last-mentioned boss and cooperating with said last-mentioned ratchet teeth to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum.

Claim 7

A ratchet winch, which comprises: a. a base formed of synthetic resin and adapted to be anchored nonrotatably on a support, said base having a post extending upwardly therefrom, b. a synthetic resin boss formed on the upper side of said base and integrally therewith, c. pawl means formed of synthetic resin, said pawl means being integral with said boss, d. a drum mounted rotatably on said post, said drum having a recessed lower end provided interiorly with ratchet teeth and which fits around said boss and around said pawl means, said pawl means and said ratchet teeth cooperating with each other to permit rotation of said drum in only a single direction relative to said base, e. a cap rotatably mounted on said post over said drum, said cap being formed of synthetic resin, said cap having a synthetic resin boss formed integrally therewith on the lower side thereof and exTending downwardly into said recessed upper end portion of said drum, and f. pawl and ratchet means to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum, said pawl and ratchet means comprising ratchet teeth provided interiorly on a recessed upper end portion of said drum, said pawl and ratchet means further comprising synthetic resin pawl means provided integrally on said last-mentioned boss and cooperating with said last-mentioned ratchet teeth to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum.

Claim 8

The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which said drum is formed of synthetic resin, and in which said ratchet teeth at the lower and upper ends thereof are integral therewith.

Claim 9

A ratchet winch, which comprises: a. a base formed of synthetic resin and adapted to be anchored nonrotatably on a support, said base having a post extending upwardly therefrom, b. a synthetic resin boss formed on the upper side of said base and integrally therewith, c. pawl means formed of synthetic resin, said pawl means being integral with said boss, said pawl means comprising at least one flexural beam formed integrally on said boss, and further comprising at least one pawl formed integrally on said beam, d. a drum mounted rotatably on said post, said drum having a recessed lower end provided interiorly with ratchet teeth and which fits around said boss and around said pawl means, said pawl means and said ratchet teeth cooperating with each other to permit rotation of said drum in only a single direction relative to said base, one portion of said pawl being disposed to engage successive ones of said ratchet teeth, e. a cap rotatably mounted on said post over said drum, and f. pawl and ratchet means to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum.

Claim 10

A ratchet winch, which comprises: a. a base formed of synthetic resin and adapted to be anchored nonrotatably on a support, said base having a post extending upwardly therefrom, b. a synthetic resin boss formed on the upper side of said base and integrally therewith, c. pawl means formed of synthetic resin, said pawl means being integral with said boss, said pawl means comprising at least one flexural beam formed integrally on said boss, and further comprising at least one pawl formed integrally on said beam, d. a drum mounted rotatably on said post, said drum having a recessed lower end provided interiorly with ratchet teeth and which fits around said boss and around said pawl means, said pawl means and said ratchet teeth cooperating with each other to permit rotation of said drum in only a single direction relative to said base, one portion of said pawl being disposed to engage successive ones of said ratchet teeth, e. a cap rotatably mounted on said post over said drum, and f. pawl and ratchet means to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum.

Claim 11

A ratchet winch, which comprises: a. a base formed of synthetic resin and adapted to be mounted fixedly on the deck of a boat, said base having a central post extending upwardly therefrom, b. a synthetic resin boss formed on the upper side of said base and integrally therewith, c. a drum mounted rotatably on said post, said drum having a recessed lower end provided interiorly with ratchet teeth and which fits around said boss, d. first pawl and ratchet means to associate said drum with said base in such manner that said drum may only rotate in one direction relative to said base, said first pawl and ratchet means including said ratchet teeth and also including pawl means formed of synthetic resin and integral with said boss, said pawl means being interposed between said boss and said ratchet teeth, e. a cap formed primarily of synthetic resin and mounted rotatably on the upper end of said post over said drum, said cap having a synthetic resin socket portion adapted to receive the inner end of a cap-actuating handle or crank, said socket portion having a hollow metal insert molded therein for reception of said handle end, whereby the stresses created due to operation of said handle are distributed by said insert to the synthetic resin forming said cap to thereby increase the effective strength of the winch, and f. second pawl and ratchet means to associate said cap with said drum in such manner that said cap may only rotate in one direction relative to said drum.

Claim 12

A ratchet winch, which comprises: a. a base formed of synthetic resin and adapted to be mounted fixedly on the deck of a boat, said base having a central post extending upwardly therefrom, b. a synthetic resin boss formed on the upper side of said base and integrally therewith, c. a drum mounted rotatably on said post, said drum having a recessed lower end provided interiorly with ratchet teeth and which fits around said boss, d. first pawl and ratchet means to associate said drum with said base in such manner that said drum may only rotate in one direction relative to said base, said first pawl and ratchet means including said ratchet teeth and also including pawl means formed of synthetic resin and integral with said boss, said pawl means being interposed between said boss and said ratchet teeth, e. a cap formed primarily of synthetic resin and mounted rotatably on the upper end of said post over said drum, said cap having a synthetic resin socket portion adapted to receive the inner end of a cap-actuating handle or crank, said socket portion having a hollow metal insert molded therein for reception of said handle end, whereby the stresses created due to operation of said handle are distributed by said insert to the synthetic resin forming said cap to thereby increase the effective strength of the winch, and f. second pawl and ratchet means to associate said cap with said drum in such manner that said cap may only rotate in one direction relative to said drum.

Claim 13

The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which said handle end extends into said insert in a direction lateral to said post, in which said pawl and ratchet means recited in clause (f) comprises ratchet teeth provided interiorly on a recessed upper end portion of said drum, in which said cap has a synthetic resin boss formed integrally therewith on the lower side thereof and extending downwardly into said recessed upper end portion of said drum, in which said pawl and ratchet means further comprises synthetic resin pawl means provided integrally on said last-Mentioned boss and cooperating with said last-mentioned ratchet teeth to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum, and in which said cap is held down by fastener means associated with the upper end of said post.