Patent US3937479A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3937479A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dolly for moving and positioning vehicles
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-07-25
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Granted: 1976-02-10
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Expires: 1993-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A dolly to facilitate the manual moving and positioning of trailers and other vehicles incorporating ratchet mechanisms to provide a high mechanical advantage for moving the vehicles. The ratchet mechanism can be selected to drive in the forward or reverse direction through a ground engaging wheel. A drive disc is mounted for rotation with the ground engaging wheel and is engaged by pawls from drive and holding ratchet mechanisms. The holding ratchet mechanism is mounted on the frame of the device and the drive ratchet mechanism is mounted on a yoke carrying an actuating handle. The mechanisms also permit coasting in the selected direction only. A brake, mounted on the yoke and controlled by a mechanism on the handle, functions to lock the wheel relative to the yoke. This allows the wheel to be rotated relative to the pawls, releasing locked-in-position pawls. Other selected modes may be used to lock the wheel in position to act as a brake or disengage the wheel completely to allow free movement.
Inventors
- 👤 Virgil D. Dalton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:12
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62B; B62B5/00; B62B5/06; B62B5/0026; B62B5/04; B62D; B62D51/00; B62D51/001; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0857; B62D53/0864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
Apparatus for moving and positioning vehicles comprising: frame means for attachment to a vehicle, said frame means having an axle with a wheel rotatably mounted thereon, a drive disc fixed to said wheel, a U-shaped yoke with ends rotatably secured to said axle on opposite sides of said wheel, said yoke enclosing said wheel and drive disc, handle means secured to said yoke at a connection located outside the circumference of said wheel for rotating said yoke, drive pawl means on said yoke for selectively engaging said drive disc, drive pawl selector means for resiliently positioning said drive pawl means to engage the said drive disc on alternate strokes of said yoke by said handle, holding pawl means on said frame for selectively engaging said drive disc, holding pawl selector means for positioning said holding pawl means to engage said drive disc and prevent rotation of said drive disc in one selected direction relative to said frame, said drive and holding selector means respectively including means for positioning said drive and holding pawl means so that they do not engage said drive disc and thereby do not interfere with the free rotation of said wheel, each of said pawl selector means including pawl biasing means for resiliently biasing said pawls into engagement with said drive disc, and brake means for restricting movement of said wheel relative to said yoke.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
Apparatus for moving and positioning vehicles comprising: frame means for attachment to a vehicle, said frame means having an axle with a wheel rotatably mounted thereon, a drive disc fixed to said wheel, a U-shaped yoke with ends rotatably secured to said axle on opposite sides of said wheel, said yoke enclosing said wheel and drive disc, handle means secured to said yoke at a connection located outside the circumference of said wheel for rotating said yoke, drive pawl means on said yoke for selectively engaging said drive disc, drive pawl selector means for resiliently positioning said drive pawl means to engage the said drive disc on alternate strokes of said yoke by said handle, holding pawl means on said frame for selectively engaging said drive disc, holding pawl selector means for positioning said holding pawl means to engage said drive disc and prevent rotation of said drive disc in one selected direction relative to said frame, said drive and holding selector means respectively including means for positioning said drive and holding pawl means so that they do not engage said drive disc and thereby do not interfere with the free rotation of said wheel, each of said pawl selector means including pawl biasing means for resiliently biasing said pawls into engagement with said drive disc, and brake means for restricting movement of said wheel relative to said yoke.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: pivot socket means secured to said frame means for pivotally receiving an element secured to said vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including: stop means for limiting the arc of rotation of said U-shaped yoke.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said brake means includes a brake pad pivotally connected to said yoke for selective pivoting movement into contact with said wheel, and brake operating means for moving said brake pad into contact with said wheel and holding said brake pad against said wheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: said brake pad being positioned between the ends of said yoke, said handle means comprising a hollow tube, said brake operating means including a rod slidably positioned in said tube, and means for moving said rod longitudinally in said tube to contact said brake pad.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including: selector positioning means, said selector positioning means for retaining each of said spring means and said pawl members in at least two selected positions thereby causing said forward or said reverse pawl member to engage said drive means, said selector positioning means for retaining said spring means and said pawl members in a third position in which both of said pawl members are out of engagement with said drive means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
283 words
Apparatus for moving and positioning vehicles comprising: frame means for attachment to a vehicle, said frame means having an axel with a wheel rotatably mounted thereon, a drive disc fixed to said wheel, a U-shaped yoke with ends rotatably secured to said axel on opposite sides of said wheel, said yoke enclosing said wheel and drive disc, handle means secured to said yoke at a connection located outside the circumference of said wheel for rotating said yoke, drive pawl means on said yoke for selectively engaging said drive disc, drive pawl selector means for resiliently positioning said drive pawl means to engage the said drive disc on alternate strokes of said yoke by said handle, holding pawl means on said frame for selectively engaging said drive disc, holding pawl selector means for positioning said holding pawl means to engage said drive disc and prevent rotation of said drive disc in one selected direction relative to said frame, said drive and holding selector means respectively including means for positioning said drive and holding pawl means so that they do not engage said drive disc and thereby do not interfere with the free rotation of said wheel, each of said pawl selector means including pawl biasing means for resiliently biasing said pawls into engagement with said drive disc, each of said drive and holding pawl means including forward and reverse pawl members, said drive and holding pawl selector means each comprising a coil spring means, said coil spring means comprising a coil spring secured at one end to said pawl members for movement with said pawl members and having a free opposite end for engaging the means for positioning said drive and holding pawl means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
283 words
Apparatus for moving and positioning vehicles comprising: frame means for attachment to a vehicle, said frame means having an axel with a wheel rotatably mounted thereon, a drive disc fixed to said wheel, a U-shaped yoke with ends rotatably secured to said axel on opposite sides of said wheel, said yoke enclosing said wheel and drive disc, handle means secured to said yoke at a connection located outside the circumference of said wheel for rotating said yoke, drive pawl means on said yoke for selectively engaging said drive disc, drive pawl selector means for resiliently positioning said drive pawl means to engage the said drive disc on alternate strokes of said yoke by said handle, holding pawl means on said frame for selectively engaging said drive disc, holding pawl selector means for positioning said holding pawl means to engage said drive disc and prevent rotation of said drive disc in one selected direction relative to said frame, said drive and holding selector means respectively including means for positioning said drive and holding pawl means so that they do not engage said drive disc and thereby do not interfere with the free rotation of said wheel, each of said pawl selector means including pawl biasing means for resiliently biasing said pawls into engagement with said drive disc, each of said drive and holding pawl means including forward and reverse pawl members, said drive and holding pawl selector means each comprising a coil spring means, said coil spring means comprising a coil spring secured at one end to said pawl members for movement with said pawl members and having a free opposite end for engaging the means for positioning said drive and holding pawl means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including: brake means for restricting movement of said wheel relative to said yoke.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: said drive disc comprises a disc having its circumference formed with pawl receiving surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: said disc is formed with a plurality of substantially triangularly shaped teeth.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-09 | 1979-08-11 | 1980-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-09 | 1983-08-11 | 1984-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-09 | 1987-08-11 | 1988-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |