US 11,718,132 B1
Retractable tow reel assembly
Jason Stewart, Harvest, AL (US)
Assigned to Super ATV, LLC, Madison, IN (US)
Filed by Super ATV, LLC, Madison, IN (US)
Filed on Oct. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/50,057.
Int. Cl. B60D 1/18 (2006.01)
CPC B60D 1/187 (2013.01) [B60D 1/185 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A retractable tow reel assembly for an off-road vehicle, the assembly comprising:
a) a bracket having a pair of opposing uprights and mountable to an off-road vehicle;
b) a reel adapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the vehicle and effective for holding a tow rope, the reel including a shaft and a pair of opposing drum ends having a diameter greater than the diameter of the connecting shaft, wherein the shaft is quickly releasable from one of the drum ends without releasing the shaft from the other drum end;
c) the tow rope having an eye end and a free end, wherein the eye end is threaded around the shaft, wherein the shaft has a first end and a second end, and the reel is a two-piece reel comprising a first reel portion and a second reel portion,
wherein the first reel portion comprises a first drum end and a first shaft collar adapted to directly or indirectly connect the first shaft end to the first drum end, wherein the second reel portion comprises a second drum end and a second shaft collar adapted to directly or indirectly connect the second shaft end to the second drum end, and wherein the first shaft collar comprises an extension tube extending from the first drum end and adapted to receive the first shaft end.