US 11919753

US patent 11919753, titled "Winch tightening mechanism," was issued to Arcosa Marine Products Inc. The inventors listed are Clint Bryan and Arnold Peek. The patent was filed on July 24, 2020, and issued on March 5, 2024.

Abstract:
The patent describes a winch tightening apparatus that includes a mounting plate, a first moment arm providing leverage, and a pawl. The pawl is pivotally connected to the mounting plate and engages a ratchet gear when the plate is rotated in a first direction, disengaging when rotated in a second, opposite direction. The apparatus may also feature a second moment arm for additional leverage and a counterweight designed to automatically rotate the mounting plate in the second direction to disengage the pawl.

Plain-language overview of independent claims:

• Claim 1 (Winch Apparatus): This claim covers a complete winch system. It comprises a winch body, a winch drum that rotates on a drive shaft, and a ratchet wheel attached to the drive shaft. A primary lever (first moment arm) is connected to the drive shaft to help turn it. A pawl, also linked to the drive shaft, locks into the ratchet wheel when the lever is pulled in one direction to tighten the winch, and releases when the lever is moved in the opposite direction. Additionally, a counterweight is included to automatically move the lever back to a resting position, releasing the pawl from the ratchet wheel.

• Claim 7 (Winch Tightening Apparatus): This claim focuses specifically on the tightening mechanism itself. It includes a primary lever (first moment arm) designed to rotate the winch drum through a connected ratchet wheel. A pawl linked to the drive shaft engages the ratchet wheel when the lever is rotated in a tightening direction and disengages when rotated in the loosening direction. A counterweight is present to automatically return the lever to its resting position, thereby disengaging the pawl.

• Claim 12 (Method): This claim describes a method for assembling or using a winch with the tightening mechanism. It involves providing a winch body and drum, where the drum is connected to a drive shaft and a ratchet wheel. A winch tightening apparatus (including a primary lever, a pawl, and a counterweight) is then rotationally attached to the drive shaft. The method involves the pawl engaging the ratchet wheel when the primary lever is rotated in a first direction and disengaging when rotated in a second direction, with the counterweight automatically returning the lever to a rest position and disengaging the pawl.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search of CAFC 2026 dockets for US11919753 did not return any specific results. Therefore, there is no authoritative information at this time regarding this patent being involved in CAFC dockets for 2026.

A search for litigation involving US patent 11919753 in publicly available databases, including Unified Patents and PACER, as of April 26, 2026, did not return any specific results. Therefore, there is no known litigation involving US patent 11919753 at this time.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings on file for US patent 11919753. This indicates that the patent has not been subjected to IPR, PGR, or CBM challenges, offering no direct hardening or invalidation of claims through PTAB trials.

Strategic summary

As of the current date, US patent 11919753 has no claims canceled, sustained, or untested through AIA trial proceedings. The absence of PTAB activity means that all 17 claims of the patent remain valid as issued by the USPTO, without any challenges having reached a final decision (or even institution) at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Given the lack of PTAB proceedings, there is no estoppel landscape established under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) for this patent. This means that any defendant facing assertion of this patent is not barred from raising any prior art grounds that could have been raised in an IPR, PGR, or CBM. All potential prior art challenges (e.g., under § 102 or § 103) are theoretically still available.

There is no pattern of PTAB activity to analyze, as no proceedings have been filed.

Recommended next steps

There is no PTAB activity (IPR, PGR, or CBM) currently on file or discovered through web searches for US patent 11919753. Therefore, all claims of the patent are presumed valid as issued. The absence of PTAB challenges for a patent published on March 5, 2024, is not unusual at this early stage of its life. However, if facing an assertion, a potential defendant could consider initiating an IPR against the patent, as no prior art grounds would be estopped by previous PTAB decisions.

Inventors

• Clint Bryan: Likely employed by Arcosa, Inc. or one of its subsidiaries, such as Arcosa Marine Products Inc., at the time of the patent application filing. His interest was assigned to Arcosa, Inc. on the filing date, July 24, 2020.
• Arnold Peek: Likely employed by Arcosa, Inc. or one of its subsidiaries, such as Arcosa Marine Products Inc., at the time of the patent application filing. His interest was assigned to Arcosa, Inc. on the filing date, July 24, 2020.

No unusual patterns, such as inventors departing the original assignee shortly after filing, are discernable from the provided information.

Original assignee

The original assignee listed on US patent 11919753 is Arcosa Marine Products Inc.. Arcosa Marine Products Inc. manufactures barges and marine components for the inland waterway transportation market, including products that embody the winch tightening mechanism described in the patent. As of the current date (2026-08-07), Arcosa Marine Products Inc. is operating. However, in February 2026, Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. announced a definitive agreement to acquire Arcosa Marine Products, Inc. from Arcosa, Inc., which will establish Arcosa Marine as an independent, standalone platform under Wynnchurch ownership.

Assignment timeline

The following assignment timeline is reconstructed based on the legal event history provided by Google Patents for US11919753. Specific Reel/Frame numbers and Correspondent information were not available from the provided search results and thus are not included.

• 2020-07-24 (executed) / recorded (date not available)

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: BRYAN, CLINT; PEEK, ARNOLD
  • Assignee: ARCOSA, INC.
  • Correspondent: (Information not available from provided search results)
  • Context: Initial assignment of patent rights from the inventors to the parent company.

• 2023-07-10 (executed) / recorded (date not available)

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: ARCOSA, INC.
  • Assignee: ARCOSA MARINE PRODUCTS, INC.
  • Correspondent: (Information not available from provided search results)
  • Context: Internal corporate transfer from the parent company to a subsidiary.

• 2024-10-10 (executed) / recorded (date not available)

  • Conveyance: Patent Security Agreement
  • Assignor: ARCOSA MARINE PRODUCTS, INC., MEYER UTILITY STRUCTURES, LLC
  • Assignee: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
  • Correspondent: (Information not available from provided search results)
  • Context: Securitization of intellectual property, likely as collateral for a loan.

• 2026-04-01 (executed) / recorded (date not available)

  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: ARCOSA MARINE COMPONENTS, LLC, ARCOSA MARINE PRODUCTS, INC.
  • Assignee: TCW PT MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
  • Correspondent: (Information not available from provided search results)
  • Context: Securitization of intellectual property, likely as collateral for a loan.

• 2026-04-01 (executed) / recorded (date not available)

  • Conveyance: Release of Security Interest
  • Assignor: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
  • Assignee: ARCOSA MARINE PRODUCTS, INC.
  • Correspondent: (Information not available from provided search results)
  • Context: Release of the security interest previously granted to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11919753
    2020 : Filed by Arcosa Marine Products
         : Assigned inventors to Arcosa Inc
    2023 : Assigned Arcosa Inc to Arcosa Marine
    2024 : Issued
         : Security agreement to JPMorgan
    2026 : Security interest to TCW
         : Release of JPMorgan security

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Not present. The transfers involve established operating companies (Arcosa, Arcosa Marine Products) and recognized financial institutions (JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., TCW PT Management Company, LLC). There is no indication of transfer to a shell entity or registered-agent address.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Not present. None of the assignees (Arcosa, Arcosa Marine Products, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., TCW PT Management Company, LLC) are identified as known patent assertion entities.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Unclear. Specific correspondent information (attorney name, firm, address) for each recorded assignment is not available from the provided search results.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present. The transactions occur over several years and are consistent with corporate structuring and financing activities (initial assignment, internal transfer, and security interests), rather than rapid transfers through chained shell entities. The two 2026 transactions occurring on the same day represent a new security interest and the release of a prior one, which is typical for ongoing financial arrangements.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Not present. Information regarding any infringement suits involving this patent is not available, precluding an assessment of transfers preceding litigation.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. The assignors and assignees involved are active entities engaged in ongoing business and financial operations, with no indication of bankruptcy proceedings.
7. Privateering — Not present. There is no evidence suggesting a transfer to an NPE for assertion on behalf of an operating company.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The patent's current assignee, Arcosa Marine Products, Inc., is an operating company, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Insufficient data. While the patent has a clear chain of ownership and financial interests involving operating companies and financial institutions, the critical data points of Reel/Frame numbers and Correspondent information from the USPTO Assignment Center were not directly obtainable from the provided search results. This prevents a definitive assessment of "Repeat correspondent across the chain" and thereby limits the ability to identify potential NPE patterns definitively. However, based on the available information, the documented transfers are consistent with normal corporate and financial activities, and the patent is currently held by an operating company, Arcosa Marine Products, Inc..

USPTO Assignment Center search for US11919753: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 11919753, the patent's cited references have been examined. The effective priority date for US11919753 is April 22, 2016. Citations with filing or publication dates on or after this date are not considered prior art for the purpose of anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102, unless they are non-self-critical continuation applications of earlier-filed subject matter. Family members of US11919753 are also excluded as prior art.

The following are the most relevant prior art documents cited in US11919753, along with their details and potential anticipation analysis for independent claims 1, 7, and 12. These claims broadly relate to a winch apparatus or tightening apparatus featuring a first moment arm, a pawl that engages a ratchet gear when rotated in a first direction and disengages when rotated in a second, opposite direction, and a counterweight that automatically returns the first moment arm to a rest position, thereby disengaging the pawl.

Most Relevant Prior Art:

1. US3581586A: Ratchet winch

   • Full Citation: US3581586A
   • Publication Date: 1971-06-01
   • Filing Date: 1968-04-19
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a ratchet winch where a pawl is pivotally mounted on an operating handle. When the handle is moved in a driving direction, the pawl engages and drives the ratchet wheel. Conversely, when the handle is moved in the opposite, return direction, the pawl disengages from the ratchet wheel.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant as it teaches the fundamental mechanism of a pawl engaging and disengaging a ratchet gear based on the rotational direction of an operating handle (which can be considered a moment arm). This directly relates to the pawl engagement/disengagement aspects of claims 1, 7, and 12. However, it does not explicitly disclose a "counterweight coupled to the drive shaft, the counterweight positioned to rotate the first moment arm in the second direction to disengage the pawl from the ratchet gear and return the first moment arm to a rest position." While the pawl disengages on the return stroke, it doesn't specify an automatic return to a rest position and disengagement driven by a counterweight as claimed in US11919753. Thus, while it anticipates portions of the pawl's behavior, the specific counterweight-driven automatic return and disengagement is likely a distinguishing feature.

2. US20150197413A1: Winch and method of use thereof

   • Full Citation: US20150197413A1
   • Publication Date: 2015-07-16
   • Filing Date: 2014-01-10
   • Brief Description: This patent application discloses a winch with an operating arm and a locking pawl that engages a ratchet wheel. The operating arm moves between a working position and a rest position, with the pawl disengaging when the arm returns to the rest position. The pawl may be biased into or out of engagement by a spring or similar means.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is very pertinent as it describes a winch with an operating arm (first moment arm) and a pawl that disengages upon return to a rest position. This addresses the core functionality of pawl engagement/disengagement and returning to a rest position as described in claims 1, 7, and 12. The disclosure mentions biasing means (like springs) for the pawl. However, similar to US3581586A, it does not explicitly detail a specific "counterweight coupled to the drive shaft... positioned to rotate the first moment arm in the second direction to disengage the pawl... and return the first moment arm to a rest position." The explicit mechanism of a counterweight automatically performing this return and disengagement, as specified in US11919753's claims, may serve to differentiate it from this prior art.

3. US9004456B2: Manual marine winch with safety knockout override preventing release of winch tension without the handle in the stowed position

   • Full Citation: US9004456B2
   • Publication Date: 2015-04-14
   • Filing Date: 2012-05-14
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a manual marine winch with a safety knockout override. It includes a main ratchet and pawl system, and a safety lockout mechanism. The pawl's engagement and disengagement are linked to the position of the handle and a cam, primarily focusing on preventing accidental release of winch tension.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is relevant for disclosing a marine winch with a handle (moment arm) and a ratchet/pawl system where pawl action is tied to the handle's position, and it also introduces safety features. This partially addresses elements of claims 1, 7, and 12 concerning a moment arm and a pawl engaging a ratchet gear. However, the primary focus is on a safety lockout, and it does not appear to describe the specific mechanism of a "counterweight coupled to the drive shaft" that automatically rotates the moment arm in a second direction to disengage the pawl and return it to a rest position, as is central to the independent claims of US11919753.

4. US4456227A: Dual-handled winch

   • Full Citation: US4456227A
   • Publication Date: 1984-06-26
   • Filing Date: 1982-03-23
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a winch with two handles (a main crank and a secondary crank) for different operating modes. It utilizes a pawl and ratchet system.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is relevant for its teaching of a winch with multiple handles or moment arms, which is a feature discussed in the dependent claims (e.g., claims 3, 9, 15) of US11919753. While it includes a pawl and ratchet system, the description does not detail the specific automatic engagement/disengagement of the pawl based on the moment arm's rotation direction or the presence and function of a counterweight for automatic return to a rest position and disengagement, as required by independent claims 1, 7, and 12. Therefore, it is less likely to anticipate the independent claims but provides context for winches with multiple leverage points.

Obviousness Analysis of US11919753 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that would render the independent claims of US patent 11919753 obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) at the time of the invention (priority date April 22, 2016). The motivation to combine these references stems from recognized problems in the field, such as the need for improved leverage, enhanced safety, and increased efficiency in winch operations, as explicitly discussed in the background of US11919753.

Independent Claim 1: Winch Apparatus

Claim 1 describes a winch apparatus comprising:

• A winch housing, a winch drum rotationally coupled to the winch housing by a drive shaft, and a ratchet gear coupled to the drive shaft for rotating the winch drum.
• A first moment arm coupled to the drive shaft and configured to provide leverage for rotating the drive shaft.
• A pawl coupled to the drive shaft, wherein the pawl engages the ratchet gear via the first moment arm being rotated in a first direction and disengages the ratchet gear via the first moment arm being rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction.
• A counterweight coupled to the drive shaft, the counterweight positioned to rotate the first moment arm in the second direction to disengage the pawl from the ratchet gear and return the first moment arm to a rest position.

Combination of References: US8974159B1 (Ammann) in view of US2462167A (Dath).

Analysis:

1. Winch housing, winch drum, drive shaft, and ratchet gear: US8974159B1 (Ammann) discloses a vehicle load securing apparatus that includes a winch drum (12), a drive shaft (14), and a ratchet wheel (20) coupled to the drive shaft. [cite: US8974159B1, Col. 3, lines 42-45, Fig. 1] These elements are fundamental to a winch apparatus.
2. First moment arm for leverage: Ammann's patent further teaches a handle (26) that engages the drive shaft (14) for rotating the drum, serving as a first moment arm to provide leverage. [cite: US8974159B1, Col. 3, lines 49-50, Fig. 1]
3. Pawl engaging/disengaging ratchet gear via moment arm rotation: Ammann discloses a pawl (24) that engages the ratchet wheel (20). [cite: US8974159B1, Col. 3, lines 51-52, Fig. 1] The mechanism of a pawl engaging a ratchet gear when a moment arm is rotated in a tightening direction and disengaging when moved in the opposite direction is a basic principle of ratchet devices. US2462167A (Dath) explicitly describes a manually operated, pivoted lever that swings a support towards and away from ratchet means to engage and disengage a dog (pawl) with ratchet wheels. [cite: 7, Col. 2, lines 29-38, Fig. 1]
4. Counterweight for automatic return of moment arm to rest position and pawl disengagement: US2462167A (Dath) teaches a "ratchet and pawl mechanism for hand brakes" where "the weight of the lever D holds the dog in disengaged position until the lever is thrown back manually to the position shown in Figure l." [cite: 7, Col. 2, lines 18-20] This "lever D" functions as a gravity-operated counterweight, whose inherent weight automatically positions the pawl ("dog") in a disengaged, rest position. When the lever is manually actuated to engage the pawl, releasing the lever would allow its weight to return it to the disengaged state. The description of US11919753 explicitly states that a counterweight "may be gravity operated or spring operated." Thus, Dath's lever, by its own weight, directly teaches a gravity-operated counterweight performing the claimed function.

Motivation to Combine:
A PHOSITA, tasked with improving the safety and efficiency of winches, such as the one taught by Ammann, would be aware of the inherent risks of manually operated winches (e.g., accidental pawl engagement, risk of injury, and inefficiency of manual pawl disengagement and lever reset). The background of US11919753 highlights these very problems, mentioning the risk of injury if a pawl is accidentally left engaged and the winch experiences an uncontrolled release. Dath provides a solution for automatically returning a pawl and its operating lever to a disengaged, safe position using the weight of the lever itself. It would have been obvious for a PHOSITA to incorporate the automatic return mechanism taught by Dath into Ammann's winch. This combination would prevent the accidental engagement of the pawl and reduce operator fatigue by automatically resetting the tightening lever after each stroke, thereby achieving the safety and ergonomic advantages described in US11919753.

Independent Claim 7: Winch Tightening Apparatus

Claim 7 describes a winch tightening apparatus comprising:

• A first moment arm coupled to a winch drum and configured to provide leverage for rotating the winch drum via a ratchet gear coupled to the winch drum.
• A pawl coupled to the drive shaft, wherein the pawl engages the ratchet gear via the first moment arm being rotated in a first direction and disengages the ratchet gear via the first moment arm being rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction.
• A counterweight coupled to the drive shaft, the counterweight positioned to rotate the first moment arm in the second direction to disengage the pawl from the ratchet gear and return the first moment arm to a rest position.

Combination of References: US8974159B1 (Ammann) in view of US2462167A (Dath).

Analysis:

1. First moment arm for rotating winch drum via ratchet gear: US8974159B1 (Ammann) shows a handle (26) (first moment arm) functionally coupled to the winch drum (12) via a drive shaft (14) and ratchet wheel (20) to provide leverage for rotation. [cite: US8974159B1, Col. 3, lines 49-50, Fig. 1]
2. Pawl engaging/disengaging ratchet gear via moment arm rotation: As discussed for Claim 1, Ammann shows a pawl (24) engaging a ratchet wheel (20). [cite: US8974159B1, Col. 3, lines 51-52, Fig. 1] Dath explicitly describes how a lever causes a dog (pawl) to engage and disengage ratchet wheels. [cite: 7, Col. 2, lines 29-38, Fig. 1]
3. Counterweight for automatic return of moment arm to rest position and pawl disengagement: As detailed for Claim 1, US2462167A (Dath) teaches a lever whose weight automatically holds the dog (pawl) in a disengaged rest position. [cite: 7, Col. 2, lines 18-20] This mechanism directly embodies the counterweight feature for automatic return and pawl disengagement.

Motivation to Combine:
The motivation for combining Ammann and Dath for a winch tightening apparatus is consistent with that for Claim 1. A PHOSITA, recognizing the benefits of an automatic pawl disengagement and lever return system for safety and operational efficiency in a winch (as highlighted in US11919753's background), would find it obvious to apply the automatic return principle from Dath to the tightening mechanism of Ammann's winch. This provides a user-friendly and safer apparatus by reducing the risk of accidental engagement and enhancing the speed of repeated tightening strokes.

Independent Claim 12: Method

Claim 12 describes a method comprising:

• Providing a winch housing and a winch drum, the winch drum rotationally coupled to the winch housing by a drive shaft and a ratchet gear.
• Rotationally coupling a winch tightening apparatus to the drive shaft, the winch tightening apparatus comprising: a first moment arm coupled to the drive shaft and configured to provide leverage for rotating the drive shaft; a pawl coupled to the drive shaft, wherein the pawl engages the ratchet gear via the first moment arm being rotated in a first direction and disengages the ratchet gear via the first moment arm being rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction; and a counterweight coupled to the drive shaft, the counterweight positioned to rotate the first moment arm in the second direction to disengage the pawl from the ratchet gear and return the first moment arm to a rest position.

Combination of References: US8974159B1 (Ammann) in view of US2462167A (Dath).

Analysis:

1. Providing a winch housing, drum, drive shaft, and ratchet gear: US8974159B1 (Ammann) discloses the provision of these standard winch components, including a winch drum (12), drive shaft (14), and ratchet wheel (20). [cite: US8974159B1, Col. 3, lines 42-45, Fig. 1]
2. Rotationally coupling a winch tightening apparatus to the drive shaft, said apparatus having a first moment arm, a pawl engaging/disengaging via moment arm rotation, and a counterweight for automatic return and pawl disengagement: The steps of coupling these components and their functional operation are rendered obvious by the combination of Ammann and Dath, as detailed for Claims 1 and 7. The structural elements of the winch tightening apparatus (first moment arm, pawl engagement/disengagement, and counterweight for automatic return) are obvious from these references. The act of "rotationally coupling" these elements to a drive shaft is a routine manufacturing or assembly step for a PHOSITA. Dath's teaching of a lever whose weight acts as a counterweight to keep the pawl disengaged demonstrates how such a component would be coupled and function within a winch system. [cite: 7, Col. 2, lines 18-20, Fig. 1]

Motivation to Combine:
The motivation for this method claim parallels that of the apparatus claims. A PHOSITA would be motivated to provide and assemble a winch incorporating the automatic pawl disengagement and lever return features to address the recognized safety and efficiency issues of conventional winches. The method steps represent the straightforward implementation of an obvious design modification, aiming to create a winch that is safer, more efficient, and reduces operator fatigue, consistent with the advantages articulated in US11919753.

Consideration of Dependent Claims and Further Obviousness

While the independent claims are rendered obvious by the combination of Ammann and Dath, dependent claims adding features such as a second moment arm, a stop pin to limit rotational motion, or a shear point would also likely be obvious:

• Second moment arm (e.g., Claim 3): US4456227A (Genie Industries) teaches a "Dual-handled winch," demonstrating that using multiple handles (moment arms) for leverage on a winch was known in the art. [cite: US4456227A, abstract, Fig. 1] A PHOSITA would be motivated to add a second moment arm to an Ammann-type winch (further modified by Dath's teachings) to provide increased leverage, especially for final tensioning, as suggested by the background of US11919753 concerning spoked handwheels.
• Stop pin to limit rotational motion (e.g., Claim 4): Limiting the range of motion of a lever or rotating component using a slot and stop pin is a common mechanical design principle for safety, precision, and preventing over-rotation. A PHOSITA, seeking to enhance operator safety and provide controlled indexing in the combined Ammann/Dath winch, would find it obvious to implement such a limiting mechanism.
• Shear point (e.g., Claim 6): Providing a shear point in components, particularly extending arms, to prevent damage to the main apparatus under excessive force (e.g., collision in marine environments as described in US11919753-) is a known safety engineering practice. A PHOSITA, concerned with equipment durability and safety, would find it obvious to incorporate a shear point into the moment arms of a winch.
• Enclosed handle (e.g., Claim 5): The use of enclosed handles for ergonomic and safety reasons (e.g., preventing snagging of clothing,) is a common design choice in the art.