AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT A MOUNTING DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 A MOUNTING DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a mounting device for mounting vehicle recovery equipment, namely vehicle recovery ladders, to a vehicle. The present invention has particular application to four wheel drive (4WD) vehicles. BACKGROUND [0002] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. [0003] Traditionally, winches were used to recover 4WD vehicles which became bogged in mud and sand. However, winches require an anchor point to be effective which is not always present, particularly in beach or desert locations. [0004] Vehicle recovery ladders of the type shown in Figure 1 and described in AU 2010100831, requiring no anchor point in use, have become popular in recent times and are carried by many 4WD vehicles when going off road. Often, unsecured ladders are placed in the 4WD where they undesirably rattle around. [0005] A preferred embodiment provides a mounting device for mounting a vehicle recovery ladder to a vehicle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention relates to a mounting device for mounting a vehicle recovery ladder to a vehicle, the mounting device including: vehicle fastening means to facilitate fastening to the vehicle; vehicle recovery equipment fastening means to facilitate fastening to the vehicle recovery ladder; and adjustment means to facilitate discrete adjustment of the vehicle recovery equipment fastening means relative to the vehicle fastening means so that the ladder is positioned to suit the vehicle configuration, the adjustment means including a bracket 2 defining a planar mounting panel for receiving the vehicle fastening means, the planar mounting panel being oriented in parallel with the ladder. [0007] The equipment fastening means may include at least one bracket from which one or more mounting pins can extend. The vehicle fastening means may define holes for receiving one or more U-bolts. The adjustment means may include a bracket defining holes. The vehicle recovery equipment fastening means and adjustment means may include respective brackets. [0008] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: [00010] Figure 1 is a plan view of a known vehicle recovery ladder. [00011] Figure 2a is a perspective view of a vehicle recovery ladder mounting device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the device mounted to the side of a roof rack; [00012] Figure 2b is a perspective view of the vehicle recovery ladder mounting device of Figure 2 mounted to the top of a roof rack, with inset showing an end view of the mounting device; [00013] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting device of Figure 2; [00014] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a jack and shovel mounting device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; [00015] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a known jack; 3 [00016] Figure 6 shows alternative vehicle recovery equipment fastening means in accordance with further embodiments; and [00017] Figure 7 shows alternative vehicle recovery equipment fastening means in accordance with further embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [00018] According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided mounting device 200 shown in Figure 2 for mounting the MAXTRAXTM vehicle recovery ladder 100 (i.e. equipment) shown in Figure 1 to a vehicle. Two identical mounting devices 200 are used to mount respective ends of the ladder 100 to the vehicle. Multiple ladders 100 can be stacked together and then mounted. [00019] Each mounting device 200 includes roof rack fastening means 202 for fastening to a roof rack 204 of the vehicle. Vehicle recovery equipment fastening means 206 is provided for fastening to the vehicle recovery ladder 100. The mounting device 200 further includes adjustment means 208 for adjusting the equipment fastening means 206 relative to the roof rack fastening means 202. [00020] Advantageously, the roof rack fastening means 202 can be fastened at an appropriate roof rack location, either on the side of the roof rack 204 as shown in Figure 2a or on top of the mesh 210 of the roof rack 204 as shown in Figure 2b. The adjustment means 208 can be used to adjust the equipment fastening means 206 relative to the roof rack fastening means 202 so that the ladder 100 is positioned to suit the vehicle configuration. With particular regard to Figure 2a, the ladder 100 can be elevated to a suitable height so as to not interference with opening of a vehicle door. The desired height typically varies depending upon the type of vehicle and roof rack 204. A detailed description of the mounting device 200 is provided below. [00021] Turning to Figure 3, the equipment fastening means 206 includes a bent bracket 302 from which two threaded mounting bolts 304a, 304b (i.e. pins) extend at either end. The bolts 304 pass through end tabs 306 of the bracket 302 so as to extend orthogonally from the vehicle. The bracket 302 is received between a pair of washers 308a, 308b, in turn, sandwiched between a nut 310 and the head of the bolt 304. The 4 fastening nuts 312 include a soft (e.g. nylon) undersurface for engaging with and impeding damage of the vehicle ladder 100. Turning to Figure 1, the ladder includes four corner holes 102 through which respective bolts 304 pass. [00022] In one embodiment, the mounting bolts 304a, 304b can be replaced with quick release mounting pins 314. The pins 314 extend through key-hole shaped corner holes (not shown) in the ladder 100, and the pin tips can be rotated 90 degrees to retain the ladder 100 in place. [00023] The roof rack fastening means 202 includes a pair of U-bolts 316. Each U bolt 316 includes an elongated U-shaped body to accommodate for various sized bars of the roof rack 204. Each U-bolt 316 further includes a pair of fastening washers 318 and nuts 320. [00024] Although not required for mounting to the side of a roof rack 204 as shown in Figure 2a, the roof rack fastening means 202 further includes a mesh plate 322 for mounting beneath the mesh 210 of the roof rack 204 as shown in Figure 2b. The mesh plate 322 defines U-bolt receiving holes 324. [00025] The adjustment means 208 includes an angled adjustment bracket 326 which is angled to provide separation from the roof rack 204. The adjustment bracket 326 includes two series of holes 328a, 328b, a bottom series 328a for engaging with the roof rack fastening means 202 and the top series for engaging with the equipment fastening means 206. The adjustment means 208 further includes bolts 330 for extending through the brackets 302, 326, washers 332 on either side of the brackets 302, 326, and tightening nuts 334. [00026] In use, the fastening means 202 and adjustment means 208 are first fastened together and to the roof rack 204. The U-bolts 316 extend through appropriate holes 324 of the mesh plate 322 (see Figure 2b) and lower holes 328a of the adjustment bracket 326 to provide any desired relative adjustment between the plate 322 and bracket 326. [00027] Next, the equipment fastening means 206 is fastened relative to the adjustment means 208 so that the fastened ladder 100 is positioned in a desired location to suit the vehicle configuration. The bolts 330 pass through the bent bracket 5 302 and desired top holes 328b of the adjustment bracket 326 to provide any desired relative adjustment between the bent fastening bracket 302 and angled adjustment bracket 326. [00028] Next, the ladder 100 receives the mounting bolts 304a, 304b and is secured with the nuts 312. [00029] According to a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a mounting device 400 shown in Figure 4 for mounting a HI-LIFTTM jack 500 shown in Figure 5 and shovel (i.e. vehicle recovery equipment) to a vehicle. [00030] Turning first to Figure 5, the jack 500 includes a flanged I-bar 502 along which running gear 504 passes. The jack 500 further includes a lever handle 506 for advancing the running gear 504 and a top-clamp clevis 508. [00031] Returning to Figure 4, the mounting device 400 includes roof rack fastening means 402 for fastening to a roof rack 204 of the vehicle. Vehicle recovery equipment fastening means 406 is provided for fastening to the jack 500. The mounting device 400 further includes adjustment means 408 with holes 409 for adjusting the equipment fastening means 406 relative to the roof rack fastening means 402. [00032] The equipment fastening means 406 includes a bracket 410 defining an aperture 412 for receiving upper ends of the I-bar 502 and handle 506 of the jack 500. The equipment fastening means 406 includes another bracket 414 including a mounting tab 416 to which the lower end of the I-bar 502 can be mounted with a threaded fastener 418 passing there-through. The other bracket 414 defines a bight 420 for receiving the lower end of the handle 506 proximal the running gear 504 on the I-bar 502. One or more wedges are jammed between the I-bar 502 and the running gear 504 to prevent rattling of the running gear 504 during transportation. [00033] The equipment fastening means 406 further includes threaded bolt fasteners 422, 424 for passing through the bracket 410 and engaging with the handle 506 and I bar 502 respectively. The fasteners 422, 424 are spring loaded to impede rattling when loose.
6 [00034] The bracket 410 also defines a post fastener 426 for receiving and fastening a top-clamp clevis 508 of the jack 500. Further, the bracket 410 defines a slot 427 through which a padlock shank, passing through a hole in the jack 1-bar 502, also passes to lock the jack 500 to the bracket 410. The brackets 410, 414 also define apertures 428, 430 for receiving a handle of a shovel. The equipment fastening means 406 further includes threaded spring-loaded fasteners 432, 434 for threading through the brackets 410, 414 into the apertures 428, 430 to secure the shovel handle. [00035] A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. [00036] For example, Figure 6 shows an alternative equipment fastening means 206' for fastening to an alternative vehicle recovery ladder sold under the trade mark TREDTM. The fastening means 206' includes a bent bracket 302' from which two threaded mounting bolts 304a', 304b' (i.e. pins) extend at either end. The bolts 304' pass through end tabs 306' of the bracket 302' so as to extend orthogonally from the vehicle. The angled body 600 of the fastening means 206' includes holes 602 which can be aligned with suitable holes 328b of the angled adjustment bracket 326 for fastening so that the ladder is in a desired position. The bolts 304a,304b can extend through slots in the tabs 306' so that their location can be adjusted to suit the mounting holes in the ladder. Optionally, a plate retainer 601 can also be provided so that the ladder is located between the retainer 601 and the nuts 312. [00037] Figure 6 also shows alternative equipment fastening means 406' for fastening to the jack 500. The fastening means 406' includes a bracket 410' with an angled base 604. The base 604 defines two holes 606 which can be aligned with suitable holes 328b of the angled adjustment bracket 326 for fastening. [00038] Figure 7 shows an alternative mounting device 700 for mounting the MAXTRAXTM vehicle recovery ladder 100. The device 700 includes a bent (elbow) bracket 302" with strengthening ribs 702 extending there-between. The bracket 302" includes a pair of outer tabs 704 defining holes 706 for receiving mounting bolts 304 or mounting pins 314. Alternatively, an adjustable strap with an clip buckle (not shown) can be anchored to the holes 706 to securely extend around and fasten the ladder 100 to the device 700.
7 [00039] A horizontal ladder support plate 708 of the bracket 302" defines a quartet of mounting holes 710. The device 700 further includes a plate retainer 712 defining a quartet of holes 714 superposed with the holes 710. In one embodiment, the ladder 100 may define holes and be fastened between the plate retainer 712 and bracket 302" using fasteners (e.g. threaded bolts) that extend through appropriate holes 710, 714. [00040] In one embodiment, any of the plate-like parts can be molded from durable plastics material. [00041] Although described above with reference to being fastened to a roof rack of a vehicle, the present invention can be fastened to other parts of a vehicle such as tow bars for example. [00042] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. [00043] Reference throughout this specification to 'one embodiment' or 'an embodiment' means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases 'in one embodiment' or 'in an embodiment' in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.