Releasable ratchet strap having a lock mechanism

• US 10,308,407 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2016
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Lee Mannis
• Original Assignee: Michael Lee Mannis
• Inventors: Mannis, Michael Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett, Suzanne L
• Application Number:
  US15/340,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20180119458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 70 14- 16, 70 18, 70 19, 70 58, 70 17, 70 30, 70 49
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2563/00 Flexible elongated elements, e.g. straps for bundling or supporting atricles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2563/103 details of the male locking member, e.g. locking teeth on the strap
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2563/107 having a release mechanism, e.g. reusable bundling straps
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 63/08 Joints using buckles, wedges, or like locking members attached to the ends of the elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 63/1036 the female locking member being provided with at least one metal barb
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/003 Chain, wire or cable locks alarms therefor E05B45/005; E05B69/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/02 Cases
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/185 using levers

Abstract

A releasable ratchet strap having a plurality of strap teeth and a robust flexible inner core connected to a housing having a lock mechanism. A lever is hingedly connected to the housing. The housing retains a lock pin having at least one recess. The lock mechanism is oriented in an unlocked configuration when at least one recess of the lock pin is in alignment with a portion of the latch. When the latch is depressed, the latch tooth of the latch is released from contact with a strap tooth of the ratchet strap. When the lock mechanism is oriented in a locked orientation, no recess of the lock pin is in alignment with a portion of the latch. In a locked orientation, the lock pin obstructs the latch from hingedly pivoting and the latch tooth engages the strap tooth of a ratchet strap.

Claims

1. A ratchet strap having a proximal end located opposite a distal end, comprising:

at least one strap tooth, said at least one strap tooth is connected to said ratchet strap;

a housing, said housing having a lock mechanism, said housing is connected to said proximal end of said ratchet strap, said housing having a compartment, said compartment of said housing retaining a lock pin, said compartment of said housing retaining a resilient member, said lock pin having a first end located opposite a second end, said lock pin having at least one recess located thereon said lock pin, said lock pin having a perimeter that is smaller in size at said at least one recess, said second end of said lock pin is in communication with said resilient member;

said compartment of said housing retaining a portion of a lock jam ball;

a lever, said lever is hingedly connected to said housing, said lever having a first end located opposite a second end, said first end of said lever having a latch tooth, said latch tooth is configured to engage at least one strap tooth, said latch tooth of said first end of said lever interlocks with said at least one strap tooth of said ratchet strap, said second end of said lever is configured for a user to depress said lever, said lock mechanism is oriented in a locked configuration when said latch tooth of said lever engages said at least one strap tooth of said ratchet strap, said at least one recess of said lock pin is not aligned with said lever;

said lock mechanism having a locked orientation when said lock jam ball is engaged within said at least one recess of said lock pin;

said lock mechanism having an unlocked orientation when a portion of said latch is located within said at least one recess of said lock pin; and

,

a flexible inner core, said flexible inner core having a proximal end located opposite a distal end, said proximal end of said flexible inner core is connected to said housing.

2. The ratchet strap of claim 1, further comprising said strap tooth having a central bore, said central bore having an anchor structure compartment, said anchor structure compartment is configured to retain an anchor structure, said central bore having a flexible inner core compartment, said flexible inner core compartment is configured to retain a portion of said flexible inner core, said anchor structure compartment has a larger perimeter than said flexible inner core compartment.

3. The ratchet strap of claim 2, further comprising said distal end of said flexible inner core is connected to an anchor structure, whereby, said anchor structure is retained within said anchor structure compartment of said strap tooth.

4. The ratchet strap of claim 1, further comprising a distal end of a first ratchet strap is connected to a second ratchet strap, said second ratchet strap is non-releasable from said first ratchet strap.

5. The ratchet strap of claim 1, further comprising said ratchet strap having a plurality of strap teeth connected thereto.

6. The ratchet strap of claim 1, further comprising said strap tooth having an outer wall surface having a perimeter tapering from a larger perimeter to a smaller perimeter.

7. The ratchet strap of claim 1, further comprising said strap tooth having a convex protrusion located on an end of said strap tooth located opposite an end having a concave recess, said concave recess of a first strap tooth receives said convex protrusion of a second strap tooth, whereby, orienting said concave recess of said first strap tooth to engage said convex protrusion of said second strap tooth, thereby, forming a ball joint.

8. The ratchet strap of claim 1, further comprising said resilient member orienting said lock pin to traverse at least a portion of said compartment of said housing, whereby, said at least one recess of said lock pin is aligned with a portion of said lever, thereby, orienting said lock mechanism to be in an unlocked configuration when a portion of said lever is depressed and said latch tooth of said lever is released from contact with said strap tooth of said ratchet strap.

9. A ratchet strap having a proximal end located opposite a distal end, comprising:

at least one strap tooth, said at least one strap tooth is connected to said ratchet strap;

a housing, said housing having a lock mechanism, said housing is connected to said proximal end of said ratchet strap, said housing having a compartment, said compartment of said housing retaining a lock pin located thereon said lock pin, said lock pin having a perimeter that is smaller in size at said at least one recess, said compartment of said housing retaining a resilient member, said lock pin having a first end located opposite a second end, said lock pin having at least one recess, said second end of said lock pin is in communication with said resilient member;

said compartment of said housing retaining a portion of a lock jam ball;

said housing having a lever, said lever having a first end located opposite a second end, said first end of said lever having a latch tooth, said second end of said lever is configured for a user to depress said lever, said latch tooth of said first end of said lever interlocks with said at least one strap tooth of said ratchet strap, said lock mechanism is oriented in an unlocked configuration when said latch tooth of said lever is released from said at least one strap tooth of said ratchet strap, said at least one recess of said lock pin is aligned with said lever;

said lock mechanism having a locked orientation when said lock jam ball is engaged within said at least one recess of said lock pin;

said lock mechanism having an unlocked orientation when a portion of said latch is located within said at least one recess of said lock pin; and

,

a flexible inner core, said flexible inner core having a proximal end located opposite a distal end, said proximal end of said flexible inner core is connected to said housing.

10. The ratchet strap of claim 9, further comprising said strap tooth having a central bore, said central bore having an anchor structure compartment, said anchor structure compartment is configured to retain an anchor structure, said central bore having a flexible inner core compartment, said flexible inner core compartment is configured to retain a portion of said flexible inner core, said anchor structure compartment has a larger perimeter than said flexible inner core compartment.

11. The ratchet strap of claim 10, further comprising said distal end of said flexible inner core is connected to an anchor structure, whereby, said anchor structure is retained within said anchor structure compartment of said strap tooth.

12. The ratchet strap of claim 9, further comprising a distal end of a first ratchet strap is connected to a second ratchet strap, said second ratchet strap is non-releasable from said first ratchet strap.

13. The ratchet strap of claim 9, further comprising said ratchet strap having a plurality of strap teeth connected thereto.

14. The ratchet strap of claim 9, further comprising said strap tooth having an outer wall surface having a perimeter tapering from a larger perimeter to a smaller perimeter.

15. The ratchet strap of claim 9, further comprising said strap tooth having a convex protrusion located on an end of said strap tooth located opposite an end having a concave recess, said concave recess of a first strap tooth receives said convex protrusion of a second strap tooth, whereby, orienting said concave recess of said first strap tooth to engage said convex protrusion of said second strap tooth, thereby, forming a ball joint.

16. The ratchet strap of claim 9, further comprising said resilient member orienting said lock pin to traverse at least a portion of said compartment of said housing, whereby, said at least one recess of said lock pin is not aligned with a portion of said lever, thereby, orienting said lock mechanism in a locked configuration when said latch tooth of said lever engages said strap tooth of said ratchet strap.