Ratcheting strap-down system

• US 20060213941A1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael T. Sweeney
• Original Assignee: Michael T. Sweeney
• Inventors: Sweeney, Michael T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,020,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/324
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/048 Carriers characterised by article-gripping , -covering,-retaining, or -locking means

Abstract

A ratcheting strap-down system for use with a crossbar to securely transport any variety of objects. The ratcheting strap-down assembly includes a ratcheting receiver and a cam clamp receiver. The ratcheting receiver includes a ratcheting assembly and a locking mechanism and is adapted to engage a second end of a flexible strap. The flexible strap is preferably made from reinforced steel cog belt, making the system and the objects it'"'"'s securing less susceptible to theft. The ratcheting strap-down system is particularly useful for securing one or more surfboards to the crossbars of an after-market roof rack assembly.

Claims

1. A ratcheting strap-down system for use with a crossbar, comprising:

a flexible strap having a first end and a second end;

a cam clamp receiver adapted to engage the first end of the flexible strap, wherein the cam clamp receiver is slidably coupled to the crossbar; and

a ratcheting receiver adapted to receive the second end of the flexible strap, the ratcheting receiver having a ratcheting assembly.

2. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 1, wherein the strap comprises steel reinforced cog belt having a flat side and a cogged side.

3. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 2, wherein the ratcheting assembly comprises a toothed pawl perpendicular to the flexible strap, the pawl being spring biased towards the strap and having a surface with alternating teeth and ramps that correspond to the cogged side of the strap.

4. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 3, wherein the pawl engages the cogged side of the strap when the strap is traveling against the teeth in the pawl.

5. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 2, wherein the cam clamp receiver houses a cam clamp having cogged detents, wherein the cogged detents are adapted to mate with the cogged side of the strap.

6. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 3, further comprising a spring located within the ratcheting assembly, wherein when a force is applied to the strap in a first direction, the spring is moved away from the strap so as to allow the strap to travel through the ratcheting receiver.

7. The ratcheting strap-down system of claim 3, wherein the pawl provides resistance to the movement of the strap when the strap travels in a second direction.

8. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 1, wherein the ratcheting receiver further comprises a release mechanism.

9. The ratcheting strap-down system of claim 8, wherein the release mechanism is a key lock having a key operated pin.

10. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 1, wherein the cam clamp receiver comprises a first sliding bracket that is adapted to be moveably adjusted on the crossbar and fixed at a first location on the crossbar.

11. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 1, wherein the ratcheting receiver comprises a second sliding bracket that is adapted to be moveably adjusted on the crossbar and fixed at a second location on the crossbar.

12. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 5, wherein the cam clamp forcibly engages the flexible strap when the flexible strap is pulled in the direction of the ratcheting receiver, the cam clamp cinching the strap and the cam clamp receiver to the first desired location on the crossbar.

13. A ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 8, wherein the cam clamp receiver can only be released and repositioned when the flexible strap is released from the ratcheting receiver by the release mechanism.

14. A ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 11, wherein the second sliding bracket further comprises an aperture that is aligned with an aperture in the crossbar, so as to store any excess strap within the hollow crossbar.

15. A ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 1, wherein the ratcheting receiver and the cam clamp receiver are adapted to be engaged to a round crossbar.

16. A ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 1, wherein the ratcheting receiver and the cam clamp receiver are adapted to be engaged to a square crossbar.

17. A ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 9, wherein the toothed pawl comprises a milled slot adapted to hold a key operated pin that rotates in the milled slot so as to allow the toothed pawl to move away from the flexible strap and disengage the flexible strap.

18. A ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 1, wherein the strap connects with each receiver only once.

19. A ratcheting strap-down system for use with a crossbar, comprising:

a flexible strap, wherein the flexible strap comprises a cog belt;

a cam clamp receiver adapted to house a cam clamp that forcibly engages a first end of the flexible strap to the crossbar when the strap is pulled against the force of the cam clamp; and

a ratcheting receiver adapted to engage a second end of the cog belt;

wherein the ratcheting receiver further comprises a spring loaded ratcheting assembly.

20. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 19, wherein the cam clamp comprises cogged indentations that are adapted to mate with a cogged side of the strap.

21. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 19, wherein the ratcheting assembly further comprises a toothed pawl that lays perpendicular to the flexible strap and is spring biased towards the strap.

22. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 21, wherein the pawl has a surface with alternating teeth and indentations, the surface being adapted to mate with the cogged side of the strap.

23. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 22, further comprising a spring located within the ratcheting assembly;

wherein when a force is applied to the strap in a first direction, the spring is moved away from the strap so as to allow the strap to travel through the ratcheting receiver, and the strap movement is resisted when force is applied in a second direction.

24. A ratcheting strap-down system for use with a crossbar, comprising:

a flexible strap having a first end and a second end, wherein the flexible strap is a cog belt;

a cam clamp receiver adapted to engage the first end of the flexible strap, wherein the cam clamp receiver houses a strap actuated cam clamp that forcibly engages the flexible strap to a desired position on the crossbar; and

a ratcheting receiver, being constructed to connect to a second end of the crossbar and having a ratcheting assembly adapted to engage the second end of the flexible strap;

wherein the ratcheting receiver houses a spring-loaded toothed pawl that lays perpendicular to the flexible strap.

25. The ratcheting strap-down system of claim 24, wherein the pawl comprises alternating teeth and ramps that are adapted to mate with a pattern on the strap.

26. The ratcheting strap-down system of claim 24, wherein the pawl secures the strap when the strap is traveling against the inclined teeth.

27. A method of assembling a ratcheting strap-down system comprising;

coupling a flexible strap with a cam clamp receiver;

positioning the strap over a portion of an item;

vertically inserting the strap into a ratcheting receiver, the ratcheting receiver including a spring biased pawl;

pulling the strap against ramps in the pawl;

locking the pawl against the strap; and

containing any unused strap within a cavity located on the ratcheting receiver.

28. A ratcheting strap-down system for use with a crossbar, comprising:

a flexible strap having a first end and a second end;

a ratcheting receiver adapted to receive the second end of the flexible strap, the ratcheting receiver having a ratcheting assembly.

29. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 28, wherein the ratcheting assembly comprises a toothed pawl perpendicular to the flexible strap, the pawl being spring biased towards the strap and having a surface with alternating teeth and ramps that correspond to a first surface of the strap.

30. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 29, wherein the pawl engages the strap when the strap is traveling against the teeth in the pawl.

31. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 30, further comprising a spring located within the ratcheting assembly, wherein when a force is applied to the strap in a direction along the ramps of the pawl, the spring is moved away from the strap so as to allow the strap to travel through the ratcheting receiver.

32. The ratcheting strap-down system of claim 31, wherein the pawl provides resistance to the movement of the strap when the strap travels in a direction opposite of the incline of the ramps.

33. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 28, wherein the ratcheting receiver further comprises a release mechanism.

34. The ratcheting strap-down system of claim 33, wherein the release mechanism is a key lock having a key operated pin.

35. A ratcheting strap-down system for use with a crossbar, comprising:

a flexible strap having a first end and a second end; and

a cam clamp receiver adapted to engage the first end of the flexible strap, wherein the cam clamp receiver is slidably coupled to the crossbar.

36. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 35, wherein the cam clamp receiver comprises a first sliding bracket that is adapted to be moveably adjusted on the crossbar and fixed at a first location on the crossbar.

37. The ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 36, wherein the cam clamp forcibly engages and cinches the flexible strap onto a first desired location on the crossbar.

38. A ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 35, further comprising a ratcheting receiver, the ratcheting receiver adapted to receive the second end of the flexible strap.

39. A ratcheting strap-down system according to claim 38, wherein the cam clamp receiver can only be released and repositioned when the flexible strap is released from the ratcheting receiver by the release mechanism.