RATCHET TIE-DOWN

• US 20090119892A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winston Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Winston Products LLC
• Inventors: Breeden, Winston, Johnson, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/68.CD
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/083 Tensioning by repetetive movement of an actuating member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2175 Cargo tie down

Abstract

A ratcheting tie-down device includes a main body portion having first and second ends, and a rotatable reel located about the second end. A dynamic webbing is extendable from the first end of the main body portion and is windable about the reel. A static webbing is coupled to the main body portion about the second end. The device includes means for attaching at least one end of the dynamic webbing to an object, and means for ratcheting rotation of the reel to wind the dynamic webbing thereon. A lever arm is rotatable relative to the main body portion between a first position and a second position to cause ratcheting rotation of the ratchet wheel. In one example, the lever arm includes at least a pair of independent lever arm rails. In another example, the dynamic webbing travels underneath a guide member prior to being wound about the reel.

Claims

1. A ratcheting tie-down device, including:

a main body portion having a first end and a second end;

a reel for rotation relative to the main body portion about an axis, the reel being located about the second end of the main body portion;

a dynamic webbing for winding about the reel, the dynamic webbing being extendable from the first end of the main body portion;

means for attaching at least one end of the dynamic webbing to an object;

means for ratcheting rotation of the reel to wind the dynamic webbing onto the reel, the means for ratcheting having an operational condition in which ratcheting rotation can occur and a non-operational condition in which ratcheting rotation cannot occur;

a static webbing coupled to the main body portion about the second end; and

a first guide member coupled to the main body portion about the first end and extending at least partially across the first end such that the dynamic webbing travels underneath the first guide member prior to being wound about the reel.

2. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 1, wherein the means for ratcheting includes a lever arm rotatable relative to the main body portion about the reel axis, the lever being rotatable between a first position and a second position to cause the ratcheting rotation of the reel, and wherein the lever arm is rotatable to a third position to place the means for ratcheting in the non-operational condition.

3. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 2, wherein the lever arm includes at least a pair of independent lever arm rails that are each independently coupled to the reel.

4. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 3, wherein the pair of independent lever arm rails are coupled together at an end spaced a distance from the reel.

5. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 3, wherein the main body portion includes a stop and the lever arm includes a rotational lock element engagable with the stop for inhibiting rotation of the lever arm to the third position.

6. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 5, wherein each of the pair of independent lever arm rails includes a guide channel, the guide channels being arranged to retain the rotational lock element to permit longitudinal movement thereof.

7. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 6, wherein each of the pair of independent lever arm rails includes a pocket and a biasing element maintained in the pocket, each biasing element biasing the rotational lock element towards the stop.

8. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 5, wherein the rotational lock element extends generally along a longitudinal axis and includes a plurality of handles at one end thereof, at least two of the handles extending generally away from each other and at an angle, respectively, relative to the longitudinal axis.

9. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 1, wherein the means for ratcheting further includes a plurality of ratchet teeth rotatable about the reel axis and the means for ratcheting further includes a lock member that is selectively movable between locking engagement with at least one ratchet tooth of the ratchet wheel and disengagement from the ratchet wheel upon a change between the operational condition and the non-operational condition, respectively, of the means for ratcheting.

10. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 9, further including a second guide member disposed adjacent the first guide member and extending generally upwards relative to the main body portion, the second guide member being configured to guide the dynamic webbing to travel above the lock member prior to being wound about the reel.

11. A ratcheting tie-down device, including:

a main body portion including a first end and a second end;

a reel rotatable relative to the main body portion about an axis, the reel being located about the second end of the main body portion;

a dynamic webbing windable about the hub, the dynamic webbing being extendable from the first end of the main body portion;

means for attaching at least one end of the dynamic webbing to an object;

a static webbing secured to the main body portion about the second end;

a ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth, the ratchet wheel being rotatable relative to the main body portion about the reel axis; and

a lever arm rotatable relative to the main body portion about the reel axis between a first position and a second position to cause ratcheting rotation of the ratchet wheel, wherein the lever arm includes at least a pair of independent lever arm rails that are each independently coupled to the reel, and the pair of independent lever arm rails are coupled together at an end spaced a distance from the reel.

12. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 11, further including a lock member that is resiliently biased into locking engagement with at least one ratchet tooth of the plurality of ratchet teeth to inhibit unwinding of the webbing about the hub.

13. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 12, wherein at least one of the pair of independent lever arm rails further includes a cam, the lever arm being further rotatable between the second position and a third position, rotation of the lever arm to the third position causing the cam to engage the lock member to thereby disengage the lock member from the at least one ratchet tool to permit unwinding of the dynamic webbing about the reel.

14. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 11, wherein the main body portion includes a stop and the lever arm includes a rotational lock element engagable with the stop for inhibiting rotation of the lever arm between the second position and a third position, and wherein each of the pair of independent lever arm rails includes a guide channel, the guide channels being arranged to retain the rotational lock element to permit longitudinal movement thereof.

15. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 14, wherein each of the pair of independent lever arm rails includes a pocket and a biasing element maintained in the pocket, each biasing element biasing the rotational lock element towards the stop.

16. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 11, further including a first guide member coupled to the main body portion about the first end and extending at least partially across the first end such that the dynamic webbing travels underneath the first guide member prior to being wound about the reel.

17. A ratcheting tie-down device, including:

a main body portion having a first end and a second end;

a reel for rotation relative to the main body portion about an axis, the reel being located about the second end of the main body portion;

a dynamic webbing for winding about the reel, the dynamic webbing being extendable from the first end of the main body portion;

means for attaching one end of the dynamic webbing to an object, wherein the other end of the dynamic webbing includes a handle for grasping by a user;

means for ratcheting rotation of the reel to wind the dynamic webbing onto the reel, the means for ratcheting having an operational condition in which ratcheting rotation can occur and a non-operational condition in which ratcheting rotation cannot occur;

a static webbing coupled to the main body portion about the second end; and

a lever arm including a grip portion and being rotatable relative to the main body portion about the reel axis between a first position and a second position to cause ratcheting rotation of the means for ratcheting, wherein the lever arm includes at least a pair of independent lever arm rails that are coupled together about the grip portion, and wherein each of the independent lever arm rails are independently coupled to the reel.

18. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 17, wherein the main body portion includes a stop and the lever arm includes a rotational lock element engagable with the stop for inhibiting rotation of the lever arm between the second position and a third position, wherein each of the pair of independent lever arm rails further includes a guide channel, the guide channels being arranged to retain the rotational lock element to permit longitudinal movement thereof, and wherein each of the pair of independent lever arm rails includes a pocket and a biasing element maintained in the pocket, each biasing element biasing the rotational lock element towards the stop.

19. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 17, further including:

a first guide member coupled to the main body portion about the first end and extending at least partially across the first end such that the dynamic webbing travels underneath the first guide member prior to being wound about the reel, and

a second guide member disposed adjacent the first guide member and extending generally upwards relative to the main body portion, the second guide member being configured to guide the dynamic webbing to travel above the lock member prior to being wound about the reel.

20. The ratcheting tie-down device of claim 17, wherein the means for attaching one end of the dynamic webbing to an object includes a hook, and corresponding attachment structure coupled to the dynamic webbing and spaced a distance from the one end, the hook being configured to be coupled to the corresponding attachment structure to form a loop generally about the one end of the dynamic webbing.