RATCHET BUCKLE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A ratchet buckle comprising:
- a ratchet buckle frame with a front side and a rear side, a top side and a bottom side, a left opposing sidewall and a right opposing sidewall, said left opposing sidewall defining a left ratchet drive plate slit and said right opposing sidewall defining a right ratchet drive plate slit, each opposing sidewall having a front and rear side;
a front reel at said front side of said ratchet buckle frame, said front reel having a cargo strap slot;
a left and right ratchet drive wheel, each having teeth and each being situated around the front reel; and
a ratchet drive plate with left and right wheel engagement members, wherein said left and right wheel engagement members are disposed through the left and right ratchet drive plate slits, respectively, such that the wheel engagement members may engage the teeth of the ratchet drive wheels;
wherein the ratchet drive plate is biased towards the ratchet drive wheels; and
wherein the right wheel engagement member has a right edge and the right ratchet drive wheel has a right face, and the right edge of the right ratchet drive wheel and the right edge of the right wheel engagement member are substantially aligned, thereby providing a substantially even and continuous surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In the present invention, a lightweight apparatus for secure transport of cargo in cargo compartments, such as those found in trucks and freight trains, is provided. The ratchet buckle has a front reel which receives a cargo strap. The light weight of the ratchet buckle is achieved by the use of a dual purpose detachable ratcheting lever or wrench. The wrench has a wrench head which engages the front reel to tighten the ratchet buckle. The wrench also has a release end which engages a release hole in the ratchet buckle, to disengage the ratcheting mechanism and allow removal of the cargo strap. Additional purposes and advantages are provided herein.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A ratchet buckle comprising:
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a ratchet buckle frame with a front side and a rear side, a top side and a bottom side, a left opposing sidewall and a right opposing sidewall, said left opposing sidewall defining a left ratchet drive plate slit and said right opposing sidewall defining a right ratchet drive plate slit, each opposing sidewall having a front and rear side; a front reel at said front side of said ratchet buckle frame, said front reel having a cargo strap slot; a left and right ratchet drive wheel, each having teeth and each being situated around the front reel; and a ratchet drive plate with left and right wheel engagement members, wherein said left and right wheel engagement members are disposed through the left and right ratchet drive plate slits, respectively, such that the wheel engagement members may engage the teeth of the ratchet drive wheels; wherein the ratchet drive plate is biased towards the ratchet drive wheels; and wherein the right wheel engagement member has a right edge and the right ratchet drive wheel has a right face, and the right edge of the right ratchet drive wheel and the right edge of the right wheel engagement member are substantially aligned, thereby providing a substantially even and continuous surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A ratchet buckle, comprising:
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a frame having a top side and a bottom side, left and right opposing sidewalls and a front end, each of said left and right opposing sidewalls defining a ratchet drive plate slit; a front reel disposed at the front end; a ratchet drive plate having a front side, a rear side, and a right edge, wherein said ratchet drive plate is disposed through said slits in said left and right opposing sidewalls; left and right ratchet wheels disposed on said front reel, said left and right wheels engaged with said ratchet drive plate, and said right wheel having a right face; a ratchet wrench comprising; a shaft with a wrenching end and a release end, a length and a width; a wrenching head at said wrenching end; a release protrusion at said release end; and a spring loaded tooth engagement member extending from and perpendicular to the shaft, wherein said spring loaded member is located at the wrenching end and is near the grasping head; wherein said right edge of said ratchet drive plate is substantially aligned with the right face of the right wheel, thereby providing a flush surface to allow operation of an engaged wrench. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating a cargo buckle, comprising:
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providing a securing strap; providing a ratchet buckle and wrench combination comprising; a frame having left and right opposing sidewalls and having a front end, each of said left and right opposing sidewalls defining a ratchet drive plate slit; a front reel disposed at the front end, said front reel having an annular groove; a ratchet drive plate having a right edge, wherein said ratchet drive plate is disposed through said slits in said left and right opposing sidewalls; left and right ratchet wheels disposed on said front reel, said left and right wheels engaged with said ratchet drive plate, and said right wheel having a right face; a shaft with a wrenching end and a release end, a length and a width; a wrenching head at said wrenching end; a conical release protrusion at said release end; and a spring loaded tooth engagement member extending from and perpendicular to the shaft, wherein said spring loaded member is located at the wrenching end and is near the grasping head; wherein said right edge of said ratchet drive plate is substantially aligned with the right face of the right wheel, thereby providing a flush surface to allow operation of an engaged wrench; sliding the strap through said slit in said front reel; engaging said wrench with said annular depression such that said spring loaded member engages a tooth on one of the ratchet wheels; driving said wrench to rotate said front wheel, thereby drawing the strap towards the buckle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification