Cargo tie down device
First Claim
1. In combination, a vehicle having a rub rail spaced from a vehicle body by a gap and a cargo tie down device comprisinga bracket mounted on the vehicle;
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there being a first vertical plane adjacent an inboard edge of the gap and a second vertical plane adjacent an outboard edge of the gap, the spindle residing at least partly between the first and second planes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cargo tie down device includes a bracket for mounting on a vehicle such as a truck, trailer, rail car or the like. The bracket may be U-shaped and a hand ratchet may be mounted between the ends of the bracket to wind up a load strap on a spindle rotated by a pivotally mounted handle. A tension release mechanism operates independently of the load strap to safely release the load on the strap. In some embodiments, the bracket slides on a rail of the underside of the vehicle so it may be positioned at any of a series of locations on the vehicle. The device eliminates a conventional removable winch bar and thereby eliminates safety problems associated with winch bars.
4 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In combination, a vehicle having a rub rail spaced from a vehicle body by a gap and a cargo tie down device comprising
a bracket mounted on the vehicle; - and
a hand ratchet mechanism carried by the bracket and including a spindle having a gear thereon for winding a load securing strap therearound, a pivotally mounted handle, first and second pawl mechanisms for ratcheting and thereby rotating the gear in a strap tensioning direction upon pivoting of the handle, and a tension release mechanism for releasing the spindle for rotation in a relaxing direction opposite to the strap tensioning direction; there being a first vertical plane adjacent an inboard edge of the gap and a second vertical plane adjacent an outboard edge of the gap, the spindle residing at least partly between the first and second planes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A cargo tie down device comprising
a bracket for mounting the hand ratchet device on a vehicle including a member for slidably abutting a vehicle frame member and at least one side wall transverse to the member; -
a hand ratchet device including a spindle having a gear thereon winding a load securing strap therearound, a handle pivotally mounted for movement between a first retracted position and a second position outboard of the bracket, first and second pawl mechanisms for ratcheting and thereby rotating the gear in a strap tensioning direction upon pivoting of the handle, and a tension release mechanism for releasing the spindle for rotation in a relaxing direction opposite to the strap tensioning direction; and an anchor link securing the hand ratchet device to the bracket including at least one arm having first and second ends, the first end being pivotable relative to the spindle and the second end being pivotally connected to the bracket. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A cargo tie down device comprising
a bracket for mounting the hand ratchet device on a vehicle including a member for being slidably supported on a vehicle frame member and a pair of side walls transverse to the member; - and
a hand ratchet device including a spindle having a gear thereon for winding a load securing strap therearound, a pivotally mounted handle, first and second pawl mechanisms for ratcheting and thereby rotating the gear in a strap tensioning direction upon pivoting of the handle and a tension release mechanism for releasing the spindle for rotation in a relaxing direction opposite to the strap tensioning direction; the handle being movable between a first position between the bracket side walls and a second position outboard of the bracket side walls.
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Specification