Ratchet buckle assembly

• US 5,855,045 A
• Filed: 12/30/1997
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takigen Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Takigen Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Miura, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): HALL, CARL E
• Application Number:
  US08/000,541
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 24/68 CD, 24/68 R, 24/68 B, 24/68 D, 24/68 SK, 24/68 BT, 24/170, 24/191, 24/193, 24/270
• US Class Current: 24/68.0CD
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/083 Tensioning by repetetive movement of an actuating member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/21 Strap tighteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2175 Cargo tie down

Abstract

A assembly is improved in rigidity to sufficiently bear the stress imposed thereon under a tensile force exerted by a strap 27. In the assembly, the strap winding shaft 7 is constructed of a pair of the main-shaft segments 7a, 7b and a core plate segment 8; and, the strap 27 has its first one 27a of its opposite end portions 27a, 27b inserted into both the first slots 24 (which extends the radial direction of the main-shaft segments 7a, 7b) and the second slot 25 (which extends in the thickness direction of the core plate segment 8), and the strap is wound on the strap winding shaft 7.

Claims

1. In a ratchet buckle assembly for tightening a strap, comprising:

a pair of ratchet wheels (5);

a main body (1) provided with a first axial hole in its base-end portion;

a handle (2)provided with a second axial hole in its base-end portion, the handle being rotatably connected with said main body;

a strap winding shaft (7) to which each said ratchet wheel (5) is fixedly mounted, said strap winding shaft being inserted in said first and second axial holes of said base-end portions of both said main body (1) and said handle (2);

a strap having a first one (27a) of its opposite end portions (27a, 27b) wound on said strap winding shaft (7), and the second one (27b) fixed to a strap fixing bar (17) provided in a front-end portion of said main body (1);

a drive plate (4) slidably mounted in a first guide hole (28) of said handle (2), the drive plate (4) being urged forward toward said ratchet wheels (5) under the influence of a resilient force exerted by a first spring (15);

a ratchet (3) slidably mounted in a second guide hole (20) of said main body (1), said ratchet (3) being urged forward toward said ratchet wheels (5) under the influence of a resilient force exerted by a second spring (14);

whereby when said handle (2) is rotated in a predetermined direction, said drive plate (4) is engaged with one of multiple follower surfaces of teeth of said ratchet wheel (5) to rotate said strap winding shaft (7) in its winding direction; and

at the same time, said ratchet (3) is permitted to slip away along one of releasing surfaces of said teeth of said ratchet wheel (5); and

when said handle (2) is reversed in its rotational direction, said ratchet (3) is engaged with one of said follower surfaces of said teeth of said ratchet wheel (5) to prevent said strap winding shaft (7) from rotating in its reverse direction in a condition in which said drive plate (4) is permitted to slip away along one of said releasing surfaces of said teeth of said ratchet wheel (5);

the improvement wherein said strap winding shaft (7) is constructed of;

a pair of main-shaft segments (7a, 7b) each having a semicircular cross section, said main-shaft segments (7a, 7b) being connected with each other at their opposite axial ends; and

continuing a pair of first axial slots (24); and

a core plate segment (8) tightly fitted in a space defined between said main-shaft segments (7a, 7b), and containing a second slot (25), whereby said strap has the first end (27a) of its opposite end portions (27a, 27b) inserted in both said pair of first slots (24) in said main-shaft segments (7a, 7b) and in said second slot (25) of said core plate segment (8), said first slots (24) extending in a radial direction of said main-shaft segments (7a, 7b), said second slot (25) extending in the thickness direction of said core plate segment (8), and said strap (27) is wound on said strap winding shaft (7).

2. A ratchet buckle assembly for tightening a strap, comprising:

a main body(1) provided with a first axial hole in its base-end portion;

a handle (2) provided with a second axial hole in its base-end portion, the handle being rotatably connected with said main body;

a pair of ratchet wheels (5) each having multiple teeth;

a strap winding shaft (7) to which said ratchet wheels (5) are fixedly mounted, the strap winding shaft being inserted in said first and said second axial holes of said base-end portions of both said main body (1) and said handle (2);

a strap having a first end portion (27a) wound on said strap winding shaft (7) and a second end potion (27b) fixed to a strap fixing bar (17) provided in a front-end portion of said main body (1);

a drive plate (4) slidably mounted in a first guide hole (28) of said handle (2), the drive plate being urged forward toward said ratchet wheels (5) under influence of a resilient force exerted by a first spring (15);

a ratchet (3) slidably mounted in a second guide hole (29) of said main body (1), said ratchet (3) being urged forward toward said ratchet wheel (5) under the influence of a resilient force exerted by a second spring (14);

said strap winding shaft (7) further comprising;

a pair of main-shaft segments (7a, 7b) each having a semi-circular cross-section, said main-shaft segments being connected with each other at their opposite axial ends by said ratchet wheels (5) and containing a pair of first axial slots (24); and

a core plate segment (8) tightly fitted in a space defined between said main-shaft segments (7a, 7b) and containing a second slot (25) wherein said strap has the first end (27a) of its opposite end portions (27a, 27b) inserted in both said pair of first slots (24) provided in said main-shaft segments (7a, 7b) and a second slot(25) in said core plate segment (8), said first slots (24) extending in a radial direction of said main-shaft segments (7a, 7b) said second slot (25) extending in the thickness direction of said core plate segment (8), whereby said strap (27) is inserted through said first slots (24) and said second slot (25) and is wound on said strap winding shaft (7) by intermittent rotation of said handle (2) relative to said main body (1).

3. The ratchet buckle assembly of claim 2, wherein each said ratchet wheel (5) contains a pair of through holes (22a, 22b) each said hole having a semi-circular shape and in which said main shaft segments (7a, 7b) are mounted.

4. The ratchet buckle assembly of claim 2, wherein a pair of axial end caps (13) are each tightly mounted on an end portion of said main shaft segments (7a, 7b) each said end cap (13) having a pair of concave portions (23a, 23b) into which the end portions of said main shaft segments (7a, 7b) are mounted.

5. The ratchet buckle assembly of claim 2, wherein said core plate segment (8) includes a pair of diametrically opposed enlarged portions (25a, 25b) each being bulged outwardly so as to assume a rounded shape.

6. The ratchet buckle assembly of claim 2, wherein a spacer (6) is mounted in a space provided between the ratchet wheel (5) and each of arms (2a, 2b) of said handle (2).

7. A ratchet buckle assembly for tightening a strap, comprising:

a main body (1) provided with a first axial hole located in a base-end portion of the main body;

a handle (2) provided with a second axial hole located in a base-end portion of the handle, the handle being rotatably connected with said main body;

a pair of ratchet wheels (5) each having multiple teeth;

each said ratchet wheel (5) containing a pair of through holes (22a, 22b), each said hole having a semi-circular shape and in which said main shaft segments (7a, 7b) are mounted;

a strap winding shaft (7) to which said ratchet wheels (5) are fixedly mounted, the strap winding shaft being inserted in said first and said second axial holes of said base-end portions of both said main body (1) and said handle (2);

a strap having a first end portion (27a) wound on said strap winding shaft (7) and a second end portion (27b) fixed to a strap fixing bar (17) provided inn a front-end portion of said main body (1);

a drive plate (4) slidably mounted in a first guide hole (28) of said handle (2), the drive plate being urged forward toward said ratchet wheels (5) under influence of a resilient force exerted by a first spring (15);

a ratchet (3) slidable mounted in a second guide hole (20) of said main body (1), said ratchet (3) being urged forward toward said ratchet wheels (5) under the influence of a resilient force exerted by a second spring (14);

said strap winding shaft (7) further comprising;

a pair of main-shaft segments (7a, 7b) each having a semicircular cross-section, said main-shaft segments being connected with each other at their opposite axial ends by said ratchet wheels (5); and

a core plate segment (8) tightly fitted in a space defined between said main-shaft segments (7a, 7b) each said core plate segment (8) having a pair of diametrically opposed enlarged portions (25a, 25b) each being bulged outwardly so as to assume a rounded shape;

wherein said strap has the first end (27a) of its opposite end portions (27a, 27b) inserted in both a pair of first slots (24) provided in said main-shaft segments (7a, 7b) and a second slot (25) in said core plate segment (8), said first slots (24) extending in a radial direction of said main-shaft segments (7a, 7b)said second slot (25) extending in the thickness direction of said core plate segment (8), whereby said strap (27) is inserted through said first slots (24) and said second slot (25) and is wound on said strap winding shaft (7) by intermittent rotation of said handle (2) relative to said main body (1).