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Retractable tie-down assembly with fine tightness adjustment

  • US 6,007,053 A
  • Filed: 10/15/1998
  • Issued: 12/28/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A retractable tie-down assembly comprising:

  • a frame having a pair of side walls;

    a spool rotatably mounted to the frame and having an axle and two end walls, at least one of the end walls being configured as a ratchet wheel, the spool being capable of rotating in a pay out direction and a retracting direction;

    a strap wrapable on the spool and having one end attached to the spool;

    a first spring attached to the frame and the spool and normally urging the spool to rotate in the retracting direction whereat a portion of the strap is wrapped thereon;

    a locking means mounted to the frame and operable to lock the spool against rotation in the pay out direction;

    a holder bracket having a first end with an extension pivotally connected to the axle and a second end;

    a pawl mounted in the holder bracket and including a first end and a second end;

    a second spring having a first end attached to the first end of the holder bracket and a second end attached to the first end of the pawl to thereby bias the first end of the catch member to a position disengaged from the ratchet wheel;

    a third spring having a first end attached to the second end of the pawl and a second end attached to a mediate portion of the holder bracket;

    whereby when the locking means is in a position engaged with the ratchet wheel and thus locks the spool against rotation in the pay out direction, and when the second end of the holder bracket is manually pivoted in a direction away from the locking means, the first end of the pawl is moved to engage with and thus exerts a force to the ratchet wheel such that the spool rotates in the retracting direction, wherein each said side wall of the frame includes a protrusion formed on an inner side thereof for supporting the first end of the catch member at the position disengaged from the ratchet wheel.

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