Strap tightener

• US 6,457,701 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Huang, Chi-San
• Original Assignee: Huang, Chi-San
• Inventors: Huang, Chi-San
• Primary Examiner(s): Matecki, Kathy
• Assistant Examiner(s): DiMichele, Roberto
• Application Number:
  US09/837,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20020153517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 254/213, 254/217, 254/223, 24/68.CD, 24/69.CT, 24/69.ST, 24/711
• US Class Current: 254/217
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/125 with strap tightening means
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 25/00 Implements for fastening, connecting or tensioning of wire or strip
• 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 strap tightener includes a limit nub extending outward from each of the wing plates of the seat. An indent is defined in each of the cams of the side plates to correspond to the limit nub and receive the limit nub when releasing the strap to lock the lever and the seat together to reduce the shearing force between the lever and the seat and the pivot pin. Consequently, the pivot holes in the seat and the lever do not wear as much and maintain good concentricity.

Claims

1. A strap tightener comprising:

a base including two wing plates parallel to each other and a brake pawl with two opposite sides respectively movably mounted in a corresponding wing plate, a stop extending from a free end of the wing plates and a notch defined in the stop;

a lever pivotally mounted on the base by a pivot pin, the lever including two side plates parallel to each other, each of the side plates having a cam extending from one end of the side plate corresponding to the base, the pivot pin having two opposite ends respectively extending out of the side plate of the lever and the wing plate of the base, and each having a ratchet wheel and washer sleeved around the pivot pin;

the brake pawl being movably mounted between the two wing plates of the base to stop the ratchet wheel when the lever moved back relative to the base; and

a pawl movably mounted between the two side plates of the lever to drive the ratchet wheel and the pivot pin when the lever is moved away from relative to the base, the pawl has a top received in the notch of the wing plate when relaxing a strap;

wherein the improvement comprises;

a limit nub laterally extending out from each of the wing plates and an indent defined in the cam in each of the side plates to receive the limit nub on each of the wing plates when relaxing the strap.

2. A strap tightener comprising:

a base including two wing plates parallel to each other and a brake pawl with two opposite sides respectively movably mounted in a corresponding one of the wing plates, a stop extending from a free end of the wing plates and a notch is defined in the stop;

a lever pivotally mounted on the base by a pivot pin, the lever including two side plates parallel to each other, each of the side plates having a cam extending from one end of the side plate corresponding to the base, the pivot pin having two opposite ends respectively extending out of the side plate of the lever and the wing plate of the base, and each having a ratchet wheel and washer sleeved around the pivot pin;

the brake pawl being movably mounted between the two wing plates of the base to stop the ratchet wheel when the lever is moved back relative to the base; and

a pawl movably mounted between the two side plates of the lever to drive the ratchet wheel and the pivot pin when the lever moved away from relative to the base, the pawl has a top received in the notch of the wing plate when relaxing a strap;

wherein the improvement comprises;

a limit nub laterally extending inwardly from each of the side plates of the lever and an indent defined in the stop to receive the limit nub on each of the side plates of the lever when relaxing a strap.