Strap tensioner

• US 6,868,587 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roy Rard
• Original Assignee: Roy Rard
• Inventors: Rard, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): SAKRAN, VICTOR N
• Application Number:
  US10/659,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 241/70, 241/91, 241/93, 246/25, 246/62, 243/13, 241/79, 241/71, 241/94, 242/65.CD, 242/65.BC, 24/68.CD, 243/09, 249/09, 297/483, 280/808, 54/23, 54/34
• US Class Current: 24/170
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/125 with strap tightening means
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/083 Tensioning by repetetive movement of an actuating member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3404 having separate material adjustment means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4016 Pivoted part or lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/404 Lever actuated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4072 Pivoted lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45775 having resiliently biased interlocking component or segment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4773 Cargo tiedown

Abstract

An improved strap tensioner that allows a user to manually shorten the strap by applying greater tension on the strap and easily lengthening the strap after being tightened. The tensioner includes a tension lever, an intermediate member, and a brake lever all pivotally mounted on a rigid base. The tension lever and brake member are longitudinally aligned on opposite sides of the rigid base. Formed on the tension lever is a transversely aligned clamping flange that extends under the strap when longitudinally extended through the rigid base. Formed on the intermediate member and disposed above the clamping flange is a first cam surface that forms a slot for the strap to extend through. The brake lever includes a second cam surface that is spaced above the front flange member to form a second slot. During operation, the brake lever is rotated to press the second cam surface against the front flange member to temporarily hold the strap inside the rigid base. During use, the tension lever, the intermediate member and the brake lever are sequentially coupled together to selectively engage, pull and release the strap allowing the strap to be tightened or loosened.

Claims

1. An improved strap tensioner comprising:

a. a rigid base with a front flange member and a rear flange member;

b. an intermediate member pivotally connected to said rigid base, said intermediate member including a lower first cam surface;

c. a tension lever longitudinally aligned and pivotally mounted to said intermediate member, said tension lever including a lower clamping flange;

d. means for pivotally connecting said tension lever to said intermediate member so that said first cam surface is disposed above said lower clamping flange on said tension lever;

e. means for biasing said tension lever and said intermediate member in opposite directions;

f. a means for biasing said intermediate member in a rearward direction on said rigid base;

g. a means for coupling the movement of said tension lever and said intermediate member so that when said tension lever is rotated a predetermined distance in a forward direction, said intermediated member is engaged and begins to rotate in a forward direction;

f. a brake lever pivotally connected to said rigid base, said brake lever including a second cam surface that presses against a strap extended longitudinally onto said rigid base to prevent movement of said strap when extended through said rigid base and disposed under said first cam surface; and

,

g. a biasing means connected to said brake lever to forcible press said second cam surface against a strap extended longitudinally over said rigid base and under said first cam surface.

2. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 1, wherein said rigid base includes two longitudinally aligned side walls, a transversely aligned front flange member, a transversely aligned rear flange member, a transversely aligned upper strut and a transversely aligned rear strut.

3. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 2, wherein said intermediate member includes two upper ear members located opposite said first cam surface, each said upper ear member including a transversely aligned bore formed therein.

4. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 3, further including a pin disposed transversely between said side walls on said rigid base used to pivotally attached said intermediate member and said tension lever to said rigid base.

5. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for biasing said intermediate member in a rearward direction on said rigid base is spring disposed over said pin said spring presses against said intermediate member and said upper strut on said rigid base to force said intermediate member in a rearward direction on said rigid base.

6. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 5, wherein said tension lever includes a central opening that enables a strap to extend through said rigid base.

7. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for pivotally connecting said tension lever to said intermediate member is a transversely align pin.

8. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 7, further include a spring disposed around said pin to bias said tension lever and intermediate member in opposite directions over said rigid base.

9. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 8, wherein said tension lever includes two nesting surfaces that engage the ear members on said intermediate member when said tension lever is sufficiently rotated in rearward direction over said rigid base.

10. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 1, wherein said brake lever includes means for engaging said tension lever when said tension lever is sufficiently rotated in a forward direction over said rigid member thereby forcing said brake lever forward when said tension lever is rotated in a forward direction a sufficient distance.

11. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 4, wherein said brake lever includes means for engaging said tension lever when said tension lever is sufficiently rotated in a forward direction over said rigid member thereby forcing said brake lever forward when said tension lever is rotated in a forward direction a sufficient distance.

12. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 10, wherein said brake lever includes means for engaging said tension lever when said tension lever is sufficiently rotated in a forward direction over said rigid member thereby forcing said brake lever forward when said tension lever is rotated in a forward direction a sufficient distance.

13. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 10, wherein said brake lever includes means for engaging said tension lever when said tension lever is sufficiently rotated in a forward direction over said rigid member thereby forcing said brake lever forward when said tension lever is rotated in a forward direction a sufficient distance.

14. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 1, wherein said brake lever includes two ears located at one end, each ear include a bore and being separated by a central space.

15. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 12, wherein said biasing means connected to said brake lever to forcible press said second cam surface against a strap extended longitudinally over said rigid base and under said first cam surface is a spring disposed over a transversely aligned pin and located inside said central space.

16. An improved strap tensioner comprising:

a. a rigid base that includes two side walls and transversely aligned front flange member, a transversely aligned rear flange member, a transversely aligned upper strut and a transversely aligned rear strut;

b. a tension lever longitudinally aligned located over said rear flange member, said tension lever including a lower clamping flange that extends downward and under a strap when disposed longitudinally over said front flange member and rear flange members, said tension lever includes a central opening that enables a strap to extend through said rigid member;

c. an intermediate member pivotally connected to said rigid base and located adjacent to said upper strut, said intermediate member including a lower first cam surface that extends downward to engage a longitudinally aligned strap disposed inside said rigid base and between said side walls;

d. a transversely aligned pin disposed between said tension lever and said intermediate member to pivotally connect said tension lever and said intermediate member together;

e. means for biasing said tension lever and said intermediate member in opposite directions;

f. a means for biasing said intermediate member in a rearward direction on said rigid base;

g. a means for coupling the movement of said tension lever and said intermediate member so that when said tension lever is rotated in predetermined amount in a forward direction, said intermediated member is engaged and begins to rotate in a forward direction;

h. a brake lever pivotally connected to said rigid base, said brake lever including a second cam surface that presses against a strap extended longitudinally on said rigid base to prevent movement of said strap when extended through said rigid base and disposed under said first cam surface; and

,

i. a biasing means connected to said brake lever to forcible press said second cam surface against a strap extended longitudinally over said rigid base and under said first cam surface.

17. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 16, wherein said intermediate member includes two upper ear members located opposite said first cam surface, each said upper ear including a transversely aligned bore formed therein.

18. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 17, wherein said tension lever includes two nesting surfaces that engage said ear members on said intermediate member when said tension lever is sufficiently rotated in rearward direction over said rigid base.

19. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 18, means for biasing said tension lever and said intermediate member is a spring disposed over a pin used to connect said tension lever and said intermediate members together.

20. The strap tensioner as recited in claim 16, wherein said brake lever includes means for engaging said tension lever when said tension lever is sufficiently rotated in a forward direction over said rigid base thereby forcing said brake lever forward when said tension lever is rotated in a forward direction a sufficient distance.