Cargo tightener and strap collector

• US 7,296,326 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2005
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ratchet Enterprises, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ratchet Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Yoder, John Scott, Madachy, Frank Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain; James R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Ruth C.
• Application Number:
  US11/227,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20070056146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 24/68.R, 24/69.R, 24/70.ST, 24/69.ST, 24/69.CT, 24/71.R, 24/71.ST, 24/71.CT, 24/68.CD, 242/373, 242/378.4, 242/385.4, 2423881-3887, 242/395, 242/395.1, 242/399, 242/399.2, 242/400, 242/401, 254/213, 254/214, 254216-218, 254/223, 254/225, 254/369, 254/376, 254/380, 254/382, 410/12, 410/97, 410/100, 410/103, 410/105, 410/106, 410/110
• US Class Current: 24/68.0CD
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0846 winding up or storing of straps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/21 Strap tighteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2175 Cargo tie down

Abstract

A cargo tightener and strap collector is shown having a rotatable shaft provided on the lever portion of the cargo tightener and strap collector. A slot is provided in the shaft so that the free end of a strap may be inserted in the slot and wound on the shaft to secure the strap and prevent its fluttering in the wind or trailing on the ground while in use.

Claims

1. An apparatus for tightening and collecting a strap, comprising:

a) a cargo tightening portion comprising;

i) a connecting arm extending in a longitudinal direction, the connecting arm having a first pair of spaced apart sidewalls;

ii) a lever pivotally journaled in the connecting arm by a first shaft, the lever having a second pair of spaced apart sidewalls, the first shaft having a first slot for introducing an end of a strap, the first shaft being operable for co-rotational movement with the lever for tightening the strap; and

b) a strap collector portion comprising a second shaft rotatably mounted to the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever, the second shaft having a second slot therein to accept the end of the strap after the strap is tightened on the cargo

c) at least one toothed ratchet wheel fixedly mounted to the first shaft between the first pair of spaced apart sidewalls and the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls; and

d) a pawl mounted to the lever for reciprocal movement to engage and disengage from the at least one toothed ratchet wheel and cause the rotation of the first shaft.

2. A strap collector comprising:

a) a connecting arm extending in a longitudinal direction, the connecting arm having a first pair of spaced apart sidewalls;

b) a lever pivotally journaled in the connecting arm by a first shaft, the lever having a second pair of spaced apart sidewalls, the first shaft having a first slot for introducing an end of a strap, the first shaft being operable for co-rotational movement with the lever for tightening the strap;

c) a second shaft mounted to the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever for rotation, the second shaft having a second slot therein to accept the end of the strap after the strap is tightened on the cargo;

c) at least one toothed ratchet wheel fixedly mounted to the first shaft between the first pair of spaced apart sidewalls and the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls; and

d) a pawl mounted to the lever for reciprocal movement to engage and disengage from the at least one toothed ratchet wheel and cause the rotation of the first shaft.

3. A combination cargo tightener and strap collector comprising:

a) a connecting arm extending in a longitudinal direction, the connecting arm having a first pair of spaced apart sidewalls;

b) a lever pivotally journaled in the connecting arm by a first shaft, the first shaft having a first slot for introducing an end of a strap, the first shaft operable for co-rotational movement with the lever for tightening the strap, the lever having a second pair of spaced apart sidewalls;

c) a second shaft mounted to the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever for rotation, the second shaft having a second slot therein to accept the end of the strap after the strap is tightened on the cargo

d) at least one toothed ratchet wheel fixedly mounted to the first shaft between the first pair of spaced apart sidewalls and the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls; and

e) a pawl mounted to the lever for reciprocal movement to engage and disengage from the at least one toothed ratchet wheel and cause the rotation of the first shaft.

4. The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in claim 3, wherein a first portion of the second shaft extends past at least one of the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever.

5. The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in claim 4, further comprising turning aid means mounted to the first portion of the second shaft extending past at least one of the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever.

6. The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in claim 5, wherein each one of the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever comprises a straight portion and a portion extending at an angle to the straight portion.

7. The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in claim 6, wherein each one of the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever comprises a first linearly extending portion and a second linearly extending portion extending at an angle to the first linearly extending portion.

8. The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in claim 7, wherein each one of the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever comprises a diverging portion between the first linearly extending portion, and the second linearly extending portion, whereby the second linearly extending portion of the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls is spaced apart further than the first linearly extending portion of the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls.

9. The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in claim 5, wherein the turning aid means comprises a knob mounted to the first portion of the second shaft extending past the at least one of the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever.

10. The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in claim 9, further comprising a second portion of the second shaft extending past the other of the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever and a knob mounted to the second portion of the second shaft.

11. The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in claim 6, wherein the pawi is mounted in a slot in the lever.

12. An apparatus for tightening and collecting a strap, comprising:

a) a cargo tightening portion comprising;

i) a connecting arm extending in a longitudinal direction, the connecting arm having a first pair of spaced apart sidewalls;

ii) a lever pivotally journaled in the connecting arm by a first shaft, the lever having a second pair of spaced apart sidewalls, the first shaft having a first slot for introducing an end of a strap, the first shaft being operable for co-rotational movement with the lever for tightening the strap;

b) a strap collector portion comprising a second shaft mounted for rotation to the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever, the second shaft having a second slot therein to accept the end of the strap after the strap is tightened on a cargo;

c) at least one toothed ratchet wheel fixedly mounted to the first shaft between the first pair of spaced apart sidewalls and the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls; and

d) a pawl mounted to the lever for reciprocal movement to engage and disengage from the at least one toothed ratchet wheel and cause the rotation of the first shaft

wherein each one of the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever comprises a straight portion and a portion extending at an angle to the straight portion.

13. An apparatus for tightening and collecting a strap, comprising:

a) a cargo tightening portion comprising;

i) a connecting arm extending in a longitudinal direction, the connecting arm having a first pair of spaced apart sidewalls;

ii) a lever pivotally journaled in the connecting arm by a first shaft, the lever having a second pair of spaced apart sidewalls, the first shaft having a first slot for introducing an end of a strap, the first shaft being operable for co-rotational movement with the lever for tightening the strap;

b) a strap collector portion comprising a second shaft mounted for rotation to the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever, the second shaft having a second slot therein to accept the end of the strap after the strap is tightened on a cargo,

c) at least one toothed ratchet wheel fixedly mounted to the first shaft between the first pair of spaced apart sidewalls and the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls; and

d) a pawl mounted to the lever for reciprocal movement to engage and disengage from the at least one toothed ratchet wheel and cause the rotation of the first shaft,

wherein each one of the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever comprises a diverging portion between the first linearly extending portion, and the second linearly extending portion, whereby the second linearly extending portion of the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls is spaced apart further than the first linearly extending portion of the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls.

14. An apparatus for tightening and collecting a strap, comprising:

a) a cargo tightening portion comprising;

i) a connecting arm extending in a longitudinal direction, the connecting arm having a first pair of spaced apart sidewalls;

ii) a lever pivotally journaled in the connecting arm by a first shaft, the lever having a second pair of spaced apart sidewalls, the first shaft having a first slot for introducing an end of a strap, the first shaft being operable for co-rotational movement with the lever for tightening the strap; and

b) a strap collector portion comprising a second shaft rotatably mounted to the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever, the second shaft having a second slot therein to accept the end of the strap after the strap is tightened on the cargo,

c) at least one toothed ratchet wheel fixedly mounted to the first shaft between the first pair of spaced apart sidewalls and the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls; and

,

a pawl mounted to the lever for reciprocal movement to engage and disengage from the at least one toothed ratched wheel and cause the rotation of the first shaft

wherein the length of the lever from the end proximate the first shaft to the second shaft is greater than the length of the connecting arm.