Cable tightening device having anti-theft function

• US 7,448,596 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wen-Cheng Chang
• Original Assignee: Wen-Cheng Chang
• Inventors: Chang, Wen-Cheng
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, EMMANUEL MONSAYAC
• Application Number:
  US11/646,975
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 254/217, 254/218, 254/223, 254/238, 254/239, 24/70.ST, 24/69.ST, 24/69.CT, 410/100
• US Class Current: 254/223
• 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: F16G 11/12 Connections or attachments, e.g. turnbuckles, adapted for straining of cables, ropes, or wire straining wire in general B21F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2113 Strap tighteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2117 Strap tighteners

Abstract

A cable tightening device includes a fixed unit, a rotation member rotatably mounted on the fixed unit, a movable unit including a movable member to drive the rotation member and a release member to lock or unlock the movable member, and a locking unit to lock the release member onto the movable member releasably. Thus, the release member is locked onto the movable member by the locking unit and cannot be pulled upwardly to detach the push plates of the movable unit from the ratchet wheels of the fixed unit so that the ratchet wheels are locked to lock the rotation member to prevent the cable from being loosened so as to protect the cargo wound by the cable, thereby achieving the anti-theft purpose.

Claims

1. A cable tightening device, comprising:

a fixed unit including a base member;

a rotation member rotatably mounted on the base member of the fixed unit;

a movable unit including a movable member rotatably mounted on the rotation member and rotatable relative to the base member of the fixed unit to drive the rotation member to rotate relative to the fixed unit in a oneway direction, and a release member movably mounted on the movable member to lock or unlock the movable member and the base member;

a locking unit mounted on the release member of the movable unit and locked onto the movable member releasably to lock the release member onto the movable member releasably to stop movement of the release member so as to prevent the cable from being loosened.

2. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the movable member of the movable unit has a side formed with a locking hole facing the release member;

the locking unit includes a lock body mounted on a surface of the release member of the movable unit, a spring-biased mandrel movably mounted in and protruded outwardly from the lock body and releasably locked in the locking hole of the movable member to lock the release member onto the movable member releasably, and a plurality of number wheels rotatably mounted on the lock body and connected to the mandrel to releasably lock the mandrel.

3. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the locking hole of the movable member has a tapered side facing the mandrel of the locking unit, and the mandrel of the locking unit has a tapered distal end facing and matching the tapered side of the locking hole of the movable member.

4. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

the fixed unit further includes two opposite ratchet wheels secured on two opposite ends of the rotation member to rotate the rotation member;

the release member of the movable unit has a first end formed with two outwardly protruding push plates releasably engaged with the ratchet wheels of the fixed unit to push the ratchet wheels to rotate in a oneway direction when the movable member of the movable unit is rotatable toward the base member of the fixed unit.

5. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the release member of the movable unit has a second end formed with a penetrated grip portion to facilitate a user holding the release member.

6. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

the fixed unit further includes a stop plate movably mounted on the base member and releasably engaged with the ratchet wheels to allow the ratchet wheels to rotate in a oneway direction;

the movable member of the movable unit has two opposite sidewalls each having a periphery formed with a push portion that is movable to push the stop plate of the fixed unit to detach from the ratchet wheels of the fixed unit.

7. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

the base member of the fixed unit has two opposite sidewalls each formed with an upwardly protruding catch portion and a retaining recess;

each of the push plates of the release member has a first side engaged with the respective ratchet wheel of the fixed unit and a second side rested on the respective catch portion of the fixed unit.

8. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the catch portion of the fixed unit is located between the retaining recess of the fixed unit and the respective push plate of the release member.

9. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the release member of the movable unit is pulled upwardly to pull the push plates of the movable unit outwardly relative to the ratchet wheels of the fixed unit to detach the push plates of the movable unit from the ratchet wheels of the fixed unit, and the movable member of the movable unit is pivoted outwardly relative to the base member of the fixed unit, so that the push plates of the movable unit pass by the catch portions of the fixed unit and are inserted into the retaining recesses of the fixed unit, while the push portions of the movable member are moved forward to push the stop plate of the fixed unit to detach from the ratchet wheels of the fixed unit.

10. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the fixed unit further includes a fixing seat secured on the base member, and an elastic member biased between the stop plate and the fixing seat to push the stop plate toward the ratchet wheels.

11. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the base member of the fixed unit has two opposite sidewalls each formed with a guide track to guide movement of the stop plate.

12. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 6, wherein each of the two opposite sidewalls of the movable member is formed with a pivot hole pivotally mounted on the rotation member.

13. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the movable member of the movable unit has two opposite sidewalls each formed with a guide track to guide movement of the respective push plate.

14. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the movable unit further includes a torsion spring biased between the release member and the movable member to push the push plates of the release member toward the ratchet wheels of the fixed unit.

15. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the torsion spring of the movable unit is mounted in a respective guide track of the movable member.

16. The cable tightening device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the locking hole of the movable member is located beside a respective guide track of the movable member.