Hand lever for a binding machine

• US 7,707,696 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2008
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asian Industrial Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Asian Industrial Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Ruan, Bu Qin
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US12/012,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 24/68.CD, 410/100
• US Class Current: 24/68.0CD
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/083 Tensioning by repetetive movement of an actuating member
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0861 Measuring or identifying the tension in the securing element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2175 Cargo tie down
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A binding machine includes a tightening mechanism adapted to tension a belt and a limiting mechanism adapted to limit tensioning of the belt. The tightening mechanism includes, for example, a ratchet and a pawl coupled to a body of the tightening mechanism. A handle is adapted to rotate the ratchet in a first direction in response to a first force applied to the handle. The pawl is adapted to prevent the ratchet from returning in a second direction when the first force is released. A spring mechanism allows the handle to indicate when a second force opposing the first force achieves an established magnitude.

Claims

1. A binding machine comprising:

a reel, said reel being adapted to receive a band thereon;

a handle, said handle being coupled to said reel, said handle being adapted to receive an applied torque and to transmit said applied torque to said reel, whereby said reel rotates to receives said band; and

a torque indicator, said torque indicator being adapted to indicate a magnitude of said applied torque by a deflection of a portion of said handle, said deflection increasing against a substantially continuous spring force in relation to an increase in said magnitude.

2. A binding machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said torque indicator comprises:

a handle extension, said handle extension being pivotally coupled to said handle; and

a spring, said spring having a first end coupled to said handle and a second end coupled to said handle extension whereby a deflection of said spring indicates a magnitude of said applied torque.

3. A binding machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said handle comprises a first side member and a second side member and a wherein said handle extension includes a third side member and a fourth side member, said first and third side members having respective first and second apertures therein, said first and second apertures being disposed about a first end of a pin roll, said second and fourth side members having respective third and fourth apertures therein, said third and fourth apertures being disposed about a second end of said pin roll such that said third and fourth side members are adapted to pivot with respect to said first and second side members about said pin roll.

4. A binding machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said spring comprises a helical spring, said helical spring having a longitudinal axis disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said pin roll, said helical spring having an internal circumference, said pin roll being disposed within said internal circumference of said helical spring.

5. A binding machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a body member having an aperture therethrough, said reel being supported within said aperture;

a ratchet, said ratchet being coupled to said reel;

a pawl, said pawl being coupled to said body member, said pawl being adapted to control a motion of said ratchet.

6. A binding machine as defined in claim 5 comprising:

a further band, said further band being coupled to said body member, whereby said body member may be disposed in tension between said band and said further band by application of said applied torque.

7. A binding machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said torque indicator includes a spring, said spring being adapted to deflect through a particular angle when said specific magnitude of said torque corresponds to an operational tension of said band.

8. A binding machine comprising:

a body portion;

a ratchet device coupled to said body portion;

a first handle portion including first and second side members, said first and second side members being disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation with respect to one another, said first handle portion being coupled to said ratchet device for rotational activation of said ratchet device;

a second handle portion including third and fourth side members, said third and fourth side members being disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation with respect to one another, said second handle portion being pivotally coupled to said first handle portion at respective mutually proximate ends thereof;

a helical spring, said helical spring being disposed between said first and second side members, said helical spring being adapted to provide a monotonically increasing force in opposition to a pivotal displacement of said first handle portion with respect to said second handle portion.

9. A binding machine as defined in claim 8 further comprising an inner cross member, said inner cross member having a first end coupled to said first side member and a second end coupled to said second side member, said helical spring having a first end coupled to said inner cross member.

10. A ratchet belt tension device, said ratchet belt tension device comprising:

a drive handle, said drive handle having a first portion with a first longitudinal axis and a second portion with a second longitudinal axis, said first portion being adapted to deflect in relation to said second portion; and

a helical spring, said helical spring having a first end coupled to said first portion and a second end coupled to said second portion, wherein said helical spring is adapted to urge said first longitudinal axis into a substantially coplanar relation with respect to said second longitudinal axis, whereupon said first portion deflects in relation to said second portion an amount related to a tensioning state of said ratchet belt tension device.

11. A tensioner comprising:

a base;

a first handle portion pivotally coupled to said base;

a second handle portion, said second handle portion being pivotally coupled to said first handle portion at respective adjacent ends thereof; and

a spring, said spring having a first spring portion substantially fixedly coupled to said first handle portion and a second spring portion substantially fixedly coupled to said second handle portion, said spring being adapted to flex in response to a force applied to said second handle portion;

whereupon a first longitudinal axis of said first spring portion is rotationally displaced with respect to a second longitudinal axis of said second spring portion.

12. A method of forming a tensioning device comprising:

rotatably coupling a first handle portion to a drum at a first end of said first handle portion;

pivotally coupling a second handle portion to a second end of said first handle portion;

disposing a helical spring between said first and second handle portions, said helical spring having a first elongated portion coupled to said first handle portion and a second elongated portion coupled to said second handle portion said helical spring being adapted to urge said first and second handle portions into relative first and second orientations whereby a longitudinal axis of said first handle portion is disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said second handle portion.