LOCKING LOAD RESTRICTION WITH MULTIPLE RETRACTION CABLES
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- MX · MX
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MOBREN INC
- Filing Date
- 2022-07-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
Smart Images
Figure MX435220B0
Abstract
Description
LOCKING LOAD RESTRICTION WITH MULTIPLE RETRACTION CABLES FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates generally to restraints, and more particularly to a locking load restraint with multiple retraction cables that can be used to secure items during transport or storage. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION People who participate in outdoor recreation frequently transport large items that are stored on a truck bed, in a trailer, or in a cargo box attached to a vehicle's hitch. Such large items include food and beverage coolers. If left loose, these items can slide around on the truck bed or fall out of the cargo box, resulting in damage to the items or their contents. To prevent unwanted movement of the items relative to the transport mechanism, users often restrain the items with devices such as ropes, ratchet straps, and bungee cords. These restraint devices often consist of a flexible member that can wrap around objects, as well as a means of connection for zcRQnn / zznz / E / YiAi Ref. 335652. Attach the flexible member to the load or a surface. The restraint device can be used to directly connect the load to another object by connecting one end of the restraint device to the load, wrapping the flexible member around the load and the object, and inserting the opposite end of the device into the object. The restraint device can also be used by connecting both ends to a first item and wrapping its flexible member around a second item. However, these traditional straps are cumbersome and difficult to use, as they easily tangle during the restraint process. Furthermore, these straps are difficult to store efficiently, requiring the user to manually wrap them to prevent tangling. Finally, the straps can effectively secure only one item at a time, or several items that easily fit together. In addition, the outdoor recreation market has catered to more expensive products. For example, manufacturers have developed premium tailgate-mounted coolers with extra features, high functionality, and luxury branding. These and other expensive products are frequently stored on the exterior of vehicles, making them targets for theft. To deter cargo theft, consumers have turned to security devices such as keyed or coded theft deterrents (examples include cable locks, bicycle locks, and padlocks). Unfortunately, these devices are not capable of sufficiently restricting cargo against unwanted movement. Furthermore, they work best when the cargo and storage location provide appropriate characteristics for the locks to function. Even flexible safety devices, which typically use a cut-resistant flexible member such as wire rope or chain, do not protect against unwanted load movement. First, the loops of flexible members are typically of a fixed length that cannot be shortened or lengthened to secure the load tightly to another item. Second, variable-length safety devices do not provide a mechanism to tension the flexible member to better restrain or secure the load. In effect, flexible safety devices merely tie down the load without restricting it against movement. Thus, the market has failed to develop a convenient and effective method for simultaneously restraining cargo items against unwanted movement and deterring cargo theft. Without locks, traditional restraint methods are easily removed. Traditional locking ratchet straps are vulnerable to tampering or cutting. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, security devices are effective at restraining cargo. To address the dual challenges of restraining cargo and deterring theft, some manufacturers have incorporated integrated security cables into their luxury outdoor gear. However, these cables increase the item's cost and create a situation where securing cargo involves tangling a tangle of cables for each individual item the user wishes to transport. Furthermore, failure of the cable mechanism in such an item renders its theft-deterrent function ineffective, requiring either repair of the mechanism, replacement of the entire item, or the provision of an external security method at additional cost. Therefore, the market calls for a load restraint device that incorporates ease of use and storage while meeting the dual requirements of load restraint and load security for items of a variety of shapes and sizes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages and limitations of the zcRonn / zznz / E / YiAi load restraint and safety devices of the prior art discussed above. The invention is an easily portable locking cargo restraint that uses two or more cables to secure one or more items to a base or surface. First, the device is an efficient restraint device because the cables can be individually adjusted to different lengths, allowing them to restrain multiple items or irregularly shaped items. Second, the cables are retractably mounted within a central body for easy storage and retrieval, ensuring the user does not need to worry about tangled cables. Third, the retractable cables can be individually spring-loaded to pull them back into the central body after use, efficiently storing them with minimal user intervention.Finally, the cables themselves may have connectors, such as hooked ends, to attach to mounting points available on the base or surface used to secure the item. Alternatively, the connectors may be attached to each other so that the cables wrap around the load items and the base used to secure them. In addition, the device incorporates security mechanisms to deter theft. The device's cables and tensioning mechanisms are housed within a sheath to prevent unauthorized users from tampering with it. The device can also be equipped with a key lock to prevent unauthorized users from adjusting the tension cables, thus preventing the restraints from being loosened and the items stolen. Furthermore, the cables themselves can be constructed of a cut-resistant material to further deter theft. These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become evident to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES For a better understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention, reference may be made to the attached figures where: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a locking load restraint with multiple retraction cables that restrain cargo on the rear of a representative passenger vehicle, the restraint constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the multi-cable locking load restraint of zcRQnn / zznz / E / YiAi retraction; Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the locking load restraint of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a top perspective view of internal mechanisms housed within a load restraint sleeve of Figure 2, the internal mechanisms including a selector mount and a tensioner mount; Figure 5 is a top perspective view of the selector assembly and the tensioner assembly of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the selector assembly and the tensioner assembly of Figure 5; Figure 7 is an exploded view of a selector ratchet as assembled to a selector arm of Figure 4; Figure 8 is a cross-section of the tensioner assembly and selector arm of Figure 4 with a mode selector knob shown; Figure 9 is a partial top plan view of the internal load restraint mechanisms of Figure 4 when the device is in an extend mode; Figure 10 is a partial top plan view of the internal load restraint mechanisms of Figure 4 when the device is in a free zcRonn / zznz / E / YiAi mode; Figure 11 is a partial top plan view of the internal load restraint mechanisms of Figure 4 when the device is in a retraction mode; Figure 12 is a partial top plan view of the internal load restraint mechanisms of Figure 4 when the device is in an adjustment mode; Figure 13 is a partial top plan view of the internal mechanisms of the load restraint of Figure 4 when the device is in the retracted mode and a key lock is in a locked position; Figure 14 is a partial top plan view of the internal load restraint mechanisms of Figure 4 when the device is in adjustment mode; Figure 15 is an exploded view of one modality of the tensioning assembly of Figure 4; Figure 16 is a bottom perspective view of a reel from Figure 4; Figure 17 is a top perspective view of the reel in Figure 16; Figure 18 is a partial top perspective view of the tensor assembly of Figure 11; Figure 19 is a partial top perspective view of the tension assembly of Figure 12; Figure 20 is a bottom perspective view of an upper portion of the cover of Figure 2; Figure 21 is a partial cross-sectional view of the selector arm and brake piston from Figure 4; Figure 22 is a partial cross-sectional view of the selector arm and brake piston of Figure 21, perpendicular to the cross-section of Figure 21; and Figure 23 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of internal load restraint mechanisms of Figure 1. Although the description is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment is shown in the figures and will be described here in detail. However, it should be understood that the figures and detailed description presented here are not intended to limit the description to the particular embodiment shown; rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that fall within the spirit and scope of this description as defined by the appended claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will now be described with reference to the figures, where similar reference numbers refer to similar parts from beginning to end. For the sake of clarity in illustrating the features of the invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the figures. Figure 1 illustrates a locking load restraint with multiple retraction cables 100, hereinafter referred to simply as load restraint 100, as installed to secure representative cargo items 10. As illustrated in this embodiment, a plurality of cables 105 of the load restraint 100 are attached to a representative base 20, with the base 20 being fixed to a representative vehicle 30. In this embodiment, each of the cables 105 can be extended to different lengths to allow the user to secure multiple cargo items. Here, the cables 105 are also equipped with connectors 107, shown as hooks in Figure 1, which can selectively engage with a surface such as the base 20 when the connectors 107 are attached to the base 20. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a first embodiment of the load restraint 100. A cover or sleeve 110 may be provided, with a mode selector knob 120 affixed to an outer surface 130 of the cover 110. The mode selector knob 120 may be rotated to select an operating mode from a number of possible operating modes. A key lock 140 may be used to prevent rotation of the mode selector knob 120 in a first direction, thereby preventing the load restraint 100 from engaging in different operating modes without the use of a key (or other known or foreseeable unlocking means) to disable the key lock 140.As will be explained in more detail below, the mode selector knob 120 and key lock 140 are preferably interconnected with various internal mechanisms of the load restraint 100 to allow the user to manipulate the cables 105 in a variety of ways. Switching to Figure 3, a plurality of openings 150 extend from the inside of the sheath 110 to its outside. The openings 150 allow a plurality of cables to exit the sheath 110. Preferably, two or more cables 105 extend from the sheath 110 through the openings 150. Furthermore, the sleeve 110 may include a sleeve top portion 160. Figure 4 illustrates a sleeve bottom portion 170, and when the sleeve top portion 160 and the sleeve bottom portion 170 are clamped together, they form a cylinder. The internal volume of this cylinder preferably houses the internal mechanisms of the zcRQnn / zznz / E / YiAi load restraint 100. Figure 4 also illustrates these various internal mechanisms of the load restraint 100 once the upper sleeve 160 of the sleeve 110 has been removed from the body 180 of the load restraint 100. The lower sleeve 170 can provide a mounting point for mechanisms inside the sleeve, although such mechanisms can be mounted to the upper sleeve 160. In combination with the upper sleeve 160, the lower sleeve 170 protects the mechanisms from weather and tampering. In the configuration shown in Figure 4, the load restraint 100 includes four reels 190 that can rotate in either a first or a second direction. Also, each reel 190 may have a deflection spring 200. Torque may be applied to the reel 190 in a first direction that winds the cable 105 onto the reel 190. In addition, each reel 190 may have a plurality of ratchet teeth 210 on its outer perimeter.The teeth 210 can be engaged by a tensioning assembly 220 to rotate the reels 190 and also retract the cables 105 into the inner housing of the reels 190. The load restraint 100 may also include a selector assembly 230 that can engage with the teeth 210 to limit rotation of the reels 190. The selector assembly 230 is preferably operatively coupled to the mode selector knob 120. In this way, the selector assembly 230 can change position within the housing 110 as a user selects different operating modes via the mode selector knob 120. In addition, the selector assembly 230 can be locked in position by the key lock 140. The key lock 140 may include a locking arm 240, which can rotate when engaged by the user to prevent the selector assembly 230 from releasing the reels 190 (as illustrated in Figure 13). Figures 5 and 6 illustrate one embodiment of the selector assembly 230 and tensioner assembly 220. In this embodiment, the selector assembly 230 is generally composed of selector arms 250, selector pawls 290, and selector springs 270. The selector assembly 230 rotates about a selector shaft 280. The pawls 260 can be mounted on pivots at the ends of the selector arms 250. A selector spring 270 on the same pivot as the pawl 260 preferably provides restoring torque when the pawl 260 is deflected in either a first or second direction. A selector spring tab 290 can prevent one side of the selector spring 270 from rotating with the selector ratchet 260 and the other side of the selector spring 270. In this way, the selector spring 270 can apply a restoring force to the selector ratchet zcRQnn / zznz / E / YiAi 260. Selector brake holes 300 provide seats for a brake plunger 310 (not illustrated) to sit within and resist an accidental change of operating mode. In this embodiment, the tensioner assembly 220 is rigidly fixed to the mode selector knob 120, and the mode selector knob 120 rotates on the selector shaft 280. The tensioner assembly 220 may include a tensioner body 320, tension pawls 330, and a tensioning lug 350 (tensioning lug 350 not illustrated in Figures 5 and 6). The tensioner assembly 220 and the selector assembly 230 are mechanically connected by a tensioning spring 360 and a series of travel stops consisting of the tensioning lug 350, a tension stop 370, and a selector lug 380 (travel stops not illustrated in Figures 5 and 6). The tensioner assembly 220, via the selector assembly 230, is mechanically coupled to the mode selector knob 120 through the selector shaft 280. In this way, when the mode selector knob 120 is turned in an adjustment direction, the tensioning pawls 330 engage the reels 190, applying no added tension to the cables 105. Figure 7 provides a detailed exploded view of a selector ratchet 260. The components illustrated in Figure 7 help to couple the ratchet 260 to the selector arm 250. A ratchet pivot shaft 390 is preferably inserted through the bent end of the selector arm 250 and the ratchet 260, forming a pivot for the ratchet 260. The portion of the ratchet 260 through which the pivot shaft 390 is inserted is itself inserted into the body of the selector spring 270. The arms of the selector spring 270 are positioned on opposite sides of the selector spring tab 290 and a ratchet spring tab 400. In this way, when the end of the ratchet 260 is deflected, the selector spring 270 will apply force to the selector spring tab 290 and the ratchet spring tab 400 in one direction to restore the ratchet 260 to a neutral position. Figure 8 illustrates the mode selector knob 120 coupled to the tensioner assembly 220 and the selector assembly 230. Screws or other fastening means, as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, can rigidly fix the mode selector knob 120 to the tensioner assembly 220. The tensioner assembly 220 can rotate in both a first and a second direction. The tensioning tab 350 of the tensioner assembly 220 engages the selector tab 380 to limit the rotation of the tensioner assembly 220 in a first direction relative to the selector assembly 230. The tensioning spring 360, as shown, is a torsion spring that engages the tensioning tab 350 and selector tab 380 to transmit torque in the second direction from the tensioner assembly 220 to the selector assembly 230.The tension spring 360 applies a preload to the tensioning tab 350 and the selector tab 380, which keeps them in contact with each other as the mode selector knob 120 is turned. In this mode, when the preload of the tension spring 360 is exceeded, the tensioning assembly 220 can rotate in the second direction independently of the selector assembly 230. Figures 9, 10, and 11 illustrate a first, second, and third position of the selector assembly 230. The movement of the selector assembly 230 from these positions corresponds to an Extend mode, a Free mode, and a Retract mode of operation for the load restraint 100. The Extend mode allows the cables 105 to unwind while simultaneously preventing the cables 105 from retracting into the body of the load restraint 100; the Free mode allows the cables 105 to move into or out of the body of the load restraint 100; and the Retract mode allows the cables 105 to retract into the body of the load restraint 100 while preventing them from extending. In Figure 9, the selector assembly 230 is in the first position, which corresponds to the Extend mode of the load restraint 100. In this mode, the selector assembly 230 is rotated in a first direction so that the selector pawls 260a and 260b engage the pawl teeth 210 of the reels 190a and 190b to prevent the reels from rotating in the cable retraction direction 105. In this way, the deflection springs 200 cannot rotate the reels 190 to retract the cables 105, and the tension pawls 330 do not engage with the pawl teeth 210. In Figure 10, the selector assembly 230 is in the second position, which in this mode corresponds to the Free from Load Restraint 100 operating mode. In this mode, the selector assembly 230 rests in the second position so that the selector pawls 260a and 260b do not engage with the pawl teeth 210 of the reels 190a, 190b, and 190c. Also, the tension pawls 330 do not engage with the pawl teeth 210. In this mode, the reels 190 are free to rotate, and the deflection springs 200 will rotate the reels 190 to retract the cables 105 unless external tension is applied to the cables 105. In Figure 11, the selector assembly 230 is in the third position, which in this mode corresponds to the Retract from Load Restraint 100 operating mode. In this mode, the selector assembly 230 has been rotated in the second direction so that the selector pawls zcRQnn / zznz / E / YiAi (260a, 260b) engage with the pawl teeth 210 of reels 190b, 190c to prevent reels 190 from rotating in the cable extension direction 105. Thus, the deflection springs 200 can rotate reels 190 to retract cables 105, but tension applied to cables 105 cannot externally rotate reels 190 to extend cables 105. Furthermore, in this mode, the tensioning pawls 330 do not engage with the teeth of ratchet 210. In Figure 12, the mode selector knob 120 is turned in the Adjust direction, which allows the user to manually add tension to the cables 105. In this mode, the selector assembly 230 is in the third position, the same position as seen in the Retract mode of Figure 11. A selector stop 410 prevents the selector assembly 230 from rotating in the second direction past the Retract position. The tension spring 270 allows the tensioner assembly 220 to continue rotating and engage with the ratchet teeth 210 on the tension pawls 330. As the operator continues to turn the mode selector knob 120 in the Adjust direction, the tension pawls 330 on the tensioner assembly 220 rotate the reels 190 in the Retract direction, applying additional tension to the cables 105. Key lock 140 can be set to a locked position and an unlocked position. Figure 12 illustrates key lock 140 in the unlocked position, while Figure 13 shows key lock 140 set to the locked position. As key lock 140 moves from the unlocked to the locked position, a locking arm 240 is rotated. In the locked position, the locking arm 240 is positioned so as to prevent the selector assembly 230 from leaving the Retracted position. Figure 14 illustrates the interior of the load restraint 100 when the key lock 140 is set to the locked position, and the mode selector knob 120 is turned in the Adjust direction. In this configuration, the mode selector knob 120 can be used to adjust the cables 105 even when the key lock 140 is already set to the locked position. The selector stop 410 prevents the selector assembly 230 from rotating in the second direction, while the locking arm 240 prevents the selector assembly 230 from rotating in the first direction. Simultaneously, the reels 190 are prevented from rotating in the second direction, thus preventing tension release on the cables 105. Figure 15 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the tensioner assembly 220. In this embodiment, the tensioner assembly 230 comprises a tensioner body 320 with tension pawls 330 and their accompanying mechanisms. A spring 420 is inserted into each tension pawl 330, and both the spring 420 and the tension pawl 330 slide on a post in a spring guide 430. A pawl guide 440 can then be inserted through a slot 450 in the tensioner body 320 and secured to the tension pawl 330 by means of a pin 460. The spring 420 preloads the tension pawl 330 radially outward from the tensioner body 320 and against the end of the slot 450. The tensioning ratchet 330 may include a front end 471 and a rear end 480. In this embodiment, the rear end 480 of the tensioning ratchet 330 contains an opening 490 so that the spring 420 can be inserted into the body of the ratchet 330 through the opening 490. The tensioning ratchet 330 and spring 420 can then be coupled to the tensioning assembly 220 as described in the preceding paragraph. When the tensioning assembly 220 rotates in a second direction relative to the selector assembly 230, the sensing pawls 330 can engage the pawl teeth 210 of the reels 190. As the tensioning assembly 220 continues to rotate relative to the selector assembly 230, the tensioning pawls 330 slide into the grooves 450 to allow them to follow the curvature of the reels. 190. The springs 420 apply a force to maintain engagement between the tension pawls 330 and the ratchet teeth 210. The front end surface 470 of the ratchet 330 has a tapered shape. The tapered shape of the front end of the ratchet 330 and the force applied by the spring 420 are designed so that the sensor ratchets 330 will jump over ratchet teeth 210 when a predetermined tension level is present in the cables 105. This design allows the cables 105 to achieve the predetermined tension level without over-tensioning any individual cable 105. The ends of the tensioning ratchet 330 are shaped so that they can easily jump over ratchet teeth 230 when the tensioning assembly 220 is rotated in the first direction as the mode selector knob 120 returns to the Retract position. Figure 16 provides a bottom perspective view of reel 190. Reel 190 represents a bottom surface 500 that represents an opening 510. In this embodiment, the opening 510 represents two end portions 520 and a center portion 530. The two end portions 520 are wider than the center portion 530, and the two end portions 520 are substantially the same diameter. Thus, the end portions 520, the center portion 530, and the opening 510 create a dumbbell-like shape. One end of cable 105 is fed through opening 510; this end of cable 505 is fitted with a cable stop 540. The cable stop 540 may be an open cylinder attached to the cable 105 by means of a clamping device. The cable stop 540 is narrower than the two ends of the opening but wider than the central portion of the opening. Therefore, the cable stop 540 engages the central portion 530 of the opening 510 to prevent the cable 105 from unwinding completely from, or sliding around, the reel 190. The arrangement illustrated in Figure 16 is only one method known in the art for connecting a cable end to a rotating body. Figure 17 is a top perspective view of reel 190. Reel 190 has a top surface 550. The top surface 550 of reel 190 has spring restraints 560 arranged around its periphery to prevent the deflection spring 200 (not illustrated) from colliding with other parts of the internal mechanism of the load restraint 100. The free end of the deflection spring 200 acts against one end of a spring restraint 560 to apply a retraction force to reel 190. Figure 18 is a top perspective view of the turnbuckle assembly 220 as installed in the load restraint 100. In this figure, the mode selector knob 190 is set to Retract, which allows the cables 105 to retract into the reel 190 while preventing the cables 105 from being winged out of the reel 190. Here, the turnbuckle tab 350 rests against the selector tab 380 under the preload torque of the turnbuckle spring 360 (not illustrated). Figure 19 is a top perspective view of the tensioner assembly 220 with the mode selector knob 120 being rotated in the Adjust direction by the operator. The selector tab 380 and selector assembly 230 are held stationary by the selector stop 410, while the tensioner assembly 220 has been rotated in the second direction against the tension spring 360, opening a gap 570 between the tension tab 350 and the selector tab 380. The tensioner assembly 220 is further prevented from rotating when the selector tab 270 engages with the tension stop 370 at the end of the groove in the tensioner body 320. Figure 20 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an inner face 580 of the top of the sleeve 160. In this embodiment, a brake angle 310 is attached to the top of the sleeve 160. The brake plunger 310 is a cylinder with a first end attached to the top of the sleeve 160 and a second end consisting of a ball end 590. The ball end 590 of the brake plunger 310 engages with the selector brake holes 300 in the selector assembly 230 (see Figure 5) to prevent the device from leaving in selected mode without input from the mode selector knob 120. As also illustrated in Figure 20, spring hubs 600 are attached to the top of the sleeve 160. In this embodiment, the spring hubs 600 are cylinders extending from the inner face of the top of the sleeve 160. The spring hubs 600 have an opening running through the entire body of the cylinder and a groove 610 extending from the opening of the spring hub 600 to its outer edge. The groove 610 of the spring hub 600 securely captures a tab in the center of the deflection spring 200 (as illustrated in Figure 4). Preferably, there is one spring hub 600 for each reel 190. The spring hub 600 holds a first end of the deflection spring 200 fixed as a second end of the deflection spring 200 applies torque to the reels 190 in the cable retraction direction 105. Figure 21 illustrates a cross-section through the brake plunger 310 and the selector arm 250. As illustrated, the ball end 590 of the brake plunger 310 is forced under spring pressure into one of the selector brake holes 300 to retain the selector arm 250 in position until the torque applied to the mode selector rod 190 exceeds a predetermined amount. The selector arm 250 can represent a plurality of brake holes 230 to correspond with different operating modes of the load restraint 100. Figure 22 illustrates a cross-section through brake piston 310 and selector arm 250 perpendicular to the cross-section in Figure 21. In this embodiment, the selector arm 250 represents three selector brake holes 300. Figure 23 illustrates an alternate embodiment of load restraint 100. In this embodiment, the rotary selector pawls 260 are replaced by flexible-mode selector fingers 620. The flexible selector fingers 620 are positioned at the ends of the selector arms 250 that run along the perimeter of the sleeve 110. Each selector arm 250 represents two sets of flexible selector fingers 620, only one set of which may engage with the ratchet teeth 210 of the reels 190 at any given time. When the selector arm 250 is rotated to the Retract position, a first set of the flexible-mode selector fingers 620 engages with the ratchet teeth 210 of the reels 190. In the zcRQnn / zznz / E / YiAi mode Retracting: If reel 190 rotates in the direction of other rotations, selector fingers 620 flex easily and jump over ratchet teeth 210; in comparison, if cable 105 is pulled so that reel 190 attempts to rotate in the extension direction, selector fingers 620 engage the ratchet teeth 210 and prevent reels 190 from rotating. When the selector arm 250 is set to the Extend position, a second set of selector fingers 620 engages the spools 190. In this mode, if the spool 190 rotates in the extension direction, the selector fingers 620 flex easily and jump over the ratchet teeth 210, while if the spool 190 rotates in the rotation direction, the selector fingers 620 engage the ratchet teeth 210 and prevent the spools 190 from extending. As also illustrated in Figure 23, the tensioning mechanism 200, sliding tension pawls 330, and springs 420 are replaced with a tensioning mechanism 630. The tensioning mechanism 630 represents flexible tension fingers 640 with angled flanges. When the mode selector knob 120 is turned in the Adjust direction, the angled flanges engage with the ratchet teeth 210 of the reels 190 and rotate the reels 190 in the retraction direction. If the tension in one or more cables 105 reaches a predetermined level, the angled flange will slide off a ratchet tooth by the flexing action of the tensioning finger 640. In this way, the tension in cable 105 will not exceed the predetermined level.As the mode selector knob 120 and tensioning mechanism 630 rotate back to the Retract position, the second face of the angled flange will slide along the opposite face of the ratchet teeth 210 to flex the tensioning finger 640 so that the tensioning mechanism can return to the retract position while leaving the spools 190 stationary. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications, applications, variations, or equivalents thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. Many such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the present constructions, however, will become apparent to those skilled in the art after consideration of the description and accompanying figures. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated above, it should be noted that all accompanying figures are not to scale. All such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present inventions, which are considered to be covered by the inventions limited solely by the claims below. It is hereby stated that, as of this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.
Claims
1. A locking load restraint device for use as an anchor for at least one article on a surface, characterized in that it comprises: a sleeve body defining an inner region, the sleeve body including two or more openings extending from the inner region to an outer region of the sleeve body; two or more cable members, each of the two or more cable members including a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of each of the two or more cable members is contained within the inner region of the sleeve body; wherein the second end of a first cable member of the two or more cable members extends out of the sleeve body through a first opening of the two or more openings, and the second end of a second cable member of the two or more cable members extends out of the sleeve body through a second opening of the two or more openings;zcRQnn / zznz / E / YiAi a respective connector fixed to the second end of each of the two or more cable members for joining each of the two or more cable members to a surface; two or more reel members secured within the inner region of the sheath body; wherein a first reel of the two or more reel members is mechanically connected to the first cable member, and wherein a second reel of the two or more reel members is mechanically connected to the second cable member; wherein, as a reel member of the two or more reel members rotates in a first direction, its respective cable member is wound around the reel member; wherein, as a reel member of the two or more reel members rotates in a second direction, its respective cable member is unwound from the reel member;a tensioning assembly secured inside the sleeve body that engages with the two or more reel members to rotate the two or more reel members in the first direction; and a selector assembly secured inside the sleeve body to prevent rotation of the two or more reel members in the first direction when a mode selector knob is placed in a first position and to prevent rotation of the two or more reel members in the second direction when the mode selector knob is placed in a second position.
2. The locking load restraint device according to claim 1, characterized in that: the holster body further includes an upper portion and a lower portion; and wherein the upper portion and the lower portion of the holster body are separable from each other.
3. The locking load restraint device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further includes a locking mechanism on an outer surface of the sleeve body to limit the movement of the selector assembly. 4 - The locking load restraint device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tensioning assembly slides under a predetermined cable tension to prevent overtension of the two or more cable members.
5. The locking load restraint device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the two or more spool members further includes a deflection spring that applies zcRQnn / zznz / E / YiAi 9. The locking load restraint device according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises: a brake secured to the case body; and wherein the brake can be coupled with a first selector arm of the two or more selector arms to retain the two or more selector arms in a preset position until the position of the two or more selector arms is changed by the mode selector knob.
10. The locking load restraint device according to claim 9, characterized in that: the first selector arm further includes a plurality of openings extending through the body of the first selector arm; and the brake further includes a brake plunger with a ball tip that selectively engages with the plurality of openings within the first selector arm, corresponding to the first, second, and third positions of the mode selector knob.
11. The locking load restraint device according to claim 10, characterized in that the first position of the mode selection knob corresponds to the first position of the selector assembly, the second position of the mode selection knob corresponds to the second position of the selector assembly, and the third position of the mode selection knob corresponds to the third position of the selector assembly.
12. The locking load restraint device according to claim 6, characterized in that the tensioning assembly further comprises flexible tensioning fingers with angled flanges, the flexible tensioning fingers being able to engage with the plurality of teeth on the outer surface of the two or more reel members to increase tension on the two or more cable members by causing rotation of the two or more reel members in the first direction.
13. The locking load restraint device according to claim 6, characterized in that: the selector assembly further includes two or more flexible selector fingers, the two or more flexible selector fingers can be engaged with the plurality of teeth on the outside of the two or more reel members; and wherein the selector assembly can be placed in a first, second, or third position.
14. The locking load restraint device according to claim 13, characterized in that it further includes a locking mechanism zcRQnn / zznz / E / YiAi on an outer surface of the sleeve body to limit the operation of the selector assembly.
15. A locking load restraint device for anchoring at least one article to a surface, characterized in that it comprises: a sleeve body defining an inner region, the sleeve body including two or more openings extending from the inner region to an outer region of the sleeve body; a first cable member and a second cable member, each of the first cable member and the second cable member including a first end and a second end; a first reel and a second reel, each reel having a cavity in an inner portion of the reel, and each reel secured to the inner region of the sleeve body; wherein the first end of the first cable member extends through the first opening of the two or more openings, and the first end of the second cable member extends through a second opening of the two or more openings;wherein the second end of the first cable member is in mechanical connection with the first reel and the second end of the second cable member is in mechanical connection with the second reel; and a tensioning assembly secured inside the sheath body that engages with the first reel and the second reel to selectively cause each reel to rotate.
16. The locking load restraint device according to claim 15, characterized in that: when the first reel rotates in a first direction, the first cable member is wound inside the first reel; wherein, when the first reel rotates in a second direction, the first cable member unwinds inside the first reel; wherein, when the second reel rotates in a first direction, the second cable member is wound inside the second reel; and wherein, when the second reel rotates in a second direction, the second cable member unwinds inside the second reel.
17. The locking load restraint device according to claim 16, characterized in that the tensioning assembly is coupled with the first reel and the second reel to selectively cause each reel to rotate in the first zcRQnn / zznz / E / YiAi 37 direction.
18. The locking load restraint device according to claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises a selector assembly that can prevent rotation of the first reel and the second reel.
19. The locking load restraint device according to claim 18, characterized in that it further comprises: a mode selector knob fixed to the outer surface of the sleeve body; a brake attached to the inner surface of the sleeve body; and wherein the brake is operatively coupled with the selector assembly to retain the selector assembly in a preset position until the position of the selector assembly is changed by the mode selector knob.
20. The locking load restraint device according to claim 18, characterized in that it further includes a locking mechanism on an outer surface of the sleeve body to limit the operation of the selector assembly.