Tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel

Abstract

The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel includes a ratchet mechanism for tightening a cargo or tiedown strap and a reel for securing the free end of the strap. The reel includes at least one take-up crank extending radially from at least one end of the take-up reel shaft, the circular path of the distal end of the take-up crank extending into the arc subtended by the ratchet handle during its operation. When the ratchet handle is placed in its stowed position, the handle interferes with travel of the take-up crank, thus preventing the take-up crank from rotating to allow the free end of the strap to unwind from the reel. The take-up reel may have various take-up crank configurations, e.g., a single crank, cranks extending from the opposite ends of the reel shaft, one or two double-ended cranks, etc.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 454,942, filed Mar. 21, 2011.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to straps used to secure cargo, and particularly to a tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel that includes a lockable take-up reel for securing the free end of the strap that would otherwise extend from the ratchet.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Ratcheting load binders for tightening hold-down straps for freight or cargo carried on flatbed trailers and the like have been known for a considerable period of time. These devices may have a number of different configurations, but conventionally include a short length of strap that hooks to an anchor member on the trailer or other structure and a longer strap that passes through or around a rotary shaft turned by a ratcheting handle or lever to tighten the longer s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The reel for the excess strap length includes at least one crank extending radially therefrom. The reel crank is of sufficient length to extend into the arc subtended by the ratchet handle during its operation. Thus, the ratchet handle interferes with the travel of the reel crank when the ratchet handle is in its stowed position, preventing the reel crank from rotating and allowing the free end or the strap to unwind from the reel. Yet when the ratchet handle is raised, its distal end clears the circular arc described by the reel crank, allowing the reel crank to be rotated to wind the free end of the strap onto the reel.

[0010]Various embodiments of the tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel are disclosed herein, primarily differing in the configurations of the reel crank. In one embodiment only a single crank is provided that extends radially from one end of the reel shaft

Problems solved by technology

Thus, the ratchet handle interferes with the travel of the reel crank when the ratchet handle is in its stowed position, preventing the reel crank from rotating and allowing the free end or the strap to unwind from the reel.

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