Item loading device for a vehicle

Abstract

An item loading device for a vehicle is described. The device includes a strap having a series of projections and a ratchet buckle. The buckle receives the strap and includes a ratchet mechanism operable to engage the projections to pull the strap gradually through the buckle and retain the strap within the buckle. The buckle further includes a release mechanism operable to release the strap from the buckle.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to an item loading apparatus for a vehicle, and more particularly to an item loading device used in an apparatus for loading items onto a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] At times, it may be desirable to transport items on the outside of a motor vehicle. The items may be too large to fit inside the vehicle, or the free storage space inside the vehicle may be used for other purposes. An item loading arrangement may be used that is attached to the vehicle and adapted to hold or restrain the items. Examples include tie-down straps and screw-down devices used in conjunction with a vehicle roof rack.

[0003] Attempts have been made to use securing straps made of nylon or polyester webbing to load items onto vehicles. Buckles are used to secure the straps around the items to secure them to the vehicle. However, the straps can be easily cut with a box cutter or utility knife, leaving items secured in this way vulnerable to theft.

[0004] There remains a need for improved cargo carrying devices for vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides an item loading device for a vehicle. The device includes a strap having a series of projections and a ratchet buckle. The buckle includes a ratchet mechanism operable to receive the strap and engage the projections to gradually pull the strap through the buckle and retain the strap within the buckle. The buckle further includes a release mechanism operable to release the strap from the buckle.

[0006] The device may further include a locking mechanism operable to set the buckle in a locked mode in which the strap release mechanism is prevented from being operated to release the strap.

[0007] When the locking mechanism is in the locked mode, the ratchet mechanism may remain operable to tighten the strap.

[0008] The locking mechanism may include a movable bolt that prevents movement of the strap release mechanism in the locked mode.

[0009] The projections on the strap may have a sawtooth profile.

[0010] The strap may have a metal core and the prongs may be formed from a plastic material.

[0011] The ratchet mechanism may include a pawl that engages a protrusion to retain the strap within the buckle.

[0012] The strap release mechanism may be operable to disengage the pawl from the lug of the strap.

[0013] The strap release mechanism may include a pawl release linkage pivotally mounted to the body of the buckle and rotatable to release the pawl from the strap.

[0014] The ratchet mechanism may include an operating handle pivotally attached to the pawl release linkage and rotatable to draw the strap into the buckle.

[0015] The operating handle may include at least one protrusion engageable with at least one of the protrusions on the strap to pull the strap through the buckle.

[0016] The operating handle may be operable to rotate the pawl release linkage to release the pawl from the strap.

[0017] The operating handle may be manipulated such that lifting the operating handle rotates the pawl release linkage so that its axis of rotation moves away from the strap.

[0018] The device may further include a bracket to which the strap and buckle are attached, the bracket being arranged for attachment to the vehicle.

[0019] The buckle may be attached to the bracket via a second strap.

[0020] The bracket may include at least one folding portion that can be folded outward in use to help support a loaded item.

[0021] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a vehicle fitted with an item loading device according to any one of the preceding claims.

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a device for loading items onto a vehicle; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the buckle of the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the buckle of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a side view of the buckle of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the buckle region of the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 7A] Detail B of Figure 7. [Figure 7B] Detail C of Figure 7. [Figure 8] 8 shows the buckle of FIG. 7 in an unlocked state being operated to tighten the strap. [Figure 8A] Detail B of Figure 8. [Figure 8B] Detail C of Figure 8. [Figure 9] 8 shows the buckle of FIG. 7 in an unlocked state being manipulated to release the strap. [Figure 9A] Detail B of Figure 9. [Figure 9B] Detail C of Figure 9. [Figure 10] 8 shows the buckle of FIG. 7 in a locked state and an unsuccessful attempt to release the strap. [Figure 10A] Detail B of Figure 10. [Figure 10B] Detail C of Figure 10. [Figure 11] 8 shows the buckle of FIG. 7 in a locked state being operated to tighten the strap. [Figure 11A] Detail B of Figure 11. [Figure 11B] Detail C of Figure 11. [Figure 12] The device of Figure 1 is shown in an open position. [Figure 13] 2 is a perspective view showing two of the devices of FIG. 1 used to load stacked recovery trucks onto a vehicle. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a front view of the vehicle of FIG. 13. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Referring to Figure 1, an item loading device 10 for a vehicle is shown and includes a toothed strap 50 attached at one end 52 to a bracket in the form of a backplate 40. The strap 50 has a series of protrusions in the form of teeth 54 with a sawtooth profile. The strap is constructed of an overmolded steel core and a region of polyester elastomer surrounding the steel core. The teeth are formed in the region of polyester elastomer.

[0025] Device 10 further includes buckle 20, which receives strap 50 by inserting it into an opening through the buckle. The buckle includes a ratchet mechanism operable to engage teeth 54 to pull the strap gradually through buckle 20 and retain strap 50 within buckle 20. The buckle further includes a release mechanism operable to release the strap from the buckle. Both the ratchet mechanism and the release mechanism actuate via arm 22. The buckle is attached to a lower region of bracket 40 by a shorter securing strap 56.

[0026] Bracket 40 includes two folding sections. Legs 72 are rotatable about pivot points 74 and can fold outward in use to help support a ladder or other items that may be loaded within the device. Another folding section is provided in the form of a folding shelf 70 that can be used to support items that may be held within the device, such as one or more recovery tracks, described below.

[0027] As best seen in Figure 2, bracket 40 is positioned to attach to a mounting piece (not shown) via an elongated slot 42. The mounting piece can be attached anywhere along the slot to adjust the height of the bracket. The mounting piece is then attached to a vehicle or a vehicle roof rack to attach the bracket to the vehicle.

[0028] 4 and 5, the buckle 20 is shown in isolation. The buckle's locking mechanism includes a lock barrel 60 that can be operated with a key.

[0029] In use, the movable strap 50 is received in the buckle 20 by inserting the free end of the strap 50 into the front opening 24 and emerging from the rear opening 25 .

[0030] As will be described below, the slide member 26 provides a lower profile for the buckle to aid in retaining certain types of items within the device.

[0031] 6, arm 22 can be operated in two modes: by grasping formation 22a and rotating the arm in the direction of arrow A, the arm activates the device's ratchet mechanism, pulling strap 50 into buckle 20. By grasping formation 22b and lifting the arm in the direction of arrow B, the arm activates the buckle's strap release mechanism, allowing strap 50 to be pulled from buckle 20.

[0032] 7, 7A, and 7B, buckle 20 is shown in cross section in a rest position with strap 50 received and held within the buckle. Buckle 20 includes a base 27 to which slide member 26 is attached with two screw fasteners 26a, 26b, which also serve to hold securing strap 56 to the buckle, thereby attaching buckle 20 to bracket 40 (not shown).

[0033] The ratchet mechanism of buckle 20 includes an operating handle in the form of an arm 22 provided with a series of teeth 23. Arm 22 is pivotally attached at pivot pin 23a to a pawl release linkage in the form of mid-body 30. A coil spring is attached around pivot pin 23a to bias arm 22 into the position shown in FIG.

[0034] The ratchet mechanism further includes a pawl 32 pivotally mounted to the base 27 at a pivot pin 32a. A coil spring is mounted around the pivot pin 32a to bias the pawl 32 into the position shown in Figure 7 where the tip 33 of the pawl 32 engages a tooth 54 on the belt 50 to retain the belt in the buckle.

[0035] Mid-body 30 is pivotally mounted to base 27 at pivot pin 30a. There is no torsion spring around pin 30a biasing it to a rest position. Rather, it is the combination of torsion springs on pivot pins 32a, 33a in the assembly that biases mid-body 30 to the rest position shown in FIG.

[0036] The base 27, slide member 26, and cover 29 may be formed from a molded plastic material. The pivot pins 23a, 32a, 30a, bias spring, and pawl 32 may be formed from metal.

[0037] Referring to Figures 8, 8A, and 8B, the ratcheting action of the buckle is shown. Arm 22 rotates fully around pivot pin 23a until the shaft of arm 22 abuts case 29 (see DETAIL B). Teeth 23 on the arm engage teeth 54 on strap 50, threading the strap further through the buckle. When released, arm 22 returns to its home position, as shown in Figure 7, under the influence of a coil spring around pivot point 23a, and pawl 32 retains the strap in its new position 50 by engaging teeth 54. Repeated rotation of arm 22 between the positions shown in Figures 7 and 8 gradually pulls strap 50 through the buckle. This action is performed in use to tighten strap 50 around a loaded item.

[0038] Referring to Figures 9, 9A, and 9B, the pawl release operation of the buckle is shown. The arm 22 is grasped and lifted upward in direction B, as shown in Figure 6. This causes the intermediate body 30 to rotate against the force of its bias coil spring. The intermediate body 30 then abuts the pawl 32, rotating it counterclockwise as shown against the force of the bias spring. As shown in Figure 9A, the arm 22 reaches the limit of its upward movement when the lip 34 abuts the inside of the case 29. The tip 33 of the pawl 32 rotates away from the teeth 54 of the strap 50, such that the strap 50 is no longer held by the pawl 32. The strap 50 is now free and can be pulled out of the buckle. In use, this action releases the strap from around a loaded item, allowing the item to be removed from the device.

[0039] Referring to Figures 10, 10A, and 10C, the buckle's locking mechanism is shown. A lock barrel 60 carries a rotatable bolt 62. In Figure 10, a key is used to rotate the lock barrel and bolt, placing the buckle 20 in a locked position. Comparing the positions of the lock barrel 60 and bolt 62 in Figures 9 and 10, it can be seen that the bolt 62 has been rotated approximately 55 degrees clockwise. The bolt 62 blocks movement of the arm 22, releasing the pawl 32. In Figure 10, the arm 22 is lifted toward the pawl-release position to release the pawl, but the lip 34 abuts the bolt 62, preventing the arm 22 from reaching the pawl-release position. In the position shown in Figure 10, the tip 33 of the pawl 32 remains engaged with one of the teeth 54, retaining the strap within the buckle.

[0040] Referring to Figures 11, 11A, and 11B, buckle 20 is still in the locked position, illustrating how the ratchet mechanism remains operable when buckle 20 is in this position. In Figure 11, arm 22 has been rotated, performing the ratcheting operation and drawing the strap into the buckle. Tooth 23 engages tooth 54, pulling the strap to the right as shown, where it is held by pawl 32. Lip 34 abuts bolt 62. If the arm were to be released, the force of the associated bias spring would return it to the rest position shown in Figure 7. As the arm repeatedly moves between the positions shown in Figures 7 and 11, the strap gradually tightens around the loaded item during use. This allows strap 50 to be tightened without having to unlock and relock the buckle.

[0041] Referring to Figure 12, device 10 is shown in an open configuration, ready to receive a load of items, with straps 50 released from buckles 20. Straps 50, 52 are sturdy yet have some flexibility. Folding legs 72 and shelf portion 70 are shown in an outwardly folded configuration. Either or both of legs 72 and shelf 70 can be deployed to help support items within device 10.

[0042] 13 and 14, the use of a pair of devices 10 will be described with reference to a vehicle 100 carrying a set of four recovery trucks 120. Recovery trucks are commonly used in the four-wheel drive off-road community when a vehicle becomes stuck in soft terrain and requires additional traction to continue driving. Recovery trucks are in the form of sturdy corrugated plates. When one or more wheels of a vehicle become stuck in loose ground, such as sand or mud, a recovery truck is placed in front of the stuck wheels to provide a surface on which the wheels can gain traction and extricate the vehicle from the stuck condition. Recovery trucks are typically stacked in sets of two or four and carried on the outside of the vehicle.

[0043] 13 and 14, a pair of devices 10 are installed on a roof rack 110 of a vehicle 100. The devices 10 are installed using a generally L-shaped mounting piece 76, which attaches the devices 10 to the roof rack and allows for height adjustment via elongated slots 42 in the devices 10.

[0044] To load the recovery trucks, the toothed straps 50 of each device 10 are released from their respective buckles by activating the strap release mechanism (FIG. 9) of each buckle and pulling out the straps 50. The folding shelves 60 of each device are then folded outward, and the set of four recovery trucks is lifted and placed onto the two devices 10, which are supported by the two folding shelves 60 and rest against the brackets 40.

[0045] With the recovery track 120 in place, the toothed strap 50 of each device is inserted into the front opening of the respective buckle 20 and emerges from the rear opening 25. The strap 50 can then be manually threaded through the buckle 20 and reeled up to take up slack. The pawl 32 of each buckle engages with the teeth of each strap 50 to retain the strap within the buckle.

[0046] The arms 22 of each buckle are then reciprocated to tighten the strap (repeatedly moving between the positions shown in Figures 7 and 8). The mechanical advantage provided by the arms 22 allows the strap to be tightly fastened around the recovery track. The arms are reciprocated until the desired tightness of the strap is achieved. The lock barrel 60 of each buckle 20 can then be keyed to lock the buckle.

[0047] The recovery tracks are now securely held within the device 10. As best seen in FIG. 14, the slide member 26 of each buckle engages the outermost recovery track of the stack by fitting into an elongated recess that extends the length of the recovery track. The vehicle can now be driven with the recovery tracks securely fastened to the vehicle. Unauthorized removal or theft of the recovery tracks is prevented by the locking mechanism. Furthermore, the straps 50 are very strong and cannot be easily cut or slashed.

[0048] After driving the vehicle for a period of time, the stacked recovery trucks may settle into place, creating a certain amount of slack in the strap 50. If the user notices this, such as during a break during a journey, they can operate the buckle arms to further tighten the strap. This can be done even when the buckle is in the locked position (Figure 11). The user does not need to find a key to unlock the buckle to perform this operation.

[0049] When a user wishes to use the recovery track, the buckles are unlocked (if locked), the handles on each buckle are operated to reach the claw release position, and the straps 50 are released and pulled out of each buckle, thereby removing the recovery track from the device 10. The recovery track can then be lifted from the vehicle and used.

[0050] Although device 10 is described above as being used to load stacked recovery trucks, it can also be used to load other items. Folding portion 72 is used when the device is used to load a ladder and supports the rung of the ladder when in use. Other items that can have straps wrapped around them can also be held by device 10.

[0051] It is appreciated that embodiments of the device have at least one of the following advantages.

[0052] Unlike polyester straps or webbing, this device cannot be easily destroyed with a utility knife or cutter.

[0053] The device can be fastened while locked, meaning you don't have to find a key to unlock it in order to tighten the straps around your luggage.

[0054] This device can be used to carry a variety of items.

[0055] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to the above exemplary and preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that it is not limited to these embodiments and may be embodied in many other forms, variations, and modifications other than those specifically described. The present disclosure includes all such changes and modifications. The present disclosure also includes all steps, functions, components, and / or devices referred to or shown in the specification, individually or collectively, and any suitable combination or any two or more steps or functions.

[0056] In this specification, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the term "comprising" has a non-exclusive meaning in the sense of "including at least" and not an exclusive meaning such as "consisting only of." With corresponding grammatical changes, this also applies to other forms of the term, such as "comprise."

[0057] Other definitions of selected terms used herein are set forth in the Detailed Description and apply throughout. Unless defined otherwise, all other scientific and technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0058] Any promises made herein should be understood as relating to some embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to be promises made with respect to the invention in all embodiments. If any promise is deemed to apply to all embodiments of the invention, the applicant / patentee reserves the right to later delete that promise from the description and will not rely on that promise with respect to the acceptance or subsequent grant of a patent in any country.

[0059] In the foregoing description of particular embodiments, specific terminology is used for the sake of clarity. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology selected, and that the specific terminology includes other technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to achieve a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "left" and "right," "front" and "rear," "top" and "bottom," etc., are used as convenient terms to provide points of reference and should not be construed as limiting terms.

[0060] Reference to prior art contained herein is not an admission that the information is common general knowledge unless specifically stated.

[0061] Finally, it should be understood that various modifications or additions may be made to the components described above without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. 1. An item loading device for a vehicle, said device comprising: a strap provided with a series of protrusions; a ratchet buckle; the buckle includes a ratchet mechanism operable to receive the strap and engage the protrusion to pull the strap incrementally through the buckle and retain the strap within the buckle; The device, wherein the buckle further includes a release mechanism operable to release the strap from the buckle.

2. 2. The item loading device of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism operable to set the buckle to a locked mode, wherein in the locked mode, the strap release mechanism is prevented from being operated to release the strap.

3. 3. The item loading device of claim 2, wherein the ratchet mechanism remains operable to tighten the strap when the locking mechanism is in a locked mode.

4. 4. The device of claim 2 or 3, wherein the locking mechanism includes a movable bolt that prevents movement of the strap release mechanism in a locked mode.

5. The device of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protrusions of the strap have a sawtooth profile.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the strap has a metal core and the protrusions are formed from a plastic material.

7. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the ratchet mechanism includes a pawl that engages the protrusion to retain the strap within the buckle.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the strap release mechanism is operable to disengage the pawl from the protrusion of the strap.

9. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the strap release mechanism includes a pawl release linkage pivotally mounted to a body of the buckle and rotatable to release the pawl from the strap.

10. 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the ratchet mechanism includes an operating handle pivotally attached to the pawl release linkage and rotatable to retract the strap into the buckle.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the operating handle includes at least one protrusion engageable with at least one of the protrusions on the strap to pull the strap through the buckle.

12. 12. A device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the operating handle is also operable to rotate the pawl release linkage to release the pawl from the strap.

13. 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the operating handle is operable such that lifting the operating handle rotates the pawl release linkage such that its axis of rotation moves away from the strap.

14. A device according to any preceding claim, further comprising a bracket to which the strap and the buckle are attached, the bracket being arranged for attachment to a vehicle.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the buckle is attached to the bracket via a second strap.

16. 16. A device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the bracket includes at least one folding portion which can be folded outward in use to help support a loaded item.

17. A vehicle fitted with an item loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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