U.S. patent application number 10/062763 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-07 for strap tightener with an auto-pulling device.
Invention is credited to Lin, Chia-Sheng.
Application Number | 20030145434 10/062763 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27658602 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030145434 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin, Chia-Sheng |
August 7, 2003 |
STRAP TIGHTENER WITH AN AUTO-PULLING DEVICE
Abstract
A strap tightener has an auto-pulling device connected to a
seat. The auto-pulling device includes a housing and a reversing
device. The reversing device is rotatably received in the housing.
The reversing device has a reel received in the housing to connect
with one end of a strap. A spiral power spring is connected between
the housing and the reel. Consequently, the strap can be
automatically wound around the reel after the strap tightener is
used. To collect the strap is convenient and the operating time of
collecting the strap is saved.
Inventors: |
Lin, Chia-Sheng; (Changhua
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN S. EGBERT
HARRISON & EGBERT
412 MAIN STREET
7TH FLOOR
HOUSTON
TX
77002
US
|
Family ID: |
27658602 |
Appl. No.: |
10/062763 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/68CD |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P 7/0823 20130101;
B60P 7/083 20130101; Y10T 24/2177 20150115; Y10T 24/2175 20150115;
B60P 7/0846 20130101; Y10T 24/2147 20150115; Y10S 24/909
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/68.0CD |
International
Class: |
B65D 067/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A strap tightener comprising: the strap tightener including: a
seat; a lever pivotally mounted on the seat with a rotatable shaft;
and a ratchet device mounted between the lever and the seat to
control the rotatable shaft to rotate only in a single direction;
an auto-pulling device attached to the seat and including: a
housing connected to the seat; and a reversing device rotatably
received in the housing, the reversing member having an annular
reel received in the housing and a spiral power spring received in
the reel and having a first end securely attached to the housing
and a second end securely attached to an inner periphery of the
reel; a first strap extending through the shaft and the housing and
having a first end wound around the reel and a second with a first
fastening device; and a second fastening device mounted on the
seat.
2. The strap tightener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing
comprises: a base member with a rod centrally and perpendicularly
extending from a bottom of the base member, and a cover attached to
the base member to form a receiving space between the base member
and the cover.
3. The strap tightener as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reel is
mounted around the rod on the base member; and the first end of the
spiral power spring is securely attached to the rod in the base
member.
4. The strap tightener as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a
U-shaped connector mounted between the housing and the seat to
connect the housing to the seat.
5. The strap tightener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
fastening device mounted on the first strap is a hook.
6. The strap tightener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second
fastening comprises: a second strap attached to the seat; and a
hook attached to the second strap.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a strap tightener, and more
particularly to a strap tightener with an auto-pulling device.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a conventional strap
tightener in accordance with the prior art is mounted on a base
plate (50) and comprises a U-shaped seat (60), a lever (70) and a
ratchet device. The U-shaped seat (60) is securely attached to the
base plate (50). The lever (70) is pivotally mounted on the seat
(60) with a shaft (80). The ratchet device is mounted between the
lever (70) and the seat (60).
[0005] The base plate (50) has a distal edge and a proximal edge
parallel to each other. The distal edge of the base plate (50) is
bent to form a hook (500). A slot (52) with two ends is defined in
the base plate (50) near and parallel to the proximal edge. Two
ears (51) extend perpendicular from the base plate (50) in a
direction opposite to the hook (500) and near the distal edge of
the base plate (50). The ends of the slot (52) respectively
correspond to the ears (51). Each ear (51) has a through hole (511)
defined to align with the through hole (511) in the other ear (51).
A bore (53) is defined in the base plate (50) between the pair of
ears (51) and the slot (52).
[0006] The seat (60) includes two wing plates (600) parallel to
each other. The wing plates (600) are oriented perpendicular to the
proximal and distal edges of the base plate (50). Each wing plate
(600) has a first end near the distal edge of the base plate (50)
and a second end near the proximal edge of the base plate (50). The
wing plates (600) are connected by a bridge (601). A retaining
plate (602) extends upward from one side of the bridge (601) near
the pair of ears (51), and a hole (604) is defined in the retaining
plate (602). A through hole (61) is defined in the first end of
each respective wing plate (600) to correspond to the through holes
(511) in the ears (51). A through hole (603) is defined in the
bridge (601) and corresponds to the bore (53) in the base plate
(50). A bolt (not numbered) extends through the bore (53) in the
base plate (50) and the through hole (603) in the bridge (601) to
screw with a nut (not numbered). A pivot hole (62) is defined in
the second end of each respective wing plate (600), and a stop (63)
radially extends from the second end of each respective wing plate
(600). A slot (631) is defined near the middle portion of the stop
(63). A guide slot (64) is defined in each respective wing plate
(600) between the through hole (61) and the pivot hole (62). Each
guide slot (64) is aligned with a radius of the pivot hole (62) in
the corresponding one of the wing plates (600). A brake pawl (65)
has two opposite sides respectively sliding in the guide slots (64)
and a stub (651) extending through the hole (604) in the retaining
plate (602). A spring (652) is mounted around the stub (651) of the
brake pawl (65) and between the brake pawl (65) and the retaining
plate (602) to push the brake pawl (65) toward the pivot hole
(62).
[0007] The lever (70) has a distal end and a proximal end and
includes two side plates (71) perpendicular to and integrally
formed with a connecting plate (72) at the distal end. The distance
between the two side plates (71) is greater than that between the
two wing plates (600), such that a gap is defined between the each
side plate (71) and the corresponding wing plate (600). A pivot
hole (not shown) is defined in a proximal end of the side plates
(71) and corresponds to the pivot hole (62) in the seat (60). The
diameter of the pivot hole in the lever (702) is the same as that
of the pivot hole (62) in the seat (60). A cam (73) extends from
the proximal end of the side plate (71) to push the brake pawl
(65). A guide slot (711) is defined in each side plate (71) and is
aligned with the center of the pivot hole in the side plate (71) in
which the guide slot (711) is defined. A retaining plate (74)
extends perpendicular from the connecting plate (72) and has a
through hole (741) defined in the retaining plate (74).
[0008] A connecting pawl (75) has two opposite sides respectively
sliding in the guide slots (711) and a stub (751) extending through
the hole (741) in the retaining plate (74). A spring (752) is
mounted around the stub (751) of the connecting pawl (75) and
between the connecting pawl (75) and the retaining plate (74) to
push the connecting pawl (75) toward the proximal end of the lever
(70).
[0009] The ratchet device comprises two ratchet wheels (81). The
ratchet wheels (81) are respectively mounted in the gaps between
the side plates (71) and the wing plates (600). Each ratchet wheel
(81) includes multiple teeth each having a sliding side and a
limiting side. Each side of the brake pawl (65) engages with the
limiting side of one of the teeth of the corresponding ratchet
wheel (81), and each side of the connecting pawl (75) engages with
the limiting side of the other one of the teeth of the
corresponding ratchet wheel (81). Consequently, the ratchet wheels
will rotate with the lever by means of the abutment of the
connecting pawl (75) and the corresponding tooth on the ratchet
wheel (81). In addition, the ratchet wheel (81) rotates only in one
direction due to the limitations of the limiting sides of the
teeth.
[0010] The shaft (80) extends through the pivot hole in the lever
(70), the pivot hole (62) in the wing plate (600) and the two
ratchet wheels (81) to connect the lever (70) and the two ratchet
wheels (81) to the seat (60). The shaft (80) includes two
half-round bars (801), and each of the ratchet wheels (81) has two
half-round holes (not shown) for corresponding to each other and
allowing the half-round bars (801) to extend through corresponding
half-round holes. Thus, a slit is defined between the half-round
bars (801) of the shaft. Consequently, when the lever (70) is
rotated, the shaft (80) is rotated with the lever (70) by means of
the transmission of the ratchet wheels (81). A locking hole (802)
is defined in each respective end of the shaft (80) to securely
receive a locking pin (82) so as to keep the shaft (80) from
detaching from the seat (60) and the lever (70).
[0011] A strap (100) passes through the slot (52). The strap (100)
has a first end connected to the slit in the shaft (80) and a
second end with a hook or a loop. The strap (100) near the first
end thereof is wound around the shaft (80).
[0012] To operate the conventional tightener, the hook (500) on the
base plate (50) is hooked on a transportation vehicle. The strap
(100) can be reeled off from the shaft (80) after the connecting
pawl (75) is released from the ratchet wheels (81) by means of
sliding the connecting pawl (75) relative to the lever (70). The
hook or the loop on the second end of the strap (100) is hooked on
the transportation vehicle after the strap (100) has been looped
around an object on the transportation vehicle. When the lever (70)
is rotated after the connecting pawl (75) is engaged with the
ratchet wheels (81), the shaft (80) will rotate with the lever by
means of the transmission of the ratchet wheels (81). The strap
(100) will be wound round the shaft a number of turns as the shaft
is rotated, thus the strap (100) is tightened. This can securely
hold the object in place on the transportation vehicle.
[0013] However, to retrieve the strap (100) from around the shaft
(80) after the strap tightener has been used, the user must
continually rock the lever (70) to drive the shaft (80) to roll and
to wind the strap (100). The retrieval of the strap (100) for its
storage is considered by the professional as a time-wasting and
irritating procedure.
[0014] With reference to FIG. 6, another conventional strap
tightener in accordance with the prior art comprises an arm (90)
and a lever (91). The lever (91) is pivotally attached to the arm
(90) with a first shaft (92). A slit is defined in the first shaft
(92) to introduce one end of a first strap (95). The shaft (92) is
rotatable with the lever (91) to tighten the first strap (95). A
ratchet device (not shown) is co-axially mounted on the first shaft
(92) to rotate the shaft (92) and to tighten the strap (95) in
cooperation with the lever (91). A second shaft (93) with a slit is
rotatably mounted on the arm (90) for one end of the first strap
(95) to connect to the second shaft (93). A hook is attached to the
other end of the first strap (95). A knob (94) is co-axially
attached to the second shaft (93). A second strap (96) with a hook
is attached to the arm (90). Consequently, the strap tightener can
hold an object in position by means of the straps (95,96).
[0015] Although the user can collect the first strap (95) by means
of rotating the knob (94) after the tightener is used, the manual
way to collect the first strap (92) is also troublesome and
time-wasting.
[0016] The present invention has arisen to mitigate or obviate the
disadvantages of the conventional strap tightener.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The main objective of the present invention is to provide an
improved strap tightener that has an auto-pulling device for
retaining the superfluous portion of the strap.
[0018] To achieve the objective, a strap tightener has an
auto-pulling device connected to a U-shaped seat. The auto-pulling
device includes a housing and a reversing device. The reversing
device is rotatably received in the receiving space in the housing.
The reversing device has a reel and a spiral power spring. The reel
is rotatably mounted in the housing for one end of the strap to be
wound around the reel. The spiral power spring is received in the
housing and has a first end secured on the housing and a second end
secured on an inner periphery of the reel. Consequently, the strap
will be automatically wound around the reel after the strap
tightener has been used by means of the restitution force provided
by the spiral power spring.
[0019] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed
description with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a strap tightener with an
auto-pull device in accordance with the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the strap
tightener in FIG. 1; and
[0022] FIG. 3 is an operational side plan view of the strap
tightener in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective of a first embodiment of a
conventional strap tightener in accordance with the prior art;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a side plan view in partial section of the
convention strap tightener in FIG. 4; and
[0025] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional side plan view of a second
embodiment of a conventional strap tightener in accordance with the
prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] With reference to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 to
3, a strap tightener with an auto-pull device (10) in accordance
with the present invention comprises a U-shaped seat (60), a lever
(70), a ratchet device and an auto-pull device. The U-shaped seat
(60) is connected to the auto-pull device (10) by a bolt (131). The
lever (70) is pivotally mounted on the U-shaped seat (60) by a
rotatable shaft (80) and the ratchet device is mounted between the
lever (70) and the U-shaped seat (60). The structures of the seat
(60), the lever (70) the shaft (80) and the ratchet device are
substantially same as those of the prior art.
[0027] The auto-pulling device (10) comprises a housing (11) and a
reversing member (12). The housing (11) is connected to the
U-shaped seat (60). In practice, a U-shaped connector (13) is
attached to the housing (11) to connect the housing (11) to the
U-shaped seat (60). The housing (11) includes a base member (111)
and a cover (112) attached to the base member (111) to form a
receiving space. The base member (111) has a rod (113) centrally
and perpendicularly extending from a bottom of the base member
(111).
[0028] The reversing device (12) is received in the receiving space
in the housing (11). The reversing device has an annular reel (121)
and a spiral power spring (122). The reel (121) is rotatably
received in the receiving space in the housing (11) and encloses
the rod (113). The spiral power spring (122) is received in the
reel (121) and is mounted around the rod (113). The spring (122)
has a first end securely attached to the rod (113) and a second end
securely attached to the inner periphery of the reel (121).
[0029] The strap tightener further comprises a first strap (30) and
a second strap (20). The first strap (30) has a first end and a
second end. The first end of the first strap (30) extends through a
slit defined in the shaft (80) and a slot defined in the housing
(11) and is secured on the outer periphery of the reel (121). A
first fastening device (31) such a hook is secured to on the second
end of the second strap (30) for being secured on a transportation
vehicle after looping around an object on the transportation
vehicle. The second strap (20) includes a first end connected to
the bottom of the U-shaped connector (13) and a second end with a
second hook (21) mounted to the first strap (20). The second hook
(21) is adapted to be secured on the transportation vehicle.
[0030] To operate the strap tightener, when the second strap (30)
is reeled out from the reel (121) after releasing the lever (70)
from the ratchet device, the reel (121) will be rotated and the
spiral power spring (122) will be tightened. Thus, a restitution
force will occur in the tightened spring (122). The second strap
(30) will be tightened by means of rocking the lever (70) after the
lever engages with the ratchet device. The object can be held by
means of cooperation of the straps (20,30).
[0031] To collect the strap (30) after the strap tightener has been
used, the second strap (30) will be automatically wound around the
reel (121) due to the restitution force of the spiral power spring
(122) after releasing the lever (70) from the ratchet device.
Consequently, to collect the strap (30) of the strap tightener is
convenient and the operating time is saved.
[0032] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other
possible modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter
claimed.
* * * * *