U.S. patent application number 10/698732 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-05 for rotary strap tensioning apparatus.
Invention is credited to Brown, Raymond.
Application Number | 20050091800 10/698732 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34550735 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050091800 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown, Raymond |
May 5, 2005 |
Rotary strap tensioning apparatus
Abstract
A strap tensioning apparatus (10) adapted to releasably engage
and rotate the ratchet hub (100) of a strap tensioning ratchet
wherein, the ratchet hub (100) is provided with a transverse bore
(101) and the apparatus (10) includes a collar member (20) having a
peripheral aperture (21) alignable with one end of the transverse
bore (101) wherein, a lever arm (30) is pivotally connected to the
collar member (20) and provided with a post (33) dimensioned to
extend into the transverse bore (101) and the collar member (20) is
further provided with a handle member (40) adapted to rotate both
the collar member (20) and the ratchet hub (100) when the post (33)
is engaged in the transverse bore (101).
Inventors: |
Brown, Raymond; (Rochester,
VT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STURM & FIX LLP
206 SIXTH AVENUE
SUITE 1213
DES MOINES
IA
50309-4076
US
|
Family ID: |
34550735 |
Appl. No.: |
10/698732 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/68R |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/21 20150115;
B60P 7/083 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/068.00R |
International
Class: |
A44B 021/00 |
Claims
1. A strap tensioning apparatus for releasably engaging and
rotating a strap tensioning ratchet hub having a transverse bore
wherein, the tensioning apparatus comprises: a collar unit
including a cylindrical collar member provided with a peripheral
aperture that is dimensioned for alignment with one end of the
transverse bore of the ratchet hub; securing means for connecting
the collar member to said ratchet hub; and, a handle unit including
a handle member connected to said collar member and adapted to
provide rotary motion to said collar member.
2. The apparatus as in claim 1; wherein, said securing means
comprises at least in part a post mounted for reciprocal movement
relative to the aperture in the collar member and dimensioned to
extend into a portion of the transverse bore of the ratchet
hub.
3. The apparatus as in claim 2; wherein, the securing means further
includes a lever arm pivotally connected to the collar member
wherein, one segment of the lever arm is provided with said
post.
4. The apparatus as in claim 3; wherein, the lever arm has a
generally L-shaped configuration that includes a lower segment and
an upper segment.
5. The apparatus as in claim 4; wherein, said post depends
downwardly from the lower segment of the lever member.
6. The apparatus as in claim 5 wherein, the spring element is
attached to the upper segment of the lever arm.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This invention was the subject matter of Document Disclosure
Program Registration Program No. 529,216, that was filed in the
United States Patent and Trademark Office on Apr. 10, 2003.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates to the field of cargo strap
tensioning devices in general and in-particular to an apparatus
that connects to a strap tensioning hub and is provided with a
handle for rotating the hub.
[0006] 2. Description of Related Art
[0007] As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,425,154; 5,524,505; 6,092,437; and, 6,196,092, the prior art is
replete with myriad and diverse cargo strap tensioning devices.
[0008] While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are
more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which
they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient
with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and
practical strap tensioning apparatus that quickly and securely
engages the apertured ratchet hub that is provided on most flat bed
trailers.
[0009] As the present time, these ratchet hubs are either rotated
by hand, which is extremely difficult, or by inserting a steel bar
through the transverse bore in the ratchet hub which is very
cumbersome and usually results in bruised knuckles.
[0010] As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has
existed a longstanding need among truckers for a new and improved
strap tensioning apparatus that can releasably engage a tensioning
ratchet hub in a secure manner and can easily rotate the ratchet
hub to place a desired tension on the load securing strap, and the
provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the
present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Briefly stated, the strap tensioning apparatus that forms
the basis of the present invention comprises in general a collar
unit, a locking unit and a handle unit wherein the locking unit
releasably attaches the collar unit to a strap tensioning ratchet
hub to apply tension to the load securing strap.
[0012] As will be explained in greater detail further on in the
specification, the collar unit comprises a collar member
dimensioned to slidably engage the periphery of a ratchet hub
provided with a transverse bore wherein the collar member is
further provided with an aperture that is alignable with the
transverse bore on the ratchet hub.
[0013] In addition, the locking unit comprises a generally L-shaped
lever arm member that is pivotally attached to the collar member
wherein, the lower segment of the L-shaped lever arm member is
provided with a downwardly depending post that is dimensioned to
pass through the peripheral aperture in the collar member and
extend into the transverse bore in the ratchet hub.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] These and other attributes of the invention will become more
clear upon a thorough study of the following description of the
best mode for carrying out the invention, particularly when
reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tensioning apparatus
that forms the basis of the present invention prior to engagement
with the ratchet hub;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement depicted in
FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the tensioning
apparatus partially engaged with the ratchet hub; and,
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the tensioning
apparatus fully engaged with the ratchet hub.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in
particularly to FIG. 1, the strap tensioning apparatus that forms
the basis of the present invention is designated generally by the
reference number 10. The apparatus 10 comprises in general a collar
unit 11, a locking unit 12, and a handle unit 13. These units will
now be described in seriatim fashion.
[0020] As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, the collar unit 11 comprises
a hollow cylindrical collar member 20 having a single peripheral
aperture 21 and a pair of outwardly projecting apertured ear
elements 22 22 the purpose and function of which will be described
presently.
[0021] In addition, the locking unit 12 includes a generally
L-shaped lever arm 30 which is pivotally suspended in the apertured
ear element 22 via a pivot rod 31 wherein, the lower segment 32 of
the lever arm 30 is provided with a downwardly extending post 33
and the upper segment 34 of the lever arm 30 is attached to one end
of a spring element 35 the other end of which is operatively
connected to the collar member 20 to bias the post 33 into
penetrating engagement with the peripheral aperture 21 in the
collar member 20.
[0022] As can best be seen by reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the
handle unit 13 comprises a generally L-shaped handle member 40
having a shaft portion 41 fixedly secured to the collar member 20
and a rotating handle element 42 disposed perpendicular to the free
end of the shaft portion 41 for reasons that will be explained
presently.
[0023] By now it should be apparent that the purpose and function
of the strap tensioning apparatus 10 is to engage and rotate a
strap tensioning ratchet hub 100 having a transverse bore 101.
[0024] In order to accomplish that objective, the upper segment 34
of the lever arm 30 is retracted to remove the post 33 from
engagement with the peripheral aperture 21 in the collar member 20.
The collar member 20 is then slipped over the ratchet hub 100 to
align the aperture 21 with the transverse bore 101 of the ratchet
hub 100 whereupon, the upper segment 34 of the lever arm 30 is
released so that the post 33 becomes engaged in the transverse bore
101 and the handle member 40 can cause the ratchet hub 100 to
rotate in a well recognized manner.
[0025] Although only an exemplary embodiment of the invention has
been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will
readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without
materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of
this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to
be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the
following claims.
[0026] Having thereby described the subject matter of the present
invention, it should be apparent that many substitutions,
modifications, and variations of the invention are possible in
light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that
the invention as taught and described herein is only to be limited
to the extent of the breadth and scope of the appended claims.
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