Abstract:
A cargo bracing device includes a fixing member and a driving member. Mainly the fixing member possesses a connecting plate easily fitted with one end of an elastic device, and a locking plate easily fitted with another end of the elastic device. So the locking plate can be restored with dynamic force provided by the elastic device deposited between the connecting plate and the locking plate. The driving member includes two wings respectively having one end formed as a hook collaborating with a latch of a driven plate to enable the driving member combined with or detached from the fixing member. Similar to the fixing member, an elastic device is easily installed between an actuating plate and a connecting bar of the driving member, providing dynamic force for restoring the actuating plate. Therefore the cargo bracing device can be easily assembled, even with automatic equipments.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a cargo bracing device, particularly to one taking advantage of an actuating plate to command a driven plate to make a driving member combined with or detached from a fixing member, advancing cargo-fastening security. With the driving member separable from the fixing member, any unauthorized person cannot alter the condition of the fixing member bracing a rope without the driving member, able to boost delivery security of cargoes. Moreover, with structure of the cargo bracing device simplified, it can be manufactured by automatic equipment to improve quality and productivity. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Commonly, a conventional cargo bracing device, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,768B1 (Taiwan Patent No. M319128), was designed to enable a tightening base  10  to be assembled with or detached from a grip  50 . The main mechanism is to provide a main groove  54  symmetrically cut in two wings  52  respectively for a control plate  55  to horizontally fit in. Two spring recesses  56  are cut in each main groove  54  spaced with proper intervals. A fitting bar  57  is jointed with the wings  52 , located between the spring recesses  56  for being fitted by two torsion springs  58 , with a first foot  581  of the torsion springs  58  resting on a sidewall of the spring recesses  56 , and a second foot  582  of the torsion springs  58  respectively locked in two locking holes  551  of the control plate  55 . So the second foot  582  of the torsion springs  58  can elastically push the control plate  55  to engage with two ratchets  30 , which can be driven by the grip  50  to rotate in one direction. Moreover, the control plate  55  is riveted with two blocking plates  59  used to open or close a notch  531  of two C-shaped grooves  53  respectively while it is detached from or assembled with the ratchets  30 . 
     However, the conventional cargo bracing device has following defects. First, before the control plate  55  is riveted with the blocking plates  59 , it has to be extended outward from the main groove  54  of the wings  52 , yet difficult to be done owing to structural limitation of the cargo bracing device. That is, there is no sufficient room for riveting work, practically posing trouble to manufacturing. 
     Second, with the control plate  55  engaged with the ratchets  30  as described previously, the torsion springs  58  may confront difficulty in assembly after being fitted on the fitting bar  57 , as counterforce retards positioning the first foot  581  and the second foot  582  in a rather small space, slowing down speed of manufacturing and impossible to be done by automatic equipment. 
     Third, two sidewalls  12  of the tightening base  10  are respectively bored with a guiding groove  41  fitted with a guiding plate  42  sliding therein. Two spring recesses  43  are cut in each guiding groove  41  spaced with proper intervals. A fitting bar  44  is jointed with the sidewalls  12 , located between the spring recesses  43  for being fitted by two torsion springs  45 , with a first foot  451  of the torsion springs  45  resting on a sidewall of the spring recesses  43 , and a second foot  452  of the torsion springs  45  respectively locked in two locking holes  421  of the guiding plate  42 . So the second foot  452  of the torsion springs  45  can elastically push the guiding plate  42  to engage with the ratchets  30 , which can be driven by the grip  50  to rotate in one direction for a positioning purpose. And as described previously, the torsion springs  45  may also confront difficulty in assembly after being fitted on the fitting bar  44 , as counterforce retards positioning the first foot  451  and the second foot  452  in a rather small space, slowing down speed of manufacturing and impossible to be done by automatic equipments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of this invention is to offer a cargo bracing device possible to be manufactured by automatic equipment, with structure simplified to step up manufacturing efficiency. 
     The main characteristics of the invention are a fixing member and a driving member. 
     The fixing member is provided with two side plates integrally made with a connecting plate provided with an elastic device base for being fitted with one end of an elastic device, and a locking plate possessing an elastic device base to engage with another end of the elastic device. So the locking plate can be restored with dynamic force provided by the elastic device locked between the elastic device bases of the connecting plate and the locking plate, simplifying assembly and saving cost of the locking plate. 
     The driving member is provided with two wings respectively cut with a sloped lengthy hole, and an actuating plate having two ends respectively formed with an extension orderly inserted through the sloped lengthy hole and a curved lengthy hole of a driven plate. Each of the wings is provided with a hook located at one end collaborating with a latch of the driven plate to grasp two ends of a winding shaft respectively. Therefore the driven member can be combined with or detached from the fixing member by operating the driven plates. 
     The driving member is also provided with an elastic device with one end fitted on an elastic device base of the actuating plate and another end hooked on a connecting bar jointed between the wings, so as to provide dynamic force for restoring the actuating plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       This invention is better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a cargo bracing device in the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a cargo bracing device in the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a cargo bracing device in the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of a cargo bracing device in the present invention, showing how a driving member is combined with or detached from a fixing member; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the driving member in the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of a cargo bracing device in the present invention, showing the driving member being combined and folded with the fixing member; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of a cargo bracing device in the present invention, showing a first state of collaboration between the driving member and the fixing member; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of a cargo bracing device in the present invention, showing a second state of collaboration between the driving member and the fixing member; and 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of a cargo bracing device in the present invention, showing a third state of collaboration between the driving member and the fixing member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of a cargo bracing device in the present invention is composed of a fixing member  1  and a driving member  2 . 
     The fixing member  1  is provided with two side plates  10  respectively bored with a lengthy hole  100  having a projected groove  101  cut in the upper edge. The side plate  10  is provided with a hole  102  bored in one end for being inserted by a bolt  11  to connect and strengthen the side plates  10 , and a winding shaft hole  103  bored in another end for a winding shaft  14  to pass through. The side plate  10  is as well provided with two blocking portions  104  and  105  located outwardly at two sides of the circumference of the winding shaft hole  103 , restricting the winding shaft  14  driven by the driving member  2  to work between a maximum and a minimum range, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 6 . The side plates  10  are integrally made with a connecting plate  12  having an upward curved end  120  provided with an elastic device base  121  for being fitted with one end of an elastic device  122 , simplifying assembly of the elastic device  122 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a locking plate  13  has two ends fitted in the lengthy holes  100  of the side plates  10  respectively, provided with two blocking projections  130  built on one surface. When the locking plate  13  is to be combined with the side plates  10 , it is first inserted from the outside of the lengthy hole  100  of one of the side plates  10  to extend out of the lengthy hole  100  of another side plate  10 , with the blocking projections  130  corresponding to the projected grooves  101 . Next the locking plate  13  is adjusted to remove the blocking projections  130  off the projected grooves  101 , thus locked in the lengthy holes  100  of the side plates  10 . The locking plate  13  is further provided with an elastic device base  131  formed at one edge to engage with another end of the elastic device  122 . With the elastic device  122  restrictively deposited between the elastic device bases  121  and  131  of the connecting plate  12  and the locking plate  13 ; it can provide dynamic force for restoring the locking plate  13 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1˜3 , the winding shaft  14  is composed of two semi-annular steels fitted in the winding holes  103  of the side plates  10 , with two ends respectively cut with a C-shaped fixing groove  140 . A ratchet  15  is fitted on two sides of the winding shaft  14  respectively after having the winding shaft  14  fitted in the winding shaft holes  103 . The ratchet  15  is bored with two semi-annular holes  150  for being correspondingly inserted by the semi-annular steels of the winding shaft  14 . A C-shaped fixer  16  is successively locked in the C-shaped groove  140  of the winding shaft  14 , so the winding shaft  14  can be fixedly positioned in the winding shaft holes  103  of the side plates  10 , enabling the ratchets  15  to actuate the winding shaft  14  rotating in one direction. 
     The driving member  2  is provided with two wings  20  shaped with a definite curve. Each of the wings  20  is provided with a grip bar hole  200  bored in one end, with a plurality of projections  201  spotted on the circumference of the grip bar hole  200  for being riveted with two ends of a grip bar  21  respectively, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Further, each of the wings  20  is provided with a sloped lengthy hole  202  for fitting two extensions  240  of an actuating plate  24  respectively, two connecting bar holes  203  and  204  used to be riveted with two connecting bars  22  and  23  (first and second), and a hook  205  formed with a particular curve at another end to work with the winding shaft  14 , with an opening larger than outer diameter of the winding shaft  14 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1˜3 , the grip bar  21  is further provided with a shrunk portion  210  formed at two ends respectively, with plural projections  211  located around the circumference of the shrunk portion  210  to alternately interlock with the projections  201  of the grip bar hole  200  after the shrunk portion  210  is inserted in the grip bar hole  200 , so as to prevent the grip bar  21  from whirling. And with the portion of the shrunk portion  210  extended outside the grip bar hole  200  riveted with the wing  20 , the grip bar  21  is completely combined with one end of the wings  20 . The connecting bar holes  203  and  204  are respectively to be inserted and riveted with the first connecting bar  22  and the second connecting bar  23 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The second connecting bar  23  is further provided with an elastic device groove  230  bored around the center for being hooked by one end of an elastic device  242 , and plural shrunk portions  231  consecutively formed at two ends respectively with different diameters. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1˜3 , installed between the wings  20  is an actuating plate  24 , which is provided with a guiding portion  240   a  extended outward at two sides respectively for being fitted in the lengthy hole  202  of the wings  20  to limit the actuating plate  24  to a certain displacement while being incited to move. An extension  240  is further extended outward from the guiding portion  240   a , employed to fit in a curved lengthy hole  250  of a driven plate  25  after being inserted through the lengthy hole  202  of the wings  20  so as to compel the driven plate  25  to work after being driven by the actuating plate  24 . The actuating plate  24  is further provided with an elastic device base  241  shaped slightly oblique for being hooked by another end of the elastic device  242 , and a grabbing portion  243  grabbed by fingers to operate the actuating plate  24  moving to and fro in the lengthy holes  202  of the wings  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 4˜9 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the two driven plates  25  are installed outside the wings  20 , shaped irregular. Each driven plate  25  is bored with a curved lengthy hole  250  fitted with the extension  240  of the actuating plate  24 . As the actuating plate  24  is forced to move, the extension  240  is to simultaneously move in the curved lengthy hole  250  enabling the driven plate  25  to deflect in accordance to the track of the curved lengthy hole  250 . Each driven plate  25  is further provided with a connecting bar hole  251  bored above the curved lengthy hole  250  for being inserted by and combined with the second connecting bar  23 . As described previously, with the second bar  23  used as a central fulcrum, each driven plate  25  can deflect in accordance to the track of the curved lengthy hole  250  while the actuating plate  24  is forced to move. The driven plate  25  further has one end formed as a latch  252  shaped with a certain curve to collaborate with the hook  205  of the wings  20  to lock two ends of the winding shaft  14 . While the shrunk portions  231  of the second connecting bar  23  are inserted through the connecting bar hole  204  of the wings  20  and the connecting bar hole  251  of the driven plate  25 , a first washer  232  is fitted between the wing  20  and the driven plate  25 , and a second washer  233  is fitted outside the driven plate  25 . The second connecting bar  23  is then riveted with the wings  20 . As the actuating plate  24  is pulled by a user toward himself, the extension  240  can be drawn to shift in the curved lengthy hole  250  of the driven plate  25  to make the driven plate  25  deflecting in accordance to the track of the curved lengthy hole  250 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , thus the driving member  2  can be separated from or assembled with the fixing member  1 . 
     As shown in FIGS.  3  and  6 ˜ 8 , when a cargo is to be tightened with the present cargo bracing device, a user has first to make the driving member  2  combined with the fixing member  1  in a closed state, as shown in  FIG. 6 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the actuating plate  24  of the driving member  2  can be pulled outward to enable the ratchets  15  outside the winding shaft  14  to whirl with a certain track, with the driving member  2  and the fixing member  1  opened with a certain angle. Then the actuating plate  24  has to be pulled off the ratchets  15 , and the driving member  2  is reversely moved back to the position as shown in  FIG. 6 . With the process mentioned above, the winding shaft  14  can thus be rotated to wind a rope repeatedly. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 9 , after winding the rope to a certain extent, the actuating plate  24  of the driving member  2  can be widely operated to drive the driven plate  25  making a certain deflection as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , with the latches  252  of the driven plates  25  and the hooks  205  of the wings  20  widely opened with an interior diameter larger than the exterior diameter of the winding shaft  14 . By the time, the driving member  2  can be removed from the fixing member  1 , keeping the rope unable to be altered by anyone without the driving member  2 , assuring cargoes fixedly fastened to secure delivery. 
     Owing to components of the cargo bracing device designed simply and combined by riveting, a maker can produce the device by automatic equipments, with structural stability and usage security upgraded. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.