Abstract:
This invention adds a U shaped guide to the ratchet of a tie down strap. The purpose of this guide is to contain the strap in a coiled or wrapped position within the guide when the strap is not being used. This prevents the strap from unwinding and making a mess.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/409,622, filed on Sep. 10, 2002. 
     
    
     
       CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER PATENTS  
         [0002]    [0002]                                                                         Patent Number   Inventor   Title                                    1)   4,155,537   Bronson et al.   Adjustable Length Strap Tie                   Down Apparatus       2)   4,268,012   Ruehle et al.   Adjustable Length Strap Tie                   Down Apparatus       3)   6,199,412   Kennedy   Lockable Tie Down Strap       4)   3,175,806   Prete, Jr.   Rachet Buckle       5)   4,199,182   Sunesson   Device Arranged to Tighten                   an to Lock Slings or Load                   Fastening Belts       6)   4,823,443   Waters   Strap Tie Down Device and                   Method for Its Use       7)   6,195,848   Jackson et al   Slideable Ratchet                   Tensioning Device and                   Tie Down Assembly       8)   5,845,370   Cohoon   Self Positioning Tie Down                   Strap                    
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Prior inventions related to the design of a ratchet mechanism, the strap and methods of attaching the strap to the secured item. These inventions did not include any mechanism for securing the strap when not in use. Therefore, when the strap is not in use, the strap becomes entangled with other straps or tied into knots. This mechanism allows for coiling or wrapping the unsecured strap in a secure position.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0004]    The invention utilized a brachet that can either be attached to a tie down strap ratchet or incorporated in the original manufacture of the ratchet. This invention utilizes a U shaped guide that allows for the strap to be coiled or wrapped around the ratchet when not used. This alleviates the problem of the strap becoming tangled and tied in knots when not used.  
           [0005]    The present invention is a tie down strap and more particularly a tie down strap with a mechanism for maintaining the strap in a coiled position about the ratchet when in storage. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a ratchet and straps without the guide;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a pair of guides jointed to the ratchet with straps;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is side view showing a pair of guides joined to the ratchet with straps; and  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a top view of a guide. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    The tie down strap  10  is provided with a ratchet  12 , strap  20 , and at least one guide  40 . The ratchet  12  in use allows the strap  20  to be adjusted in length such that the tie down strap can be adjusted to fit different sized loads. The ratchet  12  is stored, when not in use, via coiling the strap  20  about the ratchet  12  in a coiled or circular pattern. The guide(s)  40  provide a groove  52  into which the strap  20  may be coiled and retained to avoid unintended uncoiling of the strap  20 . Each of the components will be discussed in serial fashion.  
         [0011]    The ratchet  12 , commercially, comes in a variety of different sizes and shapes. Different ratchets  12  are show in FIGS.  1 - 3  and others may be found in stores. A ratchet  12  provides a mechanism for lengthening and shorting the strap  20 , adjusting the tie down strap to the size and shape of the strap  20  to the situation. Such ratchet  12  includes a first end  14  and a second end  16 . The first end  14  of the ratchet  12  may be joined, perhaps slidable, to the first end  24  of the first elongate portion  22  of the strap  20 . The second end  16  of the ratchet  12  may be joined, perhaps slidably, to the first end  28  of the second elongate portion  20  of the strap  20 . The second ends  27 ,  29  of the first and second elongate portions  22 , 24  of the strap  20  are typically joined to S-hooks  30  as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    The strap  20 , preferably made of mylon, may be a single piece or may have a first elongate portion  22  and a second elongate portion  26 , depending upon the structure of the ratchet  12 . In a multi-piece strap  20 , the first elongate portion  22  is typically permanently joined adjacent the first end  14  of the ratchet  12 . The second elongate portion  26  is coiled inside the ratchet  12  to shorten and uncoils to lengthen the strap  20  to the preferred length for a given use.  
         [0013]    At least one guide  40  may be permanently, selectively or homogeneously joined to the ratchet  12 . Suitable attachment mechanisms include hook and loop fabric, adhesive, welding, fasteners, and other permanent and selective fasteners known in the art of fastening. A preferred fastener that may be used with ratchets  12  that have an appropriately shaped end  14  or  16  is a snap fit with a slot  54  defined in the guide  40  as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0014]    The guide  40  may include a first elongate  44  and a second elongate  48  cooperatively defining a groove  52 . The groove  52  is desired to be of sufficient size such that the strap  20  fits, preferable snugly, within the groove  52  when the strap  20  is wrapped about the ratchet  12 . The groove  52  should also be of sufficent depth that each coil, when fully coiled, is retained within the groove  52 , since coils outside the groove  52  tend to unwind into a mess. That is, as the strap  20  is wrapped about the ratchet  12 , each coil passes through the groove  52 , holding all the coils in a stacked or restricted position. Different sized guides  40  may be used with different width straps  20 .  
         [0015]    A mechanism  60  for selectively retaining the strap  20  within the groove  52  may be in operable communication with the guide  40 . A variety of mechanisms  60  may be employed including selectively lockable gates, squeeze fit of the strap  20  within the groove  52 , elastomeric bands disposed about the coiled strap  20 , or retention points  46 , 50 . Retention points  46 , 50  are preferred as they can be molded or formed into the guides  40  with little to no additonal manufacturing cost and such retention points  46 , 50  remain with the guide  40  at all times. Retention points  46 , 50  may be joined to the first and second elongate portions  44 , 48  respectively. Such points  46 , 50  define a smaller mouth  62  to the groove  52  than the width of the strap  20  such that the relative rigidity of the strap  20  retains the strap  20  with in the groove  52 .  
         [0016]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred emodiment, workers skilled in the art will recognize changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
                                                       10.   Tie Down           12.   Ratchet           14.   First End           16.   Second End           20.   Strap           22.   First Length           24.   First End           26.   Second Length           27.   Second End           28.   First End           29.   Second End           30.   S-Hooks           40.   Guide           42.   Securement Mechanism           44.   First Elongate           46.   Retention Point           48.   Second Elongate           50.   Retention Point           52.   Groove           54.   Slot           60.   Mechanism for Retaining Strap           62.   Smaller Mouth