Abstract:
A hand activated retainment, storage and deployment device for binding straps used to secure loads on cargo transportation vehicles such as tractor trailers. The device has a winding mechanism with a spooling reel for winding excess binding strap during use and for removable storage of the strap when not deployed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   The present invention is related to winding devices for winding binding straps. Such devices are typically hand operated to winch up lengths of binding straps used to secure loads during transportation on vehicles. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   Prior art devices of this type include a variety of strap winding configurations with integrated strap ratchet adjustments, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,102,371, 7,100,902, 7,216,849, 7,296,326, U.S. Publication 2004/0094650 and international application WO9318937. 
   Independent strap winches can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,611,520, 5,975,454, 6,068,210 and D452,953. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,371 a strap tensioning and collection device is described having a ratchet arm assembly and a strap storage section associated therewith. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,100,902 is directed to a hand pull device for winding a binding strap in which a ratchet arm pulls and foreshortens the strap and the excess strap is collected on an attached winding wheel. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,849 claims a winch with a storage reel extending therefrom in which the strap material can be wound. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,296,326 illustrates a cargo tightening and strap collector having a ratchet strap engagement arm with a strap collection shaft with oppositely disposed actuation knobs. 
   U.S. Publication 2004/0094650 shows a strap fastener system for fastening a belt and integrated strap winding device. 
   A strap collector is disclosed in international patent WO9318937 with a cargo tightener and a magazine for collection and protection of a long tensioning strap. 
   Further shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,520 a strap collector is illustrated having a cargo tightening arm and a magazine to collect and store the cargo strap. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,454 discloses an independent strap winder having a hand grip with a strap engagement hub. A handle allows the winding of cargo straps thereabout. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,210 is directed to a spooling device having a support portion with a strap engagement spool rotatably positioned therefrom and interconnected crank handle. 
   Finally, in design patent D452,953 a tie down strap rewinder is shown having a frame defining a hand grip, a spool and a hand crank extending therefrom. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A portable repositionable user or activated binding strap winder retainer for winding binding straps used on a load retainment system as well as independent strap storage and deployment. The strap winder of the invention includes an integrated support frame with a selectively secured strap receiving spindle rotatably positioned therein and crank handle extending therefrom. Secondary strap and positioning arm and removable crank locking pin is provided for positioning therethrough restricting the rotation thereof. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the strap winding device of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an end elevational view thereof. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the strap winding device. 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged rear elevational view. 
       FIG. 5  is a enlarged front elevational view in use shown in broken lines. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  of the drawings, a strap winder  10  of the invention can be seen having a main U-shaped base  11  with parallel spaced upstanding support brackets  12  and  13  extending therefrom. A position attachment arm  14  extends from the bracket  12  below the base  11  transversely thereacross and beyond the respective bracket  13  defining a strap receiving slot  15  therebetween. The attachment arm  14  is of a lateral dimension less than that of the overlying base  11  with an aperture at  14 A therein. Each of the corresponding support brackets  12  and  13  have a curvilinear top edge  12 A and  13 A with a bearing aperture  12 B and  13 B respectively therein. 
   A rotating shaft assembly  16 , best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings, has a split shaft portion  17  for receiving a tie down strap S shown in broken lines. A crank  18  extends from the end of the shaft portion  17  in oppositely disposed relation with the open split free end at  19 . Crank  18  has a handle  18 A extending therefrom which allows for manual rotation of the split shaft  17  when positioned through the respective and aligned apertures  12 B and  13 B in the support brackets  12  and  13  as seen in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. 
   A shaft retainment pin  20  extends through the aligned openings  20 A in the free ends  19  of the shaft portion  17 , securing same for free rotation therewithin, as noted. 
   A crank handle stop pin  21 , best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 5  of the drawings, has a pull retainment ring  22  extending from one end thereof in an off axial alignment. The retainment ring  22 &#39;s configuration is well known within the art and imparts ring positioning resistance in the pin shaft  21 A engagement lock position  23  and the pin removal (unlocked) position  24  shown in broken lines in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. 
   It will be seen that due to the lateral determination of the attachment arm  14  extending portion, the retainment ring  22  will extend therearound preventing the removal of the pin shafts which will correspondingly block by its elevated position above the co-planar surface of the arm  14  the free rotation of the crank handle portion  18 A as seen graphically in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. 
   In use, the end of the tie down strap S is inserted through the split shaft  17  rotatably positioned between the support brackets  12  and  13  and upon crank rotation winds up the strap S therearound in a spooling action as illustrated in broken lines at  25  in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. Once so spooled the stop pin  19  is reinserted in the apertured arm  14  and locked in place as hereinbefore described preventing further rotation of the crank arm handle portion  18 A preventing additional spooling or unspooling of the strap S around the split shaft  17  which now retains the excess strap material, as noted. 
   The strap winder  10  of the invention can be selectively mounted on a portion of the retainment strap at  27  via the slot  15  defined by the attachment arm  14  at any effective position on the strap to correspond with the point of use activity required for winding strap access or storage and retainment of the strap in total for future use. 
   Additionally, it will be evident that the strap winder  10  can be used as a temporary strap storage venue when the straps are not in use and also as a deployment mechanism in which the strap winder  10  has the retainment pin stop  21  removed and can be used to freely rotate and deploy the strap S spooled thereon in a variety of user deployment interface actions. 
   It will thus be seen that a new and novel strap winder has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.