Binding device

A binding device for pulling tight a belt comprises a first ratchet wheel and a second ratchet wheel, each having a plurality of mounting openings, a roll, having a plurality of roll sectors that are respectively mounted in the mounting openings of the first and second ratchet wheels, of which at least one roll sector is removable, a lever, connected with the first ratchet wheel, a frame, connected with the second ratchet wheel; an upper blocking assembly, mounted on the lever, blocking the first ratchet wheel from turning, and a lower blocking assembly, mounted on the lever, blocking the second ratchet wheel from turning. Due to removability of one of the roll sectors, the belt is easily mounted and dismounted, and a wide range of applications is provided for.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a binding device, particularly to a binding device which has a roll with separable roll sectors, so that easy mounting and dismounting of a belt is achieved, and which allows for a wider range of applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As shown inFIG. 5, a conventional binding device1ais used to pull tight a belt assembly for fixing and securing a load on a vehicle. More specifically, the binding device1ais used to pull together connecting ends of upper and lower belts10a,12a, with engaging elements14a,16aon far ends thereof, e.g. hooks or rings, which engage with fixed counterelements, e.g. hooks on the vehicle. The binding device1acomprises: two ratchet wheels2a, surrounding central holes21a; a roll3a, mounted on two ends thereof in the central holes21aand having a longitudinal slit31a, into which the upper belt10ais inserted; a lever4a, shaped like the letter U, having a lower end with an opening that is fixed on one of the ratchet wheels2aand the roll3aand having an upper end with a handle43afor manually lifting the lever4a; a frame5a, shaped like the letter U, having a connecting end fixed on another of the ratchet wheels2aand having a free end to which the lower belt12ais fastened; and upper and lower blocking assemblies6a,7a. The upper blocking assembly6acomprises: an upper blocking element61a, shaped like the letter U and mounted on a middle section of the lever4a, transversally glidable thereon and in a first blocking position thereof blocking one of the ratchet wheels2afrom turning back; a spring63a, at a front end pushing the upper blocking element61atowards the first blocking position; and a spring support65a, mounted on the lever4aand supporting a rear end of the spring63a. The lower blocking assembly7acomprises: a lower blocking element71a, shaped like the letter U and mounted on a middle section of the frame5a, transversally glidable thereon and in a second blocking position thereof blocking one of the ratchet wheels2afrom turning back; a spring73a, at a front end pushing the lower blocking element71atowards the second blocking position; and a spring support75a, mounted on the frame5aand supporting a rear end of the spring73a. For using the binding device1a, the lever4ais repeatedly pushed towards the frame5aand pulled away therefrom, so that the belts10a,12aare pulled together with great force due to a lever effect and at the same time prevented from loosening, so that cargo on a vehicle is fixed and secured.

For securing cargo, binding devices as described above play an important role. However, since the slit31ahas to accommodate connecting ends of upper belts of various width, the latter are in many cases not laterally fixed. Furthermore, for binding cargos of great variety, long upper belts are usually used, so that often long connecting ends have to be pulled through the slit31a, while the upper and lower blocking elements61a,71ahave to be kept from blocking the ratchet wheels2a, wasting time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a binding device which allows for fast and convenient mounting and dismounting of belts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a binding device which has a wider range of applications.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the binding device of the present invention is used to pull together connecting ends of upper and lower belts10,12, comprising a lever4, a frame5, and upper and lower blocking devices6,7. The binding device of the present invention is characterized by further comprising ratchet wheels2with inner and outer peripheries, carrying inner and outer protrusions23,25, respectively, which form an axis of a movement of the lever4and the frame5against each other. A roll3of varying width is set on the inner and outer protrusions23,25, thereby readily being replaceable, so that the upper belt10is quickly inserted or pulled out. In the following, a detailed description is given.

Each of the ratchet wheels2has a plurality of mount openings21,22, in which a first roll sector33and a second roll sector35are mounted. There are two or more mount openings and roll sectors, the present text uses two as an example.

The roll3comprises the first roll sector33, the second roll sector35, and a fixing assembly8. The first roll sector33is mounted in the mount opening21, having a free end, and is removable to allow for inserting of the upper belt10. The second roll sector35is mounted in the mount opening22, having a free end. A gap31lies between the first and second roll sectors33,35. The fixing assembly8comprises: a transverse hole84, passing through the free end of the first roll sector33; a first fixing hole83, passing through the free end of the first roll sector33, oriented perpendicularly to the transverse hole84; a second fixing hole81, passing through the free end of the second roll sector33and aligned with the first fixing hole83when the first roll sector33is inserted in the mount opening21; two first pins88, entering the transverse hole84from opposite ends thereof; a handle87, shaped like the letter U and having ends to which the first pins88are respectively attached, so that the first roll sector33is readily manually moved, furthermore having lever holes91close to the ends thereof; a connecting piece89, shaped like the letter U and having ends with end holes93, through which second pins95pass, which in turn pass through the lever holes91; and a bolt85, passing through the first fixing hole83of the first roll sector33and having a free end with a mounting hole86, passed through by the connecting piece89. Moving the handle87towards the first roll sector33drives a movement of the connecting piece89, pushing the bolt85deeper into the first fixing hole83and finally into the second fixing hole81of the second roll sector35. Then the first and second roll sectors33,35are connected to each other. Moving the handle87away from the first roll sector drives an opposite movement of the connecting piece89, pulling the bolt85out of the first fixing hole83, so that the bolt85leaves the second fixing hole81of the second roll sector35. Then the first roll sector33is longitudinally removable. Thereby, mounting and dismounting of the upper belt10is quickly and easily performed.

Since there is no need to pass the upper belt through the gap31, engaging elements14(not shown) are attached without restriction, and mounting and dismounting times are reduced.

The present invention is also applicable to a single belt with engaging elements on opposite ends thereof. For usage, one end of the belt is fixed and wound around cargo to be secured, an opposite end is fixed, and a middle section is fold and inserted into the gap between the roll sectors and pulled tight by repeatedly moving the lever and the frame against each other (not shown).

Each of the roll sectors33,35of the roll3is designable to be removable (not shown).

The roll sectors33,35are realizable with any cross-sections, the semi-circular cross-sections shown in the Figs. being examples.

Referring toFIG. 3, the present invention in a second embodiment has two ratchet wheels2band a roll3bwith first and second roll sectors33b,35bwhich are both removable. On both ends of the roll3b, a fixing assembly8is attached. For mounting the roll3b, each of the ratchet wheels2bhas a support27with a mounting hole29into which the bolt85is inserted, so that the roll3bis fixed.

Referring toFIG. 4, for saving manufacturing cost and more convenient production, the present invention in a third embodiment has ratchet wheels2c, each comprising an inner half20awith a circular inner protrusion23cand an outer half20bwith a circular outer protrusion25c.

The present invention offers the following advantages:

1. Fast mounting and dismounting of belts;

2. an extended range of applications;

3. no need for passing a belt through a gap and pulling out a belt therefrom;