Abstract:
A rachet strap tightener and a power driven rotary tool are arranged to be operated together for tightening a strap. The body of the power driven rotary tool is arranged to be anchored in mating engagement relative to the body of the rachet strap tightener, in addition to coupling the rotating mating parts of the tool and the strap tightener, such that the torque applied when winding the spindle of the tightener no longer acts to twist the tightener body from the user&#39;s hands but rather the torque is anchored directly through the bodies so that winding of the spindle with the power driven tool can be accomplished quickly, efficiently and in a safe manner.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/914,086, filed Apr. 26, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a ratchet strap tightener and corresponding rotary driven tool, and more particularly the present invention relates to a method of operating the rachet strap tightener wherein a body of the rotary driven tool can be anchored to a body of the rachet strap tightener. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The use of rachet strap tighteners is common when transporting various types of cargo for snugly securing the cargo in place. A typically strap tightener includes a first strap connected at one end thereof which is anchored at a first location on the cargo and a spindle on an opposite end onto which a second strap may be wound for securement at a second location on the cargo. A racheting mechanism is typically selectively engaged with the spindle, that is that a user can select between an engaged position in which rotation of the spindle is only restricted in an unwinding direction of the strap from the spindle or a released position in which the spindle is free to be wound or unwound in either direction. When using a power tool to wind the spindle, the torque generated by the power tool acts on the body of the strap tightener, which before the strap is tightened is only loosely supported. This commonly causes the body of the tightener to be twisted from the user&#39;s hands causing disengagement of the spindle from the power driven tool. Accordingly mating connection of a power driven tool with a spindle of a strap tightener is often an awkward, time consuming task which is also potentially dangerous to the user operating the strap tightener. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating a rachet strap tightener using a power driven rotary tool, the rachet strap tightener comprising a tightener body, a spindle rotatably supported about a spindle axis relative to the tightener body for winding a first strap thereon in first direction, a first mating part rotatable with the spindle relative to the tightener body and a ratcheting mechanism arranged to selectively restrict rotation of the spindle relative to the tightener body in an opposing second direction, the power driven rotary tool comprising a tool body, a second mating part arranged to mate with the first mating part of the rachet strap tightener and arranged to be driven to rotate about a drive axis, the method comprising: 
         [0005]    anchoring the tool body relative to the tightener body; 
         [0006]    mating the second mating part of the rotary driven tool with the first mating part of the rachet strap tightener; and 
         [0007]    driving the second mating part of the rotary driven tool to rotate the spindle of the rachet strap tightener. 
         [0008]    By anchoring the body of the tool to the body of the strap tightener in addition to coupling the rotating mating parts of the tool and the strap tightener, the torque applied when winding the spindle no longer acts to twist the tightener body from the user&#39;s hands but rather the torque is anchored directly through the bodies so that winding of the spindle with the power driven tool can be accomplished quickly, efficiently and in a safe manner. 
         [0009]    One of the mating parts may comprise a bolt head and the other mating part may comprise a socket which matingly receives the bolt head therein. 
         [0010]    Preferably the first mating part comprises a bolt head and the second mating part comprises a socket arranged to matingly receive the bolt head therein. 
         [0011]    The method may include anchoring the tool body relative to the tightener body at a location which is spaced radially from the drive axis and by sliding the tool body towards the tightener body in a direction of the drive axis. 
         [0012]    The method may further include anchoring the tool body relative to the tightener body by providing an anchoring member on one of the bodies and a receptacle on the other body which matingly receives the anchor member therein. 
         [0013]    Preferably a receptacle on the tightener body is arranged to receive a portion of the tool body therein. 
         [0014]    When the tightener body comprises a pair of side plates oriented perpendicularly to the spindle axis and spaced apart from one another along the spindle axis, the method may include providing an aperture in each of the side plates such that the apertures are aligned with one another along a receptacle axis which is parallel and spaced from the spindle axis to slidably receive a portion of the tool body therein. 
         [0015]    The apertures may be located spaced between the spindle and a post arranged for anchoring a second strap thereon. 
         [0016]    The tool body may be anchored relative to the tightener body by providing an anchor member on the tool body which is arranged to be received within a mating receptacle on the tightener body. 
         [0017]    Preferably the anchor member extends generally parallel to the drive axis. 
         [0018]    The anchor member preferably extends outwardly in a direction the socket member faces beyond the socket member. 
         [0019]    The anchor member may be located on the body to be diametrically opposite from a handle of the tool arranged to be gripped by a hand of a user. 
         [0020]    According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a rachet strap tightener for use with a power driven rotary tool comprising a tool body and a first mating part supported for rotation relative to the tool body about a drive axis, the rachet strap tightener comprising: 
         [0021]    a tightener body; 
         [0022]    a spindle rotatably supported on the tightener body for rotation relative to the tightener body about a spindle axis for winding a first strap thereon in first direction; 
         [0023]    a second mating part rotatable with the spindle relative to the tightener body; 
         [0024]    a ratcheting mechanism arranged to selectively restrict rotation of the spindle relative to the tightener body in an opposing second direction; and 
         [0025]    a receptacle on the tightener body arranged to matingly receive an anchor member on the tool body for anchoring the tightener body relative to the tool body. 
         [0026]    The tightener body may comprise a pair of side plates oriented perpendicularly to the spindle axis and the receptacle may comprise an aperture in each of the side plates aligned with one another along a receptacle axis which is parallel and spaced from the spindle axis to slidably receive a portion of the tool body therein. 
         [0027]    Preferably the receptacle is arranged to receive a portion of the tool body therein slidably along an axis lying parallel to the spindle axis. 
         [0028]    According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a power driven rotary tool for use with a rachet strap tightener comprising a tightener body, a spindle rotatably supported on the tightener body about a spindle axis for winding a first strap thereon in first direction, a first mating part rotatable with the spindle relative to the tightener body, and a ratcheting mechanism arranged to selectively restrict rotation of the spindle relative to the tightener body in an opposing second direction, the power driven rotary tool comprising: 
         [0029]    a tool body; 
         [0030]    a second mating part supported for rotation relative to the tool body about a drive axis; 
         [0031]    the second mating part being arranged to mate with the first mating part for rotation together about the drive axis; and 
         [0032]    an anchor member on the tool body arranged to being received in a mating receptacle on the tightener body for anchoring the tool body relative to the tightener body. 
         [0033]    The anchor member may extend generally parallel to the drive axis. 
         [0034]    The anchor member preferably extends outwardly in a direction the socket member faces beyond the socket member. 
         [0035]    The anchor member may be located on the body to be diametrically opposite from a handle of the tool arranged to be gripped by a hand of a user. 
         [0036]    One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0037]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a cargo item being secured with a strap tightener. 
           [0038]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of the strap tightener according to the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the strap tightener according to the present invention in alignment with a rotary driven tool according to the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the tool. 
           [0041]      FIG. 5  is an end elevational view of the tool. 
       
    
    
       [0042]    In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0043]    Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a rachet strap tighener generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . The tightener  10  is particularly suited for use with a rotary driven tool  12  of the type shown in the accompanying figures to tighten a strap having a first part  14  secured between the strap tightener  10  and a first location relative to a cargo item  16  to be secured and a second part  18  which is coupled between the tightener  10  and a second location relative to the cargo item  16  to be secured and which is arranged to be wound onto the strap tighener. 
         [0044]    The tool  10  comprises an air powered rotary driven socket tool having a body  20  locating a rotary head  22  thereon. The rotary head is arranged to attach a socket member  24  thereon to rotate the socket member  24  about a socket axis  26  under power of compressed air. The socket member  24  is supported to face forwardly along the axis  26  away from the head  22 . A handle  28  is coupled to the head  12  and forms a fixed portion of the body  20  which extends radially in a first direction from the rotary head  22 . A lever  30  is operatively supported along side the handle  28  for engagement by the user to actuate rotation of the socket member  24  relative to the body  20 . 
         [0045]    The tool further comprises an anchor member  32  in the form of an elongate round rod which is rigid and fixed relative to the body  20 . The anchor member includes a base bar  34  which extends radially from the socket axis  26  diametrically opposite the handle  28  to project outwardly beyond the rotary head  22  of the body. The anchor member further includes an anchor bar  36  coupled to the free outer end of the base bar at right angles thereto to extend parallel to the socket axis  26  from a location rearward of the socket head to project forwardly beyond the socket face from the body  20 . 
         [0046]    The rachet strap tightener includes a body  50  which extends in a longitudinal direction from a post  52  at one end to which the first part  14  of the strap is secured, to a spindle  54  at the opposing end onto which the second part  18  of the strap is wound. The spindle  54  includes an axially extending slot therein for receiving one end of the second part  18  of the strap prior to winding. The spindle  54  is supported for rotation about its respective spindle axis with the spindle and the post  52  being support parallel to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction at opposing ends of the body  50 . 
         [0047]    The body  50  further includes two side plates  56  which extend in the longitudinal direction parallel to one another and laterally spaced apart from one another. The spindle  54  and the post  52  are supported perpendicularly to the two plates to span therebetween at the opposing ends of the plates. The post  52  is fixed relative to the plates while the spindle is rotatable relative to the two side plates  56  which form a fixed portion of the body  50 . 
         [0048]    The body  50  further comprises a top plate  58  which is fixed between the two side plates  56  in connection along respective top edges of the side plates. The top plate  58  is centered in the longitudinal direction between opposing ends of the body and terminates spaced inwardly in the longitudinal direction from both ends of the body to provide access of the strap to the post  52  and the spindle  54  respectively. 
         [0049]    A set of racheting teeth  60  are provided on both ends of the spindle at circumferential positions about the spindle evenly spaced thereabout and arranged to rotate with the spindle. The two sets of racheting teeth  60  are located on outer sides of the body opposite one another on opposing outer sides of the two side plates  56 . 
         [0050]    A retainer member  62  is provided in the form of two flanges  64  which are slidably received in respective slots  66  in the two side plates  56  respectively. The slots  56  extend generally radially from the spindle axis to be aligned generally in the longitudinal direction of the body. 
         [0051]    The two flanges  64  of the retainer are formed integrally with one another by a common plate spanning therebetween for common sliding movement in the longitudinal direction into selective engagement with the racheing teeth  60 . The retainer  62  is biased into engagement with the racheting teeth by a suitable spring  68  coupled between an opposing end of the plate in relation to the flanges  64  and a depending flange  70  mounted on the top plate. 
         [0052]    The teeth  60  are formed to define a ramping surface in engagement with the flanges  64  respectively when the spindle is rotated in a first winding direction to wind the strap onto the spindle. Each ramping surface terminates at a blunt shoulder which prevents rotation of the spindle in an opposing unwinding direction opposite the winding direction when the retainer is engaged with the teeth  60 . The retainer only acts to restrict in the unwinding direction as the ramping surfaces in the opposing direction cause the retainer  62  to be automatically biased into the release position against the spring  68  as in operation of a typically racheting mechanism. The retainer  62  may be manually released from the racheting teeth  60  for unwinding as desired. 
         [0053]    As a bolt head  72  is provided at one end of the spindle externally from the body  50  and the racheting teeth  60  on the spindle. The bolt head  72  comprises a hexagonal head arranged for mating engagement with the socket member  24  of the tool  12  for positive engagement therebetween when the socket of the tool is mated with the bolt head of the spindle so that the two are rotatably together when the tool is actuated. 
         [0054]    A pair of apertures  74  are provided in the side plates  56  respectively in alignment with one another to define a common receptacle extending fully through the body  50  of the tightener which is in alignment with a receptacle axis lying parallel and spaced radially in relation to the socket axis. The apertures are spaced in the longitudinal direction between the spindle  54  and the post  52 , and more particularly are spaced in the longitudinal direction between the retainer  62  of the racheting mechanism and the post  52 . 
         [0055]    In use, when it is desired to operate the strap tightener to tighten the first and second parts of a strap, the second part of the strap is inserted into the slot of the spindle and the spindle is rotated initially until the strap is wound partially onto to the spindle. When it is desired to further tighten the strap using the driven rotary tool, the anchor member  32  is first secured into the receptacle defined by the apertures  74  in the tighener body by slidably displacing the anchor member into the receptacle with the tool bodies being displaced towards one another in the direction of the socket axis and the spindle axis which are aligned with one another. 
         [0056]    Once the anchor bar  36  of the tool body is received within the two apertures  74  forming the receptacle on the tightener body, the tool is pivotal relative to the tightener body about an axis of the anchor bar and the receptacle to align the socket of the tool with the bolt head on the end of the spindle at which point the bolt head and socket can be mated with one another. In this instance in addition to the rotary parts of the tightener body and the tool being engaged in mating connection with one another, the tightener body and the tool body are also anchored relative to one another at a location spaced radially from the rotating parts to anchor against any torque applied between the two bodies so that actuation of the rotary driven tool only causes the spindle to rotate without twisting the body from the hand of the user. 
         [0057]    Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.