Abstract:
Housing for containing excess cargo tie-down material, and for containing the locking mechanism to reduce its exposure to the environmental elements. The housing is in the form of a generally flat portion and a sack made of durable material. The sack is configured to receive excess strap or other tie-down element, and to neatly fold about the locking mechanism to protect the same from severe environmental conditions. The generally flat portion includes opposite free end flaps that when folded towards each other, envelope the locking mechanism and sack.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Tie-down devices for securing cargo on vehicles such as railway cars, trailers or truck flatbeds or decks are well known. Typically the devices include a winch or a ratchet which receives a tie-down element such as a cable, chain, rope, strap or the like. The tie-down element is secured to one side of the vehicle bed, draped over the cargo, and attached to the other side of the bed. Once the cargo is secured beneath the tie-down element, the winch or ratchet is actuated to tension the tie-down element over the cargo, securing the same in place.  
         [0002]     Since the dimensions of various cargoes can vary considerably, the length of the tie-down element necessary to secure the cargo also varies. As the tie-down element is tensioned by the winch or ratchet, excess strap that is not under tension results. This excess must be secured in some fashion to prevent it from freely flapping as the vehicle travels, as this can cause damage to the cargo, the vehicle, the strap or the tie-down element itself.  
         [0003]     Moreover, the tensioning mechanism typically includes a locking mechanism that can freeze upon exposure to freezing rain or snow. The tie-down element also can freeze. In addition, the locking mechanism tends to roll on its side or top due to the cargo shifting during transit or during tightening of the tie-down element. Any movement of the locking mechanism can scratch or damage the cargo.  
         [0004]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for securing excess tie-down members in a convenient and easy fashion.  
         [0005]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that protects the cargo from being scratched or damaged by the locking mechanism.  
         [0006]     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device that protects the locking mechanism and tie-down element from deleterious environmental conditions, thereby preventing the locking mechanism and tie-down element from freezing or other damage that would occur were it exposed to severe environmental conditions such as snow or freezing rain.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The problems of the prior art have been overcome by the present invention, which provides a versatile housing for containing excess tie-down material, and for containing the locking mechanism to reduce its exposure to the environmental elements. The housing is preferably in the form of a generally flat portion and a sack made of durable material. The sack is configured to receive excess strap or other tie-down element, and to neatly fold about the locking mechanism to protect the same from severe environmental conditions. The generally flat portion includes opposite free end flaps that when folded towards each other, envelope the locking mechanism and sack. The device of the present invention can be retrofitted with existing tie-down straps and locking mechanisms,  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view showing the housing, tie-down element and locking mechanism in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a tie-down system installed in the housing in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the closed housing showing a tie-down system installed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the housing in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a tie-down assembly including a conventional ratchet-type locking mechanism  10 , strap  12  appropriately threaded in the locking mechanism  10 , and hooks  13  attached to the strap at free ends thereof. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that although a strap is shown as the tie-down element, other tie-down elements can be used, including chains, ropes, cables or cords, and that the term “strap” as used herein encompasses such alternatives. Similarly, although hooks  13  are shown as the means for attaching the tie-down element to the vehicle, other attaching devices known to those skilled in the art are also within the scope of the present invention. The present invention is also not limited to any particular locking mechanism design; winches, cams, over-center devices, etc. could be used in addition to the ratchet-type illustrated.  
         [0013]     The preferred embodiment of the housing  20  is shown in  FIG. 1  in a partially assembled condition. Suitable housing materials are materials that are weather resistant, durable and capable of being folded or otherwise configured into a compact form. Exemplary materials are woven synthetic fiber such as Marine grade polyester fabric, leather, fiberglass cloth, cotton, nylon, vinyl, rubber, foam, woven cloths and non-woven sheet materials. Woven synthetic polyester fabric is particularly preferred in view of its durability, versatility and availability in popular colors.  
         [0014]     The housing includes a generally flat portion and an integral sack  21  having a sufficient volume to receive and store any excess strap  12  generated after tensioning of the tie-down device over the cargo being secured. The sack  21  preferably is positioned at or near the centerline of the length “l” of the housing  21 , and has one open end to receive the excess strap. Positioning the sack  21  on the centerline allows it to easily fold over and onto the locking mechanism  10 . It is positioned with respect to the remainder of the housing  20  (the generally flat portion) so that it can be folded over the remainder of the housing  20  to effectively close the open end and secure the strap inside the sack. The height “h” of the opening of the sack  21  is the same as or less than the width of the remainder of the housing  20  (i.e., width “w” shown in  FIG. 1 ), so that upon folding the sack  21  onto the remainder of the housing  20 , the opening of the sack  21  does not extend beyond the housing  20 . Similarly, the depth “d” of the sack  21  is less than length “l” of the remainder of the housing  20 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates the housing prior to assembly. The sack  21  is assembled by folding the sides 90° along the dotted lines and then securing the sides, such as by sewing with high strength synthetic thread such as nylon. Thus, edge A is secured to edge B, edge C to edge D, edge E to edge F and edge G to edge H. Alternatively, the sides could be secured by fusion welding, bonding, stapling, interweaving or riveting. The remainder of the housing  20  includes means for securing the opposite longitudinal ends  20 A,  20 B, together. A preferred means of securing these ends is with strips of hooks and loops such as VELCRO strips. Thus, one of the strips of hooks or loops is secured to the upper surface of the housing  20  at or near the end  20 A, and the other of the strips is secured to the opposite under surface at or near the end  20 B. Upon folding the ends  20 A,  20 B toward one another, the hooks and loops will engage and secure the housing  20  together as discussed in greater detail below. Other suitable means to secure the ends of the housing to one another include adhesive, snaps, buttons, zippers, laces, magnets, elastics, springs and hooks, spring-loaded clips and clamps, toggle clamps or latches, suction cups, locks, screws, buckles, draw strings, etc. Any of these also could be used to close the sack  21  if desired.  
         [0016]     The housing  20  includes a pair of slits  28 A,  28 B penetrating through the housing material. The slits are suitably dimensioned to receive the hooks  13  and strap  12 , which are threaded through the slits as best seen in  FIG. 2 . The slits can be formed in the housing  20  by any suitable means, such as by cutting. Where necessary or desired, the edges of the slits can be reinforced to prevent the housing from ripping further. Preferably the distance “s” between the slits  28 A and  28 B is sufficient to accommodate the locking mechanism  10  while still allowing the strap  12  to freely move through the slits, again as seen in  FIG. 2 . Preferably the slits  28 A and  28 B are aligned directly across from one another (i.e., are parallel and not offset from one another), again to ensure that the strap  12  is allowed to move freely through the slits. Preferably the slits are positioned on the approximate centerline of the length “l” of the housing  21 , so that the housing can be opened and closed easily while the locking mechanism is tight against the cargo. Although slits are the preferred form of the apertures through the housing  20 , other forms, regular or irregular, can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0017]     The housing  20  also includes a free end flap  27  with no integral means of securement attached to the generally flat portion opposite the sack  21 , at or near the centerline of the length “l” of the housing. The width of the flap  27  is preferably equal to or substantially equal to the width of the sack  21 , and its length is sufficient so that when it is folded over onto the locking mechanism  10  and the sack is folded onto it, and finally the end flaps  20 A,  20 B are folded and secured, it will be held securely and not come loose. The flap  27  functions to cover the area of the locking mechanism  10  that is not covered by the folded and secured sack  21 , thereby completely shielding the locking mechanism  10  from deleterious environmental conditions and ensuring that the locking mechanism  10  is completely encompasses to further protect the cargo from being scratched or otherwise damaged by it.  
         [0018]     The housing  20  is attached to the tie-down device by inserting each of hooked ends  13  through a respective slot, and pulling the strap  13  attached to the hooks through the slits until the locking mechanism  10  is sitting flat against the surface of the housing between the slits  28 A and  28 B. The hooks  13  are secured to the vehicle, and the cargo is secured by actuating the locking mechanism to tighten the strap  12  over the cargo. Excess strap  12  remaining after the tightening operation is fed into the sack  21 . The free end flap is then folded 180° over the locking mechanism as indicated by arrow ( 1 ) in  FIG. 2 . The sack  21  is then folded 180° over the locking mechanism  10 , as illustrated by arrow ( 2 ) in  FIG. 2 . One end  20 B is then folded 180° over onto the sack  21 , as illustrated by arrow ( 3 ) in  FIG. 2 . The opposite end  20 A is then folded 180° onto the end  20 B as illustrated by arrow ( 4 ) in  FIG. 2  (those skilled in the art will appreciate that the order of folding flaps  20 A and  20 B could be reversed if the functional portions of the VELCO are reversed). The hook and loop strips thereby contact each other and engage, securing the housing over the locking mechanism and sack  21 , to form an enclosed protective housing as shown in  FIG. 3 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the order of the foregoing assembly can vary, particularly if means other than hooks and loops is used to secure the ends of the housing  20  to one another.