Abstract:
A ratcheting strap-down system for use with a crossbar to securely transport any variety of objects. The ratcheting strap-down assembly includes a ratcheting receiver and a cam clamp receiver. The ratcheting receiver includes a ratcheting assembly and a locking mechanism and is adapted to engage a second end of a flexible strap. The flexible strap is preferably made from reinforced steel cog belt, making the system and the objects it&#39;s securing less susceptible to theft. The ratcheting strap-down system is particularly useful for securing one or more surfboards to the crossbars of an after-market roof rack assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to automotive roof racks and more particularly to a strap-down or tie-down system for securing items of different size and shape to crossbars on the roof of an automobile. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A driver often secures a large or bulky item to the roof of his car, van, truck, or SUV, in order to move it from one place to another. Some automobiles have factory-installed roof racks with posts or side rails that rise up from the roof and two or more crossbars. However, many automobiles are not factory equipped with a roof rack of any sort. As a result, there are a number of competing roof rack systems made by after-market companies. Two such companies are Yakima and Thule. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the after-market roof rack systems typically include a base rack assembly consisting of two crossbars that are elevated above the automobile&#39;s roof. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the Yakima-brand roof rack systems use circular crossbars. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the Thule-brand roof rack systems use rectangular crossbars. 
     In either case, the elevated crossbars prevent the item from damaging the vehicle and provide a convenient structure for securing the item to the vehicle with conventional tie-down materials such as rope, straps, twine, bungee-cords, or the like. Also available, especially for use in connection with the after-market roof rack system, are a wide variety of optional tie-down systems and item-specific mounts that are specifically designed to securely carry such items as fully-enclosed storage containers, open baskets, skis, snowboards, bicycles, fishing rods, kayaks, canoes, and surfboards. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention may be used to securely transport any variety of objects, but it is particularly useful for securing one or more surfboards to the crossbars of an after-market roof rack system. It is useful at this point, therefore, to review how the after-market roof rack systems may be used to carry a surfboard. 
       FIG. 1  shows a car  90  that has been equipped with a typical after-market roof rack system consisting of a base rack system  100 . As shown, the base rack system  100  includes a front rack assembly  100 F and a rear rack assembly  100 R. Each rack assembly  100 F,  100 R includes a pair of towers  120 ,  120  mounted to the vehicle&#39;s roof  91 , and a crossbar  130  that provides load support between the towers  120 ,  120 . The base rack system  100  may be used as shown with conventional tie-downs materials, or with specialized tie-down systems, or with item-specific mounts (not shown). 
     The owner of a Yakima-brand or Thule-brand roof rack system could simply lay a surfboard between the crossbars and attempt to secure the surfboard with conventional tie-downs materials. In such case, however, the certainty of the attachment is highly variable, depending on the user&#39;s tie-down skills and the geometry of the surfboard (it being safer if the surfboard increases in width between the crossbars). Moreover, the surfboard is easily stolen because the conventional tie-down materials are easily cut. In addition, the user often has to stow the excess length of the conventional tie-down materials by bundling it up on the car&#39;s roof, or by dropping it through the car&#39;s window. 
     Both Yakima and Thule offer surfboard-specific tie-down systems or mounts. Yakima sells a so-called “StrapThang” that consists of a cloth-covered rubber loop that is secured to a “center anchor” clamped to the crossbar, stretched over the surfboard, and secured around the end of the crossbar that extends beyond the tower. If the “StrapThang” does not provide adequate tension, then it is necessary to put padding under the surfboard until the tension is reached. The “StrapThang” is easily cut offering little theft security. 
     Thule sells a “Hang Two” surf carrier that uses two L-shaped base units that may be variably positioned on the crossbar and clamped in place with a nut and bolt arrangement. In use, the L-shaped base units are pressed firmly against the edge of the surfboard and tightened in place. The certainty of the attachment requires the L-shaped base units to be positioned on the narrowing width of the surfboard and that is not always possible. Moreover, the surfboard is not well protected from theft because the L-shaped base units are easily released. 
     As should now be clear, the conventional tie-down materials and specialized tie-down systems known to the inventor are inadequate on many levels. First, they generally do not secure the surfboard(s) to the roof rack system with sufficient ease and certainty. Second, they generally offer little theft deterrent because they are easily unfastened or cut. Third, they generally do not provide any convenient means for storing the excess tie-down material. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved ratcheting strap down system that is adjustable and versatile. Another object of this invention is to secure the items with a locking mechanism. It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a ratcheting strap down system for surfboards, kayaks and other odd shaped items that can prevent theft and is simple and efficient to use. 
     The objects of the present invention are achieved by having a base rack system on the roof of a car, adapted to hold a ratcheting receiver with a locking mechanism, a cam clamp receiver, and a flexible strap for releasably coupling a surfboard or the like to the roof of a vehicle. The ratcheting receiver comprises a spring housing and a toothed pawl that extends from the spring housing. The toothed pawl is spring biased towards the strap. The toothed pawl has a surface with alternating teeth and indentations or ramps that correspond with the profile of the flexible strap. The teeth are inclined to either secure the strap or allow it to slide through the housing, depending on the direction the strap is traveling. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the strap is a steel reinforced cog belt. The cog belt includes either round protrusions, saw-like protrusions or any other shaped protrusions that allow the belt to be limited in motion by a pawl. The protrusions in the strap are preferably inclined so that a force applied to the strap in a certain direction allows the strap to slide with the incline and forces the pawl to move away from the strap. The protrusions alternate with indentations so that the pawl does not deflect if an attempt is made to force the strap in a direction opposite of the protrusion inclines. 
     The cam clamp receiver is adjustable in relation to the crossbar and comprises a slideable cam clamp used to secure one end of the strap to the crossbar. During use, one end of the flexible strap is coupled to the cam clamp receiver via a slideable cam. The strap is clamped between the cam clamp and the crossbar and held in a desired location on the crossbar with pressure exerted by the cam. The ratcheting receiver then vertically receives a second end of the strap through an opening and the strap connects with the toothed pawl which secures the strap at a desired length. The pawl may be retracted to allow strap removal, left in the spring-loaded ratcheting mode or fixed in place to prevent strap movement in either direction by a mechanical locking mechanism. 
     Any excess strap that is not being used to hold down the items is fed through an aperture located on the ratcheting receiver and into the crossbar. The strap down system is constructed to fit on either round or square crossbars, making versatility between automobiles very easy and efficient. 
     While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35a USC 112, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35a USC 112 are to be accorded full statutory equivalents under 35a USC 112. The invention can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a presently preferred embodiment of a car that has been equipped with a typical after-market roof rack system according to the present invention 
         FIG. 2  shows a presently preferred embodiment of a round crossbar for a roof rack system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a presently preferred embodiment of a rectangular crossbar for a roof rack system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of a presently preferred embodiment of a ratcheting strap down system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of a presently preferred embodiment of a ratcheting receiver and cog belt according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of a surfboard locked within a ratcheting strap down system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7   a  shows a preferred assembly process of a presently preferred embodiment of a cam clamp receiver according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7   b  shows a see through view of a presently preferred embodiment of a cam clamp receiver according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows an exploded perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of a ratcheting receiver according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  shows a partial perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of a ratcheting receiver adapted to hold a square crossbar according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  shows a partial perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of a ratcheting receiver adapted to hold a round crossbar according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are presented as illustrated examples of the invention defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the invention as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention.  FIG. 1  illustrates a car  90  that has been equipped with a typical after-market roof rack system consisting of a base rack system  100 . As shown, the base rack system  100  includes a front rack assembly  100 F and a rear rack assembly  100 R. Each rack assembly  100 F,  100 R includes a pair of towers  120 ,  120  mounted to the vehicle&#39;s roof  91 , and a crossbar  130  that provides load support between the towers  120 ,  120 . The base rack system  100  may be used as shown with conventional tie-downs materials, or with specialized tie-down systems, or with item-specific mounts (not shown). 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a circular crossbar  130  for being used in the front and rear roof rack assembly  100 F,  100 R such as the Yakima-brand roof rack systems use. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the Thule-brand roof rack systems use rectangular crossbars  130 . 
       FIGS. 4-8  illustrate a ratcheting strap-down system according to the present invention, referred to generally as  10 , that is meant to be releasably fixed to an automobile. The ratcheting strap-down system  10  comprises a flexible strap  12 , a ratcheting receiver  14  and a cam clamp receiver  16 . The ratcheting and cam clamp receivers  14 ,  16  are in the form of brackets that are adapted to be mounted on an existing crossbar  18  on an automobile. In a preferred embodiment, the cam clamp receiver  16  houses a strap actuated cam clamp  50  that engages a first end  12   a  of the flexible strap  12 . The ratcheting receiver  14  engages a second end  12   b  of the flexible strap  12  through an opening  25 . In a preferred embodiment, the flexible strap  12  lies parallel to the crossbar  18  and is positioned over a surfboard  20  or other item (best shown in  FIG. 6 ). In .a preferred embodiment, the strap  12  comprises a cog belt, having a cogged side  13  with cogs  33  and a flat side  15 . It should be understood that the cogs  33  can be round in shape, or include saw-tooth protrusions or any other shape that will enable the pawl  32  (see  FIG. 5 ) to limit the strap&#39;s  12  motion. 
     Best shown in  FIG. 5 , the ratcheting receiver  14  includes a ratcheting assembly  30 . The ratcheting assembly  30  includes a spring housing  31 , a toothed pawl  32  that lays perpendicular to the flexible strap  12 , and a spring  34 . The pawl  32  has a surface with alternating teeth  35  and indentations or ramps  36 . The pawl  32  surface is adapted to mate with the cogged side  13  of the strap  12 . The pawl  32  is spring biased towards the strap  12  by the spring  34 . The cogged side  13  of the strap  12  forces the spring  34  and the toothed pawl  32  to move away from the strap  12  (in the direction of B) when the ramps  36  contact the cogs  33 . The pawl  32  provides resistance to the strap  12  when the strap  12  travels against the teeth  35  in the pawl  32 . So long as the strap  12  travels in the direction of A, the spring  34  allows the strap  12  to travel through the ratcheting receiver  14 . In other words, the teeth  35  and ramps  36  of the pawl  32  fit into the cog  33  pattern of the strap  12 , and therefore the strap  12  can only travel freely in the downward direction depicted by direction A. 
     Shown best in  FIG. 5 , the preferred ratcheting receiver  14 , includes an aperture  24  that is aligned with an aperture  19  at the end of the crossbar  18 . As a result, after pulling the strap  12  tight, any excess strap  12  that exists can be conveniently inserted into the aperture  24  and into the crossbar  18 . In one preferred embodiment, the ratcheting receiver  14  is secured to the crossbar  18  with set screws  21 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the ratcheting receiver  14  comprises a release mechanism. Also in a preferred embodiment, the release mechanism is a key lock  22  having a key operated pin  23 . The ratcheting receiver  14  has a milled slot  17 , that receives the key operated pin  23  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) to move the toothed pawl  32  away from the flexible strap  12  and release the flexible strap  12 , or to move the toothed pawl  32  toward the flexible strap  12  and lock it in place. The normal position of the key operated pin  23  is neutral to allow the pawl  32  to ratchet. 
       FIGS. 4 and 6  generally refer to the functionality of the ratcheting strap-down system  10 . As shown by  FIG. 4 , the two receivers  14 ,  16  may be mounted to the crossbar at different, spaced apart locations to create a variable-width gap therebetween. Once the two receivers  14 ,  16  are stabilized at desired locations on the crossbar  18  to create the desired gap, the strap  12  lays above and parallel to the cross bar  18  within the span of that gap. This allows a surfboard  20  to be secured between the cross bar  18  and the strap  12 , within the gap. Although a surfboard  20  is the only item illustrated in the figures, it is understood that any other item such as a ladder (not shown), kayak (not shown), luggage (not shown) or any other item preferably having a length that extends over two crossbars  18  on the vehicle can be secured. The surfboard  20  is inserted over the cross bar  18  and under the strap  12  between the ratcheting receiver  14  and the cam clamp receiver  16 . It is also understood that the surfboard  20  can first be placed on the crossbars  18  and then the strap  12  is positioned over the item. Next, the second end  12 b of the strap  12  is received by the ratcheting receiver  14  to secure the item to the crossbar  18 . This method allows the flexible strap to be tightly positioned over a portion of the item to secure it to the crossbar  18 . 
       FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  show a preferred method of assembling the cam clamp receiver  16  to the crossbar  18  according to the present invention.  FIG. 7   a  shows a cam clamp receiver  16  comprising a strap actuated cam clamp  50 . One end of the strap  12   a  is coupled to the cam clamp  50  via a strap-receiving indent  57 . The cam clamp  50  is coupled to the cam clamp receiver  16  with a pin  52  that the clamp pivots on. The pin  52  aligns with a slotted hole  56 . 
     The cam clamp receiver  16  includes a U-shaped bracket  55  that slides onto and engages the crossbar  18  from the bottom. The cam clamp  50  is coupled to the bracket  55  by positioning the clamp  50  so that the pin  52  from the cam clamp aligns with a slotted hole  56  of the bracket  55 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7   b , the strap  12  is wrapped around the clamp  50  and pulled tight in the direction of C. When force is applied to the strap in the direction of C, the cam clamp  50  cinches the strap  12  onto a desired position of the crossbar  18 . The pin  52  is engaged within the milled hole  53  and stabilizes the bracket  55  on the crossbar  18 . In a preferred embodiment, the cam clamp  50  comprises cogged detents  54  that are adapted to mate with the cogged side  13  of the strap  12 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an exploded view of a second embodiment of the ratcheting receiver  14 . The ratcheting receiver  14  comprises a first housing  40 , made of two connectable pieces  40   a  and  40   b . The connectable housing pieces  40   a  and  40   b  are coupled together by fasteners  41  through apertures  28  on both the pieces  40   a  and  40   b . In a second preferred embodiment, the first housing  40  is retained on the crossbar  18  by a lever actuated cam  42  that clamps down on the crossbar  18 . The lever-actuated cam  42  includes a lever handle  43  that can be pressed down to clamp and cinch the ratcheting receiver  14  to the crossbar  18 . 
     The ratcheting receiver  14  includes a recess  44  that allows pawl  32  to extend through the first bracket  40 . The spring-loaded pawl  32  extends into the recess  44  and engages the strap  12  which is inserted through the opening  25 . 
     Best shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  a crossbar platform  46  is adapted to receive both a round and a square crossbar  18 . This allows the ratcheting strap-down system  10  to be easily and conveniently mounted on most after-market base rack systems  100 , including Yakima and Thule. The lever actuated cam  43  is operated by the handle  43  and cinches the ratcheting receiver  14  to the crossbar  18 . 
     By utilizing this multi-configuration and multi-purpose locking system, one item can be secured or multiple items can be stacked on top of one another or beside each other. The preferred embodiment of the invention allows for various sizes and shapes of items to be mismatched and still secured from unauthorized persons. 
     Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the strap  12  can be any form of threading, rubberized material, steel reinforced cable or any other cords that can be inserted through the ratcheting receiver and the cam clamp receiver  14 ,  16 . The receivers  14 ,  16  can be made from most metal materials or a plastic component. It is also understood that the pawl  32  can be of any structural shape that allows it to engage and lock the strap  12 . The releasing mechanism can be any form of lock. 
     Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. 
     The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself. 
     The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. 
     Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. 
     The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptionally equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.