Patent Publication Number: US-2007122247-A1

Title: Cargo tightener and strap collector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Letters patent application Ser. No. 11/227,313, filed on Sep. 15, 2005, for Cargo Tightener and Strap Collector. application Ser. No. 11/227,313 is pending as of the filing date of the present application. application Ser. No. 11/227,313 is specifically incorporated herein in its entirety, and priority thereto is claimed. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      The present invention relates to a device for collection and storage of the free, non-active, portion of a strap of a manually operated cargo tightener which is used to secure cargo to be transported.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      The typical prior art cargo tightener, which is modified to make the present invention, includes a shaft provided at one end of a connecting link or arm. The shaft is journaled in one end of the connecting arm, thus providing for rotatable attachment of a lever to the connecting arm. A first, or short, strap is firmly secured to a bolt or pin in the other end of the connecting arm, and has at its free end, a hook or other device for attachment to a vehicle transporting the cargo.  
      A second strap has a hook or other device at one of its ends. The hook is attached to the transportation vehicle. The other end, or free or non-active end, of the second strap is inserted through a slot in the rotatable shaft. A ratchet arrangement permits tightening of the strap by back and forth movement of the lever with respect to the connecting link. Because the connecting arm or link is held firmly in place by the first strap, the second strap tightens down over the cargo. The cargo tightener is conventional and, therefore, will riot be described in any great detail except with regard to the modification of the lever to provide the strap collector portion of the present invention.  
      A common problem when using the above mentioned cargo tightener with tensioning straps concerns the handling of the free end of the strap not used when securing the cargo. This strap portion has to be thoroughly secured to the cargo in order not to flutter in the encountering wind, or to trail on the ground, both cases leading to a hasty soiling and wearing down of the strap. Further, a freely fluttering strap is a danger to traffic, particularly in connection with the wider 24 to 30 foot long straps used professionally by haulage contractors.  
      Many attempts to solve these problems are known in the prior art. US Patent Publication No. US 2004/0094650 A1 to Huang, shows a strap fastener system including a strap fastener for fastening a belt, and a winding device for winding the strap. The winding device includes a housing which is attached to a connecting arm portion of the typical prior art cargo tightener. A reel is put in the housing for winding the strap, and a torque spring is arranged between the reel and the control device for automatically rotating the reel in the non-rotational position of the control device.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,520 to Söderström, shows a strap collector which is designed to be attached to the connecting arm of a standard cargo tightener. The strap collector includes a magazine for the protection and storage of the long tensioning strap of the cargo tightener when wound to the shaft of the strap collector.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,275 B1 to Lin, shows a strap tightener with an auto pulling device connected to a seat. The auto pulling device includes a housing and a reversing device. The reversing device is rotatably received in the housing. The housing would correspond to a connecting arm portion of a prior art cargo tightener.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,371 to Wyers, shows a strap tensioning and collection device having a variable length strap and a fixed length strap operatively associated with the strap storage section, and a strap tensioning section.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,721 to Smetz, et al. shows a device for connecting components to a belt.  
      German Offenlegungsschrift DE 36 39 712 A1 to Kinnert, shows a tensioning ratchet, in particular for belts, which is equipped with a ratchet body having a retaining bolt for fastening a safety belt, and having a ratchet lever which is mounted at the other end of the ratchet body so as to be rotatable about the axle of a slotted roller for fastening the end of a tensioning belt to be wound thereon.  
      All of the above devices perform generally satisfactorily, but share the problem of relatively high costs and difficulty of manufacture. In addition, they are rather bulky. Thus, those skilled in the art continued their search for a better cargo tightener and strap collector.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The aim of the present invention is to provide a cargo tightener and strap collector which is more cost effective compared with prior art devices, is less bulky, and is easier to manufacture. This is accomplished by having the strap collector on the lever portion of the cargo tightener, rather than on the connecting arm segment, as in the prior art. The advantages of this will become apparent by a careful reading of the detailed description, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts in the several views. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention is to be described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art cargo tightener.  
       FIG. 2  is an end elevational view of a cargo loaded on a platform showing how the prior art cargo tightener of  FIG. 1  is fastened to hold a load in position, and illustrating the free end or tail of the ratchet strap that is left to be dealt with after the cargo tightener is tightened to the desired extent.  
       FIG. 3  is a view similar in part to  FIG. 2 , but illustrating the use of a construction embodying the present invention, and showing how the problem of the ratchet strap tail is solved by the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a construction embodying the present invention with the cargo straps attached.  
       FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the construction of  FIG. 4  in its open position.  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the construction of  FIG. 4  in its closed position, with one of the ratchet straps removed for clarity.  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a modification of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the construction shown in  FIG. 7  illustrating how the ratchet strap is fed through the device.  
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the construction shown in  FIG. 7 , illustrating how the ratchet strap tail may be wound on the handle by turning the right hand knob, as long as the left hand knob has not been tightened.  
       FIG. 10  is a view, similar in part to  FIG. 9 , illustrating how the right hand knob can not be turned further once the left hand knob is tightened against the sidewall, thus securing the ratchet tail in place during transport of a load. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a prior art cargo tightener and strap collector, generally designated by the numeral  10 . The cargo tightener and strap collector  10  comprises a connecting arm or link  12 , and a lever or arm  14 . A strap  15  is provided with a hook  16  at one end thereof for connection to a transportation vehicle (not shown). The other end of strap  15  is firmly held to connecting arm  12  by pin  17 . Reciprocal motion of lever  14  using handle  18  will cause shaft  19  to rotate due to the ratchet and pawl assembly  13 .  
      With reference to  FIG. 2 , there is shown the prior art cargo tightener and strap collector  10  in a typical use situation, attached to a cargo platform  11 , usually of a movable type, and tightened about a load L to secure or tighten it in position. While the cargo platform is usually of the movable type, such as a trailer which may be pulled by a truck or tractor, cargo tightener and strap collector  10  may also be used to secure stationary loads.  
      While strap  15  causes no problem in the art, as when tightened on the load  11 , it is always held taught by virtue of the hook  16  and the pin  17  when under tension, the same is not true of second strap  15 A. Second strap  15 A has at one end a second hook  16 A attached to cargo platform  11 . The other end of second strap  15 A is threaded through an opening or slot  19 A in shaft  19 , which is caused to rotate by reciprocal motion of lever  14  using handle  18 . This will cause shaft  19  to rotate due to the ratchet and pawl assembly  13 . While a portion of second strap  15 A intermediate its&#39; ends will wind around shaft  19 , a large portion or tail  15 B will remain loose, and must be secured for safe transit of load  13 .  
      The securing of ratchet strap tail  15 B is a serious problem in the art as there is no readily available and cost effective place to store it. Usually the person placing the load  13  on platform  16  will simply wind the tail  15 B around a portion of second strap  15 A. Many times the tail  15 B will be tied in a loose knot around the second strap  15 A. No matter what solution is tried, the tail  15 B frequently becomes loose during transit of the load  13  and flaps in the breeze as the load L is transported down the road, causing a hazard to surrounding drivers and pedestrians. Since many cargo tighteners are usually needed to secure load  13  to platform  11 , many tails  15 B may be causing a hazard at the same time.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , the present invention relates to a modification of the prior art lever or arm  14  to solve the problems of the prior art. For purposes of understanding, new reference numerals are used when referring to the present invention. It can be seen that the improved cargo tightener and strap collector  20  now provides for storage of the strap, now referred to by the numeral  50 , on the arm or lever  24 . There is provided a ready and secure place for storage of the tail  50 A in the form of roll  52 , eliminating the problems of the prior art in a manner to be fully described hereinafter.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , the present invention relates to an improved cargo tightener and strap collector, generally designated by the numeral  20 . An improved apparatus for tightening and collecting a strap, or strap collector, or combination cargo tightener and strap collector  20 , includes a connecting arm or link  22  and a lever  24 . Connecting arm  22  extends in a longitudinal direction, and may be substantially similar to the connecting arm  12  shown in the prior art construction of  FIG. 1 . It is a modification to the lever of the prior art construction, identified by the numeral  24 , which provides a novel cargo tightener and strap collector  20 . As with the prior art, there is provided a first shaft  26  journaled for rotation in one, or first, end  22 A of the connecting arm  22 . At the other, or second, end  22 B of the connecting arm  22  is provided a pin  23 , to which a first, or short, strap  25  is attached. A first hook or fastening means or fastening device  27  is attached to the other end of the strap  25 . In use, the hook  27  will be attached to the transportation vehicle on which the cargo being tightened is being transported.  
      As in the prior art devices, reciprocal rotation of the lever  24  will cause co-rotation of the first shaft  26 . Journals for first shaft  26 , as well as second shaft  40 , are provided by opposed apertures provided in a first pair of spaced apart sidewalls  36  provided in connecting arm  22 , and a second pair of spaced apart sidewalls  37  in the lever  24 . A second shaft  40  has provided therein second slot  42  ( FIG. 4 ) to accept a free end, i.e., the end without the second hook  54 , of a second belt  50 , as hereinafter described.  
      At least a first portion  40 A of shaft  40  may extend beyond at least one of the second pair of sidewalls  37  ( FIG. 2 ) so that a knob  44  may be attached thereto for rotation of the second shaft  40 . In the preferred embodiment, a first portion and a second portion ( 40 A,  40 B) of the second shaft  40  will extend beyond the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls  37 , and a knob  44  will be attached to each portion of the second shaft.  
      Reciprocal rotation of the lever  24  will cause co-rotational rotation of the first shaft  26  by virtue of a pair of ratchet wheels  60  which are mounted on the first shaft  26  between the first pair of sidewalls  36  and the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls  37 . It is preferred that two ratchet wheels  60  be used, although one may possibly be used. Pawl  61  aides in the rotation of the first shaft  26  by operating on the ratchet wheel  60 . The pawl  61  is spring loaded and slides in a pair of opposed slots  64  ( FIG. 4 ) in the second pair of opposed sidewalls  37 .  
      Second, or long, strap  50  is provided having second hook  54  provided at one end thereof. The free or non-active end of strap  50 , so referred to because it has no connection to second hook  54 , is first passed through first slot  32  and then inserted in second slot  42  ( FIG. 4 ). Second shaft  40  is then rotated, with the aid of knobs  44 , to roll up free end of strap  50  into a roll  52 .  
      In use second hook  54 , and second strap  50 , are completely unrolled and removed from second shaft  40 . Second hook  54  is attached to the transportation vehicle on which the cargo is to be transported, at the appropriate location. The free end of the strap  50  is placed through first slot  32  in first shaft  26 , and the lever  24  is reciprocally rotated, causing co-rotational movement of the first shaft  26 . Since the first strap  50  is inserted in the first slot  32 , and the connecting arm  22  is restrained by the first strap  25  and the first hook  27 , the cargo tightener and strap collector  20  is tightened down on the cargo. At this point, the free end of the second strap  50  is inserted in the second slot  42  in the second shaft  40  and the knobs  44  are rotated to take up any slack in the strap before the cargo is transported.  
      Alternately, the free end of the strap of the second strap  50  may be left inserted in the second slot  42  in the second shaft  40 , and the second strap  50  along with second hook  54  may be pulled out, causing the roll  52  to unwind until the second hook  54  may be attached to the transportation vehicle in the appropriate spot. The lever  24  is then reciprocally rotated causing co-rotational movement of the first shaft  26 , and the tightening of the cargo tightener and strap collector  20  on the cargo (not shown) in the manner previously described. Any slack in the second strap  50  is taken up by rotating the knob or knobs  44  until the slack is removed.  
      In order to provide clearance for the roll  52  so that it does not strike the cargo being transported, the lever  24  is provided with a first substantially linearly extending portion  70 , and a second linearly extending portion  71  extending at an angle with respect to the first portion  70 , thus elevating the roll  52  away from the cargo by elevating the second shaft  40  away from the cargo.  
      If it is desired to have the linearly and angularly extending portions  71  of the second pair of sidewalls  37  be further apart proximate the roll  52 , a pair of diverging portions  72  of the second pair of sidewalls  37  may be interposed between the first linearly extending portion  70  and the second linearly and angularly extending portion  71  of each of said second pair of sidewalls  37 .  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 7-10 , there is illustrated a modification of the present invention which locks the roll  52  positively in position on the arm or lever  24  of our cargo tightener and strap collector, now generally indicated by the numeral  55  for ease of understanding. This is accomplished by a modification to shaft  40  and knobs  44  described in regard to  FIGS. 4-6 . In this modification of the invention, threaded shaft  80  is used in place of the second shaft  40 . Threaded shaft  80  may be hollow, or at least partially hollow, and may have internal or external threads for the purposes described below. In the preferred embodiment, threaded shaft  80  is hollow, and has an aperture, opening, or hollow portion  82 . Aperture  82  may include first portion or first threaded portion  84 , and second portion or second threaded portion  86 , of threaded shaft  80 . Threaded shaft  80  will still have slot  42  provided therein to receive ratchet tail  50 A in the manner described above.  
      First threaded portion  84  and second threaded portion  86  of threaded shaft  80  may be of the same or different diameters, as desired. It is preferable that the apertures in the second pair of sidewalls  37  be slightly larger than the diameter of the adjacent threaded portions ( 84 , 86 ) of the threaded shaft  80  to accept a first threaded fastener  88  and a second threaded fastener  90 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first threaded fastener  88  is of a smaller diameter than the second threaded fastener  90 , so the first sidewall aperture  37 A is of a smaller diameter that the second sidewall aperture  37 B, and both are larger than their respective fasteners to allow free rotation of first threaded fastener  88  and a second threaded fastener  90  with respect to the associated aperture.  
      First threaded fastener  88 , which may be of any type well known in the art, is secured for non-rotation with respect to first rotatable knob  92  by any known means. In other words, when first rotatable knob  92  is rotated, first threaded fastener  88  rotates. First threaded fastener  88  is also fixed with regard to first threaded portion  84  of threaded shaft  80 . Since first sidewall aperture  37 A is larger than first threaded fastener  88 , and first threaded fastener  88  is fixed with regard to first rotatable knob  92  and first threaded portion  84 , when first rotatable knob  92  is rotated, threaded shaft  80  will rotate as long as second rotatable knob  94  is not tightened against a sidewall  37 .  
      Second threaded fastener  90  is also fixed with regard to its&#39; respective threaded portion (second threaded portion  86 ) of aperture  82 . However, second rotatable knob  94  is not fixed with respect second threaded fastener  90  but, instead, is able to rotate with respect thereto because second rotatable knob  94  has a threaded aperture  96  with threads complementary to those found on second threaded fastener  90 . Thus, rotation of second rotatable knob  94  will move it toward and away from respective sidewall  37 . In operation, second rotatable knob  94  is positioned in its loosened position, as shown in  FIG. 9 . Ratchet tail  50 A is inserted in slot  42 , and first rotatable knob  92  is rotated, which rotates threaded shaft  80 , which causes ratchet tail  50 A to be wound on threaded shaft  80  until it is wound up to form roll  52 . At this point, second rotatable knob  94  is rotated until it is tight against sidewall  37 , and sidewall  37  is tight against hollow shaft  80 , thus preventing any further rotation of the threaded shaft  80  by the first rotatable knob  92 . Since the free end of strap  50  (ratchet tail  50 A) was inserted into slot  42 , and the remainder of strap  50  was wound on top of ratchet tail  50 A before second rotatable knob  94  was tightened, there is no loose portion of the strap  50  to come undone and cause the dangers posed by the prior art cargo tighteners.  
      The scope of the present invention is not limited to the use of threaded fasteners and knobs, as any rotation mechanism by which the threaded shaft  80  can be rotated, and then selectively be prevented from rotation, is well within the scope of the present invention. Many rotation mechanisms and/or rotation means are known in the art which are suitable for use in the present invention.  
      For example, the threaded shaft  80  journaled for rotation between the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls  37  of the lever  24  may have a first threaded portion  84  to accept a first rotation mechanism  98 , and a second threaded portion  86  to accept a second rotation mechanism  100 . The first means of rotation  98  is operable to rotate the threaded shaft  80 , and the second means of rotation  100  is operable to restrain or permit rotation of the threaded shaft  80 . The use of any motion transfer means whereby rotary motion is transformed into axial motion is well within the skill of the art.  
      Thus, by carefully considering the problems in the prior art devices, we have provided a novel cargo tightener and strap collector which is simpler in construction, easier to manufacture and less costly than prior art devices.