Patent Publication Number: US-2019186595-A1

Title: Load binder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a load binder and, more particularly, to a load binder which may be operated rapidly with a removable handle. 
     Load binders are well known for securing loads to trailers, other wheeled vehicles, or in other contexts as well. Typically, the load binder has end links or linkages which include hooks, each of which an operator may hook onto a chain or other tie down member or tie down point in order to tighten the chain, strap or other tie down member which is typically wrapped around a load mounted on a trailer. 
     Load binders come in several different types. One type of load binder is known as a lever-type load binder in which a lever is rotated or pivoted substantially along the plane in which the end links or linkages lie. Another type of load binder utilizes a ratchet system in which a sprocket is used to directly engage a chain of an end linkage whereby rotation of the sprocket tightens or loosens the chain and the ratchet mechanism secures the chain against loosening. Both of which operate rather slowly due to the necessity of manually rotating the levers and ratchets. Further, the handles are not removable, and therefore are susceptible to being stolen. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a load binder which may be operated more rapidly with a removable handle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a handle of a load binder, the handle comprises: a handle gear housing comprising a front end opposite a rear end; an outer handle gear rotatably coupled within the handle gear housing; at least one drill connector extending laterally from the handle gear housing and operable to rotate the outer handle gear when driven; a handle grip protruding from the rear end of the handle gear housing; and a binder gear housing protruding from the front end of the handle gear housing, the binder gear housing comprising an outer wall and a sidewall extending inward from the outer wall, the sidewall having a U-shaped cutout, wherein the U-shaped cutout releasably receives a binder stem of the load binder and positions the outer handle gear to interlock with a binder gear of the load binder. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a handle of a load binder, the handle comprises: a handle gear housing comprising a front end opposite a rear end; an outer handle gear rotatably coupled within the handle gear housing; an inner handle gear rotatably coupled within the outer handle gear, wherein the inner handle gear interlocks with inner teeth of the outer handle gear; at least one drill connector extending laterally from the handle gear housing and fixedly connected with the inner handle gear; a handle grip protruding from the rear end of the handle gear housing; and a binder gear housing protruding from the front end of the handle gear housing, the binder gear housing comprising an outer wall and a sidewall extending inward from the outer wall, the sidewall having a U-shaped cutout, wherein the U-shaped cutout releasably receives a binder stem of the load binder and positions the outer handle gear to interlock with a binder gear of the load binder. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a detail perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a detail perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in use; 
         FIG. 7  is a detail section view of the present invention taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a detail section view of the present invention taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a section view of the present invention taken along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 2  in a loosened position; 
         FIG. 10  is a section view of the present invention in a tightened position; and 
         FIG. 11  is a detail view of an embodiment of the present invention being used with a power drill. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 11 , the present invention includes a handle  10  of a load binder  31 . The handle  10  includes a handle gear housing  13  having a front end opposite a rear end. An outer handle gear  12  is rotatably coupled within the handle gear housing  13 . At least one drill connector  16  is extending laterally from the handle gear housing  13  and is operable to rotate the outer handle gear  12  when driven. A handle grip  22  protrudes from the rear end of the handle gear housing  13 . A binder gear housing  18  protrudes from the front end of the handle gear housing  13 . The binder gear housing  18  includes an outer wall  19  and a sidewall  21  extending inward from the outer wall  19 . The sidewall  21  has a U-shaped cutout  21   a . The U-shaped cutout  21   a  releasably receives a binder stem  34  of the load binder  31  and positions the outer handle gear  12  to interlock with a binder gear  32  of the load binder  31 . 
     In certain embodiments, the present invention further includes an inner handle gear  14 . The inner handle gear  14  is rotatably coupled within the outer handle gear. In such embodiments, the outer handle gear  12  may include inner teeth circumferentially protruding from an inner edge of the outer handle gear  12 . The teeth of the inner handle gear  14  interlock with the inner teeth of the outer handle gear  12 . The drill connector  16  of the present invention is fixed to the inner handle gear  14 . Therefore, a power drill  46  may connect with the drill connector  16  and rotate the inner handle gear  14 , thereby rotating the outer handle gear  12 . 
     The at least one drill connector  16  may include a first drill connector  16  and a second drill connector  16 . The first drill connector  16  may extend laterally from a first side of the handle gear housing  13  and a second drill connector  16  may extend laterally from a second side of the handle gear housing  13 . The drill connectors  16  are used to connect with a mating end of a power drill  46 . For example, the drill connectors  16  are in the shape of a nut, such as a six-sided nut. Alternatively, the drill connectors  16  may include phillips head or flat head screw indents or other types of connectors. 
     The binder gear housing  18  is used to releasably connect with the load binder  31  and position the outer handle gear  12  to interlock with the binder gear  32 . In certain embodiments, the outer wall  19  of the binder gear housing  18  is rounded to form a circular shape to uniformly surround the binder gear  32 . The outer wall  19  of the binder gear housing  18  further includes a cutout portion that intersects with the U-shaped cutout portion  21   a  of the sidewall  21 . The outer wall  19  further includes a first circular edge  19   a  opposite a second circular edge  19   b . The sidewall  21  inward protrudes from the first circular edge  19   a . The second circular edge  19   b  forms an opening sized to laterally receive the binder gear  32  of the load binder  31 . Therefore, the circumference of the second circular edge  19   b  is greater than an outer circumference of the binder gear  32 . When releasably attaching the handle  10  to the load binder  31 , the user may first place the U-shaped cutout  21   a  over the binder stem  34  and then shift the handle  10  laterally along the binder stem  34  so that the binder gear  32  slides into the binder gear housing  18 . 
     The present invention may further include a housing lock to lock the binder gear housing  18  in place relative to the loading binder  31 . In such embodiments, the present invention may include a first receiver  52  formed in the binder gear housing  18 , a second receiver  50  formed on an outer surface of the handle gear housing  13 , and a lock pin  20 . The lock pin  20  includes a first end that slides into the first receiver  52  and a second end that slides into the second receiver  50  so that the lock pin  20  is disposed across the opening formed by the second circular edge  19   b . A spring lock pin  48  may prevent the ends of the lock pin  20  from sliding out of the first and second receivers  52 ,  50 . When the binder gear housing  18  is disposed over the binder gear  32  and the lock pin  20  is disposed within the receivers  52 ,  50 , the lock pin  20  prevents the handle  10  from shifting and misaligning the outer handle gear  12  and the binder gear  32 . 
     The present invention may further include a lock lever  24 ,  26  pivotally coupled to the handle  10  in between the handle grip  22  and the handle gear housing  13 . The lock lever  24 ,  26  includes a lock  24  adjacent the outer handle gear  12  and a lever  26  extending outside of the handle  10 . When urging the lever  26  in a first direction, the lock lever  24 ,  26  pivots the lock  24  to a locked position in which the lock  24  is interlocked with the outer handle gear  12 . When urging the lever  26  in an opposite direction, the lock lever  24 ,  26  pivots the lock  24  to an unlocked position in which the lock  24  is pivoted away from the outer handle gear  12  allowing the outer handle gear  12  to rotate freely. In certain embodiments, the present invention may further include a lock pin  28  and a spring  30  biasing the lock pin against the lock lever  24 ,  26  which biases the lock lever  24 ,  26  in the locked position. 
     The loading binder  31  used with the present invention may include the binder stem  34  having a first end and a second end. Each of the first end and second end include hollow cores with internal threads  36 . The binder gear  32  is fixedly secured to the binder stem  34  so that the binder stem  24  and the binder gear  32  rotate together about a common axis. The loading binder  31  further includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector and the second connector each include threaded rods  40 , eye-bolts  38  and binder hooks  42 . The first and second threaded rods  40  are threadably connected to the first end and the second end of the binder stem  34  respectively. 
     When in use, the hooks  42  of the loading binder  31  are connected to chains  44  or straps to be tightened together. The U-shaped cutout  21   a  of the handle  10  is placed over the binder stem  34  so that the opening of the binder gear housing  18  is facing the binder gear  32 . The handle  10  is slid in a direction of the binder gear  32  so that the binder gear housing  18  fits over the binder gear  32  and the outer handle gear  12  is interlocked with the binder gear  32 . The pin  20  is placed within the receivers  50 ,  52  to lock the handle  10  in place relative to the binder gear  32 . The lock lever  24 ,  26  is pivoted to allow the outer handle gear  12  to rotate freely. A connecting end of the power drill  46  mates with the power drill connector  16  and the power drill  46  is turned on. The inner handle gear  14  is rotated, which rotates the outer handle gear  12  and in turn rotates the binder gear  32 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the threaded connections are tightened, which in turn tightens the chains  44  together. To loosen the loading binder  31 , the steps above are performed with the power drill rotating the power drill connector  16  in an opposite direction. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.