Abstract:
A ratcheted winch bar for winding a cargo strap on a cargo winch. The ratcheted winch bar comprises a handle portion having a ratchet body attached to an end thereof. A mandrel is rotatably connected to the ratchet body, and may be received within the cargo winch. An engagement key is removably attachable to the mandrel for engaging the cargo winch to thereby wind the cargo strap.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the field of winch bars, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a ratcheted winch bar for engaging a cargo winch to thereby wind a cargo strap.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Straps are commonly used to secure cargo to flatbed trucks and trailers. In order to secure and tighten cargo straps, trucks and trailers are often equipped with cargo winches that include a drum upon which the cargo strap may be spooled, and a ratchet mechanism to hold the cargo strap under tension. Typically, an elongated metal bar, commonly known as a winch bar, is used to tighten cargo straps. In order to tighten a cargo strap using a winch bar, the winch bar is inserted into apertures formed in a drive member that is attached to the drum, and the winch bar is then used as a lever to turn the drum, thereby advancing the ratchet mechanism of the cargo winch. However, traditional winch bars are only operable over a limited range of motion. Therefore, the winch bar must be repeatedly removed from the apertures in the drive member and then reinserted in order to tighten the strap. Consequently, the process of tightening a cargo strap can be tedious and time-consuming. Continuous removal and reinsertion of the winch bar into the drive also creates a heightened risk that the winch bar may be improperly inserted into the drive member, which could lead to injury of the user of the winch bar. Furthermore, in many cargo transportation applications, a number of cargo straps must be tightened to secure cargo on a flatbed trailer, thus multiplying the lost time and risk of injury associated with tightening cargo straps.  
         [0003]     Numerous apparatuses have been proposed to facilitate the process of safely and efficiently winding a cargo strap upon the drum of a cargo winch For example, a number of apparatuses are known that comprise a winch bar having a particular structure for preventing slippage or incorrect insertion of the winch bar with respect to the cargo winch. However, these apparatuses require repeated engagement and disengagement of the cargo winch in order to wind the cargo strap. Other apparatuses are known which comprise handles capable of 360 degree rotation, but which provide a significantly shorter lever arm than a traditional winch bar. Thus, such structures are useful for winding a cargo strap that is not under tension, but such structures are not useful for tightening a cargo strap to thereby secure cargo.  
         [0004]     It would be desirable to have a ratcheted winch bar wherein the cargo strap of a cargo winch could be tightened without having to repeatedly remove and reinsert the winch bar into the drum of the cargo winch.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention relates to a ratcheted winch bar for winding a cargo strap on a cargo winch. The ratcheted winch bar includes a handle portion, and a ratchet body connected to an end of the handle portion. A mandrel is rotatably connected to the ratchet body and may be received within the cargo winch. In order to engage the cargo winch to tighten the cargo strap, an engagement key is removably attachable to the mandrel.  
         [0006]     The mandrel extends along an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the handle portion, and a slot extends through the mandrel substantially perpendicular to the axis. The engagement key may be received within the slot, and the engagement key may be retained in the slot by a pin that extends at least partially into the slot so that the pin may engage the engagement key to retain the engagement key within the slot. The engagement key is greater in length than the slot, wherein the ends of the engagement key extend out of the mandrel when the engagement key is disposed within the slot.  
         [0007]     A gear and pawl disposed within the ratchet body serve to ratchet the motion of the mandrel. The gear and mandrel are connected for uniform rotation in a first direction and a second direction. The pawl is movable between a first position, wherein the gear and mandrel are restrained against rotating in the first direction, and a second position, wherein the gear and mandrel are restrained against moving in the second direction.  
         [0008]     An enclosure may be attached to the ratchet body for transportation and storage of the engagement key. The engagement key is disposable within the enclosure, and a spring flange attached to the enclosure is engageable with the engagement key to retain the engagement key within the enclosure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like referenced numerals refer to like parts throughout several views and wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an illustration showing the ratcheted winch bar of the present invention engaged with a cargo winch;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a cargo winch;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the ratcheted winch bar of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the ratchet body of the ratcheted winch bar of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5A  is a cross-section view of the ratchet body of the ratcheted winch bar of the present invention wherein the pawl is in the first position;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-section view of the ratchet body of the ratcheted winch bar of the present invention wherein the pawl is in the second position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of the ratchet body and mandrel of the ratcheted winch bar of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a detail view of the engagement key of the ratcheted winch bar of the present invention; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a detail view of the engagement key holder of the ratcheted winch bar of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]     Referring to the drawings, the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the disclosed embodiment.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a ratcheted winch bar  10  of the present invention engaged with a cargo winch  1  to thereby tension a cargo strap  2 . The cargo winch  1  is of a type commonly used to secure cargo upon a vehicle, such as a flatbed trailer (not shown), to which a frame  3  of the cargo winch  1  may be secured, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The cargo winch  1  includes a drum  4  connected to a drive member  5 , both of which may rotate with respect to the frame  3 . The drum  4  serves to carry the cargo strap  2 , while the drive member  5  may be manipulated by a tool, such as the ratcheted winch bar  10 , to tighten the cargo strap  2 . So that a tool may engage the drive member  5  of the cargo winch  1 , the drive member  5  is generally tubular, having a passageway  6  defined by the hollow interior of the tubular drive member  5 . To further facilitate engagement of a tool with the drive member  5 , two of apertures  7  are spaced 180° apart on the annular periphery of the drive member  5 . Connected to the end of the drum  4  opposite the drive member  5 , a gear  8  and an associated pawl  9  allow the cargo strap  1  to be held under tension.  
         [0021]     It should be noted that although the ratcheted winch bar  10  will be described herein with regard to its use with the cargo winch  1 , the cargo winch  1  is described herein for the sole purpose of providing context to the description of the ratcheted winch bar  10 , and the ratcheted winch bar  10  is not limited to use with the particular cargo winch  1  described herein.  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the ratcheted winch bar  10  includes an elongated handle portion  12  that is connected to a ratchet body  14  at one end. A mandrel  60  extends through the ratchet body  14  along an axis  15  that is perpendicular to the elongated handle portion  12 . The mandrel  60  is connected to a gear  30  and associated pawl  34  for selective rotation in either a first direction or a second direction. The mandrel  60  is receivable within the passageway  6  in the drive member  5  of the cargo winch  1 . In order to engage the mandrel  60  and the drive member  5  so that the ratcheted winch bar  10  may be employed to tighten the cargo strap  2 , a drive element, such as an engagement key  90 , is disposable within a slot  62  that extends through the mandrel  60  perpendicular to the axis  15 . However, the length of the engagement key  90  is greater than the length of the slot  62 . Thus, when the engagement key  90  is disposed within the slot  62 , the ends of the engagement key  90  extend transversely out of the mandrel  60 , so that the engagement key  90  may engage the apertures  7  in the drive member  5  of the cargo winch  1 . In order to store the engagement key  90  when the ratcheted winch bar  10  is not being used, a key holder  100  is connected to the ratchet body  14 .  
         [0023]     The ratchet body  14  selves as a frame upon which the gear  30 , pawl  34 , and mandrel  60  may be securely attached. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the ratchet body  14  includes a first ratchet body portion  16  and a second ratchet body portion  18  connected to a ratchet body base  20 , which serves to connect the ratchet body  14  to the elongated handle portion  12 . The first and second ratchet body portions  16 ,  18  are substantially similar planar elements that are held in a substantially parallel spaced relationship by fixed connections between each of the first and second ratchet body portions  16 ,  18  and the ratchet body base  20 . Furthermore, the first and second ratchet body portions  16 ,  18  may be formed integrally with the ratchet body base  20 . In order to connect the pawl  34  to the ratchet body  14 , a first aperture  22  extends through the first ratchet body portion  16 , and a second aperture  24  extends through the second ratchet body portion  18 , as will be explained in detail herein. In order to connect the gear  30  and the mandrel  60  to the ratchet body  14 , a first hole  26  extends through the first ratchet body portion  16 ,;and a second hole  28  extends through the second ratchet body portion  18 , as will be described in detail herein.  
         [0024]     So that the gear  30  may be selectively restrained from moving in either the first direction or the second direction, the pawl  34  is pivotally connected to the ratchet body  14  by a post  35 . The post  35  is seated in the first aperture  22  in the first ratchet body portion  16  and the second aperture  24  in the second ratchet body portion  18 . The post  35  further extends through a bore  36  in the pawl  34 , to thereby retain the pawl  34  between the first ratchet body portion  16  and the second ratchet body portion  18 . The pawl  34  may pivot about the post  35  between a first position, wherein a first tooth  38  of the pawl  34  engages the gear  30  as seen in  FIG. 5A , and a second position, wherein a second tooth  40  of the pawl  34  engages the gear  30  as seen in  FIG. 5B . The pawl  34  is roughly triangular, the first tooth  38 , the second tooth  40 , and a cornered edge  42  defining corners of the pawl  34 . When the pawl  34  is in the first position, the gear  30  is restrained against rotating in the first direction by engagement of the first tooth  38  of the pawl  34  with the gear  30 , but the gear  30  is free to rotate in the second direction. When the pawl  34  is in the second position, the gear  30  is restrained against rotating in the second direction by engagement of the second tooth  40  of the pawl  34  with the gear  30 , but the gear  30  is free to rotate in the first direction. In order to maintain engagement of the pawl  34  with the gear  30  during rotation of the gear  30 , the first tooth  38  of the pawl  34  is biased toward the gear  30  when the pawl  34  is in the first position, and the second tooth  40  of the pawl  34  is biased toward the gear  30  when the pawl  34  is in the second position. In order to bias the first and second teeth  38 ,  40  of the pawl  34  toward the gear  30  when the pawl  34  is in the first and second positions, respectively, a spring  48  biases a ball  50  into contact with the pawl  34 . The spring  48  and ball  50  are disposed within a socket  44  formed in an interior face  46  of the ratchet body base  20 . The ball  50  engages the pawl  34  adjacent to the cornered edge  42  of the pawl  34 , and the pawl  34  may be moved between the first and second positions by rotating the pawl  34  until the cornered edge  42  moves past the ball  50 .  
         [0025]     So that the pawl  34  may be selectively moved between the first position and the second position, the second tooth  40  of the pawl  34  extends out of the ratchet body  14  when the pawl  34  is in the first position, as seen in  FIG. 5A , and the first tooth  38  of the pawl  34  extends out of the ratchet body  14  when the pawl  34  is in the second position, as seen in  FIG. 5B . The user may move the first or second tooth  38 ,  40 , as appropriate, to push the cornered edge  42  past the ball  50 , such that the pawl  34  moves between positions.  
         [0026]     So that the ratcheting action of the gear  30  and pawl  34  may be utilized to control the movement of the mandrel  60 , the gear  30  is connected to the mandrel  60  in a fixed rotational relationship. The mandrel  60  extends through a passage  31  formed through the gear  30 . A plurality of dowels  66  extend through a plurality of radial apertures  32  in the gear  30  and into corresponding apertures  68  in the mandrel  60 , thereby causing the gear  30  and the mandrel  60  to rotate in unison. To retain the gear  30  between the first ratchet body portion  16  and the second ratchet body portion  18 , the mandrel extends through the first hole  26  in the first ratchet body portion  16  and the second hole  28  through the second ratchet body portion  18 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . To secure the mandrel  60  with respect to the ratchet body  14 , the mandrel  60  includes a flange  70  that engages an exterior surface of the second ratchet body portion  18  adjacent to the second hole  28  through the second ratchet body portion  18 . Additionally, a washer  72  connected to the mandrel  60  by a bolt  76  engages an exterior surface of the first ratchet body portion  16  adjacent to the first hole  26  through the first ratchet body portion  16 . The bolt  76  secures the washer  72  to the mandrel  60  by threadedly engaging a bore  74  in the mandrel  60 , as will be explained in greater detail herein.  
         [0027]     The slot  62  extends through the mandrel  60  for securely receiving the engagement key  90  therein. The slot  62  extends substantially perpendicular to the axis  15 , thereby creating a radially extending passageway the entire way through the mandrel  60 . The slot  62  has a substantially continuous cross sectional shape that is complementary to the cross sectional shape of the engagement key  90 . However, the slot  62  intersects the bore  74  near the center of the mandrel  60 , as will be explained in greater detail herein.  
         [0028]     The bore  74  extends through the mandrel  60  along the axis  15  from a second end  80  of the mandrel  60  toward a first end  78  of the mandrel  60 , but terminates at the slot  62 . The bore  74  is in communication with the slot  62  such that a retainer element, such as a pin  64 , is slidably disposed at least partially within the bore and may extend into the slot  62  to retain the engagement key  90  in the slot  62 , as will be described in detail herein. The pin  64  is biased toward the slot  62  by a spring  82  but is restrained from moving completely out of the bore  74  by a shoulder  84  in the bore  74  that engages the pawl  64 . The spring  82  is a compression spring that is disposed within the bore  74  of the mandrel  60 , compressed between the bolt  76  and the pin  64 .  
         [0029]     So that the ratcheted winch bar  10  may engage the drive member  5  to thereby tighten the cargo strap  2 , the engagement key  90  is extendable through the bore  62  in the mandrel  60 , and through a pair of the apertures  7  in the drive member  5  of the cargo winch  1 . The engagement key  90  is elongated, such that it is substantially greater in length than the slot  62 , such that sufficient portions of the engagement key  90  may extend out of the slot  62  in the mandrel  60  to allow the engagement key  90  to engage the apertures  7  in the drive member  5  of the cargo winch  1  when the mandrel  60  is disposed within the passageway  6  in the drive member  5  of the cargo winch  1 . So that the engagement key  90  may be releasably secured within the slot  62 , at least one indentation  92  is formed in a side surface  94  of the engagement key  90 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , and the indentation  92  is engageable with the pin  64 . The engagement key  90  may be inserted or removed from the slot  62  by exerting sufficient force upon the engagement key  90  to overcome the biasing force acting upon the pin  64  due to the spring  82 . So that the engagement key  90  may be stored in the key holder  100  when not in use, the engagement key  90  includes a channel  96  formed in a top surface  98  of the engagement key  90 , as will be explained in detail in connection with the description herein of the key holder  100 . However, it should be noted that although the channel  96  is described as being in the top surface  98 , and the indentation  92  is described as being in the side surface  94 , the indentation  92  and channel  96  are not limited to these locations, and it is specifically contemplated that other locations upon the engagement key  90  would also be appropriate.  
         [0030]     In order to store and transport the engagement key  90  when the ratcheted winch bar  10  is not in use, an engagement key holder  100  may be attached to the ratchet body  14 , on either the first ratchet body portion  16 , or the second ratchet body portion  18 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the key holder  100  includes a substantially rectangular enclosure  102 . The substantially rectangular enclosure  102  is open at each end  103 , and a partial opening  104  is formed in the top surface  106  of the engagement key holder  100 . A spring flange  108  is connected to the top surface  106  of the engagement key holder  100 , and overlies the partial opening  104 . The spring flange  108  is substantially planar, with the exception of an engaging portion  110  of the spring flange  108 , which is a substantially U-shaped bend in the spring flange  108 . The engagement key  90  may be disposed within the rectangular enclosure  102  by passing the engagement key  90  through either of the open ends  103  of the substantially rectangular enclosure  103 . In order to secure the engagement key  90 , the engaging portion  110  of the spring flange  108  engages the channel  96  in the engagement key  90 .  
         [0031]     In use, a user may employ the ratcheted winch bar  10  of the present invention to tighten the cargo strap  2  of a cargo winch  1 . In order to do so the user first removes the engagement key  90  from either the engagement key holder  100 , or from the slot  62  in the mandrel  60 , if it is so located. Next, the user moves the pawl  34  to the either the first position or the second position, as appropriate, so that the ratcheted winch bar  10  may tighten the cargo strap  2 . Once the pawl  34  is properly positioned, the mandrel  60  may be inserted into the drive member  5  of the cargo winch  1 .  
         [0032]     In order to engage the ratcheted winch bar I with the cargo winch  1 , the user first inserts the mandrel  60  into the passageway  6  in the drive member  5 , and aligns the slot  62  of the mandrel  60  with the apertures  7  on the drive member  5 . Once the apertures  7  have been aligned with the slot  62 , the engagement key  90  may be inserted into the slot  62 . To do so, the engagement key  90  is first guided through one of the apertures  7 , and into the slot  62 . The user continues moving the engagement key  90  into the slot  62 , overcoming the biasing force of the spring  82  so that the pin  64  retracts into the bore  74 , until the indentation  92  in the side surface  94  of the engagement key  90  aligns with the pin  64  such that the pill  64  is biased into engagement with the indentation  92 .  
         [0033]     Once the pin  64  is engaged with the indentation  92  in the engagement key  90 , the engagement key  90  is locked in position with respect to the mandrel  62 , and the engagement key  90  extends through both of the apertures  7  in the drive member  5 . The user then tightens the cargo strap  2  by first rotating the handle portion  12  of the ratcheted winch bar  10  upward, to a position where the user may develop sufficient leverage to tighten the cargo strap  2  during the downward stroke of the handle  12 . It is noted that, when tightening the cargo strap  2 , the pawl  34  is positioned such that the mandrel  60  may rotate with respect to the ratchet body  14  during the upward stroke of the handle  12 , but during the downward stroke of the handle  12  the pawl  34  locks the mandrel  60  against rotation with respect to the handle  12 . Thus, as the user then moves the handle  12  of the ratcheted winch bar  10  downward, the engagement key  90  engages the apertures  7  to thereby rotate the drive member  5  and the drum  4 , thereby tightening the cargo strap  2 . The user then repeats the steps of ratcheting the handle  12  on the upward stroke and tightening the cargo strap  2  on the downward stroke of the handle  12 . When user has finished tightening the cargo strap  2 , the user removes the engagement key  90  from the drive member  5  by pulling or pushing the engagement key  90  out of the slot  62  in the mandrel  60 . The user then stores the engagement key  90  in the key holder  100  by sliding the engagement key  90  into an open end  103  of the substantially rectangular enclosure  102  until the engaging portion  110  of the spring flange  108  engages the channel  96  in the top surface  98  of the engagement key  90  to thereby secure the engagement key  90  with respect to the key holder  100 .  
         [0034]     If the user wishes to loosen the cargo strap  2 , the user adjusts the pawl  34  accordingly and employs the ratcheted winch bar  10  in similar manner to that described in connection with tightening the cargo strap  2 , however, loosening of the cargo strap  2  occurs when the user moves the handle portion  12  of the ratcheted winch bar  10  upward.  
         [0035]     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but to the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications or equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.