Abstract:
A fastener includes a frame, a handle and a reel inserted through the frame and handle so that a strap can be reeled when the reel is rotated. Two bushings are connected to the frame for protecting the reel from the handle or the frame. Two ratchet wheels are connected to the reel. A first detent is movable on the frame for engagement with the ratchet wheels. A second detent is movable on the handle for engagement with the ratchet wheels.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/615,214, filed on Dec. 22, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,701, of which the entire disclosure is incorporated herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a fastener for straps. 
     2. Related Prior Art 
     Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 225765 discloses a conventional fastener. The fastener includes a reel  4 , a first handle  1  connected to the reel  4 , a second handle  2  connected to the reel  4 , two ratchet wheels  6  connected to the reel  4 , a first spring-loaded detent  3  located on the first handle  1  and a second spring-loaded detent  5  located on the second handle  2 . A first strap B is connected to the first handle  1  while a second strap B is connected to the reel  4 . The first handle  1  includes two walls each including a first arched edge, a second arched edge and a shoulder  12  between the first and second arched edges. The second handle  2  includes two cams. To fasten the straps B, the second handle  2  is pivoted from the first handle  1 . The pivoting is limited by the second spring-loaded detent  5  against the shoulders  12  of the first handle  1 . To loosen the straps B, the second spring-loaded detent  5  is moved onto the second arched edges of the first handle  1  and therefore kept from the ratchet wheels  6  while the first spring-loaded detent  3  is disengaged from the ratchet wheels  6  by the cams of the second handle  2 . However, it is difficult to reel in the second strap B. Referring to  FIG. 11  of the drawings of the present application, the second arched edges of the first handle  1  are pushed by the second spring-loaded detent  5  while the cams of the second handle  2  are pushed by the first spring-loaded detent  3  so that the reel  4  is “handcuffed” by the handles  1  and  2 . 
     The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, a fastener includes a frame, a handle and a reel inserted through the frame and handle so that a strap can be reeled when the reel is rotated. Two bushings are connected to the frame for protecting the reel from the handle or the frame. Two ratchet wheels are connected to the reel. A first detent is movable on the frame for engagement with the ratchet wheels. A second detent is movable on the handle for engagement with the ratchet wheels. 
     The primary advantage of the fastener according to the present invention is free reeling of the strap, since the protective units keep the reel from the handle or the frame. 
     Other advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of five embodiments referring to the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fastener according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the fastener shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the fastener taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial, enlarged view of the fastener shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a fastener according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a fastener according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the fastener shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the fastener taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a partial, enlarged view of the fastener shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of a fastener according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a fragmentary, side view of a conventional fastener. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the  FIGS. 1 through 4 , there is shown a fastener according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     The fastener includes a frame  10 , a reel  12 , two ratchet wheels  13 , a handle  20 , two bushings  30 , a first detent  14  and a second detent  22 . 
     The frame  10  includes two walls on a floor. Each wall includes a first side  110  and a second side  111 . Each of the walls of the frame  10  includes an aperture  102  in a first end, two indentations  104  in communication with the aperture  102 , a first arched edge  101  at the first end, a second arched edge  106 , a cutout  103  in the second arched edge  106 , a shoulder  108  between the arched edges  101  and  106  and a slot  109  therein. A cross bar  11  extends between the second, opposite ends of the two walls of the frame  10 . 
     The handle  20  includes two walls and a grip  21  between the walls. Each of the walls of the handle  20  includes cam  202  at an end, a slot  203  therein and a boss  204  thereon within the slot  203 . An aperture  201  is defined in each of the cams  202 . 
     The two bushings  30  each include an annular ridge  301 , two bosses  302 , and a retaining surface  303 . The annular ridge  301  is adapted to insert through the aperture  102  of the frame  10 , and the retaining surface  303  is adapted to abut against the first side  110  of the wall so as to keep the bushing  30  connected to the frame  10 . Each boss  302  is adapted to insert in the indentation  104  formed on each wall of the frame  10  so that the bushings  30  are not rotatable with respect to the frame  10 . 
     The reel  12  is rotationally inserted in the apertures  201  of the handle  20 , the bushings  30  and the apertures  102  of the frame  10 . The annular ridge  301  is inserted in the apertures  201 . 
     Each of the ratchet wheels  13  includes ratchets  131 . The ratchet wheels  13  are non-rotationally connected to the reel  12 . 
     The first detent  14  includes two fins  141  inserted through the slots  109  of the walls of the frame  10  for engagement with the ratchets  131  of the ratchet wheels  13 . A spring is compressed between the first detent  14  and a tab raised from the floor of the frame  10  for keeping the fins  141  engaged with the ratchets  131 . 
     The second detent  22  includes two fins  221  inserted through the slots  203  of the walls of the handle  20  for engagement with the ratchets  131  of the ratchet wheels  13 . The second detent  22  includes a grip  222  thereon and an aperture  223  therein. 
     An elastic element  23  is provided between the second detent  22  and a portion of the handle  20  for keeping the fins  221  engaged with the ratchets  131 . The elastic element  23  is a torque spring with a helical portion, a first end extending from the helical portion and a second end extending from the helical portion. The helical portion of the spring  23  is mounted on the boss  204  of one of the walls of the handle  20 . The first end of the spring  23  is located against the wall of the handle  20 . The second end of the spring  23  is inserted through the aperture  223  of the second detent  22 . 
     The reel  12  is protected from the handle  20  by the annular ridge  301  inserted in the apertures  201 . That is, the reel  12  is not clamped by the handle  20  and the frame  10  and therefore can easily be rotated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a fastener according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment differentiates from the first embodiment in that the two bushings  30  are replaced by two bushings  31 . Each of the bushings  31  includes two arched ridges  311 , two bosses  312  and a retaining surface  313 . The arched ridges  311  are adapted to insert through the aperture  102  of the frame  10 , and the retaining surface  313  is adapted to abut against the first side  110  of the wall so as to keep the bushing  31  connected to the frame  10 . Each boss  312  is adapted to insert in the indentation  104  formed on each wall of the frame  10  so that the bushings  31  are not rotatable with respect to the frame  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 through 9 , there is shown a fastener according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment differentiates from the first embodiment in that the two bushings  30  are replaced by two bushings  32 . Each of the bushings  32  includes an annular ridge  321 , two bosses  322  and a retaining surface  323 . The annular ridge  321  is adapted to insert through the aperture  102  of the frame  10 , and the retaining surface  323  is adapted to abut against the second side  111  of the wall so as to keep the bushing  32  connected to the frame  10 . Each boss  322  is adapted to insert in the indentation  104  formed on each wall of the frame  10  so that the bushings  32  are not rotatable with respect to the frame  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a fastener according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment differentiates from the first embodiment in that the two bushings  30  are replaced by two bushings  33 . Each of the bushings  33  includes two arched ridges  331 , two bosses  332  and a retaining surface  333 . The arched ridges  331  are adapted to insert through the aperture  102  of the frame  10 , and the retaining surface  333  is adapted to abut against the second side  111  of the wall so as to keep the bushing  33  connected to the frame  10 . Each boss  332  is adapted to insert in the indentation  104  formed on each wall of the frame  10  so that the bushings  33  are not rotatable with respect to the frame  10 . 
     The fastener according to the present invention exhibits advantages. Firstly, the reeling out is easy, since the bushings are provided to keep the reel  12  from the handle  20 . 
     Secondly, the reeling out is easy, since the bushings are provided to keep the reel  12  from the frame  10 . 
     The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.