Patent ID: 7374379

Claim:
A winch for a cargo restraining strap, said winch comprising: a one-piece aluminum alloy frame including: (i) a base; (ii) first and second parallel spaced sidewalls extending from said base, said first and second sidewalls defining respective first and second apertures; (iii) a protective wall extending from said base and spaced from said first sidewall, wherein said first sidewall and said protective wall cooperate to define a clevis structure including a channel defined between said first sidewall and said protective wall; a pawl pivotably secured between said protective wall and said first sidewall of said frame, wherein an inner end of said pawl is located in said channel of said clevis structure between said protective wall and said first sidewall, said pawl manually movable between first and second positions; a spool extending between said first and second sidewalls and rotatably supported in the first and second apertures; and, a ratchet wheel connected to said spool and located adjacent said first sidewall, wherein said pawl engages said ratchet wheel and prevents movement of the ratchet wheel in one rotational direction when said pawl is pivoted to said first position, and wherein said pawl is disengaged from said ratchet wheel when said pawl is pivoted to said second position.