Patent ID: 8601645

Claim:
A strap-tensioning apparatus including: a base including two walls each formed with a first arched edge and a second arched edge; a short strap connected to the base; a reel supported on the base; a long strap wound around the reel; a coil spring for causing the reel to reel in the long strap; a spring-loaded detent movably supported on the walls for engagement with the reel; a handle supported on the base, wherein the handle includes two cams formed thereon and an opening defined therein, wherein each of the cams includes a lobe for pushing the spring-loaded detent from the reel; and a spring-loaded detent/suppressor movably supported on the handle for engagement with the reel; wherein the handle can be pivoted to and fro to spin the reel to reel in the long strap when the detent/suppressor is supported on the second arched edges of the walls; wherein when the detent/suppressor is retained on the first arched edges of the walls, the detent/suppressor contacts the reel to suppress the spinning and winding of the reel; wherein when the handle is pivoted to and fro, the detent/suppressor is moved on the first arched edges of the walls from a first position wherein the spring-loaded detent elastically contacts the reel to a second position wherein the lobes of the cams push the spring-loaded detent from the reel to allow the reel to spin; wherein the detent/suppressor can be pushed via the opening and disengaged from the reel when the detent/suppressor is located in the second position on the first arched edges of the walls.