Patent ID: 7861382

Claim:
An apparatus for tightening and collecting a strap, comprising: a) a cargo tightening portion comprising: i) a connecting arm extending in a longitudinal direction, the connecting arm having a first pair of spaced apart sidewalls; ii) a lever pivotally mounted in the connecting arm by a first shaft, the first shaft having a first slot for introducing the end of a strap, the first shaft being operable for co-rotational movement with the lever for tightening the strap, and the lever having a second pair of spaced apart sidewalls exterior to the pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the connecting arm; and b) a strap collector portion comprising a threaded shaft mounted for rotation between the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever, the threaded shaft having a slot therein to accept the end of the strap after the strap is tightened on the cargo, a first rotatable knob operable to rotate the threaded shaft, and a second rotatable knob operable to selectively secure the threaded shaft from further rotation; c) at least one toothed ratchet wheel fixedly mounted to the first shaft; and d) a pawl mounted to the lever for reciprocal movement to engage and disengage from the at least one toothed ratchet wheel and cause the rotation of the first shaft.