Patent ID: 8678728

Claim:
A vehicle load securing apparatus for mounting on a vehicle to secure a load to a load bed of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a housing substantially enclosing an interior, the housing having a dispensing opening into the interior; a spool rotatably mounted in the interior of the housing and including a rotating shaft; a length of an elongate member at least partially wrapped about the spool, a secured end of the elongate member being secured to the spool and a hook being mounted on a free end of the elongate member; a ratcheting structure configured to control rotation of the spool, the ratcheting structure having an engaged position in which the ratcheting structure resists rotation of the spool in an unwind direction of the spool and a disengaged position in which the ratcheting structure permits rotation of the spool in the unwind direction and a wind direction; and a mounting structure on the housing and configured to removably mount the housing on the vehicle; wherein the ratcheting structure is manipulatable from an exterior of the housing to change the ratcheting structure between the engaged position and the disengaged position.