Patent ID: 7585140

Claim:
A ratcheting tie down system for a vehicle transporter having one or more vehicle platforms, the system comprising: a ratchet assembly affixed to an end of a tie down shaft having a longitudinal axis, the tie down shaft being affixed to one of the one or more vehicle platforms; a pawl mechanism coupled to the ratchet assembly, wherein the ratchet assembly comprises: a ratchet gear having engagement teeth coupled to the pawl mechanism; a ratchet head coupled to the ratchet gear, wherein an inner face of the ratchet gear is positioned in opposition to and in mechanical contact with an inner face of the ratchet head, and wherein the ratchet gear, the ratchet head and the shaft are configured to rotate as a single integral unit when rotated in a forward direction about the longitudinal axis, and the ratchet head is configured to rotate with respect to the ratchet gear and the shaft when the ratchet head is rotated in a reverse direction about the longitudinal axis.