Patent ID: 7789603

Claim:
A retractable tie down device, comprising: a frame, a spool rotatably mounted to the frame, the spool having at least one ratchet wheel mounted thereto, a flexible web having one end mounted to the spool, a power spring configured to rotate the spool in a web take-up direction, a handle movably mounted to the frame and movable relative to the frame between first and second positions, a ratchet pawl movably mounted to the handle and biased toward the at least one ratchet wheel, and a lock pawl movably mounted to the frame and biased relative to the frame toward the at least one ratchet wheel, wherein the handle is configured to maintain the lock pawl away from the at least one ratchet wheel, and the frame is configured to maintain the ratchet pawl away from the at least one ratchet wheel, when the handle is in each of the first and second positions so that the spool is rotatable in a web pay-out direction, opposite to the web take-up direction, whereby the web may be drawn away from the device.