Patent ID: 8286945

Claim:
A securing mechanism for securing cargo, said securing mechanism comprising: a body capable of receiving a strap therethrough, wherein said strap includes opposing ends; at least one aperture positioned on said body, said at least one aperture capable of attaching additional devices to said body; a ratchet comprising: a pair of opposing arms connected to said body; a spool rotatably connected to said opposing arms, said spool including a slot to receive said strap; a pair of ratchet wheels connected to opposing ends of said spool; and wherein said spool gathers said strap into a z-fold configuration via said slot; a lever rotatably attached to said arms and reciprocated between a first position and a second position, wherein said lever includes at least one pawl to engage said ratchet wheels and rotates said spool when said lever is reciprocated; a release mechanism capable of selectively disengaging said pawl from said ratchet wheel; and wherein said body is selectively positionable along said strap via said slot until said strap is bi-directionally gathered onto said spool.