Patent ID: 8146632

Claim:
A tightening system ( 135 ) for use with anti-skid and traction enhancement devices for wheeled vehicles, the tightening system ( 135 ) comprising; at least one connection assembly ( 134 ) adapted to be pivotably and releasably attached to a proximal end of a surface contact member ( 63 , 71 ) by way of an attachment means ( 117 ) at a first end of the at least one connection assembly ( 134 ) and which is adapted to connect to a tightening mechanism ( 130 ) at a second end of the at least one connection assembly ( 134 ), at least one tightening mechanism ( 130 ) which comprises a manually rotatable reel ( 172 ) for receiving one or more tensioning wires ( 137 ), a power transmitting gearset ( 167 , 168 ) which rotates said reel ( 172 ), a lower clutch ( 199 ) and an upper clutch ( 206 ) for transmitting to said gearset rotational movement received from a knob ( 212 ) fixedly attached on top and around the periphery of said upper clutch ( 206 ), and a locking component ( 193 ) provided between the reel ( 172 ) and the upper clutch ( 206 ), the locking component ( 193 ) which keeps the upper clutch ( 206 ) and the lower clutch ( 199 ) engaged with each other, said locking component ( 193 ) having a base plate ( 240 ), an inner sidewall ( 195 ) and an outer sidewall ( 194 ), both sidewalls standing perpendicular to said base plate ( 240 ), where the inner sidewall ( 195 ) has a plurality of recesses ( 230 , 231 ) which are adapted to engage with a peripheral projection ( 209 ) of the upper clutch ( 206 ) for holding the knob ( 212 ) in place during unlocked and locked positions ( 227 , 228 ) of the knob ( 212 ) and where the outer sidewall ( 194 ) enters partly or fully, respectively in unlocked and locked positions of the knob, into a corresponding sealing slot ( 210 ) of said knob ( 212 ) for sealing inner volume of the tightening mechanism ( 130 ) from outside conditions.