Patent ID: 7229065

Claim:
A tool for securing a binding strap such as a chain around a load comprising: an internally threaded tube and opposing open ends, threaded shafts threadably inserted into the opposing open ends and the threading in the tube and on the shafts adapted to provide common contraction and extension of the shafts relative to the tube interior with the shafts not turning and the tube turning; a gear fixed to the tube exterior including gear teeth, and a pawl couple to a handle that is adapted to pivot around the gear, said pawl having opposing ends adapted for selective pivotal engagement with the gear teeth and as selectively engaging the gear teeth preventing relative rotation of the handle in a selective one of the rotative directions; and a biased member urged into engagement with the pawl, said member and said pawl cooperatively configured to define three retention position whereat the pawl resists relative pivotal movement including said position of selected pivotal engagement with the gear teeth, and further including an intermediate position of non-engagement configured to provide a positive stop whereat free rotation of the tube relative to the shafts is permitted.