Patent ID: 7216849

Claim:
A winch for use with a strap for fastening a load onto a transportation vehicle, the winch comprising: a tightening assembly, the tightening assembly comprising: a support structure having first and second support flanges and a cross member extending between the support flanges, the cross member being devised for mounting onto a corresponding side track of the vehicle; and a tightening reel for receiving a portion of the strap to be tightened about said reel, the tightening reel being pivotally mounted onto the first and second support flanges; a gear assembly operatively connected to the tightening assembly, the gear assembly comprising: a gear securely mounted about the tightening reel so as to rotate with said reel; a worm positioned adjacent to the gear and operable between a first configuration where the worm is away from the gear, and a second configuration where the worm is threadedly engaged with the gear so that a rotation of the worm drives the tightening reel via the gear; and a casing mounted onto the first support flange of the support structure and having corresponding recesses for containing the gear and worm respectively.