Patent ID: 6945516

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 and pawl housing mounted over the gear and pivotal 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 housing in a selective one of the rotative directions; a spring biased pinion carried by the housing and urged into engagement with the pawl at a position with the pawl ends out of engagement with the gear teeth and as so engaged urging non-pivotal movement of the pawl whereat free rotation of the tube relative to the shafts is permitted; and a handle that protrudes from said housing to provide a lever advantage for pivoting of the pawl housing relative to the shafts, said handle pivotally attached to the housing for selective pivoting of said lever to a parallel relation to the tube.