Patent ID: 7059588

Claim:
A strap winder which is dimensioned and configured to be mounted on a vehicle, the strap winder serving to wind an elongated strap into a coil and comprising: a body; a one-piece shaft rotatably supported by the body, the shaft having a longitudinal axis and a slotted end and being dimensioned and configured to receive the strap for winding it about the shaft, the slotted end being defined by a slot extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the slotted end being dimensioned and configured to retain an end of the strap and to allow the strap formed into a coil on the shaft to be removed from the shaft by axially translating the formed coil over the slotted end; a power-operated driver comprising an electric motor connected to the shaft to rotate the shaft about its longitudinal axis; and a power connector on the strap winder to connect the power-operated driver to a power source comprising a battery-containing electrical system associated with such vehicle, whereby to rotate the shaft to coil the strap onto the shaft.