Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Strap tighteners – Accordion straps
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-03
2002-11-12
Sakran, Victor (Department: 3677)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Strap tighteners
Accordion straps
C024S0680CT, C024S0710ST, C070S057000, C254S243000, C292S113000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06477747
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of load binders used to secure cargo for transport. Particularly, the present invention relates to a locking structure to secure the lever handle of a load binder. More particularly, the present invention relates to a locking structure to secure spring-loaded over-center lever type load binders and to prevent injury or damage as a result of their premature release.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Spring-loaded, over-center load binders are conventionally used to secure cargo in the transportation industry, for example on flatbed trucks, freight trains, cargo ships, and the like. The load binder employs a lever, which is typically comprised of two or more connected components that rotate between an open and closed position about an axis. The components generally include a handle and a receiving cradle. The lever is used to place tension on a hold-down element surrounding the cargo, such as a chain or strap, to hold the cargo in place.
To secure the cargo, the handle of the lever is moved from an open position, where the hold down element is slack, to a closed position, where the hold down element is taut. The hold-down element is pulled taut when the handle has passed the over-center position. When the load binder is closed, the lever components are usually parallel and one may fit inside the other. Pressure on a load binder is released as the operator manually moves the lever handle from the closed position towards the over-center position. While the operator is handling the binder or when the operator is within the vicinity of one or more binders under pressure, premature release of the binder may expose the operator or others to serious personal injury or even death. Premature release may also cause damage to the cargo or other property.
Means to lock load binders are well known in the art. Most load binders available today have some method of securing the lever handle in place after the hold-down element has been pulled taut around the cargo. These methods may include the use of removable locks and locking parts, such as keys or pins. Most have been designed with the aim of preventing premature release of the tension on the hold-down element.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,252 discloses a load binder that is secured by attaching a locking part, such as a pin or padlock, to a component of the binder. In this invention, a receiving cradle is comprised of two flanges with aligned circular apertures designed to receive a pin, padlock, or other locking part. The apertures are situated so as to be on either side of the lever handle when it is in a fully closed position. When the handle is closed, the locking part slides through the holes over the handle, preventing it from opening.
There are several disadvantages to using a padlock or straight pin to secure a load binder. For example, when using a padlock, the operator must keep track of a key or remember a combination. As several binders are typically used to secure a load, the padlocks would all have to be keyed or coded the same to prevent confusion. A key is easily bent, lost, or misplaced and thus is not ideal to secure a load binder on its own or in conjunction with a padlock. Where the locking part is a pin, there is a high likelihood the pin may slip out of the apertures upon jarring of the binder caused by moving of the transport vehicle. Using a wire ring or other similar object to secure the pin would further complicate the process. This requires extra steps to properly secure the binder handle and such objects are easily lost.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,728 and 4,693,097 disclose portable locking devices that may be attached to a binder lock to secure the lever handle with a padlock. U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,728 is comprised of a tube-like component with a flange. With the load binder tight and the lever handle in a fully closed position, the operator slides the invention over the handle with the flange facing the hold-down element, ideally a chain. A padlock is placed through a hole in the flange, the closest link of the chain, and then locked. In this manner, the lever handle is secured and the hold-down element is prevented from slipping.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,097 is comprised of a pin affixed centrally to and projecting from the lock's main wall. This projection is flanked by two side-walls. There is a locking chain affixed to one of the sidewalls. The other side-wall has an extension with an opening. When the load binder is tight and the lever handle is in a closed position, the pin fits through the hold-down element, ideally a chain. The locking chain is wrapped around the handle and secured to the opposite side-wall by a padlock placed through the chain and the opening in that side-wall. While these inventions may secure the binder lock, they are inferior to the simplicity and safety of the present invention. A portable lock is most easily attached using two hands—one to hold the device on the binder and the other to attach the padlock to it. For safety reasons, the operator ideally should have one hand on the closed lever handle while securing the binder to prevent accidental release. He or she is forced to choose between safety and ease of attachment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,673 discloses a binder tool that can be used to lock a lever handle in addition to its primary purpose of preventing injury to the operator. This tool is attached to the hold down element by a sliding part and moved towards and under the closed lever handle when the operator desires to open it. It is comprised of a short portion to receive the lever handle, flanges with holes to attach it to the sliding part with a pin, and then a long handle extending upwards from the pin. The tool rotates on the pin and when the operator pulls it towards his or her body, the lever handle is pushed away from the operator as the pressure is released and the lever opens. Although the disclosure suggests that this tool can be designed to fit down over the lever handle and lock it in a variety of ways, no particular method is specified. While this tool may be useful in helping to safely move a load binder lever from the closed to open position, it does not adequately address how to secure the binder when it is in a closed position.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,062,206 and 3,974,668 disclose a means of locking a load binder with a key or Allen Wrench. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,206, when the hold-down element is taut and the lever is in the closed position, the handle engages a hook and is subsequently locked to the hook with a removable key. U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,668 utilizes a spring-loaded latch to secure the lever handle of a load binder. When the handle is securely latched, the mechanism is locked and can be released with the use of a conventional key or an Allen Wrench. These inventions, while useful, are inferior to the present invention in that they require a detached key or tool to release a locked load binder. Keys and tools are easily misplaced, broken, or stuck. In addition, where load binders are used outdoors the majority of the time, the lock itself may become rusty and unmanageable.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,426 discloses a load binder secured by means of a latching system. As the lever handle is pushed down to the closed position, the rotating end of the handle component pops over a raised portion of the receiving component and into a groove. Once secured in the groove, the lever is supposed to be held in place. This invention does not adequately assure the safety of the operator. Without a secure locking structure, even a small amount of force may cause the lever handle to fly open. The disclosure suggests using another method of securing the handle, such as tying wire or rope around the hold-down element and handle in the closed position. This method is impractical and risky, where the operator would need two hands to tie down the handle. This would necessitate removing the hand holding the lever handle in the closed position and would expose the operator to the risks of the handl
Deleault, Esq. Robert R.
Mesmer & Deleault, PLLC
Sakran Victor
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