Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force – Portable implements or apparatus for tensioning flexible... – Including rotatably driven drum for engaging either material...
Patent
1994-09-12
1997-03-18
Mansen, Michael
Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force
Portable implements or apparatus for tensioning flexible...
Including rotatably driven drum for engaging either material...
24 68CD, 2423884, 2423887, 2425326, 2425461, 254369, 410103, B25B 2500, B65H 7528, B65H 1810, B61D 4500
Patent
active
056115202
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a device for collection and storage of the free, non-active portion of a strap of a manually operated cargo tightener, which is used to secure cargo to be transported. More precisely, the invention relates to a strap collector for use in combination with such a cargo tightener.
Cargo tighteners of the type that is here referred to comprises hook-equipped straps of various widths and lengths, and shows various designs to meet the requirements from both "hobbyists" and from the professional haulage contractor. The invention is not concerned with the type of cargo tighteners which can be found, permanently mounted on a transportation vehicle and comprising a strap tightening drum or roller, actuated by a spring means or a drive means, onto which the strap is wound both for securing the cargo and for storing of the strap when not in operation.
The typical tightener to be used in combination with the strap collector of the invention, includes a shaft, rotatably attached in one end of a lever. The shaft is journalled in one end of a connecting arm, thus providing a rotatable attachment of the lever to the connecting arm. A first strap is firmly secured to a bolt in the connecting arm and in its free end including a hook for attachment to the transportation vehicle, and a second strap, likewise including a hook in one of its ends, is inserted through a slit in the rotatable shaft upon lashing down cargo. Toothed discs or ratchet wheels are secured to the shaft and engaging spring actuated detent pawls, respectively supported in the connecting arm and in the lever.
Upon securing the cargo to the transportation vehicle, the first strap is attached to a hook or a loop on the vehicle, and the second strap is inserted with its free end in the slit in the tightener shaft, around which the strap is wound in order to tighten the straps. Once the second strap has been secured to a corresponding hook or loop on the vehicle, the straps are thus tightened by forcing the shaft with its slit to rotate by means of the lever, the second strap becoming wound to the shaft a number of turns. The shaft is prevented from rotating in the opposite direction by the ratchet wheels engaging the spring actuated detent pawl of the connecting arm, which, upon untightening of the straps, is moved in a direction opposite the spring force to release the ratchet wheels, permitting the shaft to rotate and thus loosen the straps.
A common problem when using the abovementioned cargo tightener with tensioning straps with hook(s) concerns the handling of the free end of the strap not used when securing the cargo. This strap portion has to be thoroughly secured to the cargo in order not to flutter in the encountering wind or to trail on the ground, both cases leading to a hasty soiling and wearing down of the strap. Further, a freely fluttering strap is a danger to traffic, particularly in connection with the wider, 8-10 meter long straps used professionally by haulage contractors. Also, the collection of the strap for its storage or keeping after its use is considered by the professional as a time-wasting and irritating procedure. Today, the straps are manually formed to a roll, but, in practice, no aid has proved to be suitable for keeping the strap in this position, and the straps often get all tangled up, a nuisance whenever the strap is to be used next.
A known device for managing these problems, see swedish design application no. 91-1126, discloses a winding device, which, after a modification of the lever of the cargo tightener, is attached to the outer end thereof. A drawback with such a structure is that the wound portion of the strap has an interfering effect on the tightening of the strap, in part since the strap roll limits the clearance of the lever reciprocating movement, in part since it will be difficult to grasp the lever. Another drawback is that the strap roll is not prevented from tilting over, i.e. one or more turns are released and form a tangle at the side of the roll. Further, the strap extensio
REFERENCES:
patent: 4584742 (1986-04-01), Speich
patent: 4622721 (1986-11-01), Smetz et al.
patent: 5316266 (1994-05-01), Chou
Collins Alvin C.
Mansen Michael
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