AU2007203097A1 - A strap dispenser - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT A STRAP DISPENSER The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method known of performing it to me: A STRAP DISPENSER TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing a coiled load- Ssecuring strap.

10 BACKGROUND Lorries are widely used to transport loads. In practice, a load is loaded onto a tray of a lorry before being secured to the tray using one or more loadsecuring straps.

The load-securing straps are typically coiled when stored. When securing the load, one end of the coiled strap is firmly held and the coil is then thrown over the load so as to uncoil in midair. So that the coil can be thrown with sufficient momentum, that end to which a buckle is attached is thrown. Respective ends of the strap are then secured to the tray on either side of the load, thereby securing the load to the tray.

In practice, the coiled strap and buckle can be quite heavy which makes it difficult to throw over large loads. Furthermore, throwing the coil over the load is somewhat dangerous as the bucklel could potentially injure a passerby on the blind side of the load.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispenser for dispensing a coiled load-securing strap, the dispenser including: a holder for holding the coiled strap; and an actuator for causing the coiled strap to be ejected from the holder and to uncoil across a load to be secured.

The holder may include a bucket for receiving the strap, and a handle extending from the bucket by which a user can manoeuvre the bucket. The handle may be telescopic. The holder may further include a guide mounted to the handle and for guiding an actuator rope. The guide may be a ring. The bucket may include a pair of parallel walls between which the coiled strap can be received. The bucket may be substantially triangular in shape.

The actuator may include a lever which is pivotally mounted relative to the 10 holder. The lever may include an elbow strip. The lever may be pivotally mounted to the holder with a spring. The lever may be pivotally mounted to the bucket. The actuator may further include a compression spring located between the lever and the handle. The actuator may further include a cradle mounted to the lever and in which a free end of the strap can be rested.

The actuator may further include an anchor fastened with the lever and to which an actuator rope can be anchored. The anchor may include a ring.

The dispenser may further include a stand fast with the actuator and to facilitate standing of the dispenser during loading of the coiled strap. The stand may include an element mounted orthogonally to the lever.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows side views of the dispenser of Figure 1 when dispensing a coiled load-securing strap; and Figure 3 is a side view of a dispenser in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 0According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a strap dispenser 2 shown in Figure 1 for dispensing a coiled load-securing strap (not shown). The dispenser 2 includes a holder 4 for holding the coiled strap elongate strap rolled into a coil). The dispenser 2 further includes an actuator 6 which, when actuated, causes the coiled strap 8 (Figure 2) to be ejected from the holder 4 and roll across a load 10 to be secured while uncoiling. A detailed description of the dispenser 2 is provided below.

Turning firstly to Figure 1, the strap holder 4 includes a triangular bucket 12 for containing the coiled strap 8, and a telescopic handle 14 extending from the bucket 12 by which a user can maneuver the bucket 12 into position. The bucket 12 includes a pair of parallel walls between which the coiled strap 8 can be loaded by the user.

The actuator 6 includes a bent lever 18 which is pivotally mounted to the holder 4 with a spring 16. The lever 18 is essentially formed from an elbow strip which is fast with the spring 16 at its apex. The actuator 6 further includes a cradle 20 mounted to the lever 18. In use, a free outer end of the strap 8 can be rested or cradled in the cradle The actuator 6 further includes an anchor ring 22 fastened with the lever 18.

The holder 4 further includes a guide ring 24 mounted to the handle 14. An actuator rope 26 is tied to the anchor ring 22 and passes through the guide ring 24.

A stand element 28 is mounted orthogonally to the lever 18 and beneath the

O

Scradle A method for using the strap dispenser 2 is described in detail below with reference to Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 2a, the strap dispenser 2 is rested on the ground so that a user can load the coiled strap 8 into the bucket 12. In this manner, the dispenser 2 rests upon both the handle 14, and the stand element 28 which S 10 provides lateral stability. The bucket 12 is oriented so that its apex points downwards and the coiled strap 8 can be loaded therein.

As shown in Figure 2b, the loaded dispenser 2 is then manually maneuvered into position using the handle 14 so that the base of the bucket 12 rests upon a load 10 loaded a lorry tray. An outer free end of the strap 8 is uncoiled, rested in the cradle 20 and then firmly secured at its extremity.

The user can then pull downwards on the free end of the actuator rope 26 so that lever 18 pivots relative to the bucket 12. The coiled strap 8 is dispensed from the dispenser 2 as shown in Figure 2c, and is forced by the actuator 6 to roll away (and uncoil) from the dispenser 2 and across the load Referring to Figure 2d, the user can then remove the dispenser 2 from the load 10, thereby leaving the elongate strap 8 draped over the load 10 with a free end of the strap 8 hanging on either side of the load 10. The user can then proceed to anchor each free end of the strap 8 to the lorry tray, thereby securing the load 10 to the lorry for transportation.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

For example, another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 3 where like reference numerals refer to like features previously described.

The bent lever 18 is pivotally mounted to the top of the bucket 12 about pivot point 50. The actuator may include a compression spring 52 located between Nthe lever 18 and the tip of the handle 14. In use, the spring 52 biases the lever 18 in a loading position so that the coiled strap 8 can be loaded into the bucket 12.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be t' Sunderstood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of C putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims (14)

1. A dispenser for dispensing a coiled load-securing strap, the dispenser Sincluding: Sa holder for holding the coiled strap; and an actuator for causing the coiled strap to be ejected from the holder and to uncoil across a load to be secured.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder includes a bucket for receiving the strap, and a handle extending from the bucket.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the holder further includes a guide mounted to the handle and for guiding an actuator rope.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein the guide includes a ring.

A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bucket includes a pair of parallel walls between which the coiled strap can be received.

6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bucket is substantially triangular in shape.

7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a lever for pivotally mounting relative to the holder.

8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lever includes an elbow strip.

9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuator further includes a biasing means for biasing the lever so that the coiled strap can be loaded into the holder.

A dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuator further includes a cradle mounted to the lever and in which a free end of the strap can be rested.

11. A dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuator further includes an anchor fastened with the lever and to which an actuator rope can be anchored.

12. A dispenser as claimed in claim 11, wherein the anchor includes a ring.

13. A dispenser as claimed in claim 7, further including a stand fast with the actuator and to facilitate standing of the dispenser during loading of the coiled strap.

14. A dispenser as claimed in claim 13, wherein the stand includes an element mounted orthogonally to the lever. A dispenser substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1. Dated this 3 rd day of July 2007 ROSS GREGORY ROBINSON by my attorneys Eagar Buck Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys