CA2157977A1

CA2157977A1 - Load binder lock

Info

Publication number: CA2157977A1
Application number: CA002157977A
Authority: CA
Inventors: David Street; Fred Zielenin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-09-11
Filing date: 1995-09-11
Publication date: 1997-03-12

Abstract

A lock is used for locking a load binder for tightening chains.
The binder is of the type having a handle with an over center position adjacent a tightened chain. The lock includes a yoke that extends through a chain link and over opposite sides of the handle. A retainer pin is engaged with the yoke to retain the handle in place against inadvertent release.

Description

LOAD BINDER LOCK
FIELD OF THE INVENTiON
The present invention relates to a lock for a load binder.
BACKGROUND
Loads on flatbed transport trucks and trailers are often held down with chains. The chains are tensioned using load binders in order to hold a load securely in place. A load binder is a tool that engages spaced links of a chain and draws those links towards one another as a handle of the binder is pivoted to a tightened position.
The load binders can occasioll "V come undone, releasing a chain and possibly a load. The dangers posed by such occurrences have led to the imposition of regulations in many jurisdictions requiring that all such binders must be secured against inadvertent release. This is con\,e"Lior~ y done by wiring the binder handle to the chain. This can be a time consuming and even tedious process, considering that some loads require large numbers of chains and binders. It also requires the operator to carry the necessary wire and wire handlin~q tools such as cutters and pliers.
The present invention seeks to all~ ldL~ these problems.
SIJMMARY
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a iock for locking a load binder for tighteninQ a chain, the binder having a handle with a tightened position adjacent the chain, said lock comprising a yoke e"yd~able through a link of the chain and having two arms engagable over opposite sides of the handle, and retainer means extendible across the yoke to retain the handle therein.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a combination of the binder and lock with a chain.

The lock yoke slips through a link of the chain, and around the handle of the binder. The retainer, preferably a spring pin, is then attached to the yoke, for example through two aligned holes in the yoke arms. This locks the handle in place. The retainer is preferably con~-e,,L~d to the yoke 5 by a tether, for example a length of cable, so that the parts of the lock do not become separated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CRAWINGS
In the acco""~a"ying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a side view of a lock according to the present invention, in use with a load binder and a chain;
Figure 2 is an end view of the lock with the retainer disconnected;
Figure 3 is an end view of the lock with the retainer in place;
15 and Figure 4 is an isometric view of the yoke.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accol"pa"ying drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a load chain 10 that, in use, is passed over a 20 load to be held in place on a truck or trailer bed. The chain is cor"posed ofthe usual oval links 12. The chain is tightened on the load to hold the load down onto a truck or trailer bed using a binder 14. The binder includes a pair of chain hooks 16 that engage to spaced chain links 12. Each of the hooks is connected by a pair of links 18 to a binder arm 20. The two binder 25 arms are connected by pivots 22 (one shown~ to a binder handle 24. In the tightened position illustrated in Figure 1, the binder handle is po:.iliolled adjacent the chain 10. As it is moved away from the chain, the linkage including the two arms 20 and the handle 24 goes over center and releases the tension on the chain.
In conventional practice, the handle 24 is wired to the chain 10 to prevent it from releasing inadvertently. According to this invention, the 5 handle is locked to the chain by a lock 26. This lock includes a yoke 28 that is sub:,1d~~Lially U-shaped, with two arms 30 and 32 and an arcuate bight 34. Two aligned holes 36 and 38 are formed in the arms 30 and 32 near their free ends, that is the ends opposite the bight 34. The lock also includes a retainer pin 40 in the form of a hairpin spring that engages 10 through the holes 36 and 38 in the yoke arms as shown most particularly in Figure 3. The yoke and retainer are conlle~ d by a steel cable tether 42 with an eye 44 at one end through a hole 46 in the bight of the yoke and an eye 48 at the opposite end engaging the retainer pin 40.
In use, one of the arms of the yoke is passed through a link in 15 the chain 10 and the arms of the yoke extend across opposite sides of the handle 24 of the binder. The retainer pin 40 is then engaged through the holes 36 and 38 to lock the handle in place as shown in Figure 1.
The load binder lock is easy to use, convenient to store and carry and can be manufactured at ,~aso,lable cost. Several of the locks can 20 be installed in the time that it takes to wire a single binder handle to a chain.
While one particular embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lock for locking a load binder for tightening a chain, the binder having a handle with a tightened position adjacent the chain, said lock comprising a yoke engagable through a link of the chain and having two arms engagable over opposite sides of the handle, and retainer means extendible across the yoke to retain the handle therein.

2. A lock according to claim 1 wherein the yoke is substantially U-shaped.

3. A lock according to claim 1 wherein the yoke arms have aligned openings adjacent free ends thereof, the retainer comprising a spring pin engagable through the openings.

4. A lock according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 including a tether attaching the yoke and retainer.

5. A lock according to claim 4 wherein the tether comprises a cable.

6. In combination:
a chain comprising a plurality of chain links;
a chain tightening load binder including a handle with a tightened position adjacent the chain;
a lock for locking the load binder handle in the tightened position, said lock including:
a yoke adapted to engage through a link of the chain and to engage over opposite sides of the handle; and a retainer engagable with the yoke to retain the handle therein.

7. A combination according to claim 6 wherein the yoke is substantially U-shaped.

8. A combination according to claim 6 wherein the yoke arms have aligned openings adjacent free ends thereof, the retainer comprising a spring pin engagable through the openings.

9. A combination according to claim 6, 7 or 8 including a tether attaching the yoke and the retainer.

10. A combination according to claim 9 wherein the tether comprises a cable.