CA2173813A1 - Universal ratchet handle - Google Patents

Universal ratchet handle

Info

Publication number
CA2173813A1
CA2173813A1 CA 2173813 CA2173813A CA2173813A1 CA 2173813 A1 CA2173813 A1 CA 2173813A1 CA 2173813 CA2173813 CA 2173813 CA 2173813 A CA2173813 A CA 2173813A CA 2173813 A1 CA2173813 A1 CA 2173813A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
bar
ratchet
tool
rigid
cross
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2173813
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Nick M. Sorge, Jr.
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fortune Five Packaging Corp
Original Assignee
Fortune Five Packaging Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fortune Five Packaging Corp filed Critical Fortune Five Packaging Corp
Publication of CA2173813A1 publication Critical patent/CA2173813A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60PVEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
    • B60P7/00Securing or covering of load on vehicles
    • B60P7/06Securing of load
    • B60P7/08Securing to the vehicle floor or sides
    • B60P7/0823Straps; Tighteners
    • B60P7/0853Tools for manipulating straps or tighteners

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Package Frames And Binding Bands (AREA)

Abstract

A tool for use with variously sized ratchet buckles where each ratchet buckle has an operating handle including a pair of oppositely spaced parallel arms connected together by a cross arm. The cross arms are different lengths for each of the various ratchet buckle sizes. The tool includes an elongated rigid bar having a rear handle end and a spaced opposite front end. A socket is connected to the front end and includes a tubular member for receiving the operating handle including the spaced parallel arms and the cross arm. The tubular member has a rectangular cross section with a width sufficient to accommodate operating handles having cross arms of different lengths and a height which maintains the bar in substantial longitudinal alignment with the parallel arms so that the tool exerts leverage on parallel arms of variously sized ratchet buckles.

Description

2i~813 UNIVERSAL RATCHET HANDLE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a universal ratchet handle. More particularly, it relates to a ratchet handle which can be used with ratchet buckles of various sizes.
2. Prior Art Ratchet buckles for tightening and tensioning straps are used extensively, particularly in tying down cargo loaded on a vehicle. It has been found that it is sometimes difficult to obtain sufficient tightening force on the handle of the ratchet buckle. Various tools have been proposed to increase the leverage on the ratchet buckle handle, for example, U.S. Patent 3,843,981 to Verest and U.S. Patent 4,510,651 to Prete, Jr. et al. However, a drawback exists with the prior art tools in that their configuration limits their use to particular buckles only. For example, the tool disclosed in the '981 patent can be used only with an over-center type manually operable load binder. The operating lever in the '651 patent can only be used with a ratchet buckle having applopliately positioned apertures formed on the cross member.

Other handle extensions feature an S-shaped clip which engages the ratchet buckle cross arms. Only handles of a particular size can be used with the handle extension. A further drawback exists with the tools that only engage the cross arms. The cross arms are riveted to the parallel arms which ultimately ratchet the straps down. Leverage is transferred from the tool to the parallel arm via the rivet of the cross arms. Invariably, the rivets break as they represent the weakest link in the ratchet buckle handle.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a ratchet handle that could be used with ratchet buckles of various sizes without d~m~ging them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a ratchet handle which can accommodate ratchet buckles of various sizes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ratchet handle which reduces the wear on the ratchet buckle cross arms.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a ratchet handle with a built in container for storing lubricating fluids.

These and other related objects are achieved according to the invention by a tool for use with variously sized ratchet buckles. Each ratchet buckle has an operating handle including a pair of oppositely spaced parallel arms connected 2 1 73~ ~ 3 together by a cross arm. The cross arm is a different length for each of the various ratchet buckle sizes. The tool consists of an elongated rigid bar with a longitudinal axis having a rear handle end and a spaced opposite front end. Socket means are connected to the front end and consist of a tubular member for receiving the operating handle including the spaced parallel arms and the cross arm. The tubular member has a rectangular cross section with a width sufficient to accommodate operating handles having cross arms of different lengths and a height which maintains the bar in substantial longitudinal alignment with the parallel arms so that the tool exerts leverage on the parallel arm of variously sized ratchet buckles.

Container means are disposed within the rear handle end of the rigid bar for containing a quantity of lubricating fluid. The container means includes a removable cap for selectively sealing the lubricating fluid within the container. The rear handle end and the removable cap are cooperatively threaded with the cap including a brush. The cap alternately frictionally fits onto the rear handle end. The rigid bar is hollow with a circular cross section. A rigid arm is connected to the rear handle end transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rigid bar to form a T-shaped handle. Alternatively, a rigid nosepiece is attached to the rear handle end and is disposed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rigid bar. The rigid nosepiece is a cylindrical bar having a diameter smaller than the rigid bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose several embodiments of the present invention.
It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ratchet buckle and handle extension according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of a ratchet handle according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the socket of the ratchet handle according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the ratchet handle according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the ratchet handle according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a yet another embodiment of the ratchet handle according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of the ratchet handle according to the invention; and FIG. 8 is another embodiment of the ratchet handle according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in detail to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 1, there is shown a prior art ratchet buckle 10 with a prior art handle extension 20.
Ratchet buckle 10 includes a reel 11 onto which a strap 12 is wound and tightened.
Reel 11 is rotated by oppositely spaced parallel side arms 14a and 14b. Cross arms 16 and 17 extend between side arms 14a and 14b. Different ratchet buckles are designed to accommodate straps of different widths, for example, one inch, two inch, three inch, or four inch wide straps. Cross arms 16 and 17 have a width 18 which will vary corresponding to the width of the reel and strap which that particular ratchet buckle is designed for. Cross arms 16 and 17 are also positioned at a distance 19 217~813 from each other. Distance 19 will vary based on different types of ratchet buckles.
Cross arms 16 and 17 are attached to side arms 14a and 14b by rivets 13. Side arms 14a and 14b have a height 15 which only varies slightly from buckle to buckle.

Handle extension 20 includes a handle portion 21 and an S-shaped hook 22 at one end thereof. S-shaped hook 22 dips downwardly at a point 24 and then extends upwardly in the opposite direction at a spaced point 25. A distance 27 between points 24 and 25 generally corresponds to distance 19 between cross arms 16 and 17. Point 24 is then positioned below cross arm 16 with point 25 positioned above cross arm 17. A downward force in direction 28 on the end of handle portion 21 serves to exert leverage on cross arms 16 and 17. This force is transmitted via rivets 13 to side arms 14a and 14b for rotating reel 11 to tighten strap 12. The force exerted on cross arms 16 and 17 invariably damages rivets 13 which are the weakest part of ratchet buckle 10. A new ratchet buckle must then be purchased to replace the existing ratchet buckle with the failed rivet connections. The replacement ratchet buckle must have the same configuration of cross arms 16 and 17 in order to accommodate handle extension 20. As a result, the consumer is limited to choosing a replacement ratchet buckle.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a ratchet handle 30 according to the invention including an elongated rigid bar 32, a backplate 34, and a socket portion 36. Socket portion 36 is made by taking a commercially available metal structural beam and cutting it into sections of appropriate length. This results in a four-sided hollow box which is open on two opposite ends. Backplate 34 is then placed ~er one of those open ends and connected to socket portion 36, for example, by welding. It should be understood that socket portion 36 may be constructed in many other ways. For example, one or more plates may be bent and welded together to form a four or five sided enclosure. Back plate 34 is then optionally welded onto the enclosure. Rigid bar 32 is then centered on back plate 34 and connected thereto, for example, by welding. As can be seen in FIG. 3, socket portion 36 has a height 37 which is slightly larger than height 15 of ratchet buckle 10. Although the ratchet buckles comes in various configurations, height 15 of side arms 14a and 14b does not vary significantly. However, the greatest height is selected for determining height 37 of socket portion 36. In this manner, socket portion 36 will accommodate any ratchet buckle, regardless of its height 15.

Socket portion 36 also includes a width 38 which is designed to accommodate the ratchet buckle having the greatest width 18. For example, a width 38 of approxim~tely 4 1/2 inches can accommodate all ratchet buckles designed for strap widths of 4 inches or less. Socket portion 36 has a depth 39, for example, of 4 inches. Side arms 14a and 14b are inserted into socket portion 36 until they contact backplate 34. Side arms 14a and 14b are then in close proximity to the top and bottom sides 40a and 40b of socket portion 36. Even though width 38 will be wider than a majority of the ratchet buckles, height 37 and depth 39 are selected so that bar 32 is m~int~ined in substantial longitudinal alignment with side arms 14a and 14b.
An important feature of this design is that the distance 19 between cross arms 16 and ` - 2~73813 17 is irrelevant for exerting proper leverage on side arms 14a and 14b. In addition, socket portion 36 positively engages side arms 14a and 14b, even with ratchet buckles having a substantially narrower width 18 then width 38. This is due to the fact that force is exerted on side arms 14a and 14b by top 40 and bottom 40b which are closely positioned to side arms 14a and 14b.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear end 42 of bar 32 is provided with a container 44 disposed therein. Container 44 consists of the hollow interior of bar 32. A lubricating fluid 46, for example, oil, is disposed within container 44. Rear end 42 includes threads 43 and a correspondingly threaded cap 45. FIG. 4 shows cap 45 equipped with a brush 47 which is used to specifically apply lubricating fluid 46 to the desired location.

FIG. 6 shows a rigid arm 48 transversely mounted to rear end 42, for example, by welding. FIG. 7 shows rear end 42 equipped with a friction fit cap 50. Cap 50 may be a rubber or plastic friction fit cap, for example. FIG. 8 shows a rigid nosepiece 52 attached at rear end 42, for example, by welding. Nosepiece 52 is disposed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of bar 32. Nosepiece 52 is designed to be used with a strap or cable winch. The winch has a rotatably mounted axle 60 for winding a strap or cable thereon. One end of the axle is provide with at least one diametrically configured aperture 62. Nosepiece 52 is placed through diametrical aperture 62 with socket portion 36 being moved through an arc to exert leverage on the winch axle. Nosepiece 52 is angled in the direction of bottom side ~ 1 738 1 3 40b, for example. When nosepiece 52 is inserted into aperture 62, weight can be applied to top side 40a to exert leverage on axle 60. The embodiment shown in FIG.
8 is particularly useful for flatbed trucks which may be equipped with both ratchet buckles and strap or cable winches. The tool shown in FIG. 8 then may be used for variously sized ratchet buckles as well as for winches. Nosepiece 52 is made from a solid metal cylindrical bar having a diameter smaller than rigid bar 32.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. A tool for use with variously sized ratchet buckles, each ratchet buckle having an operating handle including a pair of oppositely spaced parallel arms connected together by a cross arm, the cross arm being of different lengths for each of the various ratchet buckle sizes, the tool comprising:

an elongated rigid bar with a longitudinal axis having a rear, handle end and a spaced opposite front end; and socket means connected to said front end and comprising a tubular member for receiving and enclosing the operating handle including the spaced parallel arms and the cross arm, said tubular member having a rectangular cross section with:

(i) a width sufficient to accommodate operating handles having cross arms of different lengths; and (ii) a height which maintains said bar in substantial longitudinal alignment with the parallel arms so that the tool exerts leverage on parallel arms of variously sized ratchet buckles.
2. The tool according to Claim 1, comprising:

container means disposed within said rear, handle end of said rigid bar for containing a quantity of lubricating fluid, said container means including a removable cap for selectively sealing the lubricating fluid within said container means.
3. The tool according to claim 2, wherein said rear, handle end and said removable cap are cooperatively threaded whereby the cap is screwed onto and off of said rear, handle end.
4. The tool according to claim 3, wherein said cap includes a brush connected thereto for applying the lubricating fluid.
5. The tool according to claim 2, wherein said cap frictionally fits onto said rear handle end to seal the lubricating fluid within said container means.
6. The tool according to claim 2, wherein said rigid bar is hollow with a circular cross section.
7. The tool according to claim 1, comprising a rigid arm connected to said rear, handle end transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rigid bar, wherein said bar and said arm form a T-shaped handle.
8. The tool according to claim 1, comprising a rigid nose piece attached to said rear, handle end and disposed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of said rigid bar.
9. The tool according to claim 8, wherein said rigid nose piece is a cylindrical bar having a diameter smaller than said rigid bar.
10. A tool for use with a winch axle having a diametrical aperture and variously sized ratchet buckles, each ratchet buckle having an operating handle including a pair of oppositely spaced parallel arms connected together by a cross arm, the cross arm being of different lengths for each of the various ratchet buckle sizes, the tool comprising:

a first elongated, rigid, cylindrical bar with a longitudinal axis having a rear end and a spaced opposite front end;

socket means connected to said front end and comprising a tubular member for receiving and enclosing the operating handle including the spaced parallel arms and the cross arm, said tubular member having a rectangular cross section with:

(i) a width sufficient to accommodate operating handles having cross arms of different lengths;

(ii) a height which maintains said bar in substantial longitudinal alignment with the parallel arms so that the tool exerts leverage on parallel arms of variously sized ratchet buckles;
and a second rigid, cylindrical bar, having a diameter smaller than said first cylindrical bar, attached to said front end and extending obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of said first cylindrical bar, said second cylindrical bar adapted for extending through the diametrical aperture of the winch axle;

wherein the tool is selectively manipulated to apply leverage to the operating handle of a ratchet buckle with said socket means and the winch axle with said second cylindrical bar.
CA 2173813 1995-04-10 1996-04-10 Universal ratchet handle Abandoned CA2173813A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US41936395A 1995-04-10 1995-04-10
US08/419,363 1995-04-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2173813A1 true CA2173813A1 (en) 1996-10-11

Family

ID=23661933

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2173813 Abandoned CA2173813A1 (en) 1995-04-10 1996-04-10 Universal ratchet handle

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2173813A1 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007147195A1 (en) * 2006-06-07 2007-12-27 Timothy Joyce Ratchetensioner
EP2048027A1 (en) * 2007-10-10 2009-04-15 Alois Niklaus Apparatus for extending the arm of a lever
FR3016541A1 (en) * 2014-01-20 2015-07-24 Franck Surgis TIGHTENING TOOL STRAPS
EP3018002A1 (en) * 2014-11-10 2016-05-11 Skadi Lindow Device for closing tension belts
WO2023230707A1 (en) * 2022-05-30 2023-12-07 Joe Bigstone Improved ratchet strap tightening device

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007147195A1 (en) * 2006-06-07 2007-12-27 Timothy Joyce Ratchetensioner
EP2048027A1 (en) * 2007-10-10 2009-04-15 Alois Niklaus Apparatus for extending the arm of a lever
WO2009047199A1 (en) * 2007-10-10 2009-04-16 Alois Niklaus Apparatus for extending the arm of a lever
FR3016541A1 (en) * 2014-01-20 2015-07-24 Franck Surgis TIGHTENING TOOL STRAPS
EP3018002A1 (en) * 2014-11-10 2016-05-11 Skadi Lindow Device for closing tension belts
WO2023230707A1 (en) * 2022-05-30 2023-12-07 Joe Bigstone Improved ratchet strap tightening device

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