GB2328919A

GB2328919A - Cargo strap coiler

Info

Publication number: GB2328919A
Application number: GB9818980A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William James Millar Robb
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-05
Filing date: 1998-09-02
Publication date: 1999-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 2018-09-02
Also published as: GB9718780D0; GB9818980D0; GB2328919B

Abstract

A cargo strap coiler comprises a hub 13, onto which an elongate flexible member, e.g. a vehicle cargo strap, is coiled, a base 2 which remains stationary during coiling and a rotating member 3 which rotates relative to the base about the axis of the hub to facilitate coiling. Preferably the base and the rotating member both comprise a substantially rectangular member and are removably connected together via cooperating cylindrical stubs 4, 5, forming the hub when connected, located towards one end of the rectangular members. Preferably the rotating member has a retaining means, e.g. a rod parallel to the hub axis located adjacent to the hub (12, Figure 3a), for securing one end of the elongate flexible member. The device may be manually operated via a handle on the rotating member 24, or be provided with a powered driving means, e.g. an electric motor. Preferably a U-shaped guide means 8 is provided on the base at an opposite end to the stub, and the base may be provided with a handle 6 or alternatively be mountable on a vehicle, e.g. by magnetic means (16, Figure 4).

Description

"Device for Coiling an Object" The present invention relates to a device for coiling an object. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for coiling elongate, flexible objects, especially long straps such as those used for securing loads on a vehicle trailer.

It is already known that loads carried on a vehicle trailer must be secured during transportation. Such securing is often carried out utilising long fabric straps having securing means such as a shaped hook at an end of the strap. Following transportation of the goods to the desired location it is required to coil these long straps and store them for future use.

This is typically carried out by hand and is therefore often a tiresome and time-consuming operation, especially during the winter months.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for coiling an elongate, flexible object, said device comprising a spool-type device having a hub portion, defining an axis of rotation, onto which said object is coiled, in use of the device, and including a base unit which remains substantially stationary during coiling of the object and a handle unit which is rotated about said axis of rotation relative to the base unit in order to coil said object onto said hub portion.

Preferably, said base unit and said handle unit are adapted to be connected together for the purpose of coiling said object and are separable to enable the coiled object to be removed from the device.

Preferably also, said hub portion comprises a first, hollow, cylindrical stub forming part of one of said base unit and said handle unit, and said base and handle units are connected together by means of a second cylindrical stub portion forming part of the other one of said base unit and handle unit, said second stub portion being adapted to be inserted into said first stub portion.

Preferably, said first stub portion forms part of the handle unit and said second stub portion forms part of the base unit.

Preferably also, the handle unit includes retaining means for securing a first end of an object which is to be coiled. Most preferably, said retaining means comprises a rod member extending from said handle unit substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

Preferably also, said base unit includes guide means for aligning and directing the object onto the hub portion. Most preferably, said guide means comprises a U-shaped, cylindrical-section member, the limbs of said U-shaped member extending substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention, said base unit comprises a first elongate, planar member, said second cylindrical stub portion being located at or towards a first longitudinal end thereof and extending substantially at right angles to the plane of said planar member, and said guide means being located at or towards a second longitudinal end thereof.

Also in the preferred embodiments of the invention, said handle unit comprises a second elongate, generally planar member, said first cylindrical stub portion being located at or adjacent to the longitudinal centre thereof and extending substantially at right angles to the plane of said planar member. Preferably also, said retaining means is located adjacent said first stub portion.

In a preferred, manually-operated embodiment of the invention, said handle portion includes handle means extending from the opposite side of said planar member from the first stub portion, and spaced along the length of the planar member from the axis of rotation.

Alternatively, the base unit and/or the handle unit may be provided with driving means. The driving means may be associated with the base unit or the handle unit to rotate the handle unit relative to the base unit via the co-operating retaining stubs. The driving means may take the form of an electric motor. The electric motor may be provided with an external power source.

Alternatively, the electric motor may be provided with its own power source.

In hand-held embodiments of the invention, the base unit is provided with handle means extending from the opposite side thereof from the second stub portion.

Preferably, the handle means of the base unit is substantially co-axial with the axis of rotation.

Alternatively, the base unit may be adapted to be secured to, or may form part of, another structure, such as a vehicle or vehicle trailer. Where the base unit is adapted to be secured to such another structure, it may be provided with securing means such as a magnet.

Preferably the object to be coiled is a strap such as that used for securing goods during transportation by vehicle, and the length of the hub portion is selected to suit the width of the widest strap with which the device is intended to be used.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, said planar member is cranked such that the planar surfaces at said first and second longitudinal ends of the planar member are offset from one another, so that the end at which said guide means is located is displaced towards the handle unit.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Fig 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention; Fig 2a is a plan view of a base unit forming part of the embodiment of Fig 1; Fig 2b is a front view of the base unit of Fig 2a; Fig 2c is an isometric view of the base unit of Fig 2a; Fig 2d is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the base unit of Fig 2a; Fig 3a is a plan view of a handle unit forming part of the embodiment of Fig 1; Fig 3b is a front view of the handle unit of Fig 3a; Fig 3c is an isometric view of the handle unit of Fig 3a; and Fig 4 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings and initially particularly to Fig 1, a device for coiling an object 1 is shown which comprises a first base unit 2 and a second handle unit 3. The handle unit 3 is designed to be temporarily attached to the base unit 2 and rotate about an axis of rotation relative to the base unit 2 via hollow, cylindrical retaining stubs 4 and 5 on the base unit 2 and the handle unit 3 respectively. The inside diameter of the retaining stub 5 on the handle unit 3 is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the retaining stub 4 on the base unit 2. The handle unit 3 is attached to the base unit 2 by passing the retaining stub 5 on the handle unit 3 over the retaining stub 4 on the base unit 2, such that the handle unit 3 may rotate about the base unit 2.

The base unit 2, shown particularly in Fig 2, is provided with a handle 6 designed to be gripped by the operator of the device 1 such that the base unit 2 may be held substantially stationary whilst the handle unit 3 is rotated about the axis of rotation. The base unit 2 has an elongate, shaped plate 7 to which the handle 6 and the retaining stub 4 are welded - the device in this embodiment being constructed of a suitable galvanised steel. The base unit 2 is also provided with guide means 8 which in this embodiment takes the form of a U-shaped guide bar 8, the guide bar 8 being welded to the far end of the shaped plate 7 from the handle 6/retaining stub 4 arrangement. The guide means 8 is angled from the vertical to facilitate location of the object to be coiled (not shown). The retaining stub 4 is welded to the shaped plate 7 of the base unit 2 on the opposite face to that upon which the handle 6 is mounted. Both the handle 6 and the retaining stub 4 protrude perpendicularly from the surfaces 9 and 10 respectively of the shaped plate 7.

As an alternative, the retaining stub 4 may be an extension of the handle 6, located through an aperture (not shown) in the shaped plate 7 of the base unit 2.

As another alternative, the retaining stub 4 on the base unit 2 may have an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the retaining stub 5 on the handle unit 3.

Referring particularly to Fig 3, the handle unit 3 is provided with a handle 24 designed to be gripped by the operator, the handle 24 being offset from the centre of the shaped plate 11 of the handle unit 3. There is also provided a short stud or rod member 12 which is located closely adjacent to the retaining stub 5, displaced horizontally along the longitudinal axis of the shaped plate 11 from the retaining stub 5. The purpose of this stud 12 is to provide means for retaining the object to be coiled (not shown), which in this embodiment is a strap for use in securing goods during transportation by vehicle. Typically such straps have a shaped metal hook (not shown) at one end.

The hook may either be temporarily attached to the stud 12, or located such that the hook be temporarily retained between the stud 12 and the retaining stub 5.

The method of operation of the device 1 of Fig 1 is as follows: the handle unit 3 is attached to the base unit 2 via the retaining stubs 4 and 5, the retaining stub 5 on the handle unit 3 passing over and freely rotating about the retaining stub 4 on the base unit 2. The base unit 2 is gripped by the operator utilising the handle 6 on the base unit 2. The strap (not shown) is fed between the U-shaped guide bar 8 on the base unit 2 and fed over the upper portion 13 of the retaining stub 5, the metal hook on the strap being hooked on to the stud 5, or retained between the stud 12 and the retaining stub 5. The handle unit 3 is then rotated, in this case, in an anti-clockwise direction such that the strap is wound around the outer circumference of the retaining stub 5. When the strap has been completely coiled, the handle unit 3 is separated from the base unit 2 and the coiled strap is then removed from the retaining stub 5 and the short stud 12 on the handle unit 3 which temporarily retained the strap during the coiling process. This process is repeated until all of the straps required to be coiled have been so coiled.

Fig 2d illustrates a modification of the base unit of Figs 2a to 2c, wherein the shaped plate 7 is cranked so that the planar surfaces 9, 10 at opposite longitudinal ends of the plate 7 are offset from one another, such that the end to which the guide bar 8 is attached is displaced towards the handle unit 3. This allows the device to accommodate a strap having an end fitting which is wider than the strap.

Referring now particularly to Fig 4, a further embodiment 14 of the invention is shown wherein the base unit 15 incorporates a shaped magnet 16 instead of a gripping handle, the magnet 16 typically being bolted on to the shaped plate 17 of the base unit 15 via a threaded bolt 18. The threaded bolt 18 may be welded to the shaped plate 17 or may pass through an aperture in the shaped plate, subsequently passing through a cavity 19 in the magnet 16, the magnet 16 being retained by means of a retaining nut 20 which co-operates with the threaded bolt 18. Alternatively, the magnet 16 may be welded on to the shaped plate 17.

A base unit 15 having a magnet 16 provides the advantage that it is not required that the base unit 15 be gripped by the operator during the coiling process, the base unit 15, handle unit 23 and the object to be coiled being supported by vehicle or vehicle trailer to which the device 14 is temporarily attached (by means of the magnet 16) during the coiling process.

The base unit 15 of Fig 4 incorporates a retaining stub 21 and guide means 22 in a similar way to the base unit 2 of Fig 1 and Fig 2, the handle unit 23 being substantially the same as that of Fig 1 and Fig 3 and rotating about the base unit 15 in the same way as described above with reference to Fig 1 and Fig 3.

In a further embodiment (not shown), the base unit 2 of the device 1 may be incorporated as an integral part of, for example, a vehicle or vehicle trailer (not shown). In this case a base unit 2 such as that shown in Fig 1 may be provided as part of the vehicle or vehicle trailer. Alternatively the essential elements of the base unit (the retaining stub 4 and guide means 8) may be provided as an integral part of the vehicle or vehicle trailer, the base unit 2 or essential elements thereof co-operating with a handle unit 3 or 23 similar to that described above with reference to Fig 1 and Fig 3.

As a further alternative to the manually-operated devices described above, driving means (not shown) may be provided, for example, in the form of an electric motor. Such a motor (not shown) may be located within the retaining stub 4 or 21 on the base unit 2 or 15 of the device 1 or 14, and may be adapted to drive a handle unit 3 or 23 by a system of gears (not shown), such that the coiling of the desired object be carried out without the need for manual effort by the operator.

The motor may be provided with an external power source such as the vehicle battery, or may alternatively have its own internal power source.

The device may be constructed of any suitable, corrosion resistant material, numerous examples of which are well known, such as galvanised or stainless steel or other metal alloy, or plastics or composite materials. The device may also be adapted for coiling any strap, wire, cable or other suitable, elongate, flexible object.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A device for coiling an elongate, flexible object, said device comprising a spool-type device having a hub portion, defining an axis of rotation, onto which said object is coiled, in use of the device, and including a base unit which remains substantially stationary during coiling of the object and a handle unit which is rotated about said axis of rotation relative to the base unit in order to coil said object onto said hub portion.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said base unit and said handle unit are adapted to be connected together for the purpose of coiling said object and are separable to enable the coiled object to be removed from the device.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said hub portion comprises a first, hollow, cylindrical stub forming part of one of said base unit and said handle unit, and said base and handle units are connected together by means of a second cylindrical stub portion forming part of the other one of said base unit and handle unit, said second stub portion being adapted to be inserted into said first stub portion.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said first stub portion forms part of the handle unit and said second stub portion forms part of the base unit.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the handle unit includes retaining means for securing a first end of an object which is to be coiled.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said retaining means comprises a rod member extending from said handle unit substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said base unit includes guide means for aligning and directing the object onto the hub portion.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said guide means comprises a U-shaped, cylindrical-section member, the limbs of said U-shaped member extending substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein said base unit comprises a first elongate, planar member, said second cylindrical stub portion being located at or towards a first longitudinal end thereof and extending substantially at right angles to the plane of said planar member, and said guide means being located at or towards a second longitudinal end thereof.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said planar member is cranked such that the planar surfaces at said first and second longitudinal ends of the planar member are offset from one another, so that the end at which said guide means is located is displaced towards the handle unit.

11. A device as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein said handle unit comprises a second elongate, generally planar member, said first cylindrical stub portion being located at or adjacent to the longitudinal centre thereof and extending substantially at right angles to the plane of said planar member.

12. A device as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said retaining means is located adjacent said first stub portion.

13. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the device is manually operated.

14. A device as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said handle portion includes handle means extending from the opposite side of said planar member from the first stub portion, and spaced along the length of the planar member from the axis of rotation.

15. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the base unit and/or the handle unit is provided with driving means.

16. A device as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the driving means is associated with the base unit or the handle unit to rotate the handle unit relative to the base unit via the co-operating retaining stubs.

17. A device as claimed in Claim 15 or 16, wherein the driving means comprises an electric motor.

18. A device as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the electric motor is provided with an external power source.

19. A device as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the electric motor is provided with its own power source.

20. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the device is hand held.

21. A device as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the base unit is provided with handle means extending from the opposite side thereof from the second stub portion.

22. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the handle means of the base unit is substantially co-axial with the axis of rotation.

23. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the base unit is adapted to be secured to, or form part of, another structure.

24. A device as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the structure is a vehicle or vehicle trailer.

25. A device as claimed in Claim 23 or 24, wherein the base unit further includes securing means such as a magnet, whereby the device may be secured to said other structure.

26. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the object to be coiled is a strap.

27. A device as claimed in Claim 26, wherein the strap is used for securing goods during transportation by vehicle.

28. A device as claimed in Claim 26 or 27, wherein the length of the hub portion is selected to suit the width of the widest strap with which the device is intended to be used.

29. A device for coiling an elongate, flexible object, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.