GB2381520A

GB2381520A - A winding device for cargo straps or lashings.

Info

Publication number: GB2381520A
Application number: GB0223401A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Hall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-09
Filing date: 2002-10-09
Publication date: 2003-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-09
Also published as: GB0223401D0; GB2381520B

Abstract

A winding device 1 for use with a strap having fastening means located at one end comprises first and second winding posts 5a which are separated by a distance corresponding to the length of the fastening device of the strap. A third winding post 5b may be provided. The position of the winding posts may be fixed or may be adjustable. At least one of the winding posts may function as an axle and may be formed by the engagement of a male 3 and female 5b member, which may be releasably secured together 4. The winding device may be provided with a handle 6. For ease of use, the winding device may be attached to a support on a static object. In use, the fastening means of the strap are located around the at least two winding posts and a portion of the device is rotated with the handle so as to wound up the strap. When the strap is fully wound, the device may be disassembled into first 2a and second 2b portions and the wound strap removed.

Description

Winding Device This invention relates to a winding device, a kit comprising said device and a method of winding up straps after they have been removed from a load which they have secured to a vehicle.

Whilst a large proportion of goods vehicles are solid-or curtained-sided, there is still a high dependence on the use of cargo straps or lashings for securing loads onto vehicles and trailers. Examples of such loads include timber, hay and steel girders. Furthermore, the need to secure loads is also found in the rail, air and shipping industries.

Currently the principle way to wind the straps up for storage is by hand. The approach employed is one similar to that one would take when rolling up bandages. The process is time consuming and requires a great deal of physical effort, particularly in wet conditions when the straps may weigh up to twice their normal weight. As a consequence the tum-around time for the vehicles is extended considerably.

Some attempts have been made to ease the process. FR 2,677, 340 describes a device comprising two parts, the first part serves as a support which can be attached, placed or held, whilst a second removable part entrains the strap, through a split tube, and rotates about a the first part. However, straps used to secure loads generally have an integral fastening means at one end, for example a hook or buckle. This device has a disadvantage in that the strap can only be rolled up from the end without the fastening means, thus the coil has the fastening means located on the exterior. When a lorry driver is securing a load he generally throws the coil of strap across the width of the lorry, and the disadvantage of having the fastening means on the outside is that it has the potential of damaging the goods or chipping the paint-work.

A device disclosed in GB 2,367, 281 has the dual action of wiping and winding a strap

into a compact size for storage. The device comprises a winding handle which is C > secured at one end of a hub. This hub has a means of attaching the end of a strap/belt, to it, for example a belt locking pin. The hub releasably engages with a mating plate. Once the strap has been wound, the hub and the mating plate are separated and the

coiled strap removed for storage. Once again this device has the disadvantage that the strap can only be rolled up in one direction and the fastening means is located on the exterior of the coil.

We have surprisingly found a strap winding device which allows the strap to be wound either with the fastening means on the interior or the exterior of the coil.

In a first aspect of the present invention we describe a device for use in the winding of a strap wherein said strap is provided with a fastening means, said fastening means comprising a first end attached to said strap and a second distal end, said device comprising a first and second winding post characterised in that the separation of the posts is a critical distance which defines the distance between the first and distal ends of the fastening means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is provided with an additional winding post. Whilst the provision of two winding posts is satisfactory to define the critical distance as mentioned above, it has been found that the provision of a further post gives more support to the fastening means whilst the strap is being wound.

Preferably the winding posts are fixed, aligned and equidistant position. However, in an alternative and more preferred embodiment, the position of the posts is adjustable. This gives the opportunity for a'universal'winding device, which can be used for a range of straps with different size and style of fastening means. The fastening means may be a hook (e. g S-hooks, flat hooks), or annular in shape, such as a buckle (e. g spring, ratchet or cam), or ring (D-or 0-rings) or other type of fastening means known to those skilled in the art.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the device comprises two portions. These portions are substantially circular in shape. The two portions are held together when the device is in use by an integral male member, provided on one portion, engaging with a female member, provided on the other portion. When engaged, the post formed is of a length such that it provides a space between the first and second portion, which is sufficient for the strap to be completely wound without it extending beyond the periphery of the device.

Preferably whilst the engagement of a male and female member as described is used not only as the mechanism for holding the two portions together, but it also provides a winding post. More preferably only one winding post is formed in this manner.

Preferably still this winding post is the central winding post and it is this post that forms an axle, about which the subsidiary winding posts orbit. These subsidiary posts may also be created by the engagement of a male and female member in a similar manner to the central winding post. However, whislt a hook can be hooked around such a post, if the fastening means is of annular shape, such as a buckle or ring, a space is required between one end of the winding post and one portion of the device sufficient that the buckle or ring can be slotted over the post.

Preferably, the male member is a rod, and this engages with a hollow, cylindrical female member. More preferably still the cylindrical female member takes the form of an open-ended cylinder. When the rod has engaged with the cylinder it can be secured in place by a range of securing means. Preferably this securing means takes the form of an integral anti-loose pin which is located at the end of the rod, and when this is moved to a perpendicular position, it retains the rod in the cylinder when the device is in use, thus keeping the two portions together. Alternatively, it can be imagined that the male member may engage with the female member via a'snap-fit'mechanism.

The device is preferably further provided with a handle. This handle may be integral to both or either portions of the device and in this instance it can be imagined that the handle is in a form similar to that found on a car-door. Alternatively the handle may be manufactured separately from the two portions of the device, but permanently adhered to one or both portions. Dependent on the material that the components of the device are manufactured from, this adherence may be via glue or solder. One can also imagine that the handle may be removable, and may thus be temporarily attached to both or either portions of the device via a number of mechanisms, such as'snap-fit'.

Whilst the device can be held and used by hand, for convenience it would be preferable that the device is able to be temporarily fixed to a support on a static object, such as on the side of a lorry. The device is therefore provided with a fixing means. Preferably the fixing occurs via the provision of male member on the device and

female member on the static object. For example, the device could be fixed in place by a variably shaped post, pillar or stake located on the static object fitting into a complementary shaped bracket on the device.

The components of the device may be manufactured from a wide variety of materials, preferably they are manufactured from a metallic (ferrous or non-ferrous) material, more preferably still this material is stainless steeL Alternatively the device may be manufactured from a non-metallic material, although the robustness of the material must be considered.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of winding a strap using the device of the present invention, which comprises; (i) forming at least one winding post by the engagement of an integral male member on a first portion and an integral female member on a second portion of the device, (ii) securing said fastening means around at least two winding posts, (iii) rotating at least one portion of the device so that a winding post acts as an axle and the other winding posts orbit said axle.

(iv) Disengaging the two portions of the device and removing the rolled strap.

In a further aspect of the present invention a kit is provided which comprises, the device of the present invention and a fixing means, which enables the device to be temporarily fixed to a static object during use.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings m which ; Fig. 1 Represents a schematic of a disassembled device.

Fig. 2 Represents a schematic of an assembled device I Fig. 3 Represents a schematic cross-section of an assembled device in use.

Figure 1 represents a schematic of a disassembled device (1). The device (1) is shown to comprise two portions (2a and 2b). One portion (2a) of the device, which is substantially circular, is provided with a rod shaped element (3) which is soldered

onto the internal surface of this portion, so that when the device is in use it is located on the interior. The rod (3) has an integral securing means (4), for example an anti- loose pin, which prior to use is positioned to form an extension of the rod. The second portion (2b) of the device (1), which is also substantially circular, is shown to be provided with three aligned and equidistant winding posts (5) which when in use are positioned on the interior of the device. The two exterior winding posts (5a) and the hollow central winding post (5b) are substantially cylindrical, with the later being open-ended. This central post (5b) has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the rod (3) and when in use, the engagement of the rod (3) within this cylindrical central post (5b) forms a central winding post, which also functions as an axle. A handle (6) is provided on the exterior surface of the second portion. A fixing means, in the form of a bracket is shown on the first portion of the device (2a), this engages with a support provided on a static object, such as the side of a lorry.

Figure 2 represents a schematic of an assembled device (1). When in use, the two portions (2a and 2b) are held together by the engagement of the rod element (3) provided on one portion (2a)] within the cylindrical central post (5b) provided on the other portion (2b)]. When the device is in use the integral securing means (4), located on the rod element (3), extends beyond the exterior surface of the second portion (2b).

When this integral securing means (4) is moved to a substantially perpendicular position, it retains the rod element (3) within the cylindrical hollow post (5b). The exterior winding posts (5a) do not completely span the interior width of the device,

thereby allowing fastening means such as buckles or rings to be slipped over the znl posts.

Figure 3 represents a schematic cross-section of an assembled device (1) in use. In this representation a strap (8) is shown to have a hook (9) as the integral fastening means. The hook is'hooked'around one of the exterior winding posts (5a). The distance defined by the position of the three winding posts (Sa and 5b) is equivalent to the length of the hook. The central winding post (5b) acts as an axle and when one of the portions is turned, in a circular motion, independently of the other portion, the exterior winding posts (Sa) orbit this central winding post (5b) and in turn the strap (8) is wound into a coil. When the strap has been completely wound the two portions can be disengaged and the coiled strap stored.

Claims

1. A device for use in the winding of a strap wherein said strap is provided with a fastening means, said fastening means comprising a first end attached to said strap and a second distal end, said device comprising a first and second winding post characterised in that the separation of the posts is a critical distance which defines the distance between the first and distal ends of the fastening means.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the position of said winding posts is fixed.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the position of at least one of said winding posts is adjustable.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one additional winding post is present.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said winding posts are aligned.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said winding posts are positioned equidistant.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one winding post forms an axle.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one winding post is provided by the engagement of a male and female member.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein a male member is integral with one portion of said device and a female member is integral with a second portion of said device.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein said male member is a rod.

11. A device according to claim 8, wherein said female member is a hollow open- ended cylinder.

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein said male member is retained within said female member by a securing means.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said securing means is an anti-loose pin.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein said anti-loose pin is integral with said male member.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein said anti-loose pin is located at the end of said male member, distal to said first portion.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the anti-loose pin lies substantially perpendicular to said male member when the device is in use.

17. A device according to claim 8, wherein said male member snap-fits with said female member.

18. A device according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means is a hook.

19. A device according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means is annular.

20. A device according to claim 1, wherein a handle is provided on a portion of said device.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein said handle protrudes from the exterior surface of said device.

22. A device according to claim 1, wherein a fixing means is provided on a portion of said device.

23 A device according to claim 22, wherein said fixing means is engageable with a support.

24. A device according to claim 23, wherein said engagement is provided by a male and female member.

25. A method of winding a strap using a device according to claim 1.

26. A method of winding a strap according to claim 25, comprising the steps of; (i) forming at least one winding post by the engagement of an integral male member on a first portion and an integral female member on a second portion of said device, (ii) securing said fastening means around at least two winding posts, (iii) rotating at least one portion of the device so that a winding post acts as an axle and the other winding posts orbit said axle and (iv) disengaging the two portions of the device and removing the rolled strap.

27. A kit comprising, a device according to claim 1 and a fixing means.

28. A holder substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.