GB2555427A

GB2555427A - A ratchet strap tensioner

Info

Publication number: GB2555427A
Application number: GB1618146.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Smith Michael
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-10-27
Filing date: 2016-10-27
Publication date: 2018-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2036-10-27
Also published as: GB2555427B; GB201618146D0

Abstract

A ratchet strap tensioner 110 comprising a first arm (112, figure 9) and a second arm (114) mounted on bush members 138 for pivotal movement relative to each other, a two-part winding spindle 182, 186 having a second part 186 slidable relative to a first part 182, when not prevented from sliding by a lock. The lock comprises a locking peg shaft with a first portion 192 engaging a slot within the second part 186 to prevent sliding movement, and a second portion 194 that does not lockably engage the slot to allow sliding movement when the locking peg (198) position is changed by moving the peg (198) along an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spindle 182, 186. A spring 204 may bias the locking peg shaft (198) to engage, preventing the second part 186 from sliding relative to the first part 182, unless the peg shaft (198) is depressed by a user. A method of attaching a strap to and detaching it from the ratchet strap tensioner 110, without bending the strap is disclosed.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: A ratchet strap tensioner Abstract Title: A ratchet strap tensioner (57) A ratchet strap tensioner 110 comprising a first arm (112, figure 9) and a second arm (114) mounted on bush members 138 for pivotal movement relative to each other, a two-part winding spindle 182, 186 having a second part 186 slidable relative to a first part 182, when not prevented from sliding by a lock. The lock comprises a locking peg shaft with a first portion 192 engaging a slot within the second part 186 to prevent sliding movement, and a second portion 194 that does not lockably engage the slot to allow sliding movement when the locking peg (198) position is changed by moving the peg (198) along an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spindle 182, 186. Aspring 204 may bias the locking peg shaft (198) to engage, preventing the second part 186 from sliding relative to the first part 182, unless the peg shaft (198) is depressed by a user. A method of attaching a strap to and detaching it from the ratchet strap tensioner 110, without bending the strap is disclosed.

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A RATCHET STRAP TENSIONER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a ratchet strap tensioner, which is primarily used for tightening straps that are used to secure loads on commercial vehicles; and in particular a tensioner that has an opening (by sliding) and lockable spindle.

Background Art

Ratchet strap tensioners are well known, particularly in the transport field, commercial vehicles loaded with goods often use ratchet strap tensioners to tighten and secure straps that are employed to secure the load to the vehicle. By far the most common ratchet strap tensioners comprise a device having a short hook equipped strap permanently fixed to the tensioner and a second long hook equipped strap which is fed through a winder spindle.

In use, the short strap, which is permanently attached to the tensioner, is hooked on to the vehicle. The long strap is then also hooked to the vehicle and passed over the load and through a slot in the tensioner winder spindle. Surplus strap is then pulled through the spindle until tight, then a lever handle on the tensioner is operated backwards and forwards against a ratchet to wind the strap around the spindle and so fully tighten the strap.

A typical example of such a tensioner can be found in US4199182 (Sunesson). Other examples of prior art can be found in US5855045 (Miura) and US5943742 (Huang); these are typical of the many patents in this field. In these examples the ratchet tensioner has a short main body, an operating handle, and a strap is tensioned by winding around a spindle.

The operation of these examples is similar. In use, a short main body is attached via a short strap to the vehicle and a longer strap is fed through the spindle, which is known as the strap-winding spindle, which also provides the pivot point between the short main body and the long ratchet handle.

A pair of ratchet wheels are mounted on the winding spindle. A drive plate, which is slidably mounted in the operating handle, is urged towards the ratchet wheels by a spring. The handle is then rotated, the drive plate engages with the teeth on the ratchet wheels and pulls the ratchet wheel, around which in turn rotates the winding spindle.

If a belt has been passed through the winding spindle the belt is wound on to the winding spindle and thus the belt is shortened and therefore tightened. A handle is provided to release the ratchet by pulling the drive plate out of engagement with the ratchet wheels.

The disadvantage with these examples is that in use the long strap has to be manually pulled through (and also latter retracted through) a slot in the centre of the winding spindle. Also, it is quite common to find people walking backwards away from the vehicle in order to release the strap from the winding spindle after use: e.g. when there is no longer a need to secure the load. Apart from the obvious difficulty in releasing the strap in this way there is a significant danger of an accident occurring during such walking backwards away from a vehicle.

Disclosure of the Invention

The invention allows the insertion and removal of a strap to and from the ratchet strap tensioner without the need to thread long lengths of spare strap through the body of the tensioner assembly and advantageously without bending (for example in a U-shape) the strap during insertion within a winding spindle; by providing a two-part winding spindle where one part is slidable relative to the other and may be locked in place.

In one aspect the invention comprises a ratchet strap tensioner comprising a first arm and a second arm mounted on bush members so allowing pivotal movement of these arms relative to each other; and further comprising a two-part winding spindle that rotates about an axis X-X' and where the second part is operably slidable relative to the first part but may be prevented from so sliding by a lock; and wherein the lock comprises: a locking peg shaft mounted within a bush member so that it may move along an axis Y-Y' and with two adjoining portions; a first portion with a cross section configured to engage a slot within the second part and thus prevent sliding movement; and a second portion of smaller cross section that does not engage the slot within the second part when the locking peg shaft position is changed by moving the peg along axis Y-Y' where that is substantially perpendicular to the axis X-X' ;and thereby allows sliding movement of the second part relative to the first part.

In another aspect the invention comprises a ratchet strap tensioner comprising a first arm with two side portions mounted on bush members and a second arm with two side portions also mounted on the bush members thereby allowing pivotal movement of the first arm relative to the second arm; further comprising a two-part winding spindle each part having a segmental cross section; and wherein a first part is located partly within a first bush member and partly within a second bush member being fixed to at least one of the bush member and wherein a second part of the winding spindle has a longitudinal slot or channel that operably allows the second part to be substantially withdrawn through the second bush members; and wherein the lock comprises: a locking peg shaft with two adjoining portions; a first portion with a cross section configured to engage an open ended slot within the second part and thus prevent sliding movement; and a second portion that does not engage the slot within the second part and thereby allows sliding movement when the locking peg is moved along shaft axis Y-Y' from a first position to a second position along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis X-X' of rotation of the two-part spindle.

Preferably, the locking peg shaft is at least partly circular in cross section.

Preferably, the open-ended slot comprises a first portion with a cross section that is substantially equal to that of said first peg portion. Preferably, the open-ended slot comprises a second narrower portion; and more preferably a second portion that is substantially the same width as the width of said second peg portion.

Preferably, the locking peg shaft is biased by a spring, or the like, such that the lock is normally engaged, and so prevents sliding movement of the second part relative to said first part, unless the peg shaft is depressed by a user.

Preferably, in the open position the second part of the spindle has been substantially withdrawn through one of the bush members but is prevented from being detached from this bush member by a longitudinal slot or channel within the second part of the spindle that is engaged by a pin, fixed to this bush member.

In another aspect the invention comprises a ratchet strap tensioner having a first arm and a second arm mounted on bush members so allowing pivotal movement of these arms relative to each other; and further comprising a two-part winding spindle where the second part is operably slidable relative to the first part but may be prevented from so sliding by a lock; and wherein the lock comprises: a locking peg shaft with two adjoining portions; a first portion with a cross section configured to engage a slot within the second part and thus prevent sliding movement; and a second portion that does not engage the slot within the second part and thereby allows sliding movement when the locking peg position is changed by moving the peg along an axis Y-Y' that is generally perpendicular to the axis X-X' of rotation of the spindle.

In another aspect the invention comprises a method of attaching a strap (S) to be tensioned to a ratchet strap tensioner according to the apparatus of the present invention (as described above), comprising the following steps:

(i) moving the second part of the spindle to the open position;

(ii) before or after step (i) pivoting the first arm relative to the second arm so as to provide an open “U-shaped” formation into which a strap can be placed without bending; and (iii) positioning the strap (S) such that a side surface of the strap abuts against an internal face of the fixed spindle; moving the second spindle to the closed position so that the strap (S) is sandwiched between internal faces of the first spindle and the second spindle prior to winding the strap around the spindles by cyclic angular movement of the first arm relative to the second arm.

In another aspect the invention comprises a method of detaching a strap (S) to be tensioned to a ratchet strap tensioner according to the apparatus of the present invention (as described above), comprising the following steps:

(i) releasing the ratchet mechanism and unwinding the strap from around the spindle;

(ii) pivoting the first arm relative to the second arm so as to provide an open “U-shaped” formation from which a strap can be subsequently removed without bending the strap (S); and (iii) moving the second part of the spindle (to the open position to allow such removal of the strap (S).

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention is illustrated by the following diagrammatic figures in which:

Figures 1 and 2 show perspective views of a first embodiment of the invention in two different opened positions;

Figures 3 and 4 show perspective views of the first embodiment of the invention in a two different closed positions;

Figure 5 is an exploded part diagram of the ratchet strap tensioner shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the ratchet strap tensioner shown in Figure 1 with the spindle in a fully open position and adjusted to accept a strap for tensioning;

Figure 7 shows further details of the spindle assembly for the first embodiment;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a ratchet strap fastener, in a fully open position, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 shows a side view of the ratchet fastener shown in Figures 8 with the spindle lock in a fully open position;

Figure 10 shows a side view of the ratchet fastener shown in Figures 8 with the spindle lock in a fully closed position; and

Figures 11(a) to 11(c) show elevation views of the sliding spindle and how open-ended aperture is engaged by a locking member. The side elevation (Figure 11a) has been sectioned along the lines A-A'-A to show more clearly how a tapered (not sectioned) locking peg shaft engages the open-ended aperture of the sliding spindle.

Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

Figures 1-7 illustrate a ratchet strap tensioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the tensioner (10) in a partly open position; Figures 2 shows a perspective view of the tensioner (10) in a fully open position (in preparation for receiving a strap); and Figures 3 and 4 show perspective views of the tensioner (10) in a closed position. Figure 5 is an exploded part diagram of the tensioner (10).

The ratchet strap tensioner (10) comprises two main parts: a main body handle portion (12) and a main arm portion (14). The main body handle portion (12) comprises a pair of side plates; a left hand side plate (16) and a right hand side plate (18). Each of these side plates (16, 18) comprises a front flat portion with a circular aperture (32) and a handle slider plate slot (20). One of the side plates (at least) has a pair of slide plate spring slots (28) that in use engage a coiled (first) end of a handle slider plate spring (24). A handle slider plate (22) is slidably mounted within and between the handle slider plate slots (20) and is biased in a forward (towards aperture 32) position by means of the slider plate spring (24); the second (L-shaped) end of the slider plate spring (24) engages a slot (26) in the handle slider plate (22). The handle slider plate has a handle portion (34) that a user may grip. In use, the handle portion (34) is pulled backwards (away from the apertures 32) in order to release the tensioner. Each handle side plate (16, 18) also has a flat angled portion, situated between the front flat portion and a rear flat portion; the rear flat portion being in a parallel plane to the front flat portion. The two side plates (16, 18) are connected by a handle (30) attached there-between and located near the end of the rear flat portion; the handle (30) acting as a first bracing spacer bar; a second bracing spacer bar (56) being attached between the front flat faces of the side plates (16, 18).

The main arm portion (14) is built around an arm frame (62) that has two side plates each with an arm slider plate slot (66) and a circular aperture (68). The two side plates of the arm frame (62) are held in side-by-side configuration by a (perpendicular) intermediate upper portion; thus in part the arm frame has a U-shaped cross section comprising the two side plates and the upper portion. The upper portion has an arm spring retainer member (78) comprising a bent tab with an aperture. An arm slider plate (70) is slidably mounted within and between the arm slider plate slots (66) and is biased in a forward position (towards circular apertures 68) by means of a coiled arm slider plate spring (74). The arm slider plate (70) has a spring locator (76) that comprises an extending member the function of which is to hold a coiled arm slider plate spring (74) in place such that one end of this spring (74) abuts against the main body of the slider plate (70) and the other end abuts against the bent tab (78) spring retaining member. Attached between rear extending sides of the arm frame (62) is a hook strap bolt (64) with a retaining nut.

The main body handle portion (12) and the main arm portion (14) are pivotally connected to each other such that in use the main arm portion (14) may be pivot (relative to the main handle portion 12); the pivoting being around pivot portions (40) of a pair of pivot bushes (38, 42); the pivot portions being housed within the circular apertures (32) of the side plates (16, 18) and the circular apertures (68) of the arm frame (62) side plates. These apertures (32, 68) are of equal diameter. The pivot portions (40) of each pivot bush (38, 42) preferably comprise two arcuate members each with a radius equal (or slightly less) than the radius of apertures 32 and 68. Mounted on each of pivot portion, between the (outer) side plates (16, 18) and the (inner) slide plates of the arm frame (62) there is a ratchet wheel (50) with teeth (52). The ratchet wheels (50) each have two D-shaped apertures (54) through which the pivot portions (40) of each pivot bush (38, 42) pass.

A winding spindle comprises a first fixed spindle portion (82) and a second portion (86). The pivot bushes and ratchet wheels are held in place by the fixed spindle portion (82), which has fixing holes (84) near each end and is fixed (see below) by a bolt or pin to each pivot bush (38, 42). The fixed spindle portion (82) has a D-shaped or segmental cross section and is configured to fit snugly within the D-shaped aperture (54) of the ratchet wheel (50). Thus, in use, as the ratchet wheels (50) are turned the fixed spindle portion (82) will also correspondingly turn.

Figure 7 shows three elevation views of the second part (86) of the winding spindle. In use, the second spindle portion (86) may be retracted (normally by sliding) from its normal fixed position between the arm frame (62) side plates. The sliding spindle (86) comprises an elongate portion of D-shaped or segmental cross section and is configured to fit snugly within a D-shaped aperture of the ratchet wheel (50). The elongate portion of the sliding spindle (86) has a retaining key-hole (88) at a first end and an elongate guide groove (90) along most of the remainder of its length and leads (at the second end) to an integral knob (96) that in use is gripped by a person to move the sliding spindle located at the second end. Thus, in use, as the ratchet wheels (50) are turned the fixed spindle portion (82) will also correspondingly turn. A fixing/guide bolt (92) is provided within the right hand pivot bush (42) the thread of which passes through a fixing hole (84) of the fixed spindle portion (80) thus holding it in place; and where the (conical) end of the guide bolt (92) engages the guide groove (90), guiding the sliding spindle (86) as it moves but preventing its detachment from the bush (42). A pivoting peg (94) with a pair of flat parallel faces (96) along part of its length is mounted in pivot bush 38 so that it may engage a retaining key-hole aperture (88) and thus lock the sliding spindle (by pivoting the peg) in place when it is in its fully inserted position (see Figures 1 and 2).

The teeth (52) of the ratchet wheels (50) are engaged by end jaws (98) of the arm slider plate (70) and also normally by the end jaws (100) of the handle slider plate (22) - unless the handle (34) of the arm sliding plate (22) has been withdrawn (away from apertures 32) by a user; for example, during detachment of the tensioner from straps.

Figures 8 to 11 illustrate a ratchet strap tensioner according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the tensioner with the sliding spindle (186) in a fully open position and adjusted to accept a strap for tensioning

Figure 9 shows a side view of the ratchet fastener shown in Figures 8 with the spindle lock in a fully open position; Figure 10 shows a side view of the ratchet fastener shown in Figures 8 with the spindle lock in a fully closed position; and

Figures 11(a) to 11(c) shows elevation views of the sliding spindle/second portion (186) and how an open-ended aperture is engaged by a locking member. The side elevation (Figure 11a) has been sectioned along the lines A-A'-A to show more clearly how a tapered locking peg shaft engages the open-ended aperture of the sliding spindle (second portion 186).

In this preferred embodiment the elongate portion of the sliding spindle/second portion (186) again has an elongate guide groove (190) along most of the of its length and an integral knob (196), at its second end, that in use is gripped by a person to move the sliding spindle.

The first end of the sliding spindle (186) has an open-ended slot (see Figure 11), comprising a circular portion (188) and a constant-width portion (202). The first bush (138) houses a moveable (see Figures 9-10) locking peg shaft (198) the main body of which has a first portion (192) and a second portion (194) of smaller cross section than said first portion (192); normally these two portions (192, 194) are connected by an intermediate tapered portion. At each end of the main body (192, 194) of the locking peg shaft are retaining discs/tabs (206, 208) at least one of which is attached after the locking peg shaft (198) has been inserted through a pair diametrically opposed apertures (normally circular) located in the first bush. In use, the disc/tab (208); hereafter called the first tab is depressed by a user. The locking peg shaft (198) is normally held in a position that prevents movement of the slidable spindle portion (186), as shown in Figure 10, by a spring (204) located between said first tab (208) and the outer curved surface of bush 138, or by other biasing means. When a user depresses the first tab (208) against the biasing action, the first (larger) portion (192) moves clear of the circular portion (188) of the sliding spindle slot and the smaller (width/cross-section) second portion (194) being slightly less wide than the constant width portion (202) of the open ended slot, allows the spindle (186) to slide relative to the fixed spindle (182), such that the device can be fully opened (as shown in Figure 8).

Thus, in use the spindle second part (186) is operably slidable relative to the spindle first part (182) but may be prevented from so sliding by a lock; wherein the lock comprises: a moveable locking peg shaft (198) mounted within a bush member (138) so that it may move along shaft axis Y-Y', said peg shaft (198) comprising two adjoining portions; a first portion (192) with a cross section configured to lockably engage the larger portion (188) of the open-ended slot within the spindle second part (186) and thus prevent sliding movement; and a second portion (194) of smaller cross section that does not lockably engage the larger portion (188) of the open-ended slot within the spindle second part (186) when the locking peg shaft (198) position is changed by moving the peg shaft (198) along said axis Y-Y' that is generally perpendicular to the spindle rotational axis X-X' ; thereby allowing sliding movement of the second part (186) relative to the first part (182)

This preferred embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in respect of how the sliding spindle portion (186) is retained and released. Hence, (unless otherwise indicated) parts and part numbers are as described for the first embodiment (see above).

There are many different possible embodiments of this invention but the core feature of is a retractable winding spindle where one portion of the spindle is retractable and lockable.

The Ratchet Strap Tensioners described above may advantageously be connected to a strap without the need of threading the strap through the tensioner or bending the strap. A short (hook) strap is normally permanently attached to the hook strap bolt (64); in use the free end of this strap will be hooked to a first anchor point (for example on a transport vehicle). A second (long) strap will be hooked to a second anchor point and this strap will be placed over a load to be secured prior to being attached to the first strap by means of the ratchet strap tensioner which will then be used to tension the first and second straps so that they are taught and firmly secure the load. In use it is necessary for the second strap to be wound onto the spindle (82, 86, 182, 186) during the above-described tensioning step. Most tensioners require the long second strap to be threaded through a gap in a tensioner spindle. This is inconvenient and can be dangerous for an operator.

In the present invention the tensioner (10, 110) is conveniently connected to the second strap by positioning the main body handle portion (12) and main arm portion (14) such that they are inclined at an acute angle to one-another (see Figure 6); for example at an angle of 20-30° with the sliding spindle portion (86, 186) fully withdrawn, so as to provide an open “U-shaped” formation (U) (see Figure 6) into which a strap (not shown) can be placed without bending such that a side surface of the strap abuts against an internal face (F) of the fixed spindle. Thus, a flat face (F) of the fixed spindle portion (82, 182) is positioned against the flat surface of the second strap without any need to thread or bend the second strap. The sliding spindle portion is the moved to the closed (retracted) position by means of a user gripping the integral knob (96, 196) and locked in place (see above). The user then (by means of handle (30) holds the tensioner (10, 110) and angularly opens and closes the tensioner arms (cyclically) by pivoting the main body portion (12) handle away from and then towards the main arm portion (14); thus winding part of the second strap onto the spindle (82, 86, 182, 186). During this process the handle slider plate (22, 100) and the arm slider plate (70, 98) engage the saw-tooth teeth (52) of the ratchet wheels to provide the required ratchet effect.

Thus, in use, the drive plate (22), that is slidably mounted in the operating handle (12) is urged towards the pair of ratchet wheels (50, 54), mounted on the winding spindles and bushes (82, 86, 38, 42, 182, 186, 138, 142) by the spring (24). When the handle (12) is pivoted relative to the arm (14), the drive plate (22) engages the teeth (52) on the ratchet wheels and turns the ratchet wheel, which then turns the winding spindles (182, 186) to which they are affixed.

On completion of the operation the ratchet can be detached from the second strap merely by a user pulling release handle (34) of the handle slider plate backwards (away from the apertures 32) in order to disengage the slider plate end jaws (100) from the teeth (52) of the ratchet wheels (50); thus releasing the ratchet and allowing the spindle to freely rotate until none of the second strap is wound around it; at that point the sliding spindle portion can be easily withdrawn allowing removal of the tensioner; again (and advantageously) without any need to bend the second strap of to unthread the second strap from the tensioner.

Claims

1. A ratchet strap tensioner (110) comprising a first arm (12) and a second arm (14) mounted on bush members (138, 142) so allowing pivotal movement of these arms (12, 14) relative to each other; and further comprising a two-part winding spindle (182, 186) that in use rotates about an axis X-X' and where the second part (186) is operably slidable relative to the first part (182) but may be prevented from so sliding by a lock; wherein the lock comprises: a moveable locking peg shaft (198) mounted within a bush member (138) so that it may move along shaft axis Y-Y' , said peg shaft (198) comprising two adjoining portions; a first portion (192) with a cross section configured to operably engage an open ended slot (188) within the second part (186) and thus prevent sliding movement; and a second portion (194) of smaller cross section that does not lockably engage the slot (188) within the second part (186) when the locking peg shaft (198) position is changed by moving the peg shaft (198) along axis Y-Y' that is generally perpendicular to said rotational axis X-X' ; thereby allowing sliding movement of the second part (186) relative to the first part (182).

2. A ratchet strap tensioner (110) according to Claim 1 where the locking peg shaft (198) is at least partly circular in cross section.

3. A ratchet strap tensioner (110) according to any preceding claim where the openended slot (188) comprises a first portion with a cross section that is substantially equal to that of said first peg portion (192).

4. A ratchet strap tensioner (110) according to any preceding claim where the openended slot (188) comprises a second portion that is substantially the same width as the width of said second peg portion (186).

5. A ratchet strap tensioner (110) according to any preceding claim where said locking peg shaft (198) is biased by a spring such that the lock (192, 188) is normally engaged, and so prevents sliding movement of the second part (186) relative to said first part (182), unless the peg shaft (198) is depressed by a user.

6. A ratchet strap tensioner (110) according to any preceding claim where in the open position the second part (186) of the spindle has been substantially withdrawn through one of the bush members (138) but is prevented from being detached from the other bush member (142) by a longitudinal slot or channel (190) within the second part (186) of the spindle that is engaged by a pin (92), fixed to this bush member (142).

7. A method of attaching a ratchet strap tensioner (10) according to Claim 1 to a strap (S) to be tensioned using a ratchet strap tensioner comprising the following steps:

(i) moving the second part of the spindle (186) to the open position;

(ii) before or after step (i) pivoting the first arm (12) relative to the second arm (14) so as to provide an open “U-shaped” formation into which a strap can be placed without bending; and (iii) positioning the strap (S) such that a side surface of the strap abuts against an internal face of the fixed spindle; moving the second spindle (186) to the closed position so that the strap (S) is sandwiched between internal faces of the first spindle (182) and the second spindle (186) prior to winding the strap around the spindles (182, 186) by cyclic angular movement of the first arm (12) relative to the second arm (14).

8. A method of detaching a ratchet strap tensioner (10) according to Claim 1 to a strap (S) to be tensioned using a ratchet strap tensioner comprising the following steps:

(i) releasing the ratchet mechanism and unwinding the strap from around the spindle (182, 186);

(ii) pivoting the first arm (12) relative to the second arm (14) so as to provide an open “U-shaped” formation from which a strap can be subsequently removed without bending the strap (S); and (iii) moving the second part of the spindle (186) to the open position to allow such removal of the strap (S).

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1618146.3 Examiner: Mr Ilya Gribanov