NZ720348A - Side-loading ratchet device - Google Patents

Abstract

A ratchet device (101) for a strap is disclosed. The device has a body (105) having a side member (109), and a spool (119) having a side rotatably supported by the side member and a ratchet wheel (121) fixed thereto. The body has a member (161) moveable between an open position in which the other side of the spool is exposed to enable a strap to be laterally loaded into the spool from the exposed side of the spool and laterally unloaded from the spool, and a closed position in which said lateral loading and unloading are prevented. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ratchet device into which a strap on a vehicle can be quickly and easily loaded or unloaded without having to walk backwards from the vehicle or platform while holding the anchored end of the strap in tension.

Claims (20)

CLAIMS :

1. A ratchet device for a strap, the ratchet device comprising: a body comprising a first side member and a second side member, the first side 5 member and the second side member being attached to each other by a base; and a spool comprising a first side rotatably supported by the first side member and a ratchet wheel fixed thereto, the spool further comprising a second side that is free of the second side member; wherein the body further comprises a movable member that is mounted to the second 10 side member and movable between an open position in which the second side of the spool is exposed to enable a strap to be laterally loaded into the spool from the exposed side of the spool and laterally unloaded from the spool, and a closed position in which said lateral loading and unloading are prevented. 15

2. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spool comprises a hub, and wherein a slot extends from the exposed side of the spool so that the strap can be fed into the slot sideways, without bending the strap across its width.

3. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hub comprises a plurality of 20 separate hub components.

4. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 3, comprising a rotatable spacer that is rotatably mounted to the movable member and that is configured to couple with said second side of the spool when the movable member is in the closed position, to minimise compression of the 25 strap between the hub components under load, and to assist in preventing the movable member from opening.

5. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second side of the spool comprises a cavity proximate to the slot and a portion of the rotatable spacer is configured to 30 engage in the cavity.

6. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spool comprises two ratchet wheels positioned at or adjacent the first side of the spool that is rotatably supported by the first side member of the body.

7. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 6, wherein one ratchet wheel is positioned on either side of the first side member of the body.

8. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a resistance pawl mounted to the body to resist unwinding of the spool, wherein part of the resistance pawl forms a lock for locking the movable member in the closed position. 10

9. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the resistance pawl is configured such that when the resistance pawl engages the ratchet wheel the lock is in a locking configuration, and when the resistance pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel the lock is in an unlocked configuration. 15

10. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the resistance pawl is biased into engagement with the ratchet wheel.

11. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 8, comprising a ratchet drive arm used to drive movement of the spool, wherein the ratchet drive arm is movable relative to the body 20 between a closed position and an unlocked position, and wherein the ratchet drive arm is configured to disengage the resistance pawl from engagement with the ratchet wheel, and thereby move the lock to the unlocking configuration, when the ratchet drive arm is moved to the unlocked position. 25

12. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the ratchet drive arm comprises two tines separated by spacers and a ratchet drive pawl housed between the tines.

13. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the spool comprises two ratchet wheels positioned at or adjacent the first side of the spool that is rotatably supported by the 30 first side member of the body, wherein one ratchet wheel is positioned on either side of the first side member of the body, and wherein one tine is positioned adjacent each ratchet wheel, on a side of the respective ratchet wheel opposite the first side member of the body.

14. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 12, comprising a release member for disengaging the ratchet drive pawl from the ratchet wheel, wherein the ratchet drive arm can only be moved to the unlocked position when the ratchet drive pawl is released by the release member.

15. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable member is slidably mounted to the body and the moveable member is configured as a support member and supports said second side of the spool when the movable support member is in the closed position.

16. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the spool has a rounded profile at said second side, to assist with moving the movable support member to the closed position.

17. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the spool comprises grooves for 15 receiving part of the movable support member when in the closed position.

18. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the body comprises at least one guide for guiding movement of the movable support member into the closed position, with each guide supporting a respective portion of the movable support member when in the 20 closed position, to help minimise twisting of the spool in use.

19. A ratchet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moveable member is pivotably mounted to the body about an axis substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the spool, the axis is positioned at or adjacent an end of the body distal the 25 spool, and the movable member comprises an aperture to engage with part of the body when the movable member is in the closed position to provide support to the movable member.

20. A method of securing a load on a vehicle or platform, comprising using one or more ratchet devices as claimed in claim 1, and wherein, if required, an additional like ratchet 30 device may be used to provide additional tension to the strap after the strap is in place.