US20020074443A1

US20020074443A1 - Strap winding device

Info

Publication number: US20020074443A1
Application number: US09/737,791
Authority: US
Inventors: Gregory Murdock; Catherine Murdock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-12-15
Filing date: 2000-12-15
Publication date: 2002-06-20

Abstract

A strap winding device for quickly and effectively winding the strap about the spindle. The strap winding device includes a bracket member having a main wall and end walls being spaced apart and extending outwardly of the main wall; and also includes a spindle being rotatably mounted to the bracket member and being adapted to carry a strap; and further includes a knob member being attached to the spindle and having a plurality holes extending therethrough; and also includes a crank assembly being removably connected to the knob member for turning the spindle to roll up and unroll the strap.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a strap roller and more particularly pertains to a new strap winding device for quickly and effectively winding the strap about the spindle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of a strap roller is known in the prior art. More specifically, a strap roller heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,833,217; 5,791,844; 2,197,767; 5,234,298; 4,390,141; and Des. 390,094.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new strap winding device. The inventive device includes a bracket member having a main wall and end walls being spaced apart and extending outwardly of the main wall; and also includes a spindle being rotatably mounted to the bracket member and being adapted to carry a strap; and further includes a knob member being attached to the spindle and having a plurality holes extending therethrough; and also includes a crank assembly being removably connected to the knob member for turning the spindle to roll up and unroll the strap.

In these respects, the strap winding device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of quickly and effectively winding the strap about the spindle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of strap roller now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new strap winding device construction wherein the same can be utilized for quickly and effectively winding the strap about the spindle.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new strap winding device which has many of the advantages of the strap roller mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new strap winding device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art strap roller, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a bracket member having a main wall and end walls being spaced apart and extending outwardly of the main wall; and also includes a spindle being rotatably mounted to the bracket member and being adapted to carry a strap; and further includes a knob member being attached to the spindle and having a plurality holes extending therethrough; and also includes a crank assembly being removably connected to the knob member for turning the spindle to roll up and unroll the strap.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new strap winding device which has many of the advantages of the strap roller mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new strap winding device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art strap roller, either alone or in any combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new strap winding device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new strap winding device which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new strap winding device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such strap winding device economically available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new strap winding device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new strap winding device for quickly and effectively winding the strap about the spindle.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new strap winding device which includes a bracket member having a main wall and end walls being spaced apart and extending outwardly of the main wall; and also includes a spindle being rotatably mounted to the bracket member and being adapted to carry a strap; and further includes a knob member being attached to the spindle and having a plurality holes extending therethrough; and also includes a crank assembly being removably connected to the knob member for turning the spindle to roll up and unroll the strap.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new strap winding device that saves the user substantial time and energy during the rolling up of the strap used on trailer flatbeds.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new strap winding device that allows the to speed roll the spindle to roll up the strap.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: [0025]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new strap winding device according to the present invention. [0026]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the crank member of the present invention. [0027]
FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the handle portion and first sleeve member of the present invention.[0028]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new strap winding device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the [0029] reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the [0030] strap winding device 10 generally comprises a bracket member 11 having a main wall 12 and end walls 13,14 being spaced apart and extending outwardly of the main wall 12. A spindle 15 is rotatably mounted to the bracket member 11 and is adapted to carry a strap 30. A knob member 16 is conventionally attached to the spindle 15 and has a plurality holes 17 extending therethrough.
A crank assembly is removably connected to the [0031] knob member 16 for turning the spindle 15 to roll up the strap 30. The crank assembly includes a crank member 18 having a handle portion 19 and a main portion 23, and also includes sleeve members 27,28 being movably disposed about the handle portion 19, and further includes bearing 29 being conventionally disposed between the sleeve members 27,28 and the handle portion 19 to facilitate rapid rotation of the crank member 18. The handle portion 19 include a flange 26 being conventionally disposed about an outer end 25 thereof to prevent the sleeve members 26,27 from coming off the handle portion 19. The handle portion 19 also includes a first end portion 20 having the outer end 25, and also includes an intermediate portion 21 which integrally connected to the first end portion 20 and which is angled relative to the first end portion 20, and further includes a second end portion 22 which is integrally connected to the intermediate portion 21 and which is angled relative to the intermediate portion 21. The first and second end portions 20,22 are disposed generally parallel to one another with the intermediate portion 21 of the handle portion 19 being generally angled less than 90 degrees and more than 45 degrees from the first and second end portions 20,22 of the handle portion 19. The sleeve members include a first sleeve member 27 which is movably mounted about the first end portion 20 of the handle portion 19, and also include a second sleeve member 28 which is movably mounted about the second end portion 22 of the handle portion 19. The main portion 23 of the crank member 18 is generally C-shaped and has a hook-like outer end portion 24. The second end portion 22 of the handle portion 19 is integrally attached to the main portion 23. The hook-like outer end portion 24 is removably extended through one of the holes 17 of the knob member 16 and is curved so that the crank member 18 cannot fall out of the knob member 16 especially when a user is turning the spindle 15 at a rapid rate of speed. The crank member 18 has a length of approximately 6 to 12 inches.
In use, the user extends the hook-like [0032] outer end portion 24 of the crank member 18 through one of the holes 17 in the knob member 16 and grasps the sleeve members 27,28 with one's hands and rapidly turns the crank member 18 to quickly take up the strap 30 about the spindle 15.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. [0033]
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. [0034]
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. [0035]

Claims

We claim:

1. A strap winding device comprising:

a bracket member having a main wall and end walls being spaced apart and extending outwardly of said main wall;

a spindle being rotatably mounted to said bracket member and being adapted to carry a strap;

a knob member being attached to said spindle and having a plurality holes extending therethrough; and

a crank assembly being removably connected to said knob member for turning said spindle to roll up the strap.

2. A strap winding device as described in claim 1, wherein said crank assembly includes a crank member having a handle portion and a main portion, and also includes sleeve members being movably disposed about said handle portion, and further includes bearings being disposed between said sleeve members and said handle portion to facilitate rapid rotation of said crank member.

3. A strap winding device as described in claim 2, wherein said handle portion includes a flange being disposed about an outer end thereof to prevent said sleeve members from coming off said handle portion during turning of said crank member.

4. A strap winding device as described in claim 3, wherein said handle portion also includes a first end portion having said outer end, and also includes an intermediate portion which is integrally connected to said first end portion and which is angled relative to said first end portion, and further includes a second end portion which is integrally connected to said intermediate portion and which is angled relative to said intermediate portion, said first and second end-portions being disposed generally parallel to one another.

5. A strap winding device as described in claim 4, wherein said intermediate portion of said handle portion is generally angled less than 90 degrees and more than 45 degrees from said first and second end portions of said handle portion.

6. A strap winding device as described in claim 5, wherein said sleeve members includes a first sleeve member which is movably mounted about said first end portion of said handle portion, and also includes a second sleeve member which is movably mounted about said second end portion of said handle portion.

7. A strap winding device as described in claim 6, wherein said main portion of said crank member is generally C-shaped and has a hook-like outer end portion, said second end portion of said handle portion being integrally attached to said main portion.

8. A strap winding device as described in claim 7, wherein said hook-like outer end portion is removably extended through one of said holes of said knob member and is curved so that said crank member cannot fall out of said knob member especially when a user is turning said spindle at a rapid rate of speed.

9. A strap winding device comprising:

a crank assembly being removably connected to said knob member for turning said spindle to roll up the strap, said crank assembly including a crank member having a handle portion and a main portion, and also including sleeve members being movably disposed about said handle portion, and further including bearings being disposed between said sleeve members and said handle portion to facilitate rapid rotation of said crank member, said handle portion including a flange being disposed about an outer end thereof to prevent said sleeve members from coming off said handle portion, said handle portion also including a first end portion having said outer end, and also including an intermediate portion which is integrally connected to said first end portion and which is angled relative to said first end portion, and further including a second end portion which is integrally connected to said intermediate portion and which is angled relative to said intermediate portion, said first and second end portions being disposed generally parallel to one another, said intermediate portion of said handle portion being generally angled less than 90 degrees and more than 45 degrees from said first and second end portions of said handle portion, said sleeve members including a first sleeve member which is movably mounted about said first end portion of said handle portion, and also including a second sleeve member which is movably mounted about said second end portion of said handle portion, said main portion of said crank member being generally C-shaped and having a hook-like outer end portion, said second end portion of said handle portion being integrally attached to said main portion, said hook-like outer end portion being removably extended through one of said holes of said knob member and being curved so that said crank member cannot come out of said knob member especially when a user is turning said spindle at a rapid rate of speed, said crank member a length of approximately 6 to 12 inches.