US20030084550A1

US20030084550A1 - Strip safe-releasing device using ratchets

Info

Publication number: US20030084550A1
Application number: US09/985,197
Authority: US
Inventors: Hu Fang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-11-02
Filing date: 2001-11-02
Publication date: 2003-05-08

Abstract

A strip safe-releasing device using ratchets is disclosed. A body and handle is connected by a shaft. Since the stopping piece of the body with respect to the handle is installed with a sliding groove. Thereby, the handle can be rotated so that the stopping piece is inserted into the sliding groove, then the convex portion ejects the buckle to release the ratchet. Thereby, the shaft is driven by the reaction force of the strip so as to release the tension of the strip. Since the rotation of the ratchet will synchronously drive the convex portion of the handle not to eject the buckle. Thus, the buckle moves forwards to engage the ratchet and confine the rotation of the shaft. Therefore, each time the shaft rotate through a few angles, the tension releases a little. Therefore, the tension of the strip is released step by step in a safe way.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a strip safe-releasing device using ratchets, wherein by confining a ratchet, a shaft combining with the ratchet is released to rotate through a predetermined angle, then the ratchet is stopped and thus the tension in releasing a strip is released step by step.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 8, a prior art ratchet buckle is illustrated. A

shaft

81 passes through a body 82 and a handle 83. The shaft 81 is installed with two ratchets 84. The shaft 81 has a groove 811. A strip 9 passes through the groove 811. The body 82 has a buckle 821. The stopping piece 821 is ejected by a spring 822 to engage the two ratchets 84. The handle 83 is installed with a stopping piece 831 which is slidably arranged. Thereby, as the handle 83 is rotated, the stopping piece 831 will engage the ratchets 84 to drive the shaft 81 to rotate. Therefore, the shaft 81 will wind the strip 9. The body 82 has a slot 823 with respect to the stopping piece 831. Thereby, when the stopping piece 831 can be embedded into the slot 823, the stopping piece 831 will separate from the ratchets 84 and is not engaged therewith. Meahwhile, the convex portion 23 of the handle 83 will eject the buckle 821. As a result, the shaft 81 and the ratchets 84 may rotate freely for releasing the strip 9.

In general, the ratchet buckle is used to tighten the

strip

9 for packing the goods on a trunk or a caravan. One end of the strip 9 winding the goods passes through the groove 811 of the shaft 81. The body 82 is combined with a hook (not shown) for hooking to a car. By rotating the handle repeatedly, the stopping piece 831 resists against the ratchets 84 and then drives the shaft 81 to rotate. The shaft 81 winds the strip 9 so that the strip 9 is tightened by the shaft 81 to tightly tie the goods. If it is desired to release the goods, the handle 83 is rotated and the stopping piece 831 is embedded into the groove 823 so as to separate from the ratchets 84. Meanwhile, the convex portion 833 of the handle 83 will eject the buckle 821, as shown in the FIG. 9. As a result, the shaft 81 and the ratchets 84 may rotate freely. The tightening strip 9 will drive the shaft 81 to rotate by the reaction force induced from the tension of the strip 9. Consequently, the strip 9 is released and loosed. Thus, the strip 9 is taken away.

However, the tension of a tightening

strip

9 may be as high as several hundreds Kgw. Therefore, at the time that the strip 9 is released, it will loosen at once, and thus it is very possible that the goods fall down.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the primary-object of the present invention is to provide a strip safe-releasing device using ratchets. A body and handle is connected by a shaft. Since the stopping piece of the body with respect to the handle is installed with a sliding groove, the handle can be rotated so that the stopping piece is inserted into the sliding groove, then the convex portion ejects the buckle to release the ratchet. Thereby, the shaft is driven by the reaction force from the tension of the strip so as to release the tension of the strip. Since the rotation of the ratchet will synchronously drive the convex portion of the handle not to eject the buckle. Thus, the buckle moves forwards to engage the ratchet and confine the rotation of the shaft. Therefore, each time the shaft rotate through a few angles, only a part of the tension is released. Therefore, the tension of the strip is released step by step in a safe way.

The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention. [0007]
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the process of tightening a strip in the present invention. [0008]
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the strip is released in the present invention. [0009]
FIG. 4 is another schematic view showing the strip is released in the present invention. [0010]
FIG. 5 is a further schematic view showing the strip is released in the present invention. [0011]
FIG. 6 is a yet schematic view showing the strip is released in the present invention. [0012]
FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the ratchet is released completely in the present invention. [0013]
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a of a prior art ratchet buckle. [0014]
FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the releasing of a ratchet in a prior ratchet buckle.[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. [0016] 1 to 6, the embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this the present invention, the present invention is formed by a shaft 3 passing through a body 1 and a handle 2. Two side of the body are protrudes with respective ears 101 and two sides of the handle 2 are protruded with pivotal portions 201. The shaft 3 passes through the two ear 101 and two pivotal portions 201 so that the body 1 is pivotally connected to the handle 2.
A [0017] ratchet 32 is formed between each of the two ears 101 and each of the two pivotal portions 201. Each ratchet 32 has a plurality of teeth 321. The shaft 3 has a penetrating groove 31 which axially penetrates through the shaft 3. A strip 4 winds around the groove 31.
Each of two sides of the [0018] body 1 has a trench 102 for being embedded by a buckle 11. A spring 12 is formed between the buckle 11 and the body 1. By the ejecting force of the spring 12, the buckle 11 is engaged with the ratchet 32. Each of the two sides of the handle 2 has a trench 202 for being embedded with a stopping piece 21, wherein the stopping piece 21 is slidable in the trench 202. An elastomer 22 is installed between the stopping piece 21 and the handle 2. By the elastic force of the elastomer 22, the stopping piece 21 is engaged with the ratchet 32.
As the two [0019] ears 101 of the body 1 is rotated with respect to the handle 2, in the position of the stopping piece 21, a convex portion 13, a stopper 16, a sliding groove 15 and a slot 14 are sequentially arranged. The two pivotal portions 201 of the handle 2 each have a convex portion 23 at position with respect to the buckle 11.
The [0020] concave portion 13 of the stopping piece 21 dose not contact the stopping piece 21. The height of the stopping piece 21 is higher than the teeth 321 of the ratchet 32 so that as the stopping piece 21 passes through the stopper 16, it is separated from the ratchet 32. The width of the sliding groove 15 is about one node of the ratchet 32. The side of the sliding groove adjacent to the stopper 16 is a guide tilt surface 151. Near the upper edge of the guide tilt surface 151 is installed with a stopping surface 152 for resisting the stopping piece 21 so as to avoid that the stopping piece 21 runs away from the sliding groove through the guide tilt surface 151. A side of the sliding groove 15 adjacent to the slot 14 is a resisting surfacel53. When the ratchet 32 is stopped by the buckle 11 and is engaged therewith, the guide tilt surface 151 is corresponding to a back side 322 of the tooth 321 of the ratchet 32. The height of the guide tilt surface 151 is higher than the ratchet 32. Thereby, when the stopping piece 21 slides on the guide tilt surface 151, it will be lifted and then separates from the ratchet 32. When the stopping piece 21 resists against the resisting surfacel53, the convex portion 23 is at a position in which it can eject the stopping piece 21 so that the stopping piece separates from the ratchet 32. When the stopping piece 21 is embedded in the slot 14, it separates from the ratchet 32, and then the convex portion 23 is at position at which it will eject the buckle 11 so that the stopping piece separates from the ratchet 32.
Referring to FIG. 2, in using, the [0021] handle 2 is rotated so that the stopping piece 21 is at the convex portion 13 to be engaged to the ratchet 32. Then, by rotating the handle 2, the stopping piece 21 will drive the ratchet 32 to rotate and then the buckle 11 is ejected. Then shaft 3 winds the strip 4 winding around the strip groove 31. If the handle 2 is rotated repeatedly, the shaft 3 will drive the strip 4 to tightly engage the strip. Thereby, the strip 4 can tightly wind goods.
When goods are desired to be detached, the [0022] handle 2 is rotated, so that the stopping piece 21 is inserted into the sliding groove 15, as shown in the FIG. 3. Then, the ratchet 32 is motionlessly buckled in the buckle 11. The stopping piece 21 resists against the backside 322 of the tooth 321 of the stopping piece 21, so that the handle 2 may be rotated freely. If the handle 2 is rotated clockwise as illustrated in the drawing, then the stopping piece 21 will resist against the resisting surface 153 of the sliding groove 15. Then, the convex portion 23 of the handle 2 ejects the buckle 11 as shown in the FIG. 4. Thereby, the ratchet 32 may be rotated freely and the shaft 3 may rotate along a reverse direction by the pulling force of the reaction force of the strip 4. Then, the tooth 321 passes through the buckle 11, as shown in the FIG. 5. As the shaft 3 rotates, the handle 2 is driven to rotate backwards, then the strip 4 is released with the rotation of the shaft 3 for avoiding a large part of the strip 4 to be released. After the handle 2 rotates backwards, the convex portion 23 will not eject the buckle 11 further. Thus, the buckle 11 moves forwards to be engaged with the ratchet 32. Thus, the ratchet 32 is again buckled by the buckle 11 and can not rotate reversely. At the same time, the ratchet 32 will resist against the stopping piece 21 to raise along the guide tilt surface 151 until the ratchet 32 ejects the tooth 321 to pass through the stopping piece 21, as shown in the FIG. 6. Therefore, the stopping piece 21 moves to the backside 322 of another tooth 321 so as to return to the condition illustrated in FIG. 3. Each time, the traveling length is equal to one tooth of the ratchet 32 as the shaft 3 rotates the ratchet 32. Namely, each time a tooth passes through the buckle 11, the pressure of the strip 4 can be released step by step so that the tension of the strip 4 is released gradually instead of releasing all the tension at one time. When the pressure of the strip 4 is released to a predetermined level, the user may rotate the handle 2 to be embedded into the slot 14, as shown in the FIG. 7. Therefore, the stopping piece 21 is released from the ratchet 32. Then the convex portion 23 of the handle 2 ejects the buckle 11, and the shaft 3 and the ratchet 32 may be rotated freely. Thus, the user can pull the strip 4 out as desired for detaching goods.
In summary, since the stopping [0023] piece 21 of the body 1 with respect to the handle 2 is installed with a sliding groove 15. Thereby, the handle 2 can be rotated so that the stopping piece 21 is inserted into the sliding groove 15, then the convex portion 23 ejects the buckle 11 to release the ratchet 32. Thereby, the shaft 3 is driven by the reaction force from the tension of the strip 4 so as to release the tension of the strip 4. Since the rotation of the ratchet 32 will synchronously drive the convex portion 23 of the handle 2 not to eject the buckle 11. Thus, the buckle 11 moves forwards to engage the ratchet 32 and confine the rotation of the shaft 3. Therefore, each time the shaft 3 rotates through an angle, only a small part of the tension is released. Therefore, the tension of the strip 4 is released step by step in a safe way.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details described thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. [0024]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A strip safe-releasing device using ratchets, wherein the device is formed by a shaft passing through a body and a handle; two sides of the body is protruded with respective ears and two sides of the handle are protruded with pivotal portions; the shaft passes through the two ears and two pivotal portions so that the body is pivotally connected to the handle;

a ratchet is formed between each of the two ears and each of the two pivotal portions; each ratchet has a plurality of teeth; the shaft has a penetrating groove which axially penetrates through the shaft; a strip winds around the groove;

each of two sides of the body has a trench for being embedded with a buckle; a spring is formed between the buckle and the body; by the ejecting force of the spring; the buckle is engaged with the ratchet; each of the two sides of the handle has a trench for being embedded with a stopping piece, wherein the stopping piece is slidable in the trench; an elastomer is installed between the stopping piece and the handle; by the elastic force of the elastomer, the stopping piece is engaged with the ratchet;

from the rotating direction of the two ears of the body with respect to the handle, in the stopping piece, a convex portion, a stopper, a sliding groove and a slot are sequentially arranged; two pivotal portions of the handle each have a convex portion at position with respect to the buckle;

the concave portion of the stopping piece dose not contact the stopping piece; a height of the stopping piece is higher than the teeth of the ratchet so that as the stopping piece passes through the stopper, it is separated from the ratchet; a width of the sliding groove is about one node of the ratchet;

a side of the sliding groove adjacent to the stopper is a guide tilt surface; a side of the sliding groove adjacent to the slot is a resisting surface; when the ratchet is stopped by the buckle and is engaged therewith, the guide tilt surface is corresponding to a back side of a tooth of the ratchet; a height of the guide tilt surface is higher than the ratchet; thereby, when the stopping piece slides on the guide tilt surface, it will be lifted and then separates from the ratchet; when the stopping piece resists against the resisting surface, the convex portion is at a position in which it ejects the stopping piece so that the stopping piece separates from the ratchet; when the stopping piece is embedded in the slot, it separates from the ratchet, and then the convex portion is at position at which it will eject the buckle so that the stopping piece separates from the ratchet.

2. The strip safe-releasing device using ratchets as claim in claim 1, wherein near an upper edge of the guide tilt surface is installed with a stopping surface for resisting the stopping piece so as to avoid that the stopping piece runs away from the sliding groove through the guide tilt surface.