초록 ▼

A ratcheting pulley device is shown and described. In one embodiment, the device includes a sheave rotatably mounted in a housing. The housing defines an opening for ingress and egress of a rope or cord into the housing and around the sheave. The device includes a releasable ratchet mechanism, whic

A ratcheting pulley device is shown and described. In one embodiment, the device includes a sheave rotatably mounted in a housing. The housing defines an opening for ingress and egress of a rope or cord into the housing and around the sheave. The device includes a releasable ratchet mechanism, which, when engaged, permits rotation of the sheave in one direction but not the other, and which, when released, permits free rotation of the sheave. A loading-disk is mounted on the exterior of the housing and is in rotational communication with the sheave. The loading-disk allows rope or cord to be operably and quickly loaded into the device.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A ratchet pulley device for a rope or cord, said device comprising: a rotatable sheave; a housing within which said sheave is rotatably mounted, said housing having an opening for ingress of a rope or cord into said housing and around said sheave and an opening for egress thereof from s

I claim: 1. A ratchet pulley device for a rope or cord, said device comprising: a rotatable sheave; a housing within which said sheave is rotatably mounted, said housing having an opening for ingress of a rope or cord into said housing and around said sheave and an opening for egress thereof from said housing, a curved guiding surface in said housing closely fitting around the exterior of said sheave from said ingress opening and extending at least approximately one-half of the circumference of said sheave in the direction of rotation thereof; a releasable ratchet mechanism which, when engaged, permits rotation of said sheave in one direction but not the other, and which, when released, permits free rotation of said sheave; and a loading-disk mounted on the exterior of said housing in rotational communication with said sheave, thereby allowing a user to load a rope or cord onto said sheave by the rotation of said loading-disk. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the exterior of said housing substantially adjacent to said sheave defines a recess configured to receive said loading-disk, thereby lowering the profile of said loading-disk. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the exterior of said housing substantially adjacent to said sheave defines an aperture through which a shaft connecting said sheave to said loading-disk is positioned, thereby establishing said rotational communication between said sheave and said loading disk. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the interior of said housing substantially adjacent to said sheave defines a wall slightly offset from, and substantially surrounding, said aperture, thereby creating an internal recess configured to receive a bearing. 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said wall defined by said interior of said housing is substantially circular. 6. The device of claim 4, further including a bearing positioned in said internal recess. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said loading-disk is substantially circular and has a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said sheave. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said loading-disk is substantially flat. 9. The device of claim 1, wherein said loading-disk does not include a lever-arm attached to said disk for providing a mechanical advantage. 10. A ratchet pulley device for a rope or cord, said device comprising: a rotatable sheave having two opposed faces; a housing within which said sheave is rotatably mounted, said housing having an opening for ingress of a rope or cord into said housing and around said sheave and an opening for egress thereof from said housing, a curved guiding surface in said housing closely fitting around the exterior of said sheave from said ingress opening and extending at least approximately one-half of the circumference of said sheave in the direction of rotation thereof, and defining a substantially circular recess on an exterior side configured to receive a loading-disk; a releasable ratchet mechanism which, when engaged, permits rotation of said sheave in one direction but not the other, and which, when released, permits free rotation of said sheave; and a loading-disk mounted in said recess defined on the exterior side of said housing in rotational communication with said sheave, thereby allowing a user to load a rope or cord onto said sheave by the rotation of said loading-disk. 11. The device of claim 10, wherein said recess defined in said exterior of said housing is substantially adjacent to said sheave. 12. The device of claim 10, wherein said loading-disk is substantially circular. 13. The device of claim 10, wherein said loading-disk is substantially flat. 14. The device of claim 10, wherein said loading-disk does not include a lever-arm attached to said disk for providing a mechanical advantage. 15. A ratchet pulley device for a rope or cord, said device comprising: a rotatable sheave having two opposed faces; a housing within which said sheave is rotatably mounted, said housing having an opening for ingress of a rope or cord into said housing and around said sheave and an opening for egress thereof from said housing, a curved guiding surface in said housing closely fitting around the exterior of said sheave from said ingress opening and extending at least approximately one-half of the circumference of said sheave in the direction of rotation thereof an aperture in said housing substantially adjacent to said sheave through which a shaft is positioned, said shaft connecting said sheave to said loading-disk, thereby establishing said rotational communication between said sheave and said loading disk, and a substantially circular wall defined by the interior of said housing substantially surrounding and offset from said aperture, thereby creating an internal recess configured to receive a bearing; a bearing positioned in said internal recess defined by said housing; a releasable ratchet mechanism which, when engaged, permits rotation of said sheave in one direction but not the other, and which, when released, permits free rotation of said sheave; and a substantially flat loading-disk mounted on the exterior of said housing in rotational communication with said sheave, wherein said loading-disk does not include a lever-arm attached to said disk for providing a mechanical advantage, thereby allowing a user to load a rope or cord onto said sheave by the rotation of said loading-disk by using the user's thumb. 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the exterior of said housing defines a recess configured to receive said loading-disk, thereby lowering the profile of said loading-disk. 17. The device of claim 15, wherein said recess is externally adjacent to said sheave. 18. The device of claim 15, wherein said recess is substantially circular.