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The ratchet buckle for tightening a strap under a ratchet action provides a lock to positively prevent the ratchet buckle from inadvertently releasing the strap. The lock requires a removable handle to be installed on the ratchet buckle before the lock can be released. The removable handle extends t

The ratchet buckle for tightening a strap under a ratchet action provides a lock to positively prevent the ratchet buckle from inadvertently releasing the strap. The lock requires a removable handle to be installed on the ratchet buckle before the lock can be released. The removable handle extends the ratchet buckle crank arm for increased leverage in exercising the ratchet buckle and when removed reduces the overall size of the ratchet buckle and eliminates a crank arm portion that would otherwise extend beyond the ratchet buckle base.

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1. A ratchet buckle for tightening a strap including a base, a spindle rotatably attached to the base, a ratchet wheel attached to the spindle and a ratchet plate cooperating with the ratchet wheel in a ratchet action, a release arm intermediate the base and slidable in a crank arm and connected to

1. A ratchet buckle for tightening a strap including a base, a spindle rotatably attached to the base, a ratchet wheel attached to the spindle and a ratchet plate cooperating with the ratchet wheel in a ratchet action, a release arm intermediate the base and slidable in a crank arm and connected to the ratchet plate, the release arm being adapted to disengage the ratchet plate from the ratchet wheel when the release arm is pulled, and the crank arm rotatably journaled in the base by the spindle on each ratchet buckle side to which the crank arm and the ratchet wheel are secured, the spindle adapted to wind the strap around it as the spindle is rotated by the crank arm relative to the base, further comprising: a handle pivotable on the crank arm,a lock comprising legs depending from the release arm forming an inverted “U” that moves up and down with the crank arm,a key urged upward from the base under spring bias into the lock when the crank arm is lowered into a lock position thereby preventing movement of the release arm such that the ratchet plate is locked into engagement with the ratchet wheel,a crank arm connection shaft extending between crank arm sides,a depressor portion of the handle configured to engage a key interface portion such that as the handle is rotated on the crank arm connection shaft downward the depressor portion engages the key interface portion such that the key is urged downward as the handle is further lowered until the key is moved out of the lock, therein allowing the ratchet plate to disengage from its lock position with the ratchet wheel by pulling the release arm. 2. The ratchet buckle of claim 1 wherein the handle is removable from the crank arm. 3. The ratchet buckle of claim 2 wherein the removable handle when connected to the crank arm extends the crank arm rearward substantially past the base. 4. The ratchet buckle of claim 2 wherein when the handle is removed with the crank arm in lock position with the lock engaging the key, as the handle depressor portion is removed with the handle the ratchet plate cannot be withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet wheel thus preventing the ratchet wheel from rotating and releasing the strap. 5. The ratchet buckle of claim 4 wherein the key is releasable from the lock by installing the handle on the crank arm and lowering it with the depressor portion urging the key out of the lock therein allowing the ratchet plate to be withdrawn from the ratchet wheel. 6. The ratchet buckle of claim 5 further comprising a crank arm connection shaft extending between crank arm sides and a hook on a handle connect end that may be hooked around the crank arm connection shaft such that the handle is pivotable on the crank arm connection shaft and removable from the base by disengaging the hook from the crank arm connection shaft. 7. The ratchet buckle of claim 6 further comprising a ledge on the crank arm, a handle pull slidable longitudinally on the handle and adapted to releasably engage the ledge on the crank arm as the handle is pivoted toward the crank arm thereby securing the handle to the crank arm in cooperation with the hook on the crank arm connection shaft. 8. The ratchet buckle of claim 7 wherein the handle is adapted to function as a rigid extension of the crank arm cooperating with the crank arm to rotate the ratchet wheel when the handle hook engages the crank arm connection shaft and the handle pull engages the ledge. 9. The ratchet buckle of claim 7 wherein the handle pull is releasable from the ledge by pulling the handle pull away from ledge, therein enabling the handle to be pivoted on the crank arm connection shaft away from the crank arm such that the handle hook is removable from the crank arm connection shaft, therein enabling the handle to be removed from the crank arm. 10. The ratchet buckle of claim 2 further comprising a crank arm connection shaft extending between base sides and a hook on the handle adapted to be hooked around the crank arm connection shaft such that the handle is pivotable on the crank arm connection shaft and removable from the base by disengaging the hook from the crank arm connection shaft. 11. The ratchet buckle of claim 10 further comprising a ledge on the crank arm,a handle pull adapted to releasably engage the ledge on the crank arm such that as the handle is pivoted toward the crank arm the pull engages the ledge thereby securing the handle to the crank arm in cooperation with the hook on the crank arm connection shaft. 12. The ratchet buckle of claim 11 wherein the handle is adapted to function as a rigid extension of the crank arm cooperating with the crank arm to rotate the ratchet wheel when the handle hook engages the crank arm connection shaft and the handle pull engages the ledge. 13. The ratchet buckle of claim 11 wherein the handle pull is releasable from the ledge by pulling the handle pull away from ledge, therein enabling the handle to be pivoted on the crank arm connection shaft away from the crank arm such that the handle hook is removable from the crank arm connection shaft, therein enabling the handle to be removed from the crank arm. 14. A ratchet buckle for tightening a strap including a base, a spindle rotatably attached to the base, a ratchet wheel attached to the spindle and a ratchet plate cooperating with the ratchet wheel in a ratchet action, a release arm intermediate the base and slidable in a crank arm and connected to the ratchet plate, the release arm being adapted to disengage the ratchet plate from the ratchet wheel when the release arm is pulled, with the crank arm rotatably journaled in the base by the spindle on each ratchet buckle side to which the crank arm and the ratchet wheel are secured, the spindle adapted to wind the strap around it as the spindle is rotated by the crank arm relative to the base, and further comprising a removable handle attachable to and extending the crank arm, and a crank arm connection shaft extending between base sides and a hook on a handle connect end that may be hooked around the crank arm connection shaft such that the handle is pivotable on the crank arm connection shaft and removable from the base by disengaging the hook from the crank arm connection shaft,a ledge on the crank arm,a handle pull slidable longitudinally on the handle and adapted to releasably engage the ledge on the crank arm as the handle is pivoted toward the crank arm thereby securing the handle to the crank arm in cooperation with the hook on the crank arm connection shaft. 15. The ratchet buckle of claim 14 wherein the handle is adapted to function as a rigid extension of the crank arm cooperating with the crank arm to rotate the ratchet wheel when the handle hook engages the crank arm connection shaft and the handle pull engages the ledge. 16. The ratchet buckle of claim 14 wherein the handle pull is releasable from the ledge by pulling the handle pull away from ledge, therein enabling the handle to be pivoted on the crank arm connection shaft away from the crank arm such that the handle hook is removable from the crank arm connection shaft, therein enabling the handle to be removed from the crank arm. 17. A ratchet buckle for tightening a strap including a base, a spindle rotatably attached to the base, a ratchet wheel attached to the spindle and a ratchet plate cooperating with the ratchet wheel in a ratchet action, a release arm intermediate the base and slidable in a crank arm and connected to the ratchet plate, the release arm being adapted to disengage the ratchet plate from the ratchet wheel when the release arm is pulled, with the crank arm rotatably journaled in the base by the spindle on each ratchet buckle side to which the crank arm and the ratchet wheel are secured, the spindle adapted to wind the strap around it as the spindle is rotated by the crank arm relative to the base, further comprising: a removable handle pivotable on the crank arm,a lock comprising legs depending from the release arm forming an inverted “U” that moves up and down with the crank arm,a key urged upward from the base under spring bias into the lock when the crank arm is lowered into a lock position thereby preventing movement of the release arm such that the ratchet plate is locked into engagement with the ratchet wheel,a crank arm connection shaft extending between crank arm sides and a hook on the handle adapted to be hooked around the crank arm connection shaft such that the handle is pivotable on the crank arm connection shaft and removable from the base by disengaging the hook from the crank arm connection shaft,a depressor portion of the handle configured to engage a key interface portion such that as the handle is rotated on the crank arm connection shaft downward the depressor portion engages the key interface portion such that the key is urged downward as the handle is further lowered until the key is moved out of the lock, therein allowing the ratchet plate to disengage from its lock position with the ratchet wheel by pulling the release arm,wherein when the handle is removed with the crank arm in lock position with the lock engaging the key, as the handle depressor portion is removed with the handle the ratchet plate cannot be withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet plate thus preventing the ratchet plate from rotating and releasing the strap, andwherein the key is releasable from the lock by installing the handle on the crank arm and lowering it with the depressor portion urging the key out of the lock therein allowing the ratchet plate to be withdrawn from the ratchet wheel,a ledge on the crank arm,a handle pull slidable longitudinally on the handle and adapted to releasably engage the ledge on the crank arm as the handle is pivoted toward the crank arm thereby securing the handle to the crank arm in cooperation with the hook on the crank arm connection shaft. 18. The ratchet buckle of claim 17 wherein the handle pull is releasable from the ledge by pulling the handle pull away from ledge, therein enabling the handle to be pivoted on the crank arm connection shaft away from the crank arm such that the handle hook is removable from the crank arm connection shaft, therein enabling the handle to be removed from the crank arm.