초록 ▼

An apparatus to assist tightening of cargo straps used on flat-bed vehicles comprises a gearbox having a worm gear and matching wheel gear to tighten the strap. The output of the gearbox is coupled to a tie-down strap. The apparatus enables a user to quickly and properly tighten a tie-down strap reg

An apparatus to assist tightening of cargo straps used on flat-bed vehicles comprises a gearbox having a worm gear and matching wheel gear to tighten the strap. The output of the gearbox is coupled to a tie-down strap. The apparatus enables a user to quickly and properly tighten a tie-down strap regardless of the user's physical size and strength. The apparatus can be provided at each tie-down strap or be moved from strap location to strap location as desired.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for securing a tie-down strap for securing a cargo strap for a load on a vehicle comprises: a generally rectangular case, further comprising an aperture located along and partially spanning a width of a top surface and a front surface thereof for permitting passage of said cargo stra

1. An apparatus for securing a tie-down strap for securing a cargo strap for a load on a vehicle comprises: a generally rectangular case, further comprising an aperture located along and partially spanning a width of a top surface and a front surface thereof for permitting passage of said cargo strap;a gear assembly housed within said case;a take-up assembly operably controlled by said gear assembly, said take-up assembly housed within and attached to said case;a crank assembly operably controlling said gear assembly, said crank assembly removably connected to said gear assembly; and,a fastening member for removably attaching said apparatus to said vehicle;wherein said apparatus is detachably removable from a side of said vehicle;wherein said aperture further permits access to said take-up assembly;wherein said cargo strap is fed through said take-up assembly and secured thereto;wherein rotation of said crank assembly operably rotates said gear assembly;wherein a clockwise rotation of said gear assembly operably rotates said take-up assembly to spool out said cargo strap; and,wherein a counter-clockwise rotation of said gear assembly operably rotates said take-up assembly to reel in said cargo strap. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said case comprises a waterproof and resilient material of construction. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said case comprises approximately six square inches in size. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gear assembly further comprises: a worm gear located adjacent to said aperture on a front upper first side of said case and spanning an interior within said case;a worm gear extension comprising a distal end of said worm gear and extending outward from said case, said worm gear extension further comprising an extension drive;a wheel gear located within said case and affixed to a first end of said take-up assembly; and,a ratchet assembly affixed to a second end of said take-up assembly along an exterior side of said case;wherein said worm gear is freely rotatable relative to said case;wherein said wheel gear is operably driven by and in mechanical communication with said worm gear;wherein said take-up assembly and said ratchet assembly is operably driven by and is rotated concurrently with said wheel gear;wherein said crank assembly is removably connected to said extension drive of said worm gear extension to operably control said worm gear; and,wherein said ratchet assembly secures a desired position of said gear assembly to arrest an undesired rotation of said gear assembly. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said ratchet assembly further comprises: a ratchet wheel, comprising a plurality of asymmetric sloped teeth about a perimeter thereof; and,a ratchet pawl attached to an outer surface of said case superjacent to said ratchet wheel via a spring-loaded ratchet pawl axle;wherein said ratchet pawl engages a desired one of said plurality of teeth of said ratchet wheel and arrests further rotation thereof; and,wherein said plurality of teeth of said ratchet wheel are oriented in such a way as to arrest counter-clockwise rotation thereof when said ratchet pawl engages said desired one of said plurality of teeth. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said take-up assembly further comprises an axial slot to firmly capture an end of said cargo strap. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a guide roll rotatably attached to opposing inside surfaces of said aperture and positioned slightly behind and above said take-up assembly; wherein said guide roll serves to guide said cargo strap during clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of said gear assembly; and,wherein said guide roll aligns said cargo strap with said take-up assembly. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said crank assembly further comprises an input drive and a handle; wherein said input drive of said crank assembly is removably attached to said gear assembly to transfer a force exerted on said crank assembly to rotate said gear assembly. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fastening member is located on a rear surface of said case opposite said aperture and further comprises a toggle strap. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fastening member is located on a rear surface of said case opposite said aperture and further comprises a plurality of fastener apertures for receiving one of a plurality of fasteners driven therethrough. 11. An apparatus for securing a tie-down strap for securing a cargo strap for a load on a vehicle comprises: a generally rectangular case further comprising an aperture located along and partially spanning a width of a top surface and a front surface thereof for permitting passage of said cargo strap;a gear assembly housed within said case;a take-up assembly operably controlled by said gear assembly, said take-up assembly housed within and attached to said case;a crank assembly operably controlling said gear assembly, said crank assembly removably connected to said gear assembly; and,a magnetic fastening member for removably attaching said apparatus to said vehicle;wherein said apparatus is detachably removable from a side of said vehicle;wherein said aperture further permits access to said take-up assembly;wherein said magnetic fastening member is located on a rear surface opposite said aperture;wherein said cargo strap is fed through said take-up assembly and secured thereto;wherein rotation of said crank assembly operably rotates said gear assembly;wherein a clockwise rotation of said gear assembly operably rotates said take-up assembly to spool out said cargo strap; and,wherein a counter-clockwise rotation of said gear assembly operably rotates said take-up assembly to reel in said cargo strap. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said case comprises a waterproof and resilient material of construction. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said case comprises approximately six square inches in size. 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said gear assembly further comprises: a worm gear located adjacent to said aperture on a front upper first side of said case and spanning an interior within said case;a worm gear extension comprising a distal end of said worm gear and extending outward from said case, said worm gear extension further comprising an extension drive;a wheel gear located within said case and affixed to a first end of said take-up assembly; and,a ratchet assembly affixed to a second end of said take-up assembly along an exterior side of said case;wherein said worm gear is freely rotatable relative to said case;wherein said wheel gear is operably driven by and in mechanical communication with said worm gear;wherein said take-up assembly and said ratchet assembly is operably driven by and is rotated concurrently with said wheel gear;wherein said crank assembly is removably connected to said extension drive of said worm gear extension to operably control said worm gear; and,wherein said ratchet assembly secures a desired position of said gear assembly to arrest an undesired rotation of said gear assembly. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said ratchet assembly further comprises: a ratchet wheel, comprising a plurality of asymmetric sloped teeth about a perimeter thereof; and,a ratchet pawl attached to an outer surface of said case superjacent to said ratchet wheel via a spring-loaded ratchet pawl axle;wherein said ratchet pawl engages a desired one of said plurality of teeth of said ratchet wheel and arrests further rotation thereof; and,wherein said plurality of teeth of said ratchet wheel are oriented in such a way as to arrest counter-clockwise rotation thereof when said ratchet pawl engages said desired one of said plurality of teeth. 16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said take-up assembly further comprises an axial slot to firmly capture an end of said cargo strap. 17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a guide roll rotatably attached to opposing inside surfaces of said aperture and positioned slightly behind and above said take-up assembly; wherein said guide roll serves to guide said cargo strap during clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of said gear assembly; and,wherein said guide roll aligns said cargo strap with said take-up assembly. 18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said crank assembly further comprises an input drive and a handle; wherein said input drive of said crank assembly is removably attached to said gear assembly to transfer a force exerted on said crank assembly to rotate said gear assembly.