초록 ▼

A rack and method for storing tie-down chain ratchet binders on a surface. The rack includes a base that preferably is mounted on a truck wall. A first finger is provided on the base and a first recess is defined therein. The first recess is configured so that the shaft of a chain ratchet binder is

A rack and method for storing tie-down chain ratchet binders on a surface. The rack includes a base that preferably is mounted on a truck wall. A first finger is provided on the base and a first recess is defined therein. The first recess is configured so that the shaft of a chain ratchet binder is receivable therein. The rack further includes a second finger spaced laterally from the first finger and defining a second recess therein that is aligned with the first recess. The shaft of the binder is received in the first and second recesses and is supported by the first and second fingers. The rack is able to store a plurality of chain ratchet binders vertically spaced from each other and may lock the binder to the rack.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A rack for storing tie-down ratchet binders, said rack comprising: a monolithic base having a U-shaped configuration in cross section adapted to be mounted on a mounting surface, said base comprising: a base back wall with a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface is adapted to

1. A rack for storing tie-down ratchet binders, said rack comprising: a monolithic base having a U-shaped configuration in cross section adapted to be mounted on a mounting surface, said base comprising: a base back wall with a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface is adapted to abut the mounting surface;a base first wall extending outwardly from the front surface of the back wall and the base first wall is permanently secured to the back wall;a base first finger provided on the first wall including an upwardly facing first edge defining a base first recess, the upwardly facing first edge configured to support a shaft of a ratchet binder thereon;a base second wall extending outwardly from the front surface of the back wall in the same direction as the first wall, the second wall spaced apart from the first wall and permanently secured to the back wall;a base second finger provided on the second wall including an upwardly facing second edge defining a base second recess, the upwardly facing second edge configured to support the shaft of the ratchet binder thereon; anda lock member having a U-shaped configuration in cross section smaller than and slidably engageable with the monolithic base configured to lock the tie-down ratchet binder onto the base. 2. The rack of claim 1, wherein the lock member includes: a lock member back wall having opposed first and second surfaces wherein the second surface is adjacent and faces the front surface of the base back wall;a lock member first wall extending outward from a rigid connection with the first surface of the lock member back wall;a lock member first finger provided on the lock member first wall including a downwardly facing edge defining a lock first recess;a lock member second wall spaced horizontally from the lock member first wall and extending outwardly from a rigid connection with the first surface of the lock member back wall;a lock member second finger provided on the lock member second wall including a downwardly facing edge defining a lock second recess. 3. The rack of claim 2, wherein the lock member first finger forms a downwardly extending hook and facing opposite the base first finger facing upwardly; and wherein the lock finger is adapted to secure a portion of a shaft of the chain ratchet binder in the second recess. 4. The rack of claim 2, wherein the edges defining the first and second lock recesses are convexly curved having a radius of curvature complementary to that of the upwardly facing first edge on the base. 5. The rack of claim 4, wherein the lock member first finger and the lock member second finger are positioned between the spaced apart base first finger and base second finger. 6. The rack of claim 5, wherein the lock member second finger is spaced horizontally from the lock member first finger and the lock first and second recesses are horizontally aligned with the base first and second recesses when the lock member is in a locked position. 7. The rack of claim 1, further comprising wherein the lock member is vertically slidable entirely between the base first and second walls; and a lock member back wall abuttingly nesting adjacent the base back wall. 8. The rack of claim 7, wherein the lock member vertically slides entirely offset to one side relative to the front surface of the base back wall. 9. The rack of claim 1, wherein the lock member comprises: a lock member back wall with a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface of the lock member back wall slides along the front surface of the back wall of the monolithic base. 10. The rack of claim 1, further comprising: the base back wall forming a hole therethrough;the lock member defining a vertically oriented oblong slot in a lock member back wall, wherein the lock member back wall is adjacent the base back wall defining a nesting relationship between the base and the lock member and the slot aligned with the hole; anda bolt inserted through the vertically oriented oblong slot and the hole to secure the rack to a truck and wherein the lock member vertically and linearly moves as defined by the slot length by slidably raising and lowering the lock member relative to the bolt. 11. The rack of claim 1, further comprising: the base defining an upper first aperture in one of the base first wall and the base second wall;the lock member defining a lower second aperture;wherein the first and second apertures are selectively alignable to permit a shackle on a padlock to be inserted therethrough to lock the lock member in a secured position thereby securing a shaft portion of a tie-down ratchet in the first recess. 12. The rack of claim 1, further comprising: an aligned pair of lock fingers on the lock member wherein recesses are defined by the lock fingers, and wherein the recesses of the aligned pair of lock fingers are adapted to lockably engage a shaft of a chain ratchet binder therein. 13. The rack of claim 1, wherein the lock finger curves downwardly towards a horizontal axis that is disposed generally at a right angle to the front surface of the back wall of the rack. 14. A system comprising: a tie-down ratchet assembly for a truck, said tie-down ratchet assembly having an elongated shaft with a hook member extending outwardly from each end of the shaft, and said tie-down ratchet assembly having a ratchet mechanism provided on the shaft at a location disposed between the ends thereof, and wherein the shaft is generally circular in cross-section and is of a first diameter;a rack for storing the tie-down ratchet assembly thereon, said rack including: a monolithic base adapted to abut a wall surface on the truck, said base including: a back wall with a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface is adapted to abut the wall surface on the truck;a first wall and a second wall extending outwardly from the front surface of the back wall; wherein the base is a single component and the first wall and second wall are secured to the back wall and spaced apart from each other;a first finger provided on the first wall;a first recess defined in the first finger;a second finger provided on the second wall, said second finger being horizontally aligned with the first finger so as to form a first aligned pair of fingers;a second recess defined in the second finger; wherein the first and second recesses are horizontally aligned with each other; andwherein the first and second recesses receive the shaft of the ratchet assembly therein; anda lock member engageable with monolithic base to lock the tie-down ratchet assembly onto the base. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the lock member is shaped complementary to the base creating an engaged sliding relationship between the base and the lock member. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the lock member is slidable when the base member is fixedly secured to the truck. 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the lock member defines a lock recess with a radius of curvature that is substantially the same as a radius of curvature of the shaft of the ratchet assembly. 18. The system of claim 14, further comprising a portion of the lock member nesting between the first and second spaced apart walls on the base. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein both the base and the lock member are generally U-shaped when viewed in cross section. 20. The system of claim 14, further comprising: a padlock including a shackle;the lock member defining an upper first aperture and a lower second aperture;the base member defining a third aperture;wherein the first aperture is selectively alignable with the third aperture by moving the lock member relative to the base; andthe shackle of the padlock is inserted through the aligned first and third apertures to lock the tie-down ratchet assembly to the rack.