Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
Load Binder with Enclosed Ratchet Mechanism and Removable Handle
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to securing cargo for transport. More
specifically, the present invention relates to an improved ratcheting load
binder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cargo is goods or merchandise that conveyed in a ship, airplane, or vehicle.
Generally, chains and load binders are used to secure cargo prior to being
transported.
The present invention is related to load binders. More specifically, the
present invention
addresses drawbacks of existing ratchet load binders.
The ratchet load binder, also referred to as the ratchet binder, is a device
that uses
a ratcheting action to tension a chain and secure cargo. In doing so, the
ratchet load
binder utilizes a handle used to control a ratcheting mechanism and two
tension hooks on
each end. Even though existing ratchet load binders have a series of benefits,
there are
also certain drawbacks that need to be addressed.
A major issue with existing ratchet load binders is the exposed ratcheting
mechanism. Thus, the ratcheting mechanism is in direct contact with dirt,
water, and
other external material that can harm the overall functionality of the load
binder. When
exposed over an extended time, the gears and other moving components of the
ratcheting
mechanism can be damaged. Replacing these damaged components can be
financially
disadvantageous to the user. Moreover, cleaning dust or snow from the moving
parts can
be a time-consuming process which is disadvantageous in a commercial
environment.
The protruding handle is another issue with existing load binders. The handle
not
only interferes with securing the chain but also makes the load binder more
susceptible to
theft. As an example, if a lock is not used, the handle can be used to loosen
the tension of
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the load binder and access any cargo that was secured in place with the load
binder.
Therefore, a method that can minimize access to the load binder is required.
When securing large loads, the load binder needs to be tightened extensively.
As a
result, the attachment hooks and related components can be detached from the
structural
body of the load binder. Detaching of the attachment hooks can result in
potential injury
to the user. Moreover, detaching of the hooks can also be time consuming since
the
securing process needs to be repeated.
The objective of the present invention is to address the aforementioned
issues. In
particular, the present invention introduces a load binder with a ratcheting
mechanism
which is shielded from the atmosphere. Moreover, the present invention has a
removable
handle so that theft and other unfavorable circumstances are prevented. Since
the
attachment hooks are designed to be locked within a body of the load binder,
the present
invention also reduces the risk of injury.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded front view of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the tubular portion and the ratcheting mechanism,
wherein the
first set of internal threads and the second set of internal threads are
illustrated.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the ratcheting mechanism.
FIG. 8A is a front view of the engagement block, wherein a spring-loaded pin
of the
interlocking mechanism is in an expanded configuration.
FIG. 8B is a front view of the engagement block, wherein a spring-loaded pin
of the
interlocking mechanism is in a compressed configuration.
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DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected
versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of
the present
invention.
The present invention introduces a ratcheting load binder with an enclosed
ratcheting mechanism and a removable handle. By utilizing the present
invention,
drawbacks related to malfunctioning of the ratcheting mechanism can be
avoided.
Moreover, convenience and safety is maximized with the introduction of the
removable
handle.
As seen in FIGS. 1-4, the present invention comprises an elongated tubular
portion 1, a handle 11, a ratcheting mechanism 14, a first threaded shaft 20,
and a second
threaded shaft 21. The elongated tubular portion 1, which is the main
structural body, can
vary in size and shape in different embodiments of the present invention. The
handle 11,
which is designed to be removable, is used to control the ratcheting mechanism
14. The
size and shape of the handle 11 can also vary from one embodiment to another.
As an
example, if the user requires significant leverage when controlling the
ratcheting
mechanism 14, a longer handle 11 can be used. The first threaded shaft 20 and
the second
threaded shaft 21 are used to attach the present invention to a chain that is
used to secure
cargo. More specifically, when the ratcheting mechanism 14 is controlled with
the handle
11, the first threaded shaft 20 and the second threaded shaft 21 adjusts the
tension on the
chain that is used with the present invention to secure cargo. To prevent
damage and
boost longevity, the ratcheting mechanism 14 of the present invention is
enclosed.
The elongated tubular portion 1 provides the structural base of the present
invention and comprises a first end 2, a tubular body 3, and a second end 4.
The tubular
body 3 extends from the first end 2 to the second end 4 and determines the
overall length
of the elongated tubular portion 1. The tubular body 3 is preferably made of a
sturdy
material such as steel so that the tubular body 3 can withstand impacts caused
by heavy
loads used with the present invention. To adjust the tension of a chain
attached to the
present invention, the first threaded shaft 20 is concentrically and
terminally engaged to
the tubular body 3 at the first end 2. Similarly, the second threaded shaft 21
is
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concentrically and terminally engaged to the tubular body 3 at the second end
4. The
ratcheting mechanism 14 which controls the position of the tubular body 3
relative to the
first threaded shaft 20 and the second threaded shaft 21 is rotatably mounted
onto the
tubular body 3. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
ratcheting
mechanism 14 is centrally mounted onto the tubular body 3, equidistant from
the first end
2 and the second end 3. To accommodate to the shape of the tubular body 3 and
be
positioned at a preferred position along a perimeter of the tubular body 3,
the ratcheting
mechanism 14 encircles the tubular body 3. As mentioned before, the ratcheting
mechanism 14 is controlled with the handle 11 which is removably attached to
the
ratcheting mechanism 14. Overall, by using the handle 11, the ratcheting
mechanism 14
can be controlled. Thereby, the elongated tubular portion 1 can be controlled
to adjust the
tension at the first threaded shaft 20 and the second threaded shaft 21.
As seen in FIG. 5, for the first threaded shaft 20 and the second threaded
shaft 21
to be attached to the tubular body 3, the elongated tubular portion 1 further
comprises a
first opening 5, a second opening 6, a first set of internal threads 7, and a
second set of
internal threads 8. The first opening 5 concentrically traverses into the
tubular body 3 at
the first end 2 and is sufficiently sized to receive the first threaded shaft
20. Likewise, the
second opening 6 concentrically traverses into the tubular body 3 at the
second end 4 and
is sufficiently sized to receive the second threaded shaft 21. To engage with
the first
threaded shaft 20, the first set of internal threads 7 traverses into the
tubular body 3 from
the first opening 5 adjacent to the first end 2. Similarly, to engage with the
second
threaded shaft 21, the second set of internal threads 8 traverses into the
tubular body 3
from the second opening 6 adjacent to the second end 4. The purpose of the
present
invention is to apply tension to chains or straps securing cargo to the bed of
a cargo truck
or similar applications; thus, in order to accomplish this, the first threaded
shaft 20 and
the second threaded shaft 21 must move axially in opposing directions. For the
first
threaded shaft 20 and the second threaded shaft 21 to extend from or retract
into the
tubular body 3 in opposing directions, and thereby increase the tension or
reduce the
tension on the attached chain, the first set of internal threads 7 spiral in a
first helical
direction. On the other hand, the second set of internal threads 8 spiral in a
second helical
direction which is opposite to the first helical direction. In other words,
the first set of
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internal threads 7 and the second set of internal threads 8 have opposing
handedness. The
first helical direction and the second helical direction ensure that the first
threaded shaft
20 and the second threaded shaft 21 move in opposite directions
simultaneously.
The first threaded shaft 20 and the second threaded shaft 21 need to be
designed
to correspond with the tubular body 3. As seen in FIG. 3, the first threaded
shaft 20 and
the second threaded shaft 21 each comprise an externally threaded portion 22,
a shaft
body 23, and an attaching end 24. The externally threaded portion 22 of the
first threaded
shaft 20 is used to establish a connection with the first set of internal
threads 7. In doing
so, the externally threaded portion 22 of the first threaded shaft 20 is
rotatably engaged
with the first set of internal threads 7. The externally threaded portion 22
of the second
threaded shaft 21 is used to establish a connection with the second set of
internal threads
8. In doing so, the externally threaded portion 22 of the second threaded
shaft 21 is
rotatably engaged with the second set of internal threads 8. The shaft body
23, which
extends from the externally threaded portion 22 to the attaching end 24, can
vary in size
and shape in different embodiments of the present invention. The attaching end
24 of
both the first threaded shaft 20 and the second threaded shaft 21 is used to
establish a
connection with the chain that is used to secure cargo.
In existing ratchet load binders, when the tension exceeds a threshold point,
the
attachment hooks tend to detach from a main body. Such detachments can lead to
potential injury. To prevent such circumstances, the elongated tubular portion
1 further
comprises a first stop 9 and a second stop 10 as shown in FIG. 5. The first
stop 9 is
integrated into the first set of internal threads 7 at the first end 2.
Therefore, when the first
threaded shaft 20 extends outwards from the first end 2, the externally
threaded portion
22 of the first threaded shaft 20 does not unthread beyond the first stop 9.
Similar to the
first stop 9, the second stop 10 is integrated into the second set of internal
threads 8 at the
second end 4. Therefore, when the second threaded shaft 21 extends outwards
from the
second end 4, the externally threaded portion 22 of the second threaded shaft
21 does not
unthread beyond the second stop 10.
The ratcheting mechanism 14 is used to control the position of the elongated
tubular body 3 about the first threaded shaft 20 and the second threaded shaft
21. By
doing so, the user can control the overall tension applied on the chain that
is being used
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with the present invention. As discussed earlier, the ratcheting mechanism 14
of the
present invention is designed with no exposure to the atmosphere. As
illustrated in FIG.
7, the ratcheting mechanism 14 comprises an enclosed housing 15, a ratchet
gear 16, a
pawl 17, a pawl lever 18, and an attachment protrusion 19. The moving
components of
the ratcheting mechanism 14, which are the ratchet gear 16 and the pawl 17,
are
positioned within the enclosed housing 15. The pawl 17, which determines the
direction
in which the ratchet gear 16 rotates, is mechanically engaged to the ratchet
gear 16.
Therefore, when the direction of the ratchet gear 16 needs to be adjusted the
user controls
the pawl 17. Since the pawl 17 is positioned within the enclosed housing 15,
the user
needs an extension that can be used to control the pawl 17 externally. The
pawl lever 18,
which is axially connected to the pawl 17, functions as a means for engaging
and
disengaging the pawl 17 with the ratchet gear 16. In doing so, the pawl lever
18 extends
outwards from the enclosed housing 15 as seen in FIG. 6. The pawl lever 18
extends
outward via an opening of the enclosed housing 15 which is delineated by a
rubber ring.
Therefore, the ratchet gear 16 and the pawl 17 remain unexposed. When the pawl
17 is
set to a preferred direction, the user proceeds to rotate the ratchet
mechanism in the
preferred direction at the attachment protrusion 19. When reversing the
direction of
rotation, the user pulls on the pawl lever 18, rotates the pawl lever 180-
degrees to change
the orientation of the pawl 17, and releases the pawl lever 18 so that the
pawl re-engages
the ratchet gear 16 in the opposite orientation. To be conveniently accessed
and
controlled, the attachment protrusion 19 is externally mounted onto the
enclosed housing
15 as seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5.
The handle 11 is used along with the attachment protrusion 19 when rotating
the
ratcheting mechanism 14 in the preferred direction. To be used in conjunction
with the
attachment protrusion 19, the handle 11 comprises an engagement block 12 and a
handle
body 13 as seen in FIG. 1-4. The engagement block 12 is removably attached to
the
attachment protrusion 19 with an interlocking mechanism 29 so that the ratchet
mechanism can be controlled by grasping the handle body 13. To do so, the
engagement
block 12 is terminally connected to the handle body 13 which can be of varying
length.
The interlocking mechanism 29 can vary from one embodiment to another. In the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, a spring-loaded pin 100 of the
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engagement block 12 is used along with a groove 200 of the attachment
protrusion 19 as
the interlocking mechanism 29. Initially, the spring-loaded pin 100 is aligned
with the
groove 200. Then, prior to attaching the handle 11, the spring-loaded pin 100
is
compressed. The spring-loaded pin 100, which is compressed, allows the
attachment
protrusion 19 to be positioned within the engagement block 12. When
appropriately
positioned, the spring-loaded pin 100 is released so that the attachment
protrusion 19 is
interlocked with the engagement block 12. The connection between the spring-
loaded pin
100 and the groove 200 ensures that the handle 11 is stationary about the
attachment
protrusion 19. The expanded configuration and the compressed configuration of
the
spring-loaded pin 100 are show in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B respectively.
As mentioned earlier, the handle 11 is used to control the ratcheting
mechanism
14 which thereby repositions the elongated tubular portion 1 about the first
threaded shaft
and the second threaded shaft 21. By doing so, the tension on the chain used
with the
present invention is adjusted. The present invention comprises a first
attachment member
15 25 and a second attachment member 26 which are used to attach the
present invention to
the chain. The first attachment member 25 is connected at the attaching end 24
of the first
threaded shaft 20. Likewise, the second attachment member 26 is connected to
the
attaching end 24 of the second threaded shaft 21. The first attachment member
25 and the
second attachment member 26 can vary in different embodiments of the present
20 invention. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention both the
first attachment
member 25 and the second attachment member 26 are attachment hooks. In another
embodiment of the present invention, each of the first attachment member 25
and the
second attachment member 26 can be, but is not limited to, a U-shaped handle
or an
attachment ring.
For the first attachment member 25 and the second attachment member 26 to be
independent of the first threaded shaft 20 and the second threaded shaft 21
respectively,
the present invention further comprises a first intermediary chain link 27 and
a second
intermediary chain link 28. The first intermediary chain link 27 interconnects
the
attaching end 24 of the first threaded shaft 20 and the first attachment
member 25. More
specifically, the first attachment member 25 is connected to the attaching end
24 of the
first threaded shaft 20 via the first intermediary chain link 27 as seen in
FIGS.1-4. On the
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other hand, the second intermediary chain link 28 interconnects the attaching
end 24 of
the second threaded shaft 21 and the second attachment member 26. More
specifically,
the second attachment member 26 is connected to the attaching end 24 of the
second
threaded shaft 21 via the second intermediary chain link 28.
When the present invention is being used, the following process flow is
generally
followed. Initially, the first attachment member 25 and the second attachment
member 26
are hooked onto the chain the present invention is being used with. Next, the
handle 11 is
attached to the attachment protrusion 19 via the interlocking mechanism 29.
When
appropriately attached, the ratcheting mechanism 14 is controlled by grasping
the handle
body 13. When the chain is at the preferred tension, the handle 11 is removed
and stored
away.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and
variations
can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter
claimed.
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