BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is driected to a ratchet buckle for tightening and tensioning straps and more particularly to a ratchet buckle having a second reel.

Ratchet buclkes are well known in the art. Existing ratchet buckles provide a means for tensioning and tightening straps. Often, once a strap is tensioned, a free end hangs loosely from the ratchet buckle. This creates a nuisance and a safety issue as the free end needs to be tied or clamped down so that it does not flap around during operation. Thus, a need exists in the art for a device that addreses this deficiency.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a rachet buckle capable of securing an end of a strap after tension.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a ratchet buckle that is safer to use.

These and other objectives will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art based upon the following written description, drawings, and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A rachet buckle having a first reel member rotatably connected to a frame having a pair of arms. A lever having a pair of arms rotatably mounted to the frame at a first end. A second reel member and a crank rotatably mounted to the lever at a second end. The crank having an arm with a slot through which a locking plate extends. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a ratchet buckle having a second reel;

Fig. 2 is a front view of a ratchet buckle having a second reel:

Fig. 3 is a side view of a ratchet buckle having a second reel; and

Fig. 4 is a side view of a ratchet buckle having a second reel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the figures, a ratchet buckle 10 has a frame 12 that includes a pair of arms 14 and 16. A reel member 18 having a pair of bars 20 and 22 that are joined together at their ends by a pin 24, is rotatably mounted on frame 12 between arms 14 and 16. Welded to an outer surface of arms 14 and 16 and positioned around the reel member 18 are a pair of ratchet wheels 26. The arms 14 and 16 have a pair of longitudinal slots 28 formed to receive a latching plate 29. The latching plate 29 is urged by a spring 30 which forces the end of the latching plate 29 to engage the ratchet wheels 26.

A lever 32 having a pair of arms 34 and 36 is rotatably mounted to the frame 12 between the ratcher wheels 26 and the pin 24. At a first end 38, the arms 34 and 36 have an opening 40 that receives the ends of the reel member 18. A bar member 42 extends between arms 34 and 36. Slidably mounted within elongated slots 44 of arms 34 and 36 is is a second latch plate 46 that engages the ratchet witeels 26 in response to urging of spring 48 against latch plate 46.

The latch plate 29 has a pair of tabs 50 and 52 that extend outwardly from arms 14 and 16. The tabs 50 and 52 are positioned to be received in notches 54 and 56 formed on arms 34 and 36 when the lever 32 is in a closed position relative to the frame 12.

Rotatably mounted to a second end 58 of arms 34 and 36 is a second reel member 60.

Preferably, as arms 34 and 36 extend away from the first end 38 toward the second end 58 they taper or angle outwardly away from one another. The second reel member 60 has a pair of bars 62 and 64 that are joined at their end by a pin 66. On one of the arms 34 and 36, mounted between the one arm (34 and 36) and pin 66 is a ratchet wheel 68 and a crank 70.

The crank 70 has an arm 72 rotatably mounted to the lever 32 between the pin 66 and the ratchet wheel 68. The opposite end of the arm 72 has a gripping member 74 that is generally perpendicular to the arm 72. Slidably mounted within a slot 76 in arm 72 is a third latching plate 78 that is urged against ratchet wheel 68 in response to spring 80. Slot 76 has a locking section 79 that extends transversly within arm 72 in relation to slot 76.

In operation, a strap 82 extends between bars 20 and 22 of reel member 18 and is tensioned by raising and lowering the lever 32 in relation to the frame 12 such that ratchet plate 46 drives ratchet wheels 26 as the lever 32 is moved away from the frame 12 with latching plate 28 retaining the ratchet wheel in position while the lever is moving downwardly and latching plate 46 moves over arcuate portions of the ratchet wheels 26.

When tensioned conditioned is reached a free end 84 of the strap 82 is inserted between bars 62 and 64 and the crank 70 is rotated such that the non-tensioned portion of the strap 82 is wrapped around the second reel member 60. When wrapped the third latching plate 78 retains the ratchet wheel 68 in position.

To release tension, the third latching plate 78 in manually pulled away from the ratchet wheel 68 and inserted in locking section 79 to hold the latching plate 68 away from

engagement with the ratchet wheel 68. hi this position, the second reel member 60 is free to rotate in the opposite direction which allows the strap 82 to unwind.