Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62503927 and filed on May 9, 2017 which is specifically incorporated by reference herein for all that it discloses and teaches.

Technical Field

[002] The present invention relates generally to the field of straps, ropes, and tie-downs; more specifically, to a protected tie down strap.

Background

[003] The standard ratcheting strap has become a ubiquitous sight on the vehicles, trucks, trailers, etc. traveling on the highways and roads of North America. They can be found in most any hardware store, convenience store, and gas station. Ratchet straps are inexpensive and common, but they are far from easy to use. As the ratcheting mechanism is exposed to the elements, it weathers easily and quickly, causing an already tricky mechanical system to become corroded and even more difficult to manipulate. Additionally, the tag end of the strap is always in the way. And, if not properly secured before driving away, the tag end will whip in the wind and can mar items around it, the tag end can fray, etc.

[004] What is needed is a simple, easy-to-use protected tie down strap that does not leave the mechanical components exposed to the elements, does not have an annoying and damaging tag end, and yet allows a user to adjust the length of the tie down and draw it tightly down with the ease of a simple turning motion.

Brief Summary of the Invention

[005] A protected tie down strap is designed to meet the above objectives in a clean, simple to use package. The exterior of the protected tie down strap is a study in simplicity, as it has only four visible components: the knurled adjustment knob, the strap housing, the fixed tie down strap and the adjustable tie down strap. However, once the adjustment knob and strap housing are removed, the internal components are visible and they are much more complex. The protected tie down strap utilizes a number of internal components including force plates, a power disc, washers, screw, shaft, power spring, bushings, spring clip, etc. Together, they complete the complex task of tightening the tie down strap by powerfully wrapping it around the shaft in response to a user turning the knurled adjustment knob. When the user wishes to release the tension on the tie down strap, he or she simply turns the adjustment knob the other direction (in other embodiments, he or she raises the adjustment knob up to release the strap and untie the load.) Brief Description of the Drawings

[006] FIG. 1 illustrates a top and side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a protected tie down strap;

[007] FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a protected tie down strap;

[008] FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a protected tie down strap;

[009] FIG. 4 illustrates a side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a protected tie down strap;

[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a protected tie down strap;

[0011] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a mechanical tensioning spool of a protected tie down strap;

[0012] FIG. 7 illustrates a side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of various components of a mechanical tensioning spool of a protected tie down strap;

[0013] FIG. 8 illustrates a side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of various components of a mechanical tensioning spool of a protected tie down strap; [0014] FIG. 9 illustrates a side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of various components of a mechanical tensioning spool of a protected tie down strap;

[0015] FIG. 10 illustrates a side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of various components of a mechanical tensioning spool of a protected tie down strap; and

[0016] FIG. 11 illustrates a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of various components of a mechanical tensioning spool of a protected tie down strap.

Detailed Description

[0017] In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. Furthermore, lists and/or examples are often provided and should be interpreted as exemplary only and in no way limiting embodiments to only those examples. Similarly, in this disclosure, language such as "could, should, may, might, must, have to, can, would, need to, is, is not", etc. and all such similar language shall be considered interchangeable whenever possible such that the scope of the invention is not unduly limited. For example, a comment such as: "item X is used" can be interpreted to read "item X can be used". [0018] Exemplary embodiments are described below and in the accompanying Figures. The following detailed description provides a review of the drawing Figures in order to provide a thorough understanding of, and an enabling description for, these embodiments. One having ordinary skill in the art will understand that in some cases well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

[0019] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a top and side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a protected tie down strap 10. The primary components visible in this view include the knurled adjustment knob 100, the strap housing 200, the fixed tie down strap 300 and the adjustable tie down strap 400.

[0020] To use the protected tie down strap 10, a user hooks the fixed tie down strap 300 on one tie down location and then, with the protected tie down strap adjusted to maximum length, hooks the adjustable tie down strap 400 to a second tie down location. The user then turns the adjustment knob 100 to wind up the excess adjustable tie down strap 400 material within the protected strap housing 200. When the strap no longer is loose and all slack has been taken up, the user can continue to turn the knob 100 to further tighten the protected tie down strap. Because of the mechanical advantage of the internal components, the user can tighten the strap significantly simply by turning the knob, a single large mechanical lever, common in externally exposed prior art ratchet straps, is not needed. Once the desired tension has been applied, the protected tie down strap is ready for travel, no tying down a tag end is required. When the user wishes to release the tension on the tie down strap, he or she simply turns the knob the other direction. In another embodiment, he or she adjusts the height of the adjustment knob to release the strap and untie the load. In one embodiment, the user presses down on the knob while turning, in another embodiment, the user lifts up on the knob while turning. In yet other embodiments, just turning the other direction is used, alternatively, no turning motion is necessary, just lifting up or pressing down will release the tension and create slack in the protected tie down strap 10.

[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a protected tie down strap 10. The same components from FIG. 1 are illustrated here, but from a different perspective. Note the strap extends from each side of the strap housing 200. Although the tie down hooks are illustrated in FIG. 2 as being a type of S hook, other hook types and shapes are contemplated. Similarly, the hooks can be oriented up or down in other embodiments. In yet other

embodiments, other types of attachments means besides hooks are contemplated (for example, magnets, latches, hook and loop material, sharply angled teeth, T brackets, etc. could all be used as needed).

[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a protected tie down strap 10. The same external components are once again displayed in this view. [0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a protected tie down strap 10. In this view, a number of the internal

components are shown in detail. However, for simplicity, they are not yet referenced by number or name, see later Figures for specifics. Generally, the internal components can comprise force plates, a power disc, washers, screw, shaft, power spring, bushings, spring clip, etc. Together, they complete the complex task of tightening the tie down strap by powerfully wrapping it around the shaft in response to a user turning the knurled adjustment knob.

[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a protected tie down strap 10. In this view, a mechanical tensioning spool 500 is shown with the strap housing 200 removed. Two vertical lock pins are shown, one at the proximal end of the fixed tie down strap 300 and the other below the adjustable tie down strap 400. These pins lock the fixed tie down strap 300 in the housing 200 and help the adjustable strap roll smoothly in and out of the housing on the other side.

[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a mechanical tensioning spool 500 of a protected tie down strap 10. The spool utilizes a lock screw 505 and washer 510 to hold the tensioning knob 100 onto the shaft 550. Below this is a screw cap 515 above an upper bushing 520. Below the bushing is a top force plate 525 with a spring clip 530 to hold it in place. A power disc 535 below the top force plate 525 is driven to rotate by the top force plate turning and engaging the power disc as it rotates. A lower force plate 540 engages the underside of the power disc 535 and keeps it from rotating back the other direction due to the tension force on the strap. Each small turn of the top force plate advances the power disc 535 and causes the shaft 550 to rotate and wind up more of the adjustable strap. When the user wishes to release the tension on the strap, the knob is turned the other direction and the power disc rotates the other way and releases tension from the spool. The force plates allow the shaft to rotate the opposite direction to release the strap. In other embodiments, the roles of the upper and lower force places are reversed. In yet other embodiments, other means of accomplishing these actions can be utilized. Above and below the portion of the shaft 550 around which the strap is wound are a top spool plate 545 and a bottom spool plate 555. These plates guide the strap during its winding and unwinding operations and keep it in place. A lower bushing 560 is used between the bottom spool plate 555 and the power spring 565. The spring can assist in winding up the loose strap and otherwise providing tension in the mechanical tensioning spool 500. Below the spring is the bottom housing plate 570, it is attached to the strap housing sidewalls via the attachment screws 575.

[0026] FIG. 7 illustrates a side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of various components of a mechanical tensioning spool 500 of a protected tie down strap. The components from FIG. 6 are illustrated in a different view to show detail.

[0027] FIG. 8 illustrates a side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of various components of a mechanical tensioning spool 500 of a protected tie down strap. Note the shaft 550 is separated out so that the lock down threads 552 are visible. They attach the upper components (see other Figures) to the shaft. Note also the strap winding spool portion 554. The strap fits through the port in the spool portion 554 and then is wound therearound.

[0028] FIG. 9 illustrates a side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of various components of a mechanical tensioning spool 500 of a protected tie down strap. Note the locking flanges extending upwards and downwards from the power disc 535. These engage with the protrusions on the upper and lower force plates. They are shaped so that a flange can slide over a raised portion and then drop down into a lock channel to hold the spool in place. Once the power disc 535 is raised so that the flange can not engage into the lock channel, the spool is released.

[0029] FIG. 10 illustrates a side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of various components of a mechanical tensioning spool 500 of a protected tie down strap. This view provides a zoomed-in detail of the protrusions and channels therebetween on the underside of the top force plate 525. Compare these to those on the topside of the lower force plate 540. Also shown in detail is the power disc 535 and the locking flanges thereof.

[0030] FIG. 11 illustrates a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of various components of a mechanical tensioning spool 500 of a protected tie down strap. The components are as listed above, but this view shows them in location and provides a different perspective to show the components interacting with each other in more detail.

[0031] The above specification, examples and data provide a description of the structure and use of exemplary implementations of the described systems, articles of manufacture and methods. It is important to note that many implementations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.