WEBBING TIE DOWN WITH FRICTION ROLLER

Abstract

A ratchet includes a knurled or longitudinally ridged roller for engagement by webbing. A pawl includes a lobe having knurling or ridges formed thereon on its curved surface for contacting the webbing and urging the webbing toward the roller. Upon applying a pulling force on the free end of the webbing it causes the roller to rotate and the pawl to rotate away from the roller. Translation of the webbing in the opposite direction causes the pawl to rotate toward the roller and compress the webbing between the lobe of the pawl and the roller. The knurling on the surfaces of the roller and the lobe prevent sliding movement of the webbing therepast. Applying a downward force on an extension of the pawl will cause rotation of the lobe out of contact with the webbing and permit translation of the webbing in either direction.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to a provisional patent application entitled “550 CORD P-NUT AND CAMMING UNITS”, assigned Ser. No. 61/680,056 and filed Aug. 6, 2012, which describes an invention made by the present inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to ratchets and, more particularly, to ratchets having a pawl for securing webbing against a roller.

2. Description of Related Prior Art

Ratchets of various types have been in existence for decades. The most common types of ratchets include a spool about which webbing or a strap is wrapped. A pivotable lever in engagement with sprockets attached to the spool can cause rotation of the spool in a first direction to wrap the webbing about the spool. A pawl or sliding member engages the sprocket to prevent rotation in the second direction whereby unwrapping of the webbing is precluded except upon release of the pawl or sliding member from the sprocket.

A second type of ratchet is used in conjunction with a rope. It includes a spool formed by a pair of facing discs having protrusions on the facing surfaces of the discs to frictionally engage the rope. The rope is wrapped about one-half of the spool. By pulling on the free end of the rope, the spool is caused to turn in one direction to provide tension to the other end of the rope. Slippage of the other end of the rope in the other direction is precluded by the frictional engagement between the rope and the protrusions of the faces of the disc. A spring-loaded pawl precludes rotation of the spool in the other direction. By pivoting the pawl out of engagement with the spool, the rope is free to cause rotation of the spool in either direction. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,068,242, 6,092,791, and Des. 362,614 are representative of ratchets of this type and are incorporated herein by reference.

The major distinction between these two types of spools may be categorized as follows. In the first type, slippage of the webbing from about a rotatably locked spool is prevented by the friction attendant layers of wrapped webbing; in some embodiments, the free end of the webbing extends through a diametrically oriented slot in the spool.

In the second type of ratchet, the friction between the rope and the protrusions on opposing faces of the discs forming the spool create sufficient friction and compression of the rope therebetween to preclude slippage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a ratchet for use with webbing. A roller, in the nature of a cylinder, includes either a knurled surface or ridges on the surface for frictionally engaging the webbing partially wrapped thereabout and extending into and out of the body of the ratchet. A pawl includes a corresponding knurled surface or ridges on the surface and is spring biased against the roller. Exerting a tension force on the webbing to be tensioned and exiting from the ratchet will cause the pawl to be pivoted toward the roller and firmly engage the webbing between the roller and the pawl. Such engagement will preclude translation of the webbing due to its frictional engagement with the pawl. Upon pulling the free end of the webbing, the pawl will be pivotally urged away from the roller and the frictional engagement of the webbing with the roller and the pawl will be released and permit the roller to rotate in accordance with the force exerted on the free end of the webbing. A hook or other mechanism may be attached to the ratchet to anchor the ratchet or to engage a member to be drawn toward the ratchet.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a ratchet for use with webbing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a low parts count ratchet.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet having essentially only two moving parts for securing webbing.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet having a pawl for locking webbing against a freely rotatable roller.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet with knurled surfaces on a roller and on a pawl.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet having ridges on the surfaces of a roller and a pawl.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a method for applying tension to a length of webbing.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the major components of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view;

FIG. 5 illustrates a spring coupled with a pawl;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view illustrating straps attachable and attached to the second embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the major components of the second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the second embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the major components of the third embodiment; and

FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of the third embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, there is a first embodiment of a ratchet 10 showing a finger operated pawl 12 cooperating with a webbing supporting roller 14. Sidewalls 16 and 18 support a plurality of bosses extending from each sidewall. Bosses 20 and 22 may support a loop of a webbing attached to an anchor or the like. Bosses 24 and 26 may be used to support a further webbing assembly, as will be described in further detail below. As shown in FIG. 2, screws 28, and 32 extend through the bosses attached to sidewall 16 into threaded engagement with corresponding bosses extending from sidewall 18. A passageway 34 disposed in sidewall 16 supports a stud extending from pawl 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, further details of the components of ratchet 10 will be described. Sidewalls 16 and 18 further support bosses 36, 38, respectively, which bosses rotatably support roller 14. Roller 14 includes knurling 40 to minimize slippage of a length of webbing partially wrapped thereabout; alternatively, it may includes a plurality of longitudinally aligned ridges to assist in gripping the webbing. Pawl 12, as also shown in FIG. 5, includes a lobe 42 for engaging roller 14 with greater or lesser force as a function of the rotational position of the pawl. Stud 44 is supported within passageway 34 of sidewall 16 to accommodate incremental rotation of the pawl. Knurling 40 may be replaced by a plurality of longitudinally aligned ridges to more firmly engage webbing in contact therewith (note for example the ridges on the pawl shown in FIG. 7). A spring 46 includes an arm 48 in penetrable engagement with passageway 50 shown in sidewall 16 to anchor the spring. It is noted that coil 52 is disposed about stud 44. Arm 54 of the coil spring bears against ledge 56 of pawl 12. Thereby, the spring rotationally biases pawl 12 against roller 14 to secure webbing therebetween.

FIG. 4 is a top exploded view of ratchet 10. Referring jointly to FIGS. 3 and 4, a bolt or screw 58 extends through a passageway 60 in boss 36 into threaded engagement with a passageway 62 in boss 38. A bolt or screw 64 extends through a passageway 66 in boss 24 into threaded engagement with passageway 68 in boss 26. A bolt or screw 70 extends through passageway 72 in boss 20 into threaded engagement with passageway 74 in boss 22. As noted above, roller 14 is rotatably supported upon bosses 36 and 38. Pawl 12 is pivotally supported upon stud 44 engaging passageway 34 in sidewall 16. A further stud 76 is pivotally supported in passageway 78 in sidewall 18.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view illustrating spring 46 supported upon stud 44 with arm 54 in engagement with ledge 56. Knurling 43 is disposed upon lobe 42 of pawl 12 and similar knurling 40 is disposed upon roller 14.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is depicted the function of ratchet 10 in cooperation with a length of webbing 80. The webbing extends partially about roller 14 in frictional engagement with knurling 40 disposed upon the roller. The arrow in combination with the letter F identifies the free end of webbing 80 which is pulled to cause tension on the other length of webbing, depicted by the arrow and the letter T. Thereby, the webbing can be tensioned. Pawl 12 includes lobe 42 configured such that upon clockwise movement of the pawl about stud 44, surface 82 of the lobe bears against webbing 80. As depicted in previous figures, the lobe may include knurling or the lobe may include a plurality of longitudinally aligned ridges 84, as depicted in FIG. 7. It may be noted that spring 46 biases pawl 12 in the clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 7. Thereby, frictional engagement of webbing 80 is created by both roller 14 and the lobe of pawl 12 to prevent slippage of the webbing.

Upon counterclockwise movement of the pawl by pressing arm extension 86 surface 82 of lobe 42 becomes displaced from adjacent webbing 80 due to the shape of lobe 42 and the webbing becomes no longer locked within ratchet 10.

One purpose for bosses 24, 26 joined with one another is that of supporting webbing having dual loops. As shown in FIG. 12, webbing assembly 90 includes loops 92 and 94. A further loop 96 extends into the ratchet and wraps about bosses 24, 26 shown in FIG. 3. Thereby, loop 92 may be engaged with anchoring webbing extending from bosses 20, 22 and doubled back upon itself to loop 92. Similarly, webbing identified with the letter T in FIG. 7 may be looped about an item of interest and doubled back upon itself into engagement with loop 94. Thereby, the tension force that can be applied by ratchet 10 is essentially doubled.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown a second embodiment of the ratchet designated as ratchet 100. The ratchet includes a pair of sidewalls 102, 104 supporting a pawl 106 and a roller 108. A strap 110 extends from ratchet 100 to an anchor or the like. Alternatively, the strap may be doubled about an anchor and connected to loop 112. Webbing 114 is connected to an item of interest and serves as the tensioning member to apply tension to the item of interest and draw it toward an anchor. Webbing 114 extends about roller 108 and provides a free end 116. Webbing 114 may extend about an element of an item of interest and folded back upon itself for connection to loop 118. By folding strap 110 about itself and connecting it to loop 112, the strength of the connection to an anchor is essentially doubled. Similarly, by folding webbing 114 about itself and connecting it to loop 118, its strength is essentially doubled. As loop 112 and loop 118 are essentially connected to one another, as depicted in FIG. 12, essentially no additional force is imposed upon ratchet 100 since loop 96, engaging bosses 144, 148 simply attaches webbing assembly 90 to the ratchet.

Referring jointly to FIGS. 10 and 11, certain features internal to ratchet 100 will be described. A boss 120 extends from sidewall 104 and butts against boss 122 extending from sidewall 102. A bolt or screw 124 extends through passageway 126 in boss 120 into threaded engagement with a corresponding passageway 128 in boss 122. A bolt or screw 130 extends through passageway 132 in boss 134 extending from sidewall 102 into threaded engagement with passageway 136 in boss 138. A further bolt or screw 140 extends through passageway 142 in boss 144 extending from sidewall 104 into threaded engagement with passageway 146 in boss 148. Pawl 106 includes stud 150 secured within passageway 152 in sidewall 102 and a stud 154 secured within passageway 156 in sidewall 104. Thereby, the pawl is pivotally supported intermediate sidewalls 102 and 104. Roller 158 is rotatably supported upon bosses 120 and 122. A spring 162 may be mounted on stud 154 and includes an arm 164 in engagement with passageway 166 in sidewall 104 to anchor that arm. A further arm 168 is in engagement with pawl 106 (as depicted in FIG. 12) to bias the pawl in the clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 12. As depicted, the surface of roller 158 may include knurling 160. As depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12, knurling 176 is formed on lobe 172 of pawl 106 to frictionally engage with webbing 114/116.

As primarily depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11, a guide 170 is located intermediate sidewalls 102, 104 to guide free end 116 of webbing into ratchet 100 and about roller 158 and past lobe 172 of pawl 106 when the pawl is rotated in the counterclockwise direction by pressing on extension 174 of the pawl. Upon such insertion, the free end 116 of webbing 114 is pulled until webbing 114 is tightened to provide a degree of tension force (depicted by the letter T) on the webbing to secure the item of interest. Spring 162 urges rotation of pawl 106 in the clockwise direction. This brings knurling 160 disposed on lobe 172 into frictional engagement with webbing 114. It may be noted that the tension force on webbing 114 will tend to draw the webbing against the knurling of the pawl to urge the pawl to rotate in a clockwise direction. Because of lobe 172, such urged rotation will further force knurling 176 into contact with webbing 114 and the resulting compression of the webbing will cause it to further engage knurling 160 disposed on roller 158. As discussed above, webbing assembly 90 may be used to double the force exerted on strap 110 engaged about an anchor and folded upon itself into engagement with loop 92. Similarly, webbing 114 can be folded about itself and around an item of interest into engagement with loop 94. As the opposing forces exerted on loops 92, 94 are accommodated by the webbing assembly itself, no force of any consequence is imposed upon ratchet 100.

Referring jointly to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, a third embodiment of a ratchet 180 is illustrated. Ratchet 180 is formed by sidewalls 182, 184 supporting a pawl 186 and various other elements to be described below. A boss 188 extends from sidewall 182 and includes a passageway 190. It mates with a boss 192 extending from sidewall 184. A bolt or screw 194 extends through passageway 190 into threaded engagement with passageway 196 in boss 192. A boss 198 having a passageway 200 extending therethrough mates with a boss extending from sidewall 184. A bolt or screw 204 extends through passageway 200 into threaded engagement with passageway 206 in boss 202. A boss 208 having a passageway 210 extends from sidewall 182 to mate with a boss 212 extending from sidewall 184. A bolt or screw 214 extends through passageway 210 into threaded engagement with passageway 216 in boss 212. A boss 218 having a passageway 220 extends from sidewall 182 and mates with a boss 222 extending from sidewall 184. A bolt or screw 224 extends through passageway 220 into threaded engagement with a passageway 226 in boss 222. Thereby, the sidewalls are secured to one another and support for various components within the ratchet is provided.

Pawl 186 includes a stud 228 for engagement with a passageway 230 in sidewall 184. A similar stud 232 engages passageway 234 in sidewall 182. Thereby, pivotal movement of the pawl can occur about the axis of studs 228 and 232. A spring 234 is mounted on stud 232. Arm 236 of the spring is anchored in hole or passageway 237 in sidewall 182. Arm 238 of the spring engages a hole or passageway 239 in the pawl, as particularly shown in FIG. 15. Thereby, the pawl is biased in the clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 15. Bosses 188, 192 support roller 235. Roller 235 shown in FIG. 14 is depicted to include knurling 264. However, it may include ridges instead, as shown for roller 240. Boss 198 and its mating boss extending from sidewall 184 supports roller 240. This roller may include a plurality of longitudinally aligned ridges 242. Each of these ridges includes a radially aligned surface 244. Pawl 186 includes a plurality of teeth or ridges 243 for engagement with ridges 242 of roller 240.

Webbing 246 is inserted into ratchet 180 either over bosses 188 and 192 or roller 235 and downwardly therefrom. Upon such downward movement, the webbing is guided about roller 240 by guide 248. By depressing extension 249 of pawl 186, the pawl is pivoted out of engagement with roller 240 to provide passage of the webbing between this roller and ridges 242 of the pawl. Webbing 246 is drawn out of the ratchet, as depicted. The free end of the webbing, as depicted by the letter F and accompanying arrow, is pulled until the length of webbing depicted by the letter T and the accompanying arrow has been tightened with respect to the item of interest attached to the webbing. Upon a continuing pulling force on webbing 246, as depicted by the accompanying arrow, the webbing is drawn into the ratchet, as depicted by the arrow and letter T. Reverse translation of the webbing is precluded by ridges 242 of the pawl being biased toward the webbing and the mechanical interaction of these ridges to prevent counterclockwise rotation of roller 240.

Webbing 250 includes a loop 252 partially encircling bosses 208 and 212. This webbing may be directly connected to an anchor or it may extend around the anchor and folded upon itself for connection to loop 254. Similarly, the length of webbing identified by the letter T may extend about the item of interest and folded upon itself for engagement with loop 256. As loops 254 and 256 are connected with one another, the tension therebetween is primarily carried by webbing 258. A further loop 260 extends into ratchet 180 and receives support from bosses 218, 222. Because the loads imposed upon loops 254, 256 are accommodated by webbing 258, essentially no load is placed upon bosses 218, 222 and these bosses serve primarily a function of supporting webbing 258 adjacent ratchet 180.

Claims

1. A ratchet for use with a length of webbing, said ratchet comprising:

(a) a pair of sidewalls for supporting a plurality of pairs of bosses therebetween;

(b) a first pair of bosses of said plurality of pairs of bosses;

(c) a second pair of bosses of said plurality of pairs of bosses for rotatably supporting a roller;

(d) a pawl rotatably mounted intermediate said pair of sidewalls and including a stud engaging a passageway in each sidewall of said pair of sidewalls;

(e) an opening disposed intermediate said pair of sidewalls proximate said second roller for ingress and egress of the webbing; and

(f) a guide for guiding a free end of the webbing from said opening past said first pair of bosses, between said first pair of bosses and said roller, about a part of said roller and between said pawl and said roller whereafter the free end of the webbing exits through said opening.

2. The ratchet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said roller includes knurling and wherein said pawl includes a lobe having knurling.

3. The ratchet as set forth in claim 2 including a spring for biasing said lobe toward said roller.

4. The ratchet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said roller includes ridges and wherein said lobe includes teeth.

5. The ratchet as set forth in claim 4 wherein one surface of each of said ridge is radially aligned.

6. The ratchet as set forth in claim 1 including a double loop extending from said ratchet.

7. The ratchet as set forth in claim 6 including a further pair of bosses for supporting said double loop.

8. A ratchet for use with a length of webbing having a free end and a working end, said ratchet comprising:

(a) a pair of sidewalls for supporting a plurality of pairs of bosses therebetween;

(b) a first pair of bosses of said plurality of bosses for rotatably supporting a roller;

(c) a pawl having a pair of studs extending in opposed direction for rotatably engaging said pair of sidewalls;

(d) a second pair of bosses of said plurality of bosses for supporting a loop of a further length of webbing;

(e) said roller including knurling disposed about its cylindrical surface for mechanically interacting with the webbing in contact with said roller;

(f) said pawl including knurling disposed on a curved surface of a lobe for mechanically interacting with the webbing in contact with said curved surface upon exertion of a tension force on the working end of the webbing; and

(g) a thumb knob for rotating said pawl away from said roller to release the webbing from between said roller and said pawl.

9. The ratchet as set forth in claim 8 including a spring for biasing said pawl toward said roller.

10. The ratchet as set forth in claim 8 including a spring for urging said lobe into contact with said roller.

11. The ratchet as set forth in claim 8 including an extension of said pawl for manually rotating said pawl to bring about disengagement of said lobe with said roller.

12. The ratchet as set forth in claim 8 including a further pair of bosses of said plurality of pairs of bosses for supporting a double loop webbing.

13. A ratchet for use with a length of webbing, said ratchet comprising:

(a) a pair of sidewalls for supporting a plurality of pairs of bosses therebetween;

(b) a first pair of bosses of said plurality of pairs of bosses for rotatably supporting a roller;

(c) a pawl rotatably mounted intermediate said pair of sidewalls and including a stud engaging a passageway in each sidewall of said pair of sidewalls;

(d) an opening disposed intermediate said pair of sidewalls proximate said roller for ingress and egress of the webbing; and

(e) a guide for guiding a free end of the webbing from said opening about a part of said roller and between said pawl and said roller whereafter the free end of the webbing exits through said opening.

14. The ratchet as set forth in claim 13 wherein said roller includes knurling and wherein said pawl includes a lobe having knurling.

15. The ratchet as set forth in claim 14 including a spring for biasing said lobe toward said roller.

16. The ratchet as set forth in claim 13 wherein said roller includes ridges and wherein said lobe includes teeth.

17. The ratchet as set forth in claim 16 wherein one surface of each of said ridges is radially aligned.

18. The ratchet as set forth in claim 13 including a double loop extending from said ratchet.

19. The ratchet as set forth in claim 18 including a further pair of bosses of said plurality of bosses for supporting said double loop.