Abstract: A locking device for a band or the like comprising a housing having one end fastened to a first portion of the band. The housing extends in the direction of the prevailing tensile force and is formed with a guide for guiding a link means. This comprises a fastening element fastened at its first end to the second portion of the band and at its second end journally connected to a second link at a distance from its first end. The second link is, at its first end, journaled around an axis provided in the housing transverse to the longitudinal direction of the housing. The locking device also comprises a third link journaled at the first end of the housing and a dowel element which, l via the third link, is able to prevent the second link from being turned around the axis to a position where it is released from the axis so that the locking device is opened.

Abstract: A manual two part automobile seat belt tightener which conveniently assembles and disassembles to permit intermediate attachment to a seat belt without the need to pass any of the seat belt buckle parts through the tightening mechanism. The tightener mechanism includes a non-circular bifurcated pin or reel and a complimentary non-circular aperture in the tightener frame to assure that the pin or reel cannot be rotated until the pin or reel is fully inserted in the frame. In particular, in attaching the tightener to an intermediate portion of an automobile seat belt, the tightener ratcheting mechanism cannot be rotated unless the bifurcated pin or reel is fully inserted into the ratcheting mechanism. An additional advantage to the new tightener is the significantly simple and sturdy construction that can make use of a conventional hexagonal ratchet wrench mechanism in the novel combination.

Abstract: A single tire chain adapted to be placed on an automobile tire and be anchored at its ends in front of and through an opening in the wheel.

Abstract: A band clamping device including a frame having an elongated planar base and a pair of spaced parallel side walls extending upwardly from the sides of the base. A rotary winding shaft extends transversely across the frame and is rotatably mounted in the side walls. The shaft has ratchet teeth disposed circumferentially around its circumference adjacent one end of the shaft interiorly of the spaced walls to form a ratchet wheel on the shaft. The elongated base has an extension at one end bent over upwardly partially upon itself with a part of the free end of the bent over portion forming a resilient pawl operatively and resiliently engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel for releasably holding the shaft from rotating. A flexible clamping band is provided for encircling an associated object to be clamped and is secured at one end to the base.

Abstract: A ratchet buckle for tightening and tensioning straps which include a bifurcated frame member with a pair of oppositely positioned parallel arms between which a reel member and ratchet wheels are rotatably mounted. The reel member is formed from a pair of oppositely positioned curved plates. This reel member is reinforced structurally by means of a spreader bar insert member which is placed between the plates and which has a slot formed in the center thereof through which a strap to be tensioned is reeved. The insert member has a pair of similar ridge portions running along the outer surfaces of the portions thereof forming the walls of the slot and a pair of wing portions at each of the opposite ends thereof, these wing portions extending in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the slot and being fitted between the edges of the curved plates.