Abstract: A self-lubricating tie-down includes a frame including two walls, a reel, two ratchet wheels, two detents, a short strap and a long strap. The frame includes two walls each of which is formed with a bushing. The handle includes two blades each of which is formed with an aperture. The reel includes two terminal sections inserted in the bushings. The two ratchet wheels are connected to the reel. The first detent is movable on the frame and operable for engagement with the ratchet wheels. The second detent is movable on the handle and operable for engagement with the ratchet wheels. The short strap includes an end connected to the frame. The long strap includes an end connected to the reel so that the reel is operable to wind the long strap. Each of the bushings includes at least one recess and lubricant filled in the recess.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a load binder comprising an axially extending elongate, preferably tubular, member, two shanks, a first and second ratchet wheel, a first and second oscillatory handle; said member comprising end portions comprising inner screw threads in relatively opposite directions so as to accommodate said shanks which are correspondingly screw-threaded and which comprise distal ends, preferably eyes; whereby rotation of the member in one direction causes the distal ends to draw together and rotation of the member in relatively opposite direction causes the distal ends to spread apart; whereby said rotation of said member is effected by a ratchet mechanism which involves the provision of said first and said second ratchet wheel which are suitably secured intermediate the ends of the member and are rotatably mounted between mutually spaced first side members which project from said first and second handle.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a winch tightening apparatus comprises a mounting plate; it first moment arm coupled to the mounting plate and configured to provide leverage for rotating the mounting plate; and a pawl comprising a first end and a second end. The first end is pivotally coupled to the mounting plate such that the second end pivots to engage a ratchet gear when the mounting plate is rotated in a first direction and pivots to disengage the ratchet gear when the mounting plate is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction. Some embodiments include a second moment arm coupled to the mounting plate and configured to provide leverage for rotating the mounting plate. Some embodiments include a counterweight coupled to the mounting plate and positioned to rotate the mounting plate in the second direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a container opening/closing device for opening and closing a lid of a container. The container comprises a container body including an opening and the lid detachably attached to the opening. The device comprises an opening/closing mechanism including a holding portion for holding the lid and a pressing mechanism. The opening/closing mechanism opens and closes the opening by moving the holding portion between a closing position and an open position. The pressing mechanism presses a peripheral edge of the holding portion toward the container body when the opening/closing mechanism moves the lid from the open position to the closing position.

Abstract: A manual marine winch includes a safety knockout override preventing release of winch tension without the handle in stowed position. The winch includes a housing; a rotating drum on the housing; a winch line on the drum; a control for spooling and un-spooling the winch line on the drum, wherein the control includes a handle for selectively tensioning the drum and moveable between a position engaged with the drum and a disengaged stowed position; a tension holding mechanism on the housing comprising a ratchet gear coupled to the drum, a pawl selectively engaged with the ratchet gear, and a knockout configures to selectively disengage the pawl from the gear to allow for release of winch tension; and a safety knockout override coupled to the housing and selectively engaged by the handle and configured to prevent release of winch tension when the handle is not in the stowed position.

Abstract: An adjuster adjusts a length of at least one strap of a safety harness. The at least one strap is selected from the group consisting of at least one shoulder strap, at least one chest strap, at least one waist strap, at least one seat strap, and at least one leg strap. The adjuster comprises a base, a shaft rotatably operatively connected to the shaft and defining a slot configured and arranged to receive the at least one strap, and a locking mechanism interconnecting the base and the shaft. The locking mechanism allows rotation of the shaft in a first direction and prevents rotation of the shaft in a second opposite direction.

Abstract: In an object holding device, it is possible to prevent loosening of a cord-like body for holding an object without requiring any user's special operation. The object holding device includes a fixing belt (3) wound on a plastic tank (2), a male buckle (9) provided at a fixing belt, a reel (4) having the fixing belt wound around and urged to rotate in a winding direction of the fixing belt and a reel housing (11) connecting with a male buckle. When the male buckle is connected to the reel housing, a rotation of the reel is restricted at least in a counter-winding direction of the fixing belt.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a length of at least one safety harness strap with an adjuster comprises positioning the adjuster at a desired location along the at least one strap, winding the at least one strap about the shaft, and locking the shaft with the locking mechanism to prevent rotation in an unwinding direction. The at least one strap is selected from the group consisting of at least one shoulder strap, at least one chest strap, at least one waist strap, at least one seat strap, and at least one leg strap. The adjuster includes a base, a shaft rotatably operatively connected to the shaft and defining a slot configured and arranged to receive the at least one strap, and a locking mechanism interconnecting the base and the shaft. The locking mechanism allows rotation of the shaft in one direction and prevents rotation of the shaft in an opposite direction.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a mechanical winch. The mechanical winch includes a body and a spool axle. The spool axle is slidably disposed within the body and coupled to the body by at least one spring. A spool is disposed about the spool axle. A non-electrically-conductive tether is coupled to the spool. A brake axle is slidably disposed within the frame and located a fixed distance from the spool axle. Actuation of the spool applies increasing tension to non-electrically-conductive tether and causes compression of the at least one spring.

Abstract: A spindle for a winch which comprises a first member for winding a length of a restrain and a second member for rotationally driving the first member. The second member engages with the first member by way of an arrangement which only permits relative rotational movement between the first and second members in one direction. A portion of the second member is received into a bore in the first member to support the second member with respect to the first member.

Abstract: A clutchable winch contains a shaft member including: a tube used to fix a belt; a fitting piece including a central hole mounted thereon; a column fixed on the central hole; a sleeve coupled with the fitting piece, including a groove arranged on one end thereof and a connecting end secured on another end thereof, the connecting end including plural apertures disposed thereon; a positioning disc fixed on a bottom end of the groove, including plural first inclined teeth arranged therearound, the first inclined teeth being spaced apart evenly from each other and each having a vertical side; an annular actuating plate fitted on the column, including a hexagonal pore arranged on a central portion thereof and plural second inclined teeth disposed on one end surface thereof, wherein each second tooth includes a vertical fringe; a compression spring defined between the actuating plate and the fitting piece of the tube.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a mechanical winch. The mechanical winch includes a body and a spool axle. The spool axle is slidably disposed within the body and coupled to the body by at least one spring. A spool is disposed about the spool axle. A non-electrically-conductive tether is coupled to the spool. A brake axle is slidably disposed within the frame and located a fixed distance from the spool axle. Actuation of the spool applies increasing tension to non-electrically-conductive tether and causes compression of the at least one spring.

Abstract: A mobile ski towing system is a fixed or portable towing system used to pull a towee on a; ski, wakeboard, snowboard, longboard, surfboard, skateboard, mountainboard, or other similar ski or board, by reeling a towrope with a handle around a spool which is driven by a motor. There are three operating modes to control the towing independently or dependently of a dedicated-operator; a pull-to-start mode for independent towing, an on-board control mode for dependent towing, and a remote control mode for either independent or dependent towing. A mobile ski towing system comprises a mobile base with an outside frame and an internal pivoting frame, onto which the components of; motor, spool, spool shaft, spool shaft bearings, spider coulper and brake are mounted. The pivoting frame senses a load on the towrope to activate and deactivate the motor.

Abstract: An injection device for injecting selectable amounts of a substance includes an activating mechanism including an axially moveable operating button which can rotated in a resting position only, a tubular drive element non-rotatably connected to the operating button, an axially fixed and non-rotatable guiding element, and an axially moveable driven member held non-rotatably in the device. A rotational grid is operationally between rotatable and non-rotatable components of the injection device such that the operating button can be moved two rotational directions when in the resting position whereby a selected amount of the substance to be injected can be selectively varied. For example, a dosage inadvertently selected too large by rotating the operating button too far in one direction can, in accordance with the present invention, be reduced by rotating the operating button in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A winch for controlling the tautness of a length of wire includes a generally U-shaped frame and a spindle rotatably mounted on the frame, the spindle serving as a spool on which the length of wire can be wound. The winch additionally includes a ratchet rotatably mounted on the frame in co-axial alignment with the spindle, the ratchet being fixedly connected to one end of the spindle using the combination of a threaded bolt and a washer. Furthermore, the winch includes a pawl pivotally mounted on the frame, the pawl capable of being pivoted between a first position in which the pawl sequentially engages outwardly extending teeth in the ratchet so as to limit rotation of the ratchet in only one direction and a second position in which the pawl disengages from the ratchet to allow for rotation of the ratchet in either of two opposing directions.

Abstract: A winch for cargo tie-down straps to tie down straps comprising a winch frame having a frame securing segment and a pair of integrally extending flanges; a winch drum rotatably mounted between said flanges; a pawl and ratchet mechanism attached at a longitudinal end of the winch frame; a fixed gear extending from an opposed longitudinal end of the winch drum; a free gear extending axially from the fixed gear; a worm gear mounted within a worm gear frame for driving a driving disc, the driving disc being adapted to selectively engage said fixed and free gears, depending on the positioning of the worm gear frame relative to a worm gear frame mounting assembly extending from the winch frame.

Abstract: A chain link fence tightening assembly for stretching a chain link fence adjacent to and beyond a first vertical post and toward a second vertical post such that the chain link fence may be attached to the first vertical post in a taut manner includes an elongated rod that is selectively coupled to a plurality of links of the chain link fence. A gripping member removably grips the second vertical post. A first cable and a second cable each have a first end and a second end. The first end of the first cable is attached to the rod and the first end of the second cable is attached to the gripping member. A winding assembly is attached to each of the first and second cables and is adapted for pulling the rod and the gripping member toward each other such that the chain link fence is pulled taut.

Abstract: A winch for cargo tie-down straps to tie down straps comprising a winch frame having

Abstract: An apparatus for detaching/attaching a lid of a wafer carrier includes a driving section for rotating a key member. The driving section includes a moving member horizontally movable by a driving source and a link mechanism to convert motion of the moving member into rotation of the key member. When a lock mechanism is to be locked, the driving section rotates the key member, which engages with an engaging member of the lock mechanism, to exceed a set angle by an extra angle, and then to return by the extra angle.

Abstract: A wire strainer intended for straining of wire in a fence structure. The wire strainer includes a body 12 with which a spool 11 having a plurality of teeth 18 is rotatably mounted. An engagement member 12 extends between and is slidingly engaged in elongate slots 20. Legs 24 of the engagement member 21 slidingly engage with the inside wall surfaces of the divergent arms 15 of body 12. The legs 24 thus apply a force to the engagement member 21 so that it engages with the teeth 18. The engagement member 21 can be removed from contact with the spool 11 by slid against the biasing effect of the legs 24 so as to engage with a step 27 in the elongate opening 20.

Abstract: A wire tensioning apparatus includes a pair of opposed pressure grips interconnected by a cable or cord, and a wire tensioning device such as a double-action winch secured to the cord intermediate the grips. The grips each include a baseplate having a rotatable jaw or eccentric cleat with a plurality of teeth formed in a lower edge thereof for attaching the grips to a fence wire. In operation, the winch is selectively rotated to pull the grips inward toward one another providing tension to the fence wire. The apparatus can be left attached to the fence wire to provide permanent support, and can be intermittently tightened to provide additional tension.

Abstract: Lever actuator assembly includes the use of at least one clutch member for providing selective adjustment of the length or tension of a cable. The clutch member provides for a stationary position of a item such as a cable relative to the assembly housing absent any rotational force. Applying a rotational force in a selected manner results in an adjustment through movement of the clutch member relative to the housing. A disclosed embodiment is particularly useful for applications that require adjusting a relative length of a cable.

Abstract: Lever actuator assembly includes the use of at least one clutch member for providing selective adjustment of the length or tension of a cable. The clutch member provides for a stationary position of a item such as a cable relative to the assembly housing absent any rotational force. Applying a rotational force in a selected manner results in an adjustment through movement of the clutch member relative to the housing. A disclosed embodiment is particularly useful for applications that require adjusting a relative length of a cable.

Abstract: Arrangement for winding of an electric cable which arrangement comprises a rotatable drum from which the cable is arranged to be wound off manually, and an electric motor (M) arranged to be connected to a first circuit for driving the drum in the winding direction and arranged to be rotated by the drum during unwinding of the cable. A second circuit (M,1,3,4) comprises besides the motor (M) also a contact means (1) arranged to be closed when the motor (M) is inoperative. During unwinding of the cable from the drum the motor generates a braking moment which increases with the speed of rotation of the motor.The second circuit preferably comprises a voltage dependent switch (3), preferably a Zener-diode, which is arranged to be closed when the voltage generated by the motor (M) during the unwinding exceeds a value corresponding to a predetermined speed of rotation of the drum and, as a consequence, of the motor.

Abstract: A winch arrangement having a feed wheel for feeding a hauling line, such as a line through the winch. The wheel is driven in the feed direction by means of a reciprocatingly movable member, such as a pivotable lever. The lever is pivoted with the aid of the outgoing part of the line, by effecting a pumping movement therewith.