Bracket for cargo strap winders and winches

Abstract

The universal mounting bracket can be mounted to both “standard” and “combination” rails as part of a strap winder or winch. The bracket includes a flat top and two spaced parallel legs. The bracket has a rectangular central opening cut at the top of each bracket leg and a long slot is cut laterally across the bracket top, which extends between the center openings. The bracket also has a second rectangular opening cut in at the top of each bracket leg along one side. A pair of notches is also cut into the sides of each bracket leg.

1 . A mounting bracket adapted to be fitted to one of a first elongated rail, which includes a pair of spaced rail sides and a pair of reflectively symmetrical opposed flanges extending inward from each of the pair of rail sides, and a second elongated rail, which includes a pair of spaced rail sides and a pair of translationally symmetrical flanges extending from the rail sides, 
 the mounting bracket comprising: a top and a pair of legs extending downward from opposite ends of the bracket top,    each bracket leg having opposed side edges, a notch formed in each side edge for receiving the pair of reflectively symmetrically opposed flanges of the first rail, such that the opposed side edges rest atop the pair of reflectively symmetrical opposed flanges of the first rail to support the mounting bracket between the pair of rail sides of the first rail when the apparatus is fitted to the first rail,    each bracket leg also having an opening therein adjacent the bracket top,    the bracket top having a slot extending into and between the opening of each bracket leg, such that one of the pair of translationally symmetrical flanges of the second rail passing through the opening in each of the bracket legs and one of the pair of spaced rail sides of the second rail extending through slots to allow the bracket top to rest atop the one of the pair of translationally symmetrical flanges of the second rail when the apparatus is fitted to the second rail.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus for winding a cargo strap and adapted to be fitted to one of a first elongated rail, which includes a pair of spaced rail sides and a pair of reflectively symmetrical opposed flanges extending inward from each of the pair of rail sides, and a second elongated rail, which includes a pair of spaced rail sides and a pair of translationally symmetrical flanges extending from the rail sides, 
 the winding apparatus comprising:    a mounting bracket; and a crank part mountable to the bracket for winding the cargo strap,    the bracket including a top and a pair of legs extending downward from opposite ends of the bracket top,    each bracket leg having opposed side edges, a notch formed in each side edge for receiving the pair of reflectively symmetrically opposed flanges of the first rail, such that the opposed side edges rest atop the pair of reflectively symmetrical opposed flanges of the first rail to support the mounting bracket between the pair of rail sides of the first rail when the apparatus is fitted to the first rail,    each bracket leg also having an opening therein adjacent the bracket top,    the bracket top having a slot extending into and between the opening of each bracket leg, such that one of the pair of translationally symmetrical flanges of the second rail passing through the opening in each of the bracket legs and one of the pair of spaced rail sides of the second rail extend through slots to allow the bracket top to rest atop the one of the pair of translationally symmetrical flanges of the second rail when the apparatus is fitted to the second rail.    
   
   
       3 . The winding apparatus of  claim 2  wherein each leg has a keyhole therein for receiving a crank part, the crank part includes an elongated shaft, which extends between the legs through the keyholes and a handle part.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus for winding a cargo strap and adapted to be fitted to one of a first elongated rail, which includes a pair of spaced rail sides and a pair of reflectively symmetrical opposed flanges extending inward from each of the pair of rail sides, and a second elongated rail, which includes a pair of spaced rail sides and a pair of translationally symmetrical flanges extending from the rail sides, 
 the winding apparatus comprising:    a mounting bracket; and means operatively connected to the bracket for winding the cargo strap,    the bracket including a top and a pair of legs extending downward from opposite ends of the bracket top,    each bracket leg having opposed side edges, a notch formed in each side edge for receiving the pair of reflectively symmetrically opposed flanges of the first rail, such that the opposed side edges rest atop the pair of reflectively symmetrical opposed flanges of the first rail to support the mounting bracket between the pair of rail sides of the first rail when the apparatus is fitted to the first rail,    each bracket leg also having an opening therein adjacent the bracket top,    the bracket top having a slot extending into and between the opening of each bracket leg, such that one of the pair of translationally symmetrical flanges of the second rail passing through the opening in each of the bracket legs and one of the pair of spaced rail sides of the second rail extending through slots to allow the bracket top to rest atop the one of the pair of translationally symmetrical flanges of the second rail when the apparatus is fitted to the second rail.    
   
   
       5 . The winding apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the winding means includes a shaft part rotatable between the pair of bracket legs and around which the cargo strap is wound.