Cargo tightener and strap collector

Abstract

A cargo tightener and strap collector is shown having a rotatable shaft provided on the lever portion of the cargo tightener and strap collector. A slot is provided in the shaft so that the free end of a strap may be inserted in the slot and wound on the shaft to secure the strap and prevent its fluttering in the wind or trailing on the ground while in use.

1 . An apparatus for tightening and collecting a strap, comprising: 
 a) a cargo tightening portion comprising: 
 i) a connecting arm extending in a longitudinal direction, the connecting arm having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls;  
 ii) a lever pivotally journaled in the connecting arm by a first shaft, the first shaft having a first slot for introducing the end of a strap, the first shaft being operable for co-rotational movement with the lever for tightening the strap; and  
   b) a strap collector portion comprising a second shaft journaled for rotation between the spaced apart sidewalls of the lever, the second shaft having a second slot therein to accept the end of the strap after the strap is tightened on the cargo.    
   
   
       2 . A strap collector comprising: 
 a) a connecting arm extending in a longitudinal direction, the connecting arm having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls;    b) a lever pivotally journaled in the connecting arm by a first shaft, the firs shaft having a first slot for introducing the end of a strap, the first shaft being operable for co-rotational movement with the lever for tightening the strap; and    c) a second shaft journaled for rotation between the spaced apart sidewalls of the connecting arm, the second shaft having a second slot therein to accept the end of the strap after the strap is tightened on the cargo.    
   
   
       3 . A combination cargo tightener and strap collector comprising: 
 a) a connecting arm extending in a longitudinal direction, the connecting arm having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls;    b) a lever pivotally journaled in the connecting arm by a first shaft, the first shaft having a first slot for introducing the end of a strap, the first shaft being operable for co-rotational movement with the lever for tightening the strap, the lever having a second pair of spaced apart sidewalls; and    c) a second shaft journaled for rotation between the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever, the second shaft having a second slot therein to accept the end of the strap after the strap is tightened on the cargo.    
   
   
       4 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 3 , wherein a first portion of the second shaft extends past at least one of the second pair of sidewalls of the lever.  
   
   
       5 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 4 , further comprising turning aid means mounted to the first portion of the second shaft extending past at least one of the second pair of sidewalls of the lever.  
   
   
       6 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 5 , wherein each one of the second pair of sidewalls of the lever comprises a straight portion and a portion extending at an angle to the straight portion.  
   
   
       7 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 6 , further comprising at least one toothed ratchet wheel fixedly mounted to the first shaft between the first pair of spaced apart sidewalls and the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls.  
   
   
       8 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 7 , further comprising a pawl mounted to the lever for reciprocal movement to engage and disengage from the at least one toothed ratchet wheel.  
   
   
       9 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 8 , wherein each one of the second pair of sidewalls of the lever comprises a first linearly extending portion and a second linearly extending portion extending at an angle to the first, linearly extending, portion.  
   
   
       10 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 9 , wherein each one of the second pair of sidewalls of the lever comprises a diverging portion between the first linearly extending portion, and the second linearly extending, portion, whereby the second linearly extending portion of the second pair of sidewalls is spaced apart further than the first linearly extending portion of the second pair of sidewalls.  
   
   
       11 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 5 , wherein the turning aid means comprises a knob mounted to them first portion of the shaft extending past the at least one of the second pair of sidewalls of the lever.  
   
   
       12 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 11 , further comprising a second portion of the second shaft extending past the other of the second pair of sidewalls of the lever and a knob mounted to the second portion of the second shaft.  
   
   
       13 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 8 , wherein the pawl is mounted in a slot in the lever.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for tightening and collecting a strap, comprising: 
 a) A cargo tightening portion comprising: 
 i) a connecting arm extending in a longitudinal direction, the connecting arm having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls;  
 ii) a lever pivotally journaled in the connecting arm by a first shaft, the first shaft having a first slot for introducing the end of a strap, the first shaft being operable for co-rotational movement with the lever for tightening the strap and having a second pair of spaced apart sidewalls; and  
   b) a strap collector portion comprising a threaded shaft journaled for rotation between the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever, the threaded shaft having a slot therein to accept the end of the strap after the strap is tightened on the cargo, a first rotatable knob operable to rotate the threaded shaft, and a second rotatable knob operable to selectively secure the threaded shaft from further rotation.    
   
   
       15 . A strap collector comprising: 
 a) a connecting arm extending in a longitudinal direction, the connecting arm having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls;    b) a lever pivotally journaled in the connecting arm by a first shaft, the first shaft having a first slot for introducing the end of a strap, the first shaft being operable for co-rotational movement with the lever for tightening the strap; the lever having a second pair of spaced apart sidewalls, and    c) a threaded shaft journaled for rotation between the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever, the threaded shaft having a second slot therein to accept the end of the strap, a first portion to accept a first rotation mechanism, and a second portion to accept a second rotation mechanism, the first rotation mechanism being operable to rotate the threaded shaft, and the second rotation mechanism being operable to selectively restrain or permit rotation of the threaded shaft.    
   
   
       16 . A combination cargo tightener and strap collector comprising: 
 a) a connecting arm extending in a longitudinal direction, the connecting arm having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls;    b) a lever pivotally journaled in the connecting arm by a first shaft, the first shaft having a first slot for introducing the end of a strap, the first shaft being operable for co-rotational movement with the lever for tightening the strap, the lever having a second pair of spaced apart sidewalls; and    c) a threaded shaft journaled for rotation between the second pair of spaced apart sidewalls of the lever, the threaded shaft comprising: 
 i) a second slot therein to accept the end of the strap after the strap is tightened on the cargo;  
 ii) a first threaded portion provided at one end thereof;  
 iii) a second threaded portion provided at the other end thereof;  
 iv) a first rotation mechanism cooperating with the first threaded portion to rotate the threaded shaft, thereby causing the strap to be wound on the second shaft; and  
 v) a second rotation mechanism cooperating with the second threaded portion to restrain or stop rotation of the second shaft.  
   
   
   
       17 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 16 , wherein the first threaded portion of the threaded shaft comprises: 
 a) a first internal thread axially aligned with the threaded shaft; and    b) a first threaded fastener fixedly restrained in the first internal thread.    
   
   
       18 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 17 , wherein the first rotation mechanism comprises a first rotatable knob fixedly connected to the first threaded fastener to rotate the threaded shaft when the first rotatable knob is rotated.  
   
   
       19 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 16 , wherein the second threaded portion of the threaded shaft comprises: 
 a) a second internal thread axially aligned with the threaded shaft; and    b) a second threaded fastener fixedly restrained in the second internal thread.    
   
   
       20 . The combination cargo tightener and strap collector defined in  claim 17 , wherein the second rotation mechanism comprises a second rotatable knob rotatably mounted to the second threaded fastener for reciprocal lateral movement along the axis of the second threaded fastener