Tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel

Abstract

The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel includes a ratchet mechanism for tightening a cargo or tiedown strap and a reel for securing the free end of the strap. The reel includes at least one take-up crank extending radially from at least one end of the take-up reel shaft, the circular path of the distal end of the take-up crank extending into the arc subtended by the ratchet handle during its operation. When the ratchet handle is placed in its stowed position, the handle interferes with travel of the take-up crank, thus preventing the take-up crank from rotating to allow the free end of the strap to unwind from the reel. The take-up reel may have various take-up crank configurations, e.g., a single crank, cranks extending from the opposite ends of the reel shaft, one or two double-ended cranks, etc.

1 . A tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel, comprising:
 a frame having a ratchet end and an anchor strap end opposite the ratchet end;   an anchor strap extending from the anchor strap end of the frame;   a ratchet mechanism disposed at the ratchet end of the frame;   a ratchet handle extending radially from the ratchet mechanism, the ratchet handle having a selectively stowed position adjacent the frame;   first and second take-up reel arms extending from the anchor strap end of the frame;   a strap take-up shaft disposed between the take-up reel arms, the strap take-up shaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and   a take-up reel crank extending radially from the strap take-up shaft, the ratchet handle it precluding complete rotation of the take-up reel crank when the ratchet handle is in its stowed position.   
     
     
         2 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the frame defines a frame width;   the ratchet handle defines a ratchet handle width, the ratchet handle width being greater than the frame width;   the take-up reel aims define a reel width, the reel width being substantially equal to the frame width; and   the take-up reel crank has a distal end extending beyond the ratchet handle width, the ratchet handle interfering with the distal end of the take-up reel crank and precluding complete rotation of the take-up reel crank when the ratchet handle is in its stowed position.   
     
     
         3 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the take-up reel crank comprises a single arm extending radially outward from one end of the strap take-up shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the take-up reel crank comprises:
 a first arm extending radially outward from the first end of the strap take-up shaft; and   a second arm extending radially outward from the second end of the strap take-up shaft, the second arm being oriented 180° opposite the first arm.   
     
     
         5 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the take-up reel crank comprises a single arm having a center affixed to one end of the strap take-up shaft, the arm having mutually opposed arm portions oriented 180° opposite one another and extending radially outward from the strap take-up shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the take-up reel crank comprises:
 a first arm having a center affixed to the first end of the strap take-up shaft, the first arm having mutually opposed arm portions oriented 180° opposite one another and extending radially outward from the strap take-up shaft; and   a second arm having a center affixed to the second end of the strap take-up shaft, the second arm having mutually opposed arm portions oriented 180° opposite one another and extending radially outward from the strap take-up shaft, the second arm being oriented 90° to the first arm.   
     
     
         7 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 1 , further including a tiedown strap having a working portion secured to the ratchet mechanism and a free end extending therefrom, the free end being selectively wound about the strap take-up shaft. 
     
     
         8 . A tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel, comprising:
 a frame having a ratchet end and an anchor strap end opposite the ratchet end, the frame defining a frame width;   an anchor strap extending from the anchor strap end of the frame;   a ratchet mechanism disposed at the ratchet end of the frame;   a ratchet handle extending radially from the ratchet mechanism, the ratchet handle defining a ratchet handle width, the ratchet handle width being greater than the frame width, the ratchet handle having a selectively stowed position adjacent the frame;   first and second take-up reel arms extending from the anchor strap end of the frame, the take-up reel arms defining a reel width, the reel width being substantially equal to the frame width;   a strap take-up shaft disposed between the take-up reel arms, the strap take-up shaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and   a take-up reel crank extending radially from the strap take-up shaft, the crank having a distal end extending beyond the ratchet handle width, the ratchet handle interfering with the distal end of the crank and precluding complete rotation of the take-up reel crank when the ratchet handle is in its stowed position.   
     
     
         9 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 8 , wherein the take-up reel crank comprises a single arm extending radially outward from one end of the strap take-up shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 8 , wherein the take-up reel crank comprises:
 a first aim extending radially outward from the first end of the strap take-up shaft; and   a second arm extending radially outward from the second end of the strap take-up shaft, the second arm being oriented 180° opposite the first arm.   
     
     
         11 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 8 , wherein the take-up reel crank comprises a single arm having a center affixed to one end of the strap take-up shaft, the aim having mutually opposed arm portions oriented 180° opposite one another and extending radially outward from the strap take-up shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 8 , wherein the take-up reel crank comprises:
 a first arm having a center affixed to the first end of the strap take-up shaft, the first arm having mutually opposed arm portions oriented 180° opposite one another and extending radially outward from the strap take-up shaft; and   a second arm having a center affixed to the second end of the strap take-up shaft, the second arm having mutually opposed arm portions oriented 180° opposite one another and extending radially outward from the strap take-up shaft, the second arm being oriented 90 degrees to the first arm.   
     
     
         13 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 8 , further including a tiedown strap having a working portion secured to the ratchet mechanism and a free end extending therefrom, the free end being selectively wound about the strap take-up shaft. 
     
     
         14 . A take-up reel for a tiedown strap ratchet, the tiedown strap ratchet having a frame defining a ratchet end and an anchor strap end opposite the ratchet end, an anchor strap extending from the anchor strap end of the frame, a ratchet mechanism disposed at the ratchet end of the frame, a ratchet handle extending radially from the ratchet mechanism, the ratchet handle having a selectively stowed position adjacent the frame, the take-up reel comprising:
 first and second take-up reel arms extending from the anchor strap end of the frame;   a strap take-up shaft disposed between the take-up reel arms, the strap take-up shaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and   a take-up reel crank extending radially from the strap take-up shaft, the ratchet handle precluding complete rotation of the take-up reel crank when the ratchet handle is in its stowed position.   
     
     
         15 . The take-up reel for a tiedown strap ratchet according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the take-up reel arms define a reel width, the reel width being substantially equal to a width of the frame; and   the take-up reel crank has a distal end extending beyond the ratchet handle, the ratchet handle interfering with the distal end of the take-up reel crank and precluding complete rotation of the take-up reel crank when the ratchet handle is in its stowed position.   
     
     
         16 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 14 , wherein the take-up reel crank comprises a single aim extending radially outward from one end of the strap take-up shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 14 , wherein the take-up reel crank comprises:
 a first arm extending radially outward from the first end of the strap take-up shaft; and   a second arm extending radially outward from the second end of the strap take-up shaft, the second arm being oriented 180° opposite the first arm.   
     
     
         18 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 14 , wherein the take-up reel crank comprises a single arm having a center affixed to one end of the strap take-up shaft, the arm having mutually opposed arm portions oriented 180° opposite one another and extending radially outward from the strap take-up shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 14 , wherein the take-up reel crank comprises;
 a first arm having a center affixed to the first end of the strap take-up shaft, the first arm having mutually opposed arm portions oriented 180″ opposite one another and extending radially outward from the strap take-up shaft; and   a second arm having a center affixed to the second end of the strap take-up shaft, the second arm having mutually opposed arm portions oriented 180° opposite one another and extending radially outward from the strap take-up shaft, the second arm being oriented 90° to the first arm.   
     
     
         20 . The tiedown strap ratchet with take-up reel according to  claim 14 , further including a tiedown strap having a working portion secured to the ratchet mechanism and a free end extending therefrom, the free end being selectively wound about the strap take-up shaft.