Reversible, portable winch with bidirectional ratchet teeth for attachment to load-bearing structure

A reversible, portable winch for attachment to a load-bearing structure which comprises:

• (a) a shaft for rotation;
• (b) a take-up reel for winding and unwinding a flexible securing strap, said take-up reel being connected to said shaft and affixed thereto for rotation therewith;
• (c) a flexible securing strap connected to said take-up reel at a first end thereof;
• (d) a plurality of bidirectional pawl-engaging teeth located about said shaft and affixed thereto so as to prevent and permit rotation of said take-up reel and said shaft by being engaged and disengaged with said pawl;
• (e) a pawl operationally connected to said teeth for engaging and disengaging thereof;
• (f) winding means connected to one of said shaft and said take-up reel for winding said shaft and said take-up reel;
• (g) support means for supporting said shaft and said pawl and for attaching said support means to a load-bearing structure;
• and,
• (h) securing means for temporarily securing said shaft to said support means so as to permit rotation of said shaft in said support means, removal of said shaft from said support means and reinsertment thereof on an opposite side of said support means, so as to permit, in a first location, clockwise winding and counterclockwise unwinding, and in a second location being a reversed position, counterclockwise winding and clockwise unwinding.