Tie-down assembly

A method of securing two wheels of a vehicle to a deck portion, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing two straps, each said strap extending between first and second ends thereof and comprising an intermediate portion therebetween;
• (b) providing a tie-down assembly comprising:
• a frame;
• a pair of ratchet subassemblies, each said ratchet subassembly comprising:
• an elongate ratchet body;
• a ratchet head secured to the ratchet body, the ratchet head and the ratchet body being coaxial relative to an axis thereof;
• each of the ratchet bodies being mounted in the frame to permit rotation thereof about the axis thereof respectively in a predetermined rotary direction to tighten a selected one of the straps attached thereto, for securing a selected one of the wheels to the deck portion;
• each ratchet subassembly additionally comprising a pawl, for preventing rotation of the ratchet head engageable therewith about the axis thereof in a direction opposite to the predetermined rotary direction;
• each of the ratchet bodies being rotatable in the same predetermined rotary direction to tighten the selected one of the straps attached thereto;
• (c) mounting the tie-down assembly in the deck portion;
• (d) attaching the first end of each of the straps to each said ratchet body respectively;
• (e) positioning the respective intermediate portions of each said strap on respective selected ones of the wheels;
• (f) attaching the second end of each said strap to the deck portion at a distal preselected location thereon selected to locate the intermediate portions of each said strap on each said wheel;
• and
• (g) rotating each said ratchet body in a predetermined rotary direction to tighten the straps respectively, for securing the respective wheels to the deck portion.

A system for securing two wheels of a vehicle to a deck portion, the system comprising:

• a pair of straps, each said strap extending between first and second ends thereof and comprising an intermediate portion therebetween;
• a tie-down assembly comprising:
• a frame;
• a pair of ratchet subassemblies, each said ratchet subassembly comprising:
• an elongate ratchet body;
• a ratchet head secured to the ratchet body, the ratchet head and the ratchet body being coaxial relative to an axis thereof;
• each of the ratchet bodies being mounted in the frame to permit rotation thereof about the axis thereof respectively in a predetermined rotary direction to tighten a selected one of the straps attached thereto, for securing a selected one of the wheels to the deck portion;
• each ratchet subassembly additionally comprising a pawl, for preventing rotation of the ratchet head engageable therewith about the axis thereof in a direction opposite to the predetermined rotary direction;
• each of the ratchet bodies being rotatable in the same predetermined rotary direction to tighten the selected one of the straps attached thereto respectively;
• and
• a pair of first connectors, for connecting each said second end of each said strap respectively to the deck portion at predetermined points thereon to locate at least parts of the intermediate portions of each said strap on each said wheel respectively.

A method of securing two wheels of a vehicle to a deck portion, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing two straps, each said strap extending between first and second ends thereof and comprising an intermediate portion therebetween;
• (b) providing a tie-down assembly comprising:
• a frame;
• a pair of ratchet subassemblies, each said ratchet subassembly comprising:
• an elongate ratchet body;
• a ratchet head secured to the ratchet body, the ratchet head and the ratchet body being coaxial relative to an axis thereof;
• each of the ratchet bodies being mounted in the frame to permit rotation thereof about the axis thereof respectively in a predetermined rotary direction to tighten a selected one of the straps attached thereto, for securing a selected one of the wheels to the deck portion;
• each ratchet subassembly additionally comprising a pawl, for preventing rotation of the ratchet head engageable therewith about the axis thereof in a direction opposite to the predetermined rotary direction;
• each of the ratchet bodies being rotatable in the same predetermined rotary direction to tighten the strap;
• (c) mounting the tie-down assembly in the deck portion;
• (d) attaching the first end of each of the straps to each said ratchet body respectively;
• (e) positioning the respective intermediate portions of each said strap on respective selected ones of the wheels;
• (f) with first connectors, attaching the second end of each said strap to the deck portion at a distal preselected location thereon to locate at least parts of the intermediate portions of each said strap on each said wheel respectively;
• and
• (g) rotating each said ratchet body in a predetermined rotary direction to tighten the straps, for securing the respective wheels to the deck portion.