Ratchet with force indicator
AssigneeCommercial Sewing, Inc.
InventorsDavid Mazzarelli, Michael Hissong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ratchet strap tensioning mechanism includes a barrel defining an axis of rotation and a body and a handle coupled via the barrel. Each of the body, handle and barrel is independently rotatable about the axis of rotation. At least one ratchet gear wheel is mounted to the barrel at a position between a portion of the body and the handle. A driver rotatably drives the at least one ratchet gear wheel about the axis of rotation and a pawl restricts rotation of the at last one ratchet gear wheel about the axis of rotation. A force indicating device is connected to at least one of the body and the handle. The force indicating device is operable to indicate to a user when a predetermined force is applied to the ratchet strap tensioning mechanism.
Claims19
A ratchet strap tensioning mechanism comprising:
- a barrel defining an axis of rotation;
- a body and a handle coupled via the barrel, wherein each of the body, handle and barrel is independently rotatable about the axis of rotation;
- at least one ratchet gear wheel mounted to the barrel, the at least one ratchet gear wheel being to the barrel at a position between a portion of the body and the handle;
- a driver for rotatably driving the at least one ratchet gear wheel about the axis of rotation;
- a pawl for restricting rotation of the at last one ratchet gear wheel about the axis of rotation;
- and
- a force indicating device connected to at least one of the body and the handle, wherein the force indicating device is operable to indicate to a user when a predetermined force is applied to the ratchet strap tensioning mechanism.
The ratchet strap tensioning mechanism of claim 8, wherein the resilient member is a click spring.
A method of operating a ratchet strap tensioning mechanism comprising:
- rotating a handle about an axis of rotation;
- driving a barrel and one or more ratchet gear wheels affixed to the barrel about an axis of rotation in response to rotating the handle;
- rotating a force indicating device relative to the handle;
- and
- indicating to the user when a predetermined force is applied to the ratchet strap tensioning mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.