Gate chain tightening mechanism

A securing apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a housing;
• (b) a shaft rotatably coupled with the housing, said shaft comprising a first shaft-hole operative to receive a first end of a chain;
• (c) a first means for providing teeth, said first means is fixedly coupled with the shaft;
• (d) a second means for engaging one of the teeth of the first means, said second means is pivotably coupled with the housing;
• and
• (e) a third means for exerting a force on the second means to pivot the second means thereby maintaining said engagement between the second means and the one of the teeth of the first means;
• wherein a rotation of the shaft causes the second means to engage another tooth of the first means, and
• wherein the rotation of the shaft further wraps the chain around the shaft thereby tightening the chain.

A method of tightening a chain, comprising:

• (a) providing a housing;
• (b) providing a shaft rotatably coupled with the housing, said shaft comprising a first shaft-hole operative to receive a first end of a chain;
• (c) providing a sprocket fixedly coupled with the shaft, said sprocket comprising sprocket teeth;
• (d) providing a bracket pivotably coupled with the housing via a rod, said bracket comprising a bracket tooth operative to engage one of the sprocket teeth;
• and
• (e) providing a torsional spring disposed around the rod, said torsional spring comprising a first end in contact with the housing and exerting a force on the housing and a second end in contact with the bracket and exerting the force on the bracket, said force operative to pivot the bracket around an axial axis of the rod thereby maintaining said engagement between the bracket tooth and the sprocket teeth;
• wherein a rotation of the shaft causes the bracket tooth to engage another tooth of the sprocket teeth, and
• wherein the rotation of the shaft further wraps the chain around the shaft thereby tightening the chain.