Load binder

#This invention relates to improved load binding tools; i.e. devices for "binding" chains about loadings on a truck body or the like; such as boxes, crates, logs, pipes, rods, or the like, and/or single load items upon load carriers or lifters. Such tools are used to reduce the effective length of the binding chain, and to tighten/tension it around the load, and then lock it against accidental release. Prior types of load binders are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 433,799; 858,240; 1,537,070; Canadian Pat. No. 499,466 and Swedish Pat. No. 110,511.

#An object of the invention is to provide improved chain binders as aforesaid which are compact, readily portable, convenient to use; and yet when in use assure positive but readily releasable locking engagements of the associated chain.

#A further object is to provide a chain tightener as aforesaid which comprises a manually operable tool embodying a tunnel portion extending therethrough in communication with a chain inlet guide throat portion which is adapted to angularly orient a welded wire type link chain when fed thereinto; allowing the operator to easily introduce an end of the binding chain into and through the body of the tool in properly oriented fashion for engagement with the operating lever of the tool.

#Various forms of the load binder of the invention are illustrated by way of example by the accompanying drawing, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a load binder of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

#As illustrated by way of example at FIGS. 1-9 hereof, the tool of the invention may be constructed to comprise a body portion indicated generally at 20 which is of elongate form having box-shaped leg portion 21 upon which the tool may be rested to stabilize it when being operated. The body portion 20 of the tool is formed with an open chain transporting tunnel portion 22 extending longitudinally therethrough. One end of the load binding chain to be tensioned relative to the load thereon is illustrated at 24 as being hooked into a "claw hook" type extension portion 25 of the tool (FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7). The other end of the load binding chain is illustrated at 26, and in the drawing is shown as having been fed by the tool operator through the inlet throat portion 28 of the tool and into the tunnel 22 to exit therefrom as illustrated at 29. Note that the inlet throat includes guide portions 28a--28a which insure proper angular orientation of the chain in the tunnel 22.

#The body portion 20 of the tool is formed with an access opening 30 at the top thereof which is in open communication with the tunnel 22, whereby the operating lever which is indicated generally at 35 may have its lower operative end inserted for engagement with the chain 26. The lever 35 is bifurcated at its lower end so as to provide a pair of fork-like extensions 36--36 which are spaced apart so as to straddle alternate vertically standing links of the chain 26 and to slip-fit downwardly and inside of the horizontally disposed links of the chain as it progresses through the tunnel of the tool. The extensions 36--36 are cupped as indicated at 37 to receive the ends of the chain links. The lever 35 is also provided with pivot boss portions 38--38 extending laterally from opposite sides thereof for pivotally rocking engagements into/with either one of a pair of socket portions 40--40 and 42--42 which are formed in upstanding side wall portions 44-44 extending vertically from the tool body portion in longitudinally parallel relation at opposite sides of the access opening 30.

#The tool body and lever portions are so dimensionally proportioned and arranged that the lower end of the lever 35 is readily insertable by the user of the tool through the access opening 30 so as to dispose the fork members 36--36 into engagements with the horizontally lying exposed links of the chain 26, as shown in FIG. 4. The bosses 38--38 thereof are thereupon receivable either by the pockets 40--40 or 42--42. Thus, in any event, the lever is adapted to engage the chain, simply by inserting its forked end into the access opening 30; and to be then operable to "lever" the chain to advance through the tunnel of the tool. As illustrated at FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 6-8, the exit end portion of the chain tunnel 22 is slotted as indicated at 45--45--45 to provide forked holding means at the exit end of the tunnel; whereby whenever the chain strand 26 exits through the tunnel the leading portion 29 thereof may be manually, either vertically or laterally to the right or to the left deflected into one of wall slots 45 so as to lock the exited portion of the chain against unintended retrogressive movement relative to the tool incidental to alternate engagements/disengagements of the lever 35 with the chain 26. Thus, it will be appreciated that in this case the lever 35 is adapted to engage behind every other horizontally disposed link of the chain strand 26, for progressively levering the chain through the tool; while the slots 45 at the exit end of the tool provide for manually intermediately locking of the chain in its incrementally advanced positions.