Tightening device with serrated strap and ratchet locking member

A tightening device comprising:

• a tightening member;
• a strap adapted to overlap said tightening member, said strap having a series of serrations projecting away from said tightening member when said strap overlaps said tightening member;
• a locking assembly affixed to said tightening member, said locking assembly comprising:
• a base affixed to said tightening member;
• a ratchet including at least one serrated portion complementary to and arranged for engagement with said serrations of said strap;
• a journal connecting said ratchet to said base for enabling movement of said ratchet about a journal axis in either of (A) an engagement direction, favoring engagement between said serrated portion of said ratchet and said serrations of said strap, and (B) a disengagement direction, favoring disengagement of said serrated portion of said ratchet and said serrations of said strap;
• an elastic return device affixed to said ratchet, said elastic return device applying a force to said ratchet directed toward movement of said ratchet about said journal axis in said engagement direction;
• said ratchet further comprising an open space located between said serrated portion and said journal axis, said open space having a size adapted to receive said strap at an entry side of said open space, whereby, in said engagement between said serrated portion of said ratchet and said serrations of said strap, said strap is positioned between said serrated portion of said strap and said journal axis;
• and
• said serrated portion of said ratchet being located, during said engagement between said serrated portion and said serrations of said strap, on a side of said journal axis at which said strap is received into said open space so that, during said engagement, a tightening torque exerted by said ratchet on said serrations of said strap increases proportionally to a traction force exerted on said strap in a direction away from said open space of said ratchet.

A tightening device comprising:

• a tightening member having a surface adapted to be positioned against a thing to be tightened;
• a strap adapted to overlap said tightening member, said strap having a series of serrations projecting away from said tightening member when said strap overlaps said tightening member;
• a locking assembly affixed to said tightening member, said locking assembly comprising:
• a base affixed to said tightening member;
• a ratchet including at least one serrated portion complementary to and arranged for engagement with said serrations of said strap;
• means connecting said ratcher to said base for journalling said ratchet to said base for enabling movement of said ratchet about a journal axis in either of (A) an engagement direction, favoring engagement between said serrated portion of said ratchet and said serrations of said strap, and (B) a disengagement direction, favoring disengagement of said serrated portion of said ratchet and said serrations of said strap;
• means for applying an elastic return force to said ratchet in a direction toward movement of said ratchet about said journal axis in said engagement direction;
• means for receiving a finger of one's hand for enabling application of a force in opposition to said elastic return force to move said ratchet in said disengagement direction;
• said ratchet further comprising an open space located between said serrated portion and said journal axis, said open space having a size adapted to receive said strap, whereby, in said engagement between said serrated portion of said ratchet and said serrations of said strap, said strap is positioned between said serrated portion of said strap and said journal axis.