Tensioning bar assist device
OwnerJeffrey Curtis Trumpinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An assist device for use with a tensioning bar, the device comprising a pair of surfaces in spaced apart relation affixed to a u-shaped wall, creating an open ended box, and a pair of through bores located along a central vertical axis of each surface. The assist device is removably or permanently coupled to the tensioning bar. The tensioning bar is inserted into a truck winch, and a user facing the assist device and the truck winch, perpendicular to longitudinal axis of the bar, pushes down on an upper surface of the assist device using hands or a foot in a pumping motion, causing the bar to pivot downwards from the winch, and thus tightening or loosening the strap.
Claims5
A tensioning bar assist device, suitable for use with a tensioning bar used to adjust a truck winch, the tensioning bar having a winch coupling end and an opposed end having a pair of tensioning bar through bores, the assist device (100) comprising:
- a top surface (10) and a bottom surface (20) in spaced apart relation, each surface having a peripheral edge (18) extending around an outermost edge of the top surface and the bottom surface;
- a U-shaped exterior wall (40) affixed to the peripheral edge (18) of the top surface (20) and the bottom surface (20);
- at least two through bores (30) located along a vertical central axis of the top surface (10) and the bottom surface (20);
- and
- at least two fasteners (32) (34) inserted into the through bores (30),
- wherein the top surface, bottom surface, and the U-shaped exterior wall define an interior space having five walled surfaces and one open side, and an interior width spanning the interior space between the top surface and the bottom surface sized and shaped to receive the tensioning bar opposed end, and
- wherein the at least two fasteners are sized to span the interior width,
- whereby the opposed end of the tensioning bar inserted into the interior space is secured thereto by the at least two fasteners (30) inserted into all the through bores of the top surface, bottom surface, and opposed end.
A tensioning bar assembly suitable for use with a truck winch affixed to a truck and a flat strap (72) inserted into the truck winch, the truck winch further comprising a winch lock and a bar receiving end (62), the tensioning bar assembly comprising:
- a tensioning bar (50) having a winch coupling end (52) and an opposed assist device receiving end (54);
- and
- an assist device (100) having a top surface (10);
- a receiving slot (56) formed into the top surface (10);
- at least two through bores (30) formed into both the top surface (10) and the receiving end (54);
- and
- a plurality of fasteners (32) (34),
- wherein the top surface (10) of the assist device (100) is coupled to the assist device receiving end (54) by inserting the receiving end (54) into the receiving slot (56) and fastening the plurality of fasteners (32) (34) into the at least two through bores (30) formed in both the top surface (10) and in the receiving end (54),
- whereby a user positioned in front of the assist device (100) facing the winch and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tensioning bar (50), applies a downwards force on the assist device (100) multiple times causing the tensioning bar (50) to pivot downwards from the bar coupling end (62), tightening the flat strap, and by applying a single downwards force on the assist device (100), allows the user to unlock the winch lock and loosen the flat strap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.