Retractable tie down and method of using
View Patent ↗A retractable tie down for tying a work vehicle down to a cargo vehicle is disclosed, the tie down including a retractor assembly fixed to the outer surface of a work vehicle; a belt with one end connected to the retractor assembly; and a coupling connected to the other end of the belt, wherein the belt has a length sufficient to reach the cargo vehicle.
1. A method for securing a work vehicle onto a trailer using a plurality of retractable tie downs, wherein the plurality of tie downs are fixed to the work vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) driving the vehicle onto the trailer;
(b) unreeling a free end of one or more tie downs from the work vehicle;
(c) attaching the free end of one or more tie downs to the trailer; and
(d) tensioning one or more tie downs.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the work vehicle is a skid steer loader including towers and loader arms.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one tie down is fixed to a tower.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one tie down is fixed to a loader arm.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (d) includes a step of driving the vehicle forward or backward until said one or more tie downs are tense.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (d) includes a step of raising or lowering a loader arms until said one or more tie downs are tense.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each tie down includes a manual release and wherein step (d) includes steps of activating the manual release, and automatically retracting the free end of the tie down onto a reel by a spring force.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each tie down includes a manual release and wherein step (b) includes steps of activating the manual release, and pulling a free end of said tie down from a reel under spring tension.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tie down includes a manual lock, and wherein step (c) includes a step of activating the manual lock to prohibit the free end from further extension.