Protected tie down strap
View Patent ↗A protected tie down strap encapsulates an adjustable tie down strap within a strap housing and includes a fixed tie down strap. An adjustment knob allows a user to turn the knob and take up slack in the adjustable tie down strap. The protected tie down strap utilizes a number of internal components including force plates, a power disc, washers, screw, shaft, etc. Together, they complete the complex task of tightening the tie down strap by powerfully wrapping it around the shaft in response to a user turning the adjustment knob. When the user wishes to release the tension on the tie down strap, he or she simply turns the adjustment knob the other direction (in other embodiments, he or she raises the adjustment knob up to release the strap and untie the load.)
1. A tie down strap for securing a load, the tie down strap comprising:
a housing;
a fixed strap extending from a first side of the housing;
an adjustable strap extending from an opposite second side of the housing;
an adjustment knob on the housing;
a tensioning spool inside the housing, the tensioning spool comprising:
a) a shaft connected to the adjustment knob;
b) the shaft comprising a strap winding spool portion;
c) the adjustable strap connected to the shaft at the strap winding spool portion;
d) a top force plate connected to the shaft;
e) a lower force plate connected to the shaft and located below the top force plate;
f) a power disc connected to the shaft and located between the top force plate and the lower force plate;
g) a top spool plate;
h) a bottom spool plate;
i) the top spool plate and bottom spool plate configured to guide the adjustable strap as it winds and unwinds around the strap winding spool portion of the shaft;
the adjustment knob configured to turn in a first direction;
the top force plate configured to rotate in the first direction as the adjustment knob is turned in the first direction;
the top force plate configured to engage and rotate the power disc in the first direction as the top force plate is rotated by the turn of the adjustment knob;
the power disc configured to wind the adjustable strap around the shaft winding spool portion of the shaft as the power disc is rotated in the first direction to increase tension on the adjustable strap;
the top force plate and the lower force plate configured to engage the power disc to hold the adjustable strap in position when the adjustment knob is not being turned;
the adjustment knob configured to operate in coordination with the tensioning spool to tighten or loosen the adjustable strap to secure or release a load; and
the housing configured to protect the tensioning spool from outside elements.
2. The tie down strap of claim 1 , further comprising:
the adjustment knob configured to turn in an opposite second direction;
the top force plate configured to rotate in the second direction as the adjustment knob is turned in the second direction;
the top force plate configured to engage and rotate the power disc in the second direction as the top force plate is rotated by the turn of the adjustment knob; and
the power disc configured to unwind the adjustable strap around the shaft winding spool portion of the shaft as the power disc is rotated in the second direction to decrease tension on the adjustable strap.
3. The tie down strap of claim 2 , further comprising:
the top force plate and the lower force plate comprising a plurality of protrusions;
the top force plate and the lower force plate comprising a plurality of channels;
the power disc comprising a plurality of locking flanges;
the plurality of locking flanges configured to engage with the plurality of protrusions of the top force plate and the lower force plate; and
wherein the engagement of the locking flanges with the plurality of protrusions hold the adjustable strap in position when the adjustment knob is not being turned.
4. The tie down strap of claim 1 , wherein the tie down strap does not comprise a lever.
5. A tie down strap for securing a load, the tie down strap comprising:
a housing;
a fixed strap extending from the housing;
an adjustable strap extending from the housing;
an adjustment knob on the housing;
a tensioning spool inside the housing, the tensioning spool comprising:
a) a shaft connected to the adjustment knob;
b) the shaft comprising a strap winding spool portion;
c) the adjustable strap connected to the shaft at the strap winding spool portion;
d) a top force plate connected to the shaft;
e) a lower force plate connected to the shaft;
f) a power disc connected to the shaft;
the adjustment knob configured to turn in a first direction;
the top force plate configured to rotate in the first direction as the adjustment knob is turned in the first direction;
the top force plate configured to engage and rotate the power disc in the first direction as the top force plate is rotated by the turn of the adjustment knob;
the power disc configured to wind the adjustable strap around the shaft winding spool portion of the shaft as the power disc is rotated in the first direction to increase tension on the adjustable strap; and
the top force plate and the lower force plate configured to engage the power disc to hold the adjustable strap in position when the adjustment knob is not being turned.
6. The tie down strap of claim 5 , further comprising:
the adjustment knob configured to turn in an opposite second direction;
the top force plate configured to rotate in the second direction as the adjustment knob is turned in the second direction;
the top force plate configured to engage and rotate the power disc in the second direction as the top force plate is rotated by the turn of the adjustment knob; and
the power disc configured to unwind the adjustable strap around the shaft winding spool portion of the shaft as the power disc is rotated in the second direction to decrease tension on the adjustable strap.
7. The tie down strap of claim 6 , further comprising:
the top force plate and the lower force plate comprising a plurality of protrusions;
the top force plate and the lower force plate comprising a plurality of channels;
the power disc comprising a plurality of locking flanges;
the plurality of locking flanges configured to engage with the plurality of protrusions of the top force plate and the lower force plate; and
wherein the engagement of the locking flanges with the plurality of protrusions hold the adjustable strap in position when the adjustment knob is not being turned.
8. The tie down strap of claim 7 , the tensioning spool further comprising:
a top spool plate;
a bottom spool plate;
the top spool plate and the bottom spool plate configured to guide the adjustable strap as it winds and unwinds around the strap winding spool portion of the shaft;
an optional power spring; and
the optional power spring configured to provide tension to assist with winding the adjustable strap around the strap winding spool portion of the shaft.
9. The tie down strap of claim 5 , further comprising:
the fixed strap extending from a first side of the housing; and
the adjustable strap extending from an opposite second side of the housing.
10. The tie down strap of claim 5 , further comprising:
at least one vertical lock pin;
the at least one vertical lock pin configured to connect the fixed strap to the housing; and
the at least one vertical lock pin configured to assist with guiding the adjustable strap in and out of the housing.
11. The tie down strap of claim 5 , wherein the tie down strap does not comprise a lever.
12. The tie down strap of claim 5 , wherein the housing is configured to protect the tensioning spool from outside elements.
13. The tie down strap of claim 5 , further comprising:
a means of attachment on one end of the fixed strap extending from the housing;
a means of attachment on one end of the adjustable strap extending from the housing; and
the means of attachment configured to attach the tie down strap to a load for securement;
wherein the means of attachment include hooks, S hooks, magnets, latches, hook and loop material, sharply angled teeth, T brackets, or combinations thereof.
14. A method of using a tie down strap, comprising:
providing a load in need of securement;
providing a tie down strap, the tie down strap comprising:
a) a housing;
b) a fixed strap extending from the housing;
c) an adjustable strap extending from the housing;
d) a means of attachment on one end of the fixed strap extending from the housing;
e) a means of attachment on one end of the adjustable strap extending from the housing;
f) the means of attachment configured to attach the tie down strap to the load for securement, wherein the means of attachment include hooks, S hooks, magnets, latches, hook and loop material, sharply angled teeth, T brackets, or combinations thereof;
g) an adjustment knob on the housing;
h) a tensioning spool inside the housing, the tensioning spool comprising:
i) a shaft connected to the adjustment knob;
ii) the shaft comprising a strap winding spool portion;
iii) the adjustable strap connected to the shaft at the strap winding spool portion;
iv) a top force plate connected to the shaft;
v) a lower force plate connected to the shaft;
vi) a power disc connected to the shaft;
attaching the means of attachment of the fixed strap to a first tie down location;
adjusting the adjustable strap to a maximum length;
attaching the means of attachment of the adjustable strap to a second tie down location;
turning the adjustment knob in a first direction to tighten the adjustable strap to secure the load;
the top force plate rotating in the first direction as the adjustment knob is turned in the first direction;
the top force plate engaging and rotating the power disc in the first direction as the top force plate is rotated by the turn of the adjustment knob;
the power disc winding the adjustable strap around the shaft winding spool portion of the shaft as the power disc is rotated in the first direction to increase tension on the adjustable strap;
the top force plate and the lower force plate engaging the power disc to hold the adjustable strap in position when the adjustment knob is not being turned;
turning the adjustment knob in a second direction to loosen the adjustable strap to release the load;
removing the means of attachment of the adjustable strap from the second tie down location;
removing the means of attachment of the fixed strap from the first tie down location; and
turning the adjustment knob in the first direction to collect the adjustable strap in the housing for storage purposes.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
the top force plate rotating in the second direction as the adjustment knob is turned in the second direction;
the top force plate engaging and rotating the power disc in the second direction as the top force plate is rotated by the turn of the adjustment knob; and
the power disc unwinding the adjustable strap around the shaft winding spool portion of the shaft as the power disc is rotated in the second direction to decrease tension on the adjustable strap.