BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a strap tensioning device, and more particularly to a strap tensioning device having an auxiliary pulling knob or handgrip attached to a strap for easily operating or pulling or tensioning the strap.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical strap tensioning devices comprise a handle member pivotally or rotatably attached to a base member, and a ratchet device or cam device disposed or coupled to either or both of the handle member and the base member, for tightening or tensioning a strap. The strap may include one end to be pulled by the users, in order to tighten or to tension the strap.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,848 to Jackson et al. discloses one of the typical strap tensioning devices comprising a ratchet device disposed or coupled between a handle member and a base member, for winding up and securing a tension strap in a tensioned condition for securing loads for hauling or transport. For allowing the tension strap to be easily pulled by the users and to tighten or to tension the strap, a loop is normally formed and provided on one end of the tension strap, to forcefully pull and tension the strap.
However, the loop is normally formed by bending one end of the tension strap directly and includes a small thickness that also may not be forcefully pulled to tension the strap, such that the typical strap tensioning devices may not be easily or suitably operated by the users.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional strap tensioning devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a strap tensioning device including an auxiliary pulling handgrip attached to a tension strap for easily operating or pulling or tensioning the tension strap.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a strap tensioning device comprising a base member, a first engaging member coupled to the base member, a handle member pivotally attached to the base member with a pivot axle, and rotatably relative to the base member, for tensioning a tension strap, the tension strap being engaged over the pivot axle, and including a first end having a second engaging member coupled thereto, and including a second end, and an auxiliary pulling handgrip attached to the second end of the tension strap, for being forcefully pulled by users, in order to effectively tension the tension strap.
The auxiliary pulling handgrip includes a chamber formed therein, for engaging with the tension strap, and for securing the tension strap to the second end of the tension strap. The auxiliary pulling handgrip includes two bars to define the chamber thereof, and to have the chamber formed between the two bars.
The auxiliary pulling handgrip includes at least one curved recess formed in one of the bars, for being comfortably grasped by the users. The auxiliary pulling handgrip includes at least one curved recess formed in both of the bars, for being comfortably grasped by the users.
The auxiliary pulling handgrip includes a lever engaged in the chamber thereof and secured to the handgrip, to separate the chamber of the handgrip into two separated passages, for engaging with the tension strap.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional view of a strap tensioning device in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the operation of the strap tensioning device;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an auxiliary knob or handgrip for the strap tensioning device;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the other embodiment of the auxiliary knob or handgrip for the strap tensioning device;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, illustrating the further embodiment of the auxiliary knob or handgrip for the strap tensioning device;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3-5, illustrating a still further embodiment of the auxiliary knob or handgrip for the strap tensioning device;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3-6, illustrating a still further embodiment of the auxiliary knob or handgrip for the strap tensioning device;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3-7, illustrating a still further embodiment of the auxiliary knob or handgrip for the strap tensioning device;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3-8, illustrating a still further embodiment of the auxiliary knob or handgrip for the strap tensioning device;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3-9, illustrating a still further embodiment of the auxiliary knob or handgrip for the strap tensioning device;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3-10, illustrating a still further embodiment of the auxiliary knob or handgrip for the strap tensioning device;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3-11, illustrating a still further embodiment of the auxiliary knob or handgrip for the strap tensioning device;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3-12, illustrating a still further embodiment of the auxiliary knob or handgrip for the strap tensioning device;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3-13, illustrating a still further embodiment of the auxiliary knob or handgrip for the strap tensioning device; and
FIGS. 15, 16 are partial cross sectional views similar to FIGS. 1-2, illustrating the attachment and the application of the auxiliary knob or handgrip, as shown in FIGS. 9-14, for the strap tensioning device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a strap tensioning device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a base member 10, an engaging member 11, such as a hook 11 coupled to the base member 10 with such as a cable or strap or rope 12, for engaging onto objects to be tightened or tensioned, and a handle member 13 pivotally or rotatably attached to the base member 10 with such as a pivot axle 14 and having a ratchet device or cam device 15 disposed or coupled to either or both of the base member 10 and the handle member 13, for tightening or tensioning a tension strap 20.
For example, the tension strap 20 may be engaged over the pivot axle 14, and engaged with the cam device 15, and includes another engaging member 21, such as a hook 21 coupled thereto, for engaging onto the objects to be tightened or tensioned. The tension strap 20 may, typically, be tightened or tensioned by rotating the handle member 13 and the cam device 15 relative to the base member 10. The tension strap 20 includes the other end 22 to be pulled or tighten or tensioned by the users. The present invention is to provide an auxiliary pulling knob or handgrip 30 attached to the other end 22 of the tension strap 20, for being easily operated or pulled or tensioned by the users.
As shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary pulling handgrip 30 includes an opening or chamber 31 formed therein, and a lever 32 laterally engaged in the chamber 31 of the handgrip 30 and secured to the handgrip 30, to separate the chamber 31 of the handgrip 30 into two separated passages 33, 34 which may be threaded or engaged with the tension strap 20. For example, the other end 22 of the tension strap 20 may first be engaged through one of the passages 33, and then engaged over the lever 32, and then engaged through the other passage 34, and then secured to the tension strap 20 itself, in order to secure the auxiliary pulling handgrip 30 to the other end 22 of the tension strap 20.
In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, after the tension strap 20 has been tightened or tensioned by rotating the handle member 13 and the cam device 15 relative to the base member 10, the other end 22 of the tension strap 20 may further be forcefully or effectively pulled or tighten or tensioned by the users with the auxiliary pulling handgrip 30. It is preferable that the auxiliary pulling handgrip 30 includes two end or side bars 35 to define the chamber 31 thereof, or to have the chamber 31 formed between the two side bars 35, and one or both of the side bars 35 includes one or more curved recesses 36 formed therein, for being comfortably held or grasped by the users.
For example, as shown in FIGS. 3-4, 8, 10 and 14, the curved recesses 36 may be formed in only one of the side bars 35. However, the curved recesses 36 may also be formed in both of the side bars 35, as shown in FIGS. 5-6, 9 and 11. As shown in FIGS. 3-4, 8, 10, and 14, the auxiliary pulling handgrip 30 may include a spatial structure, instead of a planar or sheet or plate like structure as shown in FIGS. 5-7, 9, and 11-13. The shape of the chamber 31 of the handgrip 30, and the shape or outer contour of the handgrip 30 may also be formed into various kinds of designs as shown in FIGS. 3-14, for being comfortably held or grasped by the users.
Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 9-16, without the lever 32, or without providing and securing the lever 32 within the chamber 31 of the handgrip 30, the other end 22 of the tension strap 20 may be directly engaged over one of the side bars 35, and then engaged through the chamber 31 of the handgrip 30, and then secured to the tension strap 20 itself, such that the auxiliary pulling handgrip 30 may also be secured to the other end 22 of the tension strap 20, and such that the other end 22 of the tension strap 20 may also be forcefully or effectively pulled or tighten or tensioned by the users with the auxiliary pulling handgrip 30.
Accordingly, the strap tensioning device in accordance with the present invention includes an auxiliary pulling handgrip attached to the tension strap for easily and effectively operating or pulling or tensioning the tension strap.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Patent Application
20060236507
