TECHNICAL FIELD
This application is directed, in general, to an apparatus and, more specifically, to an apparatus for winding a windable material.
BACKGROUND
Cargo straps, rope, wire and other devices (e.g., collectively referred to as securing devices) are commonly used on trucks and/or trailers, especially flat bed trucks and/or trailers, to secure loads. Due to the large lengths of these securing devices, the task of winding and unwinding said securing devices can be tedious and burdensome. Accordingly, there is a need for a tool that is both lightweight and easy to use, that can quickly wind and unwind said securing devices.
SUMMARY
One aspect provides a winding apparatus. The winding apparatus, in one example, includes a bit member configured to engage a drilling apparatus. The bit member, in this example, has a length defining a central longitudinal axis of rotation. The winding apparatus, in this example, further includes a holding member coupleable to the bit member. For example, the holding member may be configured to extend along at least a portion of the length of the bit member, thereby creating a space between the bit member and the holding member to accept a windable material.
Another aspect provides an alternative winding apparatus. The alternative winding apparatus, in one example, includes a holding member configured to couple to a bit member having a length defining a central longitudinal axis of rotation, the holding member configured to extend along at least a portion of the length of the bit member thereby creating a space between the bit member and the holding member to accept a windable material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a winding apparatus in accordance with the disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a winding apparatus in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 3 is a winding apparatus in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 4 illustrates various different cross-sectional shapes of a bit member in accordance with the disclosure;
FIG. 5 is a winding apparatus in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the disclosure
FIG. 6 is a winding system in accordance with the disclosure; and
FIG. 7 is a winding system in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Turning initially to FIG. 1, illustrated is a winding apparatus 100 in accordance with the disclosure. The term winding apparatus, as used herein, is intended to include an apparatus configured to wind (e.g., roll), or assist in winding, a windable material. Windable materials, among others, include various forms of fabrics, natural materials, plastics, metals, etc. For example, a cargo strap, as might be used to secure items, is one form of a windable material. Other windable materials, without limitation, include rope, string, wire, etc.
The winding apparatus 100 includes a bit member 110. The bit member 110, in this embodiment, has a length (l) defining a central longitudinal axis of rotation 120. The length (l) of the bit member 110 may vary greatly depending on a number of different factors. Nevertheless, in one embodiment, a length (l) of the bit member is less than about 8 inches, and more specifically around about 6 inches. Such smaller lengths allow for more control of the winding apparatus 100 during operation thereof. A first end 130 of the bit member 110 is configured to engage a drilling apparatus (not shown), whereas a second end 135 of the drilling apparatus may be configured to engage the windable material.
The bit member 110 may embody various different materials and configurations. For example, the bit member 110 may comprise metal, wood, plastic, among many others, while staying within the scope of the disclosure. Similarly, the bit member 110 may have various different cross-sections, as shown briefly in FIGS. 4A thru 4E. FIG. 4A illustrates that the bit member 110 may have a triangle cross-section, whereas FIG. 4B illustrates a rectangle (e.g., square in one embodiment) cross-section, FIG. 4C illustrates a hexagon cross-section and FIG. 4D illustrates an octagon cross-section, all of which are polygons. Likewise, as shown in FIG. 4E the bit member 110 may have a circular cross-section. It is anticipated that the triangle and rectangle cross-sections of the bit member 110 may provide advantageous results, as such configurations will provide less friction between the windable material and the bit member 110. Likewise, an end of the bit member 110 configured to engage the drilling apparatus may be knurled, such as shown in FIG. 1. Moreover, the bit member 110 may comprise a drill bit, in one embodiment.
The winding apparatus 100 further includes a holding member 150. The holding member 150, in one embodiment, is coupleable to the bit member 110. In another embodiment, the holding member 150 is coupled to the bit member 110, whether removably coupled, slidably coupled, rigidly coupled, etc. The holding member 150, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, is configured to extend along at least a portion of the length (l) of the bit member 110. In one embodiment, the holding member 150 extends along at least a portion of the length (l) of the bit member 110 and substantially parallel thereto. In doing so, the holding member 150 creates a space 160 between the bit member 110 and itself. This space 160, in the embodiment, is configured to accept and/or engage the windable material, a strap in one embodiment.
The holding member 150, similar to the bit member 110, may embody a number of different materials and configurations and remain within the purview of this disclosure. The holding member 150, like the bit member 110, may comprise metal, wood, plastic, among many others, while staying within the scope of the disclosure. The holding member 150 of FIG. 1 comprises a springable material having a spring constant. For example, the holding member 150 having the spring constant might exert a spring force 170 toward, or even upon, the bit member 110. The amount of spring force 170 that the holding member 150 exerts on the bit member 110 should be sufficient to hold the windable material within the space 160, but not too much to prevent the windable material from being inserted within the space. In one embodiment, the holding member 150 has a spring constant value similar to the spring constant value of a pocket clip of a traditional pen or pencil.
Turning to FIG. 2, illustrated is an alternative embodiment of a winding apparatus 200. The winding apparatus 200 is similar to the winding apparatus 100 in many respects. For this reason, like reference numbers are used to illustrate similar features. The winding apparatus 200 of FIG. 2, in contrast to the winding apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, employs an engaging member 210 to attach the holding member 150 to the bit member 110. For example, a first end of the holding member 150 may be coupled to the engaging member 210, the second end of the holding member 150 being free of the engaging member 210. Accordingly, the holding member 150 does not directly couple to the bit member 110, but the holding member 150 directly couples to the engaging member 210, which does couple directly to the bit member 110.
FIG. 2 further illustrates that the engaging member 210 may slidably couple to the bit member 110. Accordingly, the engaging member 210 and attached holding member 150 may accommodate various different widths of windable material. To accommodate this, the engaging member 210 may comprise a clip or sleeve, among others. The bit member may additionally have indicators 220 located on the bit member 110 for illustrating a positioning of the holding member 150 for various different widths of windable material.
Turning to FIG. 3, illustrated is an alternative embodiment of a winding apparatus 300. The winding apparatus 300 of FIG. 3, in contrast to the winding apparatus 100, 200 of FIGS. 1 thru 2, employs a rigid holding member 310. The rigid holding member 310, in contrast to the holding member 150, does not exert a spring force on the bit member 110. The winding apparatus 300 of FIG. 3, in contrast to those previously discussed, further includes a grasping member 320 coupled to the engaging member 210, the grasping member 320 configured to assist the removal of the windable material from the winding apparatus 300. For example, after the windable material is completely wound upon the bit member 110, the grasping member 320 may be pulled in a direction opposite the windable material, thereby releasing the windable material from the holding member 310, and thus from the winding apparatus 300. The grasping member 320 of FIG. 3 is illustrated as a ring. Nevertheless, the grasping member may embody other shapes and configurations.
Turning to FIG. 5, illustrated is yet another embodiment of a winding apparatus 500. The winding apparatus 500 of FIG. 5, in contrast to a holding member, includes a spool member 520 configured to couple to the bit member 510. The spool member 520, in this embodiment, includes an opening 530 to accept windable material.
Turning to FIG. 6, illustrated is a winding system 600. The winding system 600 includes a drill apparatus 610 coupled to a winding apparatus 620. The drill apparatus 610 may comprise any drill configuration currently known or hereafter discovered that is capable of rotating the winding apparatus 620 about its central longitudinal axes of rotation. For example, in one embodiment the drill apparatus 610 is a conventional electric or battery operated drill. In another embodiment, the drill apparatus 610 is a hand operated drill.
A winding system, such as the winding system 600 of FIG. 6, may be easily and quickly operated. In a first step, the winding material 630 may be placed within the space created by the bit member and the holding member (see FIGS. 1 thru 3). Thereafter, as shown, the drill apparatus 610 may be operated to wind, or roll, the windable material 630 about the bit member until completely wound. After the windable material 630 is fully wound, it may be removed from the winding system 600 in the form of a wound unit 640.
Turning briefly to FIG. 7, illustrated is an alternative embodiment of a winding system 700. The winding system 700 of FIG. 7, in contrast to the winding system 600 of FIG. 6, is configured to employ the spool member shown in FIG. 5. But for this minor difference, the winding system 700 of FIG. 7 would operate in a similar fashion to the winding system 600 of FIG. 6.
Those skilled in the art to which this application relates will appreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications may be made to the described embodiments.
Patent Application
20110259993
