United States Patent 15
`Cummings
`
`US005101537A
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,101,537
`Apr. 7, 1992
`
`[54] RATCHET TIE-DOWN
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor:
`
`David S. Cummings, Princeton, Mass.
`
`Primary Examiner—JamesR. Brittain
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Shlesinger, Arkwright &
`Garvey
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`Lowell Corporation, Worcester,
`Mass.
`(21] Appl. No.: 561,005
`
`[22]- Filed:
`
`Aug. 1, 1990
`
`[51] Une C13 coecccescecsccsssssssssssescecsssssensnseessss A44B 21/00
`[52] U.S. Cle ceccsccssssssecesssesssssesesessess 24/68 CD; 24/71.2
`
`[58] Field of Search............. 24/68 R, 68 CD,68 SK,
`24/68 B, 71.2, 68 CT; 410/100
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A ratchet tie downstructure is shown that is designed
`to hold heavy objects in place on a transport vehicle
`such as a flat bedtrailer, a car carrier, a railroad car and
`the like. The mechanism includes a base element at-
`tached to the transport vehicle that has pair of cooperat-
`Related U.S. Application Data
`ing elements havinginterfitting ratchet teeth and a latch
`[63]|Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 260,001, Oct. 19, 1988,
`that permit a shaft to be turned in one direction to
`abandoned.
`tighten a flexible holding element attached to the object
`with the latch holding the tension therein until
`the
`ratchet teeth on the two elements are disengaged. The
`structure includes a driving connection by which the
`shaft may be rotated in one direction to wind a tension
`in the flexible holding element andthelatch being selec-
`tively operative to disengage one of the elements with
`the ratchet teeth from the other in order to release the
`tension in the flexible holding means when the heavy
`object is to be unloaded.
`
`3,988,007 10/1976 Freiburger, Jr... 24/68 R
`4,045,002
`8/1977 Miller ......ceesceeeeees 24/68 CD X
`
`4,234,166 11/1980 Cederblad «0...
`eee 24/68 CD
`4,799,297
`1/1989 Baggio et al. oe 24/68 SK
`
`
`
`7 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`Cottrell, Ex. 2005
`Boydstunv. Cottrell, IPR2017-00962
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`Cottrell, Ex. 2005
`Boydstun v. Cottrell, IPR2017-00962
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 7, 1992
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`5,101,537
`
`
`
`Cottrell, Ex. 2005
`Boydstunv. Cottrell, IPR2017-00962
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`Cottrell, Ex. 2005
`Boydstun v. Cottrell, IPR2017-00962
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 7, 1992
`
`5,101,537
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`Cottrell, Ex. 2005
`Boydstunv. Cottrell, IPR2017-00962
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`Cottrell, Ex. 2005
`Boydstun v. Cottrell, IPR2017-00962
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 7, 1992
`
`5,101,537
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`Cottrell, Ex. 2005
`Boydstunv. Cottrell, IPR2017-00962
`
`Cottrell, Ex. 2005
`Boydstun v. Cottrell, IPR2017-00962
`
`

`

`1
`
`RATCHET TIE-DOWN
`
`5,101,537
`
`This is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser.
`No. 07/260,001, filed Oct. 19, 1988, abandoned, for
`Ratchet.
`This invention relates to a means for anchoring ob-
`jects to be transported onto the flat beds or decks of
`transport vehicles such as auto transporttrailers, flat
`bed trucks andtrailers, railroad flat cars by tensioning a
`flexible strap or chain or the like around the object to
`fasten it to the transport means.
`BACKGROUND
`
`—0
`
`— 5
`
`25
`
`In the transport or freight hauling industry there is a
`need for means to quickly and easily apply a suitable
`tension to chains, straps, cables and ropes that are
`adapted to fix heavy objects in place on the transport
`means. The device for pulling the tension in the flexible
`means must also be constructed and arranged to hold
`the tension in the flexible tie-down while the objects are
`being transported and yet that device must be adapted
`to be quickly and safely operative to release the tension
`in the flexible tie-down meansfor unloading the objects
`when the destination has been reached.
`Heretofore, one form of a tie-down system has been
`used which makes used of a manually manipulated ro-
`tating take up shaft for wrapping a flexible tie-down ~
`means aroundits periphery, the shaft having a toothed
`wheel integral therewith that coacts with a pawlto hold
`the tension in the flexible tie-down. A suitable winding
`or cranking meansis provided to wind the flexible tie-
`down onthe shaft and the paw! must be released at the
`destination to permit the unloading of the heavy object
`from the transport. In practice at the freight depot, the
`tension in the tie-downis released by using a pry bar or
`a crank on the toothed wheel to slightly tighten the
`flexible tie-down in order to release the load on the
`pawl and then the operator can movethe pawlto its
`unlocked position whereupon the toothed wheel can be
`turned to reverse the rotation of the shaft to fully re-
`lease the pull on the tie-down. The use of the fingers
`near the pawl adjacent the toothed wheel to unlock the
`pawlas has been the practice in the past, has resulted in
`some painful accidents to the operators including even
`the loss of fingers when the crank or pry bar has been
`accidentally released during the tension releasing pro-
`cess.
`
`PRIOR ART
`
`In myprior application, the following art was made
`of record:
`
`65,386 to Hubbard
`June 4, 1867
`78,245 to Weiland
`May26, 1868
`351,735 to Brill
`November2, 1886
`416,996 to Cook
`December 10, 1889
`$00,529 to Burns
`June 27, 1893
`2,899,841 to Melloy
`August 18, 1959
`3,988,007 to Freiberger Jr.
`October 26, 1976
`
`4,635,773 to Llewilin January 13, 1987
`
`While all of the above cited patents illustrate various
`one-way drive systems making use of a ratchet drive
`means, only Cook and Freiburger show meansto ten-
`sion a flexible or other means and lock the flexible ele-
`mentin its tensioned condition.
`Hubbard and Weiland show one wayratchet drive
`means for use on agricultural equipment. Brill and
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`Burns show manually driven crank means operating
`througha ratchet drive for applying the brakes onrail-
`road cars and Melloy shows a one wayratchetdrive for
`a control knob on a household appliance. Not one of
`these prior art patents describes a locking meansassoci-
`ated with the ratcheting device.
`The patent to Cook discloses a means that forms a
`clutch in a device for applying the brakes on a railroad
`car or the like wherein a pawl or foot dog 18 is shown
`that coacts with a toothed ratchet 8 to enable a brake-
`man to pull a tension in a chain to apply the brakes on
`a railroad car. When the brakes have beenset, the paw!
`or foot dog 18 engages the ratchet to hold the brakesset
`hard. In order to unlock the brakes, the brake-handle
`may be moved to a position to turn the ratchet for-
`wardly “with his entire strength” (page 2, column 1,
`line 28) to give the ratchet some additional forward
`movementto enable the brakeman to movethe foot-dog
`to release the ratchet.
`The Freiburger Jr. patent discloses a device adapted
`for a sedentary use such as for holding down a mobile
`home. This construction makes use of a bolt rotatably
`mounted in a holder adapted to be anchored to the
`ground. Thebolt is driven to wind upa strap to place a
`constant pull on the structure to which the strap is
`attached by connecting the strap supporting means to
`an anchoring devicethat is resiliently supported from a
`rod driven into the ground.
`_
`The Freiburger Jr. structure includes a series of co-
`acting ratcheting teeth associated with a fixed means
`that supports the bolt. The teeth are resiliently urged
`into engagement by meansofa spring that cooperates
`with the bolt as the bolt is rotated by a hand held
`wrench to wind up the strap to place it under tension.
`Once the holding means is placed under tension. This
`device is intended to be mounted permanently in one
`place and no means are shown for unloading the resil-
`ient tension pulled on the strap.
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`This device finds use particularly in the heavy duty
`transport field and includes a ratchet having an input
`element and an output or hold-back element arranged
`for relative rotation about a commonaxis of a take up
`shaft and in this disclosure the output element has a
`limited relative resilient longitudinal movement along
`the shaft relative to the input element. Each element has
`a circular array of teeth that engages a similar array of
`teeth on the other element. Each tooth has an axially-
`extending forward face and an inclined rearward face.
`The teeth in the input element face in one direction
`opposite to the direction of the teeth on the output
`element, so that rotation of the input element in one
`direction causes the rearward faces to act in a camming
`mode with relative axial movement of the output ele-
`ment to the input element, while rotation of the input
`elementin the other direction causes the forward faces
`to engage in a locking mode.
`In its preferred form, the tie-down is mounted along
`a side of a trans-port means. Forthis use the input ele-
`ment is integral with the shaft for winding a flexible
`hold-down means around its periphery and the rela-
`tively longitudinally movable output element is non-
`rotatably mountedrelative to the input means. When
`the input elementis driven to wind up the flexible strap
`or other holding means for engaging the object to be
`held on the transport, the teeth on the input and output
`
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`5,101,537
`
`3
`elements coactto first allow the shaft to be rotated to
`pull the tension in the flexible means and then lock the
`input means in its wound up position to retain the ten-
`sion pulled in the flexible holding meansin orderto hold
`that object bound to the transport means. After the
`transport has arrived at its destination, the output ele-
`ment may be moved longitudinally away from the input
`element to release the tension in the flexible holding
`means to permit the object to be unloaded from the
`transport vehicle.
`IN THE DRAWINGS
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4
`are disposed to cooperate with the teeth 14 on the disk
`11.
`As shownin FIGS. 1 and5,a resilient means such as
`the coil spring 18, presses against the side wall 19 of the
`auto track element of an automobile car carrier trans-
`port trailer upon which this device is mounted, for
`example to bias the output element toward the input
`element so that the cooperating ratchet teeth 14 and 17
`are pressed into engagement. Each tooth 14 of the input
`element has a forward face and a rear face, the forward
`face lying in a plane that passes through an axis A—A
`and the rear face that is sloped relative to the forward
`face. In the same way,the teeth 17 of the output element
`FIG. 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing
`are formed with a forward face andarearface that face
`one form of the ratchet tie-down device of this inven-
`15
`in the opposite direction from the teeth on the input
`tion;
`element. In other words, the forward faces of the input
`FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the device looking at
`element are directed toward the forward faces of the
`the tie-down along the plane 2—2 of FIG.1,
`output element to lock together in one direction of
`FIG.3 is a detailed side elevation partly broken away
`rotation as will appear morefully below androtation in
`showing one form of an output element for the tie-down
`the opposite direction causes the rear faces to act in a
`of this invention;
`slipping or camming modeto unlock the engagedteeth.
`FIG. 4 is an end view of the output element of FIG.
`This structure provides a ratchet drive havingapositive
`3 looking along line 4—4 of FIG.3;
`drive connection when the input and output elements
`FIG. 5 is a perspective view partly broken away
`are driven in one direction and a ratcheting connection
`showing the device of FIG. 1 mounted on a car carrier
`when these elements are driven in a reverse direction.
`transport means;
`As shownin FIG. 5, this tie-down meansis adapted
`FIG. 6 is a side elevation of an alternate form of the
`to be mounted on a carcarrier transport means. In this
`tie-down device, shownpartly in section;:
`use, the input element 11 is fixedly mounted on the
`FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the device of
`outboard end of the wrapping shaft that is rotated to
`FIG. 6 mounted in a typical manner on the side of a
`pull the tension on the holding means and shaft 25 is
`flat-bed transport means;
`rotatably carried in the output element. The bodyofthis
`FIG,8 is a side elevation of the output elementof the
`output elementis slidably mountedin a suitable aperture
`device shown in FIG.6 partly broken away;
`in the outside wall 19 of the inverted channel member
`FIG.9 is a top view partly broken away showingthe
`23 that provides the track for supporting the cars on the
`output element of FIG. 6 assembled together with the
`carrier vehicle, with the shaft 25 extending under the
`support frame for the device;
`track 23. The free end of the shaft extends inwardly
`FIG.10 is an end view of the output element shown
`toward the center of the carrier and is made to be
`in FIG. 9 looking at the inside end of that element;
`fixedly attached to the end ofthe flexible holding means
`FIG. 11 is side view of a tool that can be used for
`so that upon rotation of the shaft the flexible tie-down
`operating the tie-down of this invention; and
`will be wrapped about the axis A—A shownin FIG.1.
`FIG. 12 is a view showing the forked end of the tool
`The output element supported in the wail 19 is a bearing
`in position for moving the output elementof this inven-
`support for one endof the shaft 25 and an inboard bear-
`tion way from the input elementto release the tension in
`ing 24 is provided for the inner end of the shaft to sup-
`the flexible tie-down holding means of this invention;
`port the shaft for rotation as well as to provide a thrust
`and
`bearing to hold the shaft in place under the channel23.
`FIG. 13 is a detailed top view of the mechanism
`Theflexible hold down means maytake the form of a
`shownin FIG.5.
`chain or a cable or other suitable strapping means, the
`end of whichis fixed to the shaft 25 that is adapted to be
`connected at its opposite end with one corner of the
`frame or someotherrigid element of a car on the car-
`rier, to hold that cornerofthe car in a fixed position on
`the carrier. There will be one tie-down means for each
`corner of a car on the carrier. The output element 16is
`mounted concentrically about axis A—A for sliding
`motion on the shaft 25 and is normally urged toward the
`input element 11 by spring 18. The output elementis
`restrained from rotation aboutthe axis by a latch 26, the
`output element having opposed pegs which engage in
`apertures 29 in the side armsofthe latch 26.
`The latch 26 is generally U shaped with the legs
`hingedat their top ends for swinging action on a base 31
`fixed to the wall 19 of the car carrier track. A pivot pin
`30 that passes throughthelegs of the latch is carried by
`the base and provides a generally horizontally disposed
`bearing meansfor a coil spring 33 that surroundsthe pin
`and has oneleg that engages the wall 19 and anotherleg
`at its other end that engages oneleg ofthelatch to bias
`the latch toward the input element. With this arrange-
`
`Referring first to FIGS. 1, and 2 wherein are shown
`the general features of one form of this invention, the
`ratchet tie-down includes a generally cup shaped input
`element 11 integral with a shaft for wrapping upa flexi-
`ble holding means and a holdback or output element 15
`that is non-rotatable for holding the tension in the hold-
`ing meansafter the tension has been pulled in the hold-
`ing means. The output element may provide a bearing
`for the outer end of the wrapping shaft and the output
`’ element is longitudinally slidable relative to the shaft.
`Forthe purposeof turning the shaft, the wall of the cup
`portion of the input element is provided with apertures
`13 for receiving the end of a driving bar as will appear
`fully below and the input element 11 has a bottom disk-
`like configuration having a face 12 with a circular band
`or array of ratchet teeth 14 extending axially therefrom.
`Similarly, the output element 15 has the general shape
`of a disk that has a face 16 from which protrudes a
`circular array of ratchet teeth 17 that are shaped to and
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`45
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`50
`
`35
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`

`5,101,537
`
`_ 5
`
`20
`
`5
`6
`ment the pegs 28 add the further pressure of spring 33
`gaged behind the wall 19 to hold the output element
`locked in the disengaged position so that the shaft 25
`pressure through the latch to the pressure of spring 18
`can free wheel to permit the flexible holding means to
`to urge the ratchet teeth on the output elementinto firm
`contact with the ratchet teeth on the input element. The
`be moreeasily arranged as desired. When the device is
`to be used on a car or the tie-downis to be stored while
`bottom ofthe latch has an integral socket means having
`the car carrier is running empty, the corners of the hex
`apertures 34 and 35 to receive the end of a release bar as
`portion of the output element should be released from
`will be explained below.
`their engagement behind the wall 19 so that the flexible
`Whena carcarrier has been equipped with a plurality
`hoid-downcan be held in a properly wrapped up posi-
`of these tie-down means each one of whichis adapted to
`tion.
`cooperate with a respective corner of a car on the car-
`This device can be used on other flat bed transport
`rier and a full complement of cars have been driven
`meanssuch as is shownin FIGS. 6-10. In this form the
`onto the carrier, the respective flexible hold-downs 20
`each keyed to their respective shafts 25 can then each
`invention can be adapted for mounting alongtheside of
`a flat bed transport meansto pull a strap or otherflexi-
`one be connected to a fixed element at the respective
`corners of each ofthe cars on the carrier. The plain end
`ble holding means tightly bound around an object on
`of a bar 36 like that shown in FIG. 11 can then be in-
`the bed. As shownin FIG.7 a load of plywood sheets
`are shownstrapped ontothe bed ofa trailer.
`serted in the apertures 13 in the walls of the cup shaped
`input elements to rotate each one of the respective
`One form of such a portable tie-down meansis shown
`in FIG. 6 where a roughly U shaped bracketis provided
`shafts 25 in a direction to wrap each flexible hold-down
`that may be bolted to the underside of the edge of the
`20 around its shaft. As the input elementis rotated the
`flat bed as shownin FIG.7.It is suggested that a num-
`ratchet
`teeth of the non-rotatable output element
`berof different mounting arrangements can be provided
`ratchet over the teeth of the driven input element and
`the spring 18 constantly urges the output teeth into
`for fixedly securing the bracket to the edge of a trans-
`engagement with the input teeth. Each tie-down means
`port means in any position where needed to properly
`25
`drawaflexible holding means around the object. Since
`is operative to first draw and then hold the tension
`drawnin the flexible means since the output elementis
`many different shapes and sizes of articles are trans-
`constantly restrained from rotation by the pegs 28 inte-
`ported over the roads on flat bed vehicles of different
`kindsit is essential that the tie-down unit be made in a
`gral with the output means and which are engaged in
`bearings in the legs of the latch 26. A tie-down at each
`form to be easily attached to such a vehicle whereverit
`corner of each car is operated in this manner to posi-
`may be neededto pull the flexible holding meanstaut.
`tively restraint each car on the carrier during transport
`The tie-down assembly of FIG. 6 is essentially the
`over the highways.
`same as that shown in FIG. 1, the input element 11
`Whenthe carrier reaches its destination, each ten-
`being mounted integral with the shaft at one end to
`sioned flexible holding meansis released to free the cars
`cooperate with the output element 15 that is resiliently
`for removal from the carrier. This release of the tension
`urged into contact with the input element by the coil
`is easily accomplished by simplyfitting the plain end of
`spring 18. The opposite end of the shaft has an integral
`the bar 36 in one of the sockets 34 or 35 of the latch
`hub 41 that is provided with apertures 42 and 43 to
`receive the end of the rod 36 of FIG. 11 to turn the shaft
`meansand pushingthe latch inwardly against the bias of
`the spring 33. When the latch swings in, the pegs 28
`for drawing a tension in the holding strap when a load
`force the output element 15 to slide inwardly along
`is being strapped to the flat bed. When the shaft is
`shaft 25 and the ratchet teeth 17 of the output element
`turned a strap or other
`flexible holding means is
`wrapped onthe shaft and the ratchet teeth 14 and 17 on
`are thus moved to be disengaged from the ratchet teeth
`the input and output elements interact as above de-
`14 of the input element.
`scribed to hold the tension until the ratchet teeth are
`Because the locking torque forces are transmitted by
`engagement between the forward faces ofali the teeth
`disengaged to free the shaft for reverse rotation when
`the output element is moved inwardly along shaft 25 by
`14 of the input element to the forward faces of the teeth
`meansof the forked end of the rod 36.
`17 of the output element, the total force absorbed in the
`In the form of the device shownin FIG.6, the arcu-
`ratchet means can be very large, while the force carried .
`by any onepair of mating teeth is quite smal]. Further-
`ate hub elements 44 of the output elements are designed
`more, because each tooth is connectedto theflat face of
`to be mounted in the arcuate bearing openings 45 and 46
`its respective input or output element, it has a broad
`in the free end of one of the legs of the U shaped frame
`base to resist
`the shear forces that develop during
`40. The output elementis essentially held against rota-
`torque transmittal. Also it is possible to use relatively
`tion but is permitted to havea limited degree of oscilla-
`fine teeth to obtain small torquing increments without
`tory motion in the bearing openings 45 and 46. The hub
`sacrificing strength. In addition, the extent of the teeth
`elements are L shaped and the stem ofthe L has a length
`in the radial direction can be made as wide as may ever
`such that when the output element is pushed toward the
`leg of the U bracket againstthe bias of the coil spring 18
`be necessary to carry all the load that could possibly be
`required for the purposes described herein.
`the foot of the L can be engaged behind the leg of the
`In some instances whena caris being attached to or
`bracket to hold the ratchet teeth of the output disen-
`disconnected from the tie-down, it may be desirable to
`gaged from the ratchet teeth of the input element. This
`hold the output element disengaged from the input
`permits the device to be held in a free wheeling condi-
`element. As shown in FIGS.3 and 4, the inner end of
`tion to facilitate the attachment of the holding strap to
`the output element has a hexagonal shape 22 and ramps
`or the removal of the holding strap from the shaft 25 as
`21 are cut into the hex. With this construction, when the
`the device is made to cooperate with the object on the
`flat bed.
`output elementis at its innermost position as shown in
`dotted form in FIG.1, the output element can be manu-
`Aswith the type of tie-down having the latch mecha-
`nism built in, this last described tie-down is made to
`ally rotated to lock this elementin its innermost position
`when the corners of the hex will be turned to be en-
`have its tension released by using the tool shown in
`
`30
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`60
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`65
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`5,101,537
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`— 0
`
`— 5
`
`8
`7
`disengage said second series of ratchet teeth from said
`FIG. 11 to disengage the ratchet teeth when the device
`first series of ratchet teeth; said latch means being a U
`is under a tension load. It is merely necessary to use the
`shaped member with the open ends of the U being
`forked end of the rod 36 between the input and output
`mounted on bearing meanscarried by said base element;
`elements of this device mountedin the U shaped bracket
`and the closed end of the U shaped latch member hav-
`to urge the output element toward the leg of the bracket
`ing said release adaptor integral therewith; said hold
`40 to disengage the ratchet teeth in this form of the
`down device being constructed and arranged to permit
`tie-down. As the output element 15 is held in its disen-
`said flexible holding means to be placed under tension
`gaged position, it may be manually turned to engage the
`by being wound up on said shaft when said shaft is
`foot end of the L shaped hub elements 44 behindthe leg
`rotated in said one direction while said first series and
`of the bracket as shown in dotted lines of FIG. 9 to set
`said secondsetof ratchet teeth are resiliently urged into
`the device for 2 free wheeling condition.
`complementary engagement whereby said holding
`The aboveis a description of the preferred form of
`meansis held in its tensioned state by said interengaged
`this tie-down device andits use. It is possible that modi-
`first series and secondset ofratchet teeth as said shaftis
`fications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art
`rotated in said one direction and said latch meansbeing
`that will fall within the scope of the following claims.
`I claim:
`operative through said interactive means to slide said
`output element on said shaft and away from said input
`1. A compact hold down device designed to hold
`element to disengage said second set of teeth from said
`heavy objects in place within the confines ofa transport
`first series of ratchet teeth to permit said shaft to rotate
`means, which objects are being transported on such
`freely in a direction the opposite to said one direction in
`transport means in commerce such as on car carriers,
`order to release the tension in said flexible holding
`flat bed trailers, rail road cars and the like; said device
`meansto permit said heavy objects to be unloaded from
`including a ratchet means, said ratchet means including
`a first series of ratchet teeth and a second set of comple-
`said transport means.
`2. A ratchet device for tensioning a flexible holding
`mentary ratchet teeth, said device being operative to
`means engaged with a load of one or moreobjects to
`apply a tension to and to hold the tension in a flexible
`hold said load in place on the bed of a transport means
`holding means such as a chain or a strap adapted to
`while said load is in transit comprising a rotatable input
`coact with an object for holding said object in place on
`element having ratchet teeth integral therewith, a shaft
`said transport means during such movement and then
`adapted to be rotated by the rotation of said inputele-
`said hold down device being operative to release the
`30
`ment to drawatensionin said flexible holding means, a
`tension applied to the holding means to permitthe un-
`hold-back element that is non-rotatable relative to said
`loading of said objects from said transport means; said
`input element, said hold back element having ratchet
`hold down device that is mounted on said transport
`teeth integral
`therewith for cooperating with the
`means comprising a base element for said hold down
`ratchet teeth on said input element, said hold-back ele-
`device that is fixed to said transport means: a shaft to
`ment being movable toward and away from said input
`whichsaid flexible holding means is attached and said
`element to permit said ratchet teeth to be engaged when
`shaft being rotatably mounted in said element supported
`said input and hold-back elements are pushed toward
`on said transport meansforrotation in either a clock-
`each other whereby to hold any tension pulled in the
`wise or counter clockwise direction about an axis; said
`flexible holding means while said teeth are engaged, and
`shaft having an end accessible from beyond the confines
`said hold-back means being movable away from said
`of said transport means; an input means integral with
`input element to disengage the teeth of the hold-back
`said accessible end of said shaft and said input means
`element from the teeth of said input element, resilient
`being adapted to be rotatably driven to drive said shaft
`meansto bias said hold-back means toward said input
`in one of said directions for wrapping said flexible ~
`meansso that said ratchet teeth coact with each other
`means on said shaft for tensioning said holding means;
`whensaid input elementis rotated, and pivotally opera-
`an output elementslideably mounted on and being rela-
`tive U shaped means to movesaid hold-back element
`tively rotatable with respect to said shaft; latch means.
`against the biasofsaid resilient means to disengage the
`pivotally supported on said base element fixed to said
`ratchet teeth of said hold-back meansfrom said ratchet
`transport means for engaging with and being operative
`teeth of the input meansin orderto release any tension
`to slide said output element toward and away from said
`in said flexible hold down means.
`input element; means interacting between said latch
`3. A ratchet device as in claim 2 wherein there are
`meansandsaid output meansto precludetherotation of
`means to hold said hold-back element in a disengaged
`said output element with said shaft when said shaft
`rotates in either said clockwise or counter clockwise
`position.
`4. A ratchet device as in claim 3 wherein said hold-
`direction; means to resiliently bias said latch means
`back element is slidably mounted on said shaft and can
`together with said output element toward said input
`be oscillated several degrees in opposite directions
`element; said first series of ratchet teeth being integral
`aboutthe shaft, locking means associated with said hold
`with said input element which teeth are disposed in a
`back meansandsaid oscillating motion serving to en-
`circular pattern concentric about said axis and which
`gage said locking means to maintain said hold-back
`face toward said output element; said second set of
`means with its ratchet teeth disengaged.
`complementary ratchet teeth being integral with said
`5. A ratchet meansas in claim 3 wherein said ratchet
`output element and being disposed in the same concen-
`device is mounted on a fixed support means, and said
`tric circular pattern about said axis and which face
`hold-back element includes a cylindrical bodythat sur-
`toward said input element; said first series and said
`rounds said shaft, said hold-back element supporting
`second set of ratchet teeth being designed to interact
`said integral ratchet teeth on one end ofits body and
`one with the other; said latch means including a release
`having locking means formed on its opposite end, said
`adaptor means which can be engaged to swing said
`locking means being adapted to be positively engaged
`latch against said bias of said resilient means to move
`with said fixed support to fixedly position said hold
`said output element away from said input element to
`.
`*
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`Cottrell, Ex. 2005
`Boydstunv. Cottrell, IPR2017-00962
`
`Cottrell, Ex. 2005
`Boydstun v. Cottrell, IPR2017-00962
`
`

`

`9
`back means with its ratchet teeth in an disengaged posi-
`tion.
`
`5,101,537
`
`6. A ratchet device as in claim 5 wherein said locking
`means takes the form of an L shaped aperture at said
`opposite end of said body defined by walls integral with
`said body, and said fixed support having elongatedslot
`means therein for cooperating with said integral walls
`that form said locking means wherebythe said L shaped
`locking means may be pushed throughsaid slot and then
`said body can be oscillated therein to engage said L
`shaped meansonsaid fixed support.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`35
`
`65
`
`10
`7. A ratchet device as in claim 5 wherein said locking
`meanstakes the form of a pair of non-congruent hexag-
`onal flanges disposed one next to the other at said oppo-
`site end of said body, said fixed support having a hexag-
`onal aperture formed therein for cooperating with said
`non-congruentflanges such thatfirst one ofsaid pair of
`flanges may be passed through said aperture and after
`that flange has passed completely through the aperture
`the other hexagonal flange of said pair can be fitted
`through the apertureso that the first hexagonal flangeis
`turned to a non-congruentposition with respect to said
`aperture.
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`Cottrell, Ex. 2005
`Boydstunv. Cottrell, IPR2017-00962
`
`Cottrell, Ex. 2005
`Boydstun v. Cottrell, IPR2017-00962
`
`