US-12617330-B2 - Strap winding apparatus for load securing straps and methods of use

Abstract

A strap winding apparatus for winding a strap including a bracket and a rotating shaft assembly. The bracket includes a frame having frame holes. The bracket includes a handle member extending from the frame. The handle includes a hook member. The rotating shaft assembly includes a shaft having shaft openings. The shaft connects to a crank having a grip. The hook member connects to a flatbed truck and positions the frame parallel to the side of the flatbed truck. The shaft inserts through the frame holes while positioning the crank outside of the frame. The shaft openings receive the strap. The rotating shaft assembly rotates causing the strap to wind around the shaft. The shaft is removed from the frame while retaining the strap in a wounded configuration. In one example, the rotating shaft assembly is configured to position within the frame when not in use.

Inventors

• Dmitrii Illarionov

Assignees

• Dmitrii Illarionov

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240821

Claims (2)

1. 1 . A strap winding apparatus, comprising: a bracket comprising a closed rectangular frame having frame holes; a rotating shaft assembly comprising a shaft and a crank, wherein said crank extends perpendicularly from one end of said shaft, and wherein said shaft comprises shaft openings, wherein said shaft openings comprise a plurality of elongated slots extending along a length of said shaft and including open ends configured for receiving a strap and facilitating removal of said shaft from said frame while retaining said strap in a wound configuration; and a handle member extending from said frame, the handle member being configured to allow a user to hold and operate the strap winding apparatus; wherein the shaft inserts through said frame holes while positioning said crank outside of said frame, wherein said shaft openings receive a strap, and wherein said shaft is rotated via said crank to wind said strap around said shaft, wherein said frame comprises crank receiving cut-sections formed on inner sides of said frame facing each other, the crank receiving cut-sections being configured to receive distal ends of said crank and thereby allow said rotating shaft assembly to be positioned and secured within said frame when not in use.
2. 2 . A strap winding apparatus, comprising: a bracket comprising a closed rectangular frame having frame holes; a rotating shaft assembly comprising a shaft and a crank, wherein said crank extends perpendicularly from one end of said shaft, and wherein said shaft comprises shaft openings, wherein said shaft openings comprise a plurality of elongated slots extending along a length of said shaft and including open ends configured for receiving a strap and facilitating removal of said shaft from said frame while retaining said strap in a wound configuration; and a handle member extending from said frame, the handle member being configured to allow a user to hold and operate the strap winding apparatus; wherein the shaft inserts through said frame holes while positioning said crank outside of said frame, wherein said shaft openings receive a strap, and wherein said shaft is rotated via said crank to wind said strap around said shaft, wherein said frame comprises a plate member attached to an inner side of said frame, the plate member including a circular opening aligned to receive a portion of said rotating shaft assembly, such that said shaft assembly is retained within said frame when not in use.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/617,368 filed Jan. 3, 2024, which is incorporated herein by its entirety and referenced thereto. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present disclosure relates to accessories used in transportation, and in particular, relates to a strap winding apparatus for winding straps. Description of the Prior Art It is known that articles placed on a flatbed truck are secured using cargo straps, tie-down straps or other flexible members. The cargo straps are extended over the articles and the cargo straps are fastened to a deck of the flatbed truck. After use, it is preferred to organize the cargo straps for safe storage and prevent them from tangling with other objects. Typically, the cargo straps are rolled for easy storage and transportation. Rolling of the cargo straps by hand is a time-consuming task and takes considerable effort by a user or truck driver. In order to aid the user, strap winding tools are used by the truck driver. Several strap winding tools have been proposed in the past. One such example is disclosed in a U.S. Pat. No. 7,766,271, entitled “Strap collection device for tensioning a ratchet” (“the '271 Patent”). The '271 Patent discloses a hand activated retainment, storage and deployment device for binding straps used to secure loads on cargo transportation vehicles such as tractor trailers. The device has a winding mechanism with a spooling reel for winding excess binding strap during use and for removable storage of the strap when not deployed. Another example is disclosed in a PCT Publication No. 2014138777, entitled “Strap winding tool” (“the '777 Publication”). The '777 Publication discloses a strap winding device comprising a pair of tines extending in length from a body, and an interface extending from the body for connection to a rotating driver for rotating the tines about an axis between the tines when the strap is placed there between. In use the rotation of the tines winds the strap around the tines. Another example is disclosed in a U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,339, entitled “Belt winch speed handle” (“the '339 Patent”). The '339 Patent discloses a handle for speed winding a strap back onto a belt winch having a ratchet mechanism, a winch drum and an annular cylinder is described. The speed handle generally includes an elongated arm having a grip on the upper surface adjacent the first end and a handle drum on the lower surface adjacent the second end. The handle drum includes a tapered end and is adapted to fit into the annular cylinder of a belt winch. The handler drum includes a protrusion with a tapered end, adapted to fit into an aperture on the annular cylinder. Once placed on the belt winch, the speed handle allows the user to rapidly rewind a strap back onto the winch drum. Although the existing strap winding tools are useful, they have few problems. For example, the existing strap winding tools have a complex connection mechanism to connect to the deck of the flatbed truck. Further, they require additional tools to install and uninstall the strap winding tool from the flatbed truck. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a strap winding apparatus for winding straps, the strap winding apparatus that is easy to install and uninstall from the flatbed truck. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a strap winding apparatus that avoids the drawback of known strap winding tools. It is another object of the present invention to provide a strap winding apparatus that is easy to install and uninstall from the flatbed truck. In order to achieve one or more objects, the present invention provides a strap winding apparatus for winding a strap. The strap winding apparatus includes a bracket and a rotating shaft assembly. The bracket includes a frame having frame holes. The bracket includes a handle member extending from the frame. The handle includes a hook member. The hook member connects to a flatbed truck and positions the frame parallel to the side of the flatbed truck. The rotating shaft assembly includes a shaft having shaft openings. The shaft openings indicate elongated slots extending along the length of the shaft and have open ends. The shaft connects to a crank having a grip. The shaft inserts through the frame holes while positioning the crank outside of the frame. The shaft openings receive the strap. The rotating shaft assembly rotates causing the strap to wind around the shaft. The shaft is removed from the frame while retaining the strap in a wounded configuration. In one example, the rotating shaft assembly is configured to position within the frame when not in use. In one aspect of the present invention, the frame has a U-shaped member extending from the frame. Further, the frame has a support member that connects at the bottom of the handle member and the U-shaped member. The support member co