The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 19, 1991
Filed:
Dec. 14, 1988
John A Klahold, Red Lion, PA (US);
Babcock Industries Inc., Fairfield, CT (US);
Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed for tying down wheeled vehicles such as automobiles, to a flat bed or other base support by which the vehicles are to be transported. Two wheels which are positioned in fore and aft tandem are each secured to the base support by respective harnesses while a centrally positioned tensioning unit receives chains connected to the harnesses for application of tie-down tension to the chains by simple back and forth motion of a pivotally mounted handle. Between each wheel harness and the chain tensioning unit is provided a chain pocket wheel and ratchet and pawl arrangement in a housing, with means to attach the entire housing and arrangement to the base support so as to transfer the actual chain tension to the ratchet/pawl arrangement and the base support. The chain tensioning unit includes a unique arrangement by which simple rotation of a cam facilitates either tensioning of the tie-down harnesses or release of the tension on the tie-down harnesses when the handle is rotated in back and forth motion through about a ninety degree arc.