WO2014138777A1

WO2014138777A1 - Strap winding tool

Info

Publication number: WO2014138777A1
Application number: PCT/AU2014/000228
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tim White
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-11
Filing date: 2014-03-10
Publication date: 2014-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-11

Abstract

A strap winding device (10) comprises a pair of tines (12) extending in length from a body (14), and an interface (16) extending from the body for connection to a rotating driver for rotating the tines about an axis between the tines when the strap (100) is placed there between. In use the rotation of the tines winds the strap around the tines.

Description

Strap Winding Tool

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tool for winding straps. Background

Truck drivers use cargo straps to secure their load in place. Each truck usually carries many straps, which are stored in a rolled up state onboard the truck. As required they are unrolled and used, and then once finished with, rolled up again. The process of winding up straps is currently done manually, starting at one end and, by hand, rolling the strap upon itself into a coil. This process is inconvenient and time consuming. The present invention has been developed in this context.

Reference to prior art documents is not an admission that they form part of the common general knowledge of a skilled person in any jurisdiction. Summary of the Present Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided 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 such that in use the rotation of the tines winds the strap around the tines.

In an embodiment the tines extend substantially the length of the width of a strap to be wound up.

In an embodiment the tines are parallel with each other.

In an embodiment the tines are spaced apart at least 1.5 times the thickness of the strap to be wound up. ln an embodiment a nose of the tines is tapered.

In an embodiment the body is substantially cylindrical in shape. In an embodiment the interface comprises a hexagonal cross-sectioned shank.

In an embodiment the interface comprises an annular groove to accommodate a spring loaded snap-lock fitting. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a strap winding tool comprising a winding device and an activatable rotating driver configured to rotate the winding device about an axis when activated, wherein the winding device comprising a pair of tines extending in length from a body, and an interface extending from the body for connection to the rotating device so that the rotating device is able to rotate the tines about the axis when the strap is placed between the tines, such that in use the rotation of the tines winds the strap around the tines.

In an embodiment the rotating driver is a handheld electric driver. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of winding a strap comprising:

providing 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 device; inserting the strap between the tines;

coupling a rotating driver to the interface of the winding device;

activating the rotating driver so as to rotate the tines about an axis between the tines such that in use the rotation of the tines winds the strap around the tines.

In an embodiment the method further comprises removing the winding device from the would-up strap.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of winding a strap comprising:

providing a strap winding tool comprising a pair of tines extending in length from a body, an interface for connection to a rotating device and a driver for rotating the tines about an axis between the tines;

inserting the strap between the tines;

activating the driver so as to rotate the tines about the axis such that in use the rotation of the tines winds the strap around the tines.

In this specification the terms "having", "comprising" or "comprises" are used inclusively and not exclusively or exhaustively.

Description of Drawings

In order to provide a better understanding of the present invention preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a strap winding device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the strap winding device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the strap winding device of Figure 1 rotated by 90 degrees about a longitudinal axis relative to the position of the device in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a right hand end view of the device in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through the section A-A in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view through the section B-B in Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 in use.

Description of Embodiments of the Invention

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a strap winding device 10 comprising a pair of tines 12 extending in length from a body 14, and an interface 16 for connection to a rotating driver. The tines 12A and 12B are substantially the same length and extend substantially the length of the width of a strap to be wound up. The tines 12A and 12B are parallel with each other and spaced a sufficient distance apart to provide a gap 26 there between. In an embodiment the tines are spaced apart at least 1 .5 times the thickness of the strap to be wound up. In an embodiment the tines are about 6-7mm part. In an embodiment the tines are about 5cm in length. ln an embodiment the device is one integral piece formed of, for example, hardened or stainless steel.

Ends of the tines 12 terminate in a tapered nose 22. An opening 32 to the gap 26 may be wider than a main portion of the gap 26 in order to assist in receiving the strap.

The longitudinal edges of the tines 12A and 12B may be provided with a smoothed edge 24 (for example rounded or blunted) so as to reduce wear to straps that are wound up. In an embodiment the body 14 is substantially cylindrical in shape, with the tines 12 extending the cylinder, and with the gap 26 there between forming radially extending openings in the cylinder.

In an embodiment the interface comprises a hexagonal drill bit shank 20. The shank 20 has a standard ¼" hexagonal cross section suitable for gripping in a chuck of a handheld electric drill or a handheld electric driver. In an alternative the shank may be round, square or otherwise able to be interfaced with the driver.

The interface 16 further comprises a conically shaped portion extending from the body 14 to the shank 20. In an embodiment, along the length of the shank 20 is an annular groove for receiving a spring loaded snap-lock fitting.

In an alternative the driver may be pneumatically powered instead of electrically powered. The method of use of the present invention will now be described with reference to the above described embodiments.

The strap winding device 10 is placed over the strap 100 with the strap 100 being received in the gap 26 between the tines 12 as shown in Figure 7. Typically the device 10 will be oriented downwardly and the nose 22 will be gently engaged with the ground. This will keep the strap 100 within the gap 26 between the tines 12 and the ground can act as a flattening surface to the keep each winding of the strap 100 substantially parallel with the preceding winding. The length of the strap 100 may extend over the ground and must be free to be pulled in towards the device 10 in each direction. The width of the strap 100 at the part captured between the tines 12 will thus be oriented to extend vertically. The winding device 0 is coupled via the interface 16 to the rotating driver, such as a standard battery powered electric driver or drill, or pneumatic driver. This may be done either before or after the strap is placed between the tines 12.

The rotating driver is activated, thereby rotating the device 10 about the axis 30.

Generally this will be in a clockwise direction as indicated by arrow C, but it may also be in an anti-clockwise direction. This will rotate the tines 12 about the axis 30 such that the strap 100 will be wound around the tines 12. The strap 100 will thus be coiled up.

Upon completion the winding device 10 may be removed from the wound-up strap 100.

Advantages of the present invention are that it provides a simple and quick method of winding up a strap. The winding can commence from anywhere along the length of the strap and need not be from an end. Indeed because the strap is wound from either side of the point of engagement with the strap, the coil of wound strap will increase in diameter more quickly than if the winding commenced from an end. This allows the wound strap to be more stable and less inclined for the centre to fall out of the coil. The ground can act as a flattening surface to keep the coil flat.

Modifications may be made to the present invention with the context of that described and shown in the drawings. Such modifications are intended to form part of the invention described in this specification.

Claims

1. 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 such that in use the rotation of the tines winds the strap around the tines.

2. A strap winding tool comprising a winding device and an activatable rotating driver configured to rotate the winding device about an axis when activated, wherein the winding device comprising a pair of tines extending in length from a body, and an interface extending from the body for connection to the rotating device for rotating the tines about the axis, where the axis is between the tines, when the strap is placed between the tines, such that in use the rotation of the tines winds the strap around the tines.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotating driver is a handheld electric driver.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1. or a tool as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the tines extend substantially the length of the width of a strap to be wound up.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 4, or a tool as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the tines are parallel with each other.

6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 , 4 or 5, or a tool as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the tines are spaced apart at least 1 .5 times the thickness of the strap to be wound up.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 , or 4 to 6, or a tool as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein a nose of the tines is tapered.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 , or 4 to 7, or a tool as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the body is substantially cylindrical in shape.

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 , or 4 to 8, or a tool as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the interface comprises a hexagonal cross-sectioned shank.

10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 4 to 9, or a tool as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the interface comprises an annular groove to accommodate a spring loaded snap-lock fitting.

1 1 . A method of winding a strap comprising:

coupling a rotating driver to the interface of the winding device;

12. A method of winding a strap comprising:

inserting the strap between the tines;

13. A method according to claim 1 1 or 13, wherein the method further comprises removing the winding device from the would-up strap.