Strap tightening and cutting tool

Claim 2

A strap tightening tool comprising: housing means; a first handle rigidly fixed to said housing means; a second handle coupled to said housing means for movement in either of two directions with respect to said first handle; pawl means coupled to said housing means in such manner as to permit movement of said pawl means in either of two opposite colinear directions; said pawl means arranged to engage the body portion of a strap inserted in said housing means and tighten the strap when said pawl means is moved in a first of said two opposite colinear directions and to nonengagingly pass along the body portion of the strap when said pawl means is moved in a second of said two opposite colinear directions; cable means coupled to both said pawl means and said second handle to cause said pawl means to move in said first of said two opposite colinear directions when said second handle is moved in a first direction with respect to said first handle; and return means coupled to said pawl means to move said pawl means in said second of said two opposite colinear directions when said second handle is moved in a second direction with respect to said first handle.

Claim 3

A tool, as defined in claim 1, wherein said return means is coupled to said second handle to move said second handle in said second direction with respect to said first handle as said pawl means is moved in said second of said two opposite colinear directions.

Claim 4

A tool, as defined in claim 1, further comprising roller means coupled to said housing means; said cable means passing over said roller means.

Claim 5

A tool, as defined in claim 1, further comprising roller means coupled to said housing means; said cable means passing over said roller means to alter the direction of said cable means between said pawl means and said second handle.

Claim 6

A tool, as defined in claim 1, further comprising a first roller coupled to said housing means and a second roller coupled to said housing means; said cable means passing over said first and second rollers to alter the direction of said cable means between said pawl means and said second handle.

Claim 7

A tool, as defined in claim 1, wherein said cable means consists of two discrete cable links.

Claim 8

A tool, as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a pair of first rollers coupled to said housing means; a pair of second rollers coupled to said housing means; block means coupled to said second handle; said cable means comprising: a first cable link coupled to said pawl means and extending over a first one of said pair of first rollers and a first one of said pair of second rollers and coupled to said block means and a second cable link coupled to said pawl means and extending over the second one of said pair of first rollers and the second one of said pair of second rollers and coupled to said block means.

Claim 9

A tool, as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a pair of first rollers coupled to said housing means; a pair of second rollers coupled to said housing means; block means coupled to said second handle; said cable means comprising: a first cable link coupled to said pawl means and extending over a first one of said pair of first rollers and a first one of said pair of second rollers; a second cable link coupled to said pawl means and extending over the second one of said pair of first rollers and the second one of said pair of second rollers; said first and second cable links being coupled to one another at their ends remote from said pawl means and about said block means.

Claim 10

A tool, as defined in claim 1, wherein said return means is a compression spring coupled to said pawl means at a first end and to said housing means; said compression spring being compressed when said pawl means is moved in said first of said two opposite colinear directions and expands to move said pawl means in the second of said two opposite colinear directions when said second handle is moved in a second direction with respect to said first handle.

Claim 11

A tool, as defined in claim 1, wherein said return means is a compression spring coupled to said pawl means at a first end and to said housing means; said compression spring being compressed when said pawl means is moved in said first of said two opposite colinear directions when said second handle is moved in a first direction with respect to said first handle and expands to move said pawl means in the second of said two opposite colinear directions and said second handle means in said second direction with respect to said first handle when said second handle is released.

Claim 12

A tool, as defined in claim 1, further comprising: blade means for severing the body portion of a strap inserted in said housing means; first selectively positionable operating means coupled to said blade means; said operating means being positionable in a first position to hold said blade means out of contact with the body portion of a strap inserted in said housing means and a second position to sever the body portion of a strap inserted in said housing means; presetting means; and second selectively positionable operating means coupled to said cable means and said presetting means; said second selectively positionable operating means taking a first position below the value preset by said presetting means and moving to a second position at and above the value preset by said presetting means to contact and operate said first selectively positionable operating means to said second position to cause said blade means to sever the body portion of a stRap inserted into said housing means.

Claim 13

A strap tightening and severing tool comprising: housing means; a first handle rigidly fixed to said housing means; a second handle coupled to said housing means for movement in either of two directions with respect to said first handle; pawl means coupled to said housing means in such a manner as to permit movement of said pawl means in either of two opposite colinear directions; said pawl means arranged to engage the body portion of a strap inserted in said housing means, tightening and applying tension to the body portion of a strap when said pawl means is moved in a first of said two opposite colinear directions and to nonengagingly pass along the body portion of the strap when said pawl means is moved in a second of said two opposite colinear directions; cable means coupled between said pawl means and said second handle to cause said pawl means to move in said first of said two opposite colinear directions when said second handle is moved in a first direction with respect to said first handle; blade means to sever the body portion of a strap inserted in said housing means; first operating means coupled to said housing means and at a first end to said blade means to move said blade means from a first position remote from the body portion of a strap to a second position to engage and sever the body portion of a strap; adjustable presetting means for establishing a predetermined tension; second operating means coupled to said cable means and said presetting means; said second operating means capable of moving between a first position out of contact with said first operating means and a second position in contact with said first operating means; said second operating means remaining out of contact with said first operating means as the strap is tensioned until said predetermined tension is reached whereby said cable means moves said second operating means from said first position to said second position contacting said first operating means to move said first operating means to said second position causing said body portion of the strap to be severed.

Claim 14

A strap tightening and severing tool comprising: housing means; a first handle rigidly fixed to said housing means; a second handle coupled to said housing means for movement in either of two directions with respect to said first handle; pawl means coupled to said housing means in such a manner as to permit movement of said pawl means in either of two opposite colinear directions; said pawl means arranged to engage the body portion of a strap inserted in said housing means, tightening and applying tension to the body portion of a strap when said pawl means is moved in a first of said two opposite colinear directions and to nonengagingly pass along the body portion of the strap when said pawl means is moved in a second of said two opposite colinear directions; cable means coupled between said pawl means and said second handle to cause said pawl means to move in said first of said two opposite colinear directions when said second handle is moved in a first direction with respect to said first handle; blade means to sever the body portion of a strap inserted in said housing means; first operating means coupled to said housing means and at a first end to said blade means to move said blade means from a first position remote from the body portion of a strap to a second position to engage and sever the body portion of a strap; adjustable presetting means for establishing a predetermined tension; second operating means coupled to said cable means and said presetting means; said second operating means capable of moving between a first position out of contact with said first operating means and a second position in contact with said first operating means; said second operating means remaining out of contact with said first operating means as the strap is tensioned until said predetermined tension is reached whereby said cable means moves said second operating means from said first position to said second position contacting said first operating means to move said first operating means to said second position causing said body portion of the strap to be severed.

Claim 15

A tool, as defined in claim 12, wherein said first operating means is a lever pivotally mounted to said housing means and further comprising biasing means coupled between a second end of said lever and said housing means to bias said lever to said first position.

Claim 16

A tool, as defined in claim 12, wherein said second operating means comprises roller means having an axle therethrough; support means having a slot therein for receipt of the axle of said roller means therein; said slot guiding the movement of said roller means; said support means further having a detent slot communicating with said slot; said detent slot arranged to retain said roller axle; said roller axle maintained in said detent slot permitting said cable means to pass over said roller means until the tension in a strap equals the predetermined tension established by said presetting means after which continued movement of said cable means in response to said second handle moving in a first direction with respect to said first handle causes said axle to be displaced from said detent slot into said slot moving said roller means into contact with said first operating means.

Claim 17

In a strap tightening tool having a reciprocally movable pawl assembly and a bidirectionally movable handle, a pawl assembly drive means comprising: cable means having a first end and a second end; first coupling means coupling said first end of said cable means to said pawl assembly; and second coupling means coupling said second end of said cable means to said movable handle.

Claim 18

In a strap tightening tool having a reciprocally movable pawl assembly and a bidirectionally movable handle, a pawl assembly drive means comprising: cable means having a first end and a second end; first coupling means coupling said first end of said cable means to said pawl assembly; and second coupling means coupling said second end of said cable means to said movable handle.

Claim 19

A pawl assembly drive means, as defined in claim 15, further comprising: roller means intermediate said pawl assembly and said movable handle.

Claim 20

A pawl assembly drive means, as defined in claim 15, further comprising: first roller means and second roller means; said first and second roller means each being interposed intermediate said pawl assembly and Said movable handle.

Claim 21

In a strap tightening and severing tool having a pawl assembly for applying tension to a strap placed in such tool, a movable handle for operating such pawl assembly, a severing blade and an operating lever coupled thereto to move said blade into and out of severing engagement with such strap, a severing blade drive means comprising: support means having a slot therein and further having a detent slot communicating therewith; roller means having an axle therethrough; said axle proportioned to fit within said slot and detent slot of said support means; presettable means for establishing a predetermined tension; coupling means coupling said presettable means to said roller means for retaining said axle within said detent slot of said support means until the tension in said strap equals said predetermined tension; the further movement of said movable handle thereafter causing said axle to traverse said slot to cause said roller to contact and move said operating lever whereby said blade is caused to sever the strap.

Claim 22

In a strap tightening and severing tool having a pawl assembly for applying tension to a strap placed in such tool, a movable handle for operating such pawl assembly, a severing blade and an operating lever coupled thereto to move said blade into and out of severing engagement with such strap, a severing blade drive means comprising: support means having a slot therein and further having a detent slot communicating therewith; roller means having an axle therethrough; said axle proportioned to fit within said slot and detent slot of said support means; presettable means for establishing a predetermined tension; coupling means coupling said presettable means to said roller means for retaining said axle within said detent slot of said support means until the tension in said strap equals said predetermined tension; the further movement of said movable handle thereafter causing said axle to traverse said slot to cause said roller to contact and move said operating lever whereby said blade is caused to sever the strap.

Claim 23

A tool, as defined in claim 12, wherein said housing means is tapered adjacent said pawl means whereby the severed portion of the body portion of a strap is deflected away from said tool.

Claim 24

A tool, as defined in claim 12, wherein said housing means has a protrusion thereon whereby the severed portion of the body portion of a strap is deflected away from said tool.

Claim 25

A tool, as defined in claim 12, further comprising a slide member coupled to said second handle and movable therewith to selectively seal said housing means in the area intermediate said first and second handles.