Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
351 words
A load binder of the type adapted to develop and exert tensile force between opposed first and second flexible tie elements and comprising, in combination, a lever having long and short arm portions extending away from opposed sides of a first pivot element which serves as a fulcrum for swinging movements of the lever, the long arm portion of the lever serving as a handle through which operating force is applied thereto, said short arm portion having a curved cam slot therein which extends in a direction which is generally radial to the first pivot element and has a concave cam surface provided by a longitudinal side wall of the cam slot, said first flexible tie element being connected to said first pivot element, a second pivot element mounted in said cam slot and movable therealong from end to end thereof while engaged with said concave cam surface, said second flexible tie element being connected to said second pivot element and extending therefrom in a direction to urge said second pivot element toward said concave cam surface, said lever having a normal loose tie position in which the long arm portion thereof extends along one flexible tie element and a tightened tie position in which the long arm portion thereof extends along the other flexible tie element, said pivot elements being movable toward and from one another in stable increments which are dependent upon the position of said lever during swinging movements thereof about said first pivot to provide gradual changEs of mechanical advantage as the lever moves between said loose and tightened tie positions, the curvature and disposition of the cam slot being such that a major portion of said cam slot crosses the line of thrust between the tie elements and thereby causes the line of thrust to intersect said first pivot element during the swinging movement of the lever to and from the tightened tie position, and means for limiting movement of said lever after said major portion of the cam slot has crossed the line of thrust in moving toward the tightened tie position of the lever.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
351 words
A load binder of the type adapted to develop and exert tensile force between opposed first and second flexible tie elements and comprising, in combination, a lever having long and short arm portions extending away from opposed sides of a first pivot element which serves as a fulcrum for swinging movements of the lever, the long arm portion of the lever serving as a handle through which operating force is applied thereto, said short arm portion having a curved cam slot therein which extends in a direction which is generally radial to the first pivot element and has a concave cam surface provided by a longitudinal side wall of the cam slot, said first flexible tie element being connected to said first pivot element, a second pivot element mounted in said cam slot and movable therealong from end to end thereof while engaged with said concave cam surface, said second flexible tie element being connected to said second pivot element and extending therefrom in a direction to urge said second pivot element toward said concave cam surface, said lever having a normal loose tie position in which the long arm portion thereof extends along one flexible tie element and a tightened tie position in which the long arm portion thereof extends along the other flexible tie element, said pivot elements being movable toward and from one another in stable increments which are dependent upon the position of said lever during swinging movements thereof about said first pivot to provide gradual changEs of mechanical advantage as the lever moves between said loose and tightened tie positions, the curvature and disposition of the cam slot being such that a major portion of said cam slot crosses the line of thrust between the tie elements and thereby causes the line of thrust to intersect said first pivot element during the swinging movement of the lever to and from the tightened tie position, and means for limiting movement of said lever after said major portion of the cam slot has crossed the line of thrust in moving toward the tightened tie position of the lever.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A load binder as defined in claim 1, and wherein said concave cam surface is arcuate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A load binder as defined in claim 1, and wherein said second pivot element moves toward the first pivot element during an intermediate portion of swinging movement of the lever between the loose tie position and the tightened tie position to provide a gradual increase of the mechanical advantage of the lever during said intermediate portion of the swinging movement thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
292 words
A load binder mechanism of the type adapted to develop and exert tensile force along a line of thrust extending between two tie elements and comprising, in combination, a unitary lever having long and short arm portions on opposed sides of a fixed pivot element which serves as a fulcrum for swinging movement of said lever by which the operation of the mechanism is effected, said long arm portion of the lever serving as a handle for applying force thereto, said short arm portion having a curved cam slot therein, one end of which curved cam slot is near said fixed pivot element, and which cam slot extends away from the fixed pivot element and has a second pivot element mounted therein for movements along the cam slot toward and from the fixed pivot element as the lever is swung around the fixed pivot element, one of said tie elements being connected to the fixed pivot element and extending therefrom in one direction of thrust, the other of said tie elements being connected to the movable second pivot element and extending in a direction of thrust opposed to that aforementioned, said curved cam slot having a concavely curved cam surface against which the movable second pivot element is held in contact by the thrust applied thereto during swinging movements of said lever, said lever having loose and tightened positions in which the handle extends in generally opposite directions from the fixed pivot element, and the curvature of said cam surface being sufficient to restrain the movements of the movable second pivot element along the cam surface in relation to the angular swinging movement of the lever during the mid-regions of the movements of the the lever between said loose and tightened positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
292 words
A load binder mechanism of the type adapted to develop and exert tensile force along a line of thrust extending between two tie elements and comprising, in combination, a unitary lever having long and short arm portions on opposed sides of a fixed pivot element which serves as a fulcrum for swinging movement of said lever by which the operation of the mechanism is effected, said long arm portion of the lever serving as a handle for applying force thereto, said short arm portion having a curved cam slot therein, one end of which curved cam slot is near said fixed pivot element, and which cam slot extends away from the fixed pivot element and has a second pivot element mounted therein for movements along the cam slot toward and from the fixed pivot element as the lever is swung around the fixed pivot element, one of said tie elements being connected to the fixed pivot element and extending therefrom in one direction of thrust, the other of said tie elements being connected to the movable second pivot element and extending in a direction of thrust opposed to that aforementioned, said curved cam slot having a concavely curved cam surface against which the movable second pivot element is held in contact by the thrust applied thereto during swinging movements of said lever, said lever having loose and tightened positions in which the handle extends in generally opposite directions from the fixed pivot element, and the curvature of said cam surface being sufficient to restrain the movements of the movable second pivot element along the cam surface in relation to the angular swinging movement of the lever during the mid-regions of the movements of the the lever between said loose and tightened positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A load binder mechanism as defined in claim 4, and wherein said concavely curved cam surface is arcuate and has tangents which progressively become normal to the direction of thrust on the movable second pivot element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A load binder mechanism as defined in claim 4, and wherein the movable second pivot element crosses the line of thrust extending between the two tie elements at a position of said lever close to the said tightened position thereof.