A cargo securing kit which incorporates synthetic chains in a manner which addresses the increased pitch of the synthetic link and the increased elongation of the synthetic chain, while still allowing the usage of conventional prior art load binders in a timely and safe manner. The kit includes a tie-down chain assembly, the tie-down assembly including a length of synthetic chain formed of individual links, each of the links having a pitch of P1. The kit further includes a shortening chain assembly, the shortening chain assembly including a length of metal chain formed of individual metal links, each of the metal links having a pitch P2, wherein the pitch P2 is less than the pitch P1.

A piece of playground equipment is disclosed and includes a system for tensioning one or more cables. The system includes a cable retaining device having a cylindrical shaped body with threads disposed around an outer circumferential surface, the outer circumferential surface being interrupted in at least one location by one or more cable receiving channel. The system also includes a tightening sleeve into which the cable retaining device is configured to be threaded such that the cable retaining device moves as the tightening sleeve is rotated.

A piece of playground equipment is disclosed and includes a system for tensioning one or more cables. The system includes a cable retaining device having a cylindrical shaped body with threads disposed around an outer circumferential surface, the outer circumferential surface being interrupted in at least one location by one or more cable receiving channel. The system also includes a tightening sleeve into which the cable retaining device is configured to be threaded such that the cable retaining device moves as the tightening sleeve is rotated.

A ratcheting device according to the solution comprises a rotatable cogwheel comprising a plurality of teeth, a spring-loaded primary pawl, a spring-loaded handle pawl, a handle comprising a handle pawl disengagement lever, a handle pawl disengagement plate and a primary pawl disengagement plate. The primary pawl disengagement plate is mechanically coupled to the handle such that the handle may be rotated around the cogwheel to a point that the primary pawl disengagement plate contacts the spring-loaded primary pawl and causes it to disengage from the cogwheel. At the same time that the primary pawl is disengaged from the cogwheel teeth by the primary pawl disengagement plate, the handle pawl is similarly disengaged from the cogwheel teeth via contact with a handle pawl disengagement plate. Advantageously, the ratcheting device may be transitioned between a ratcheting state and a free-to-rotate state with only a single hand of the user and without requiring the handle to travel beyond a 180-degree arc of motion.

A self-locking securing device facilitates secure connection to cable or elongated object ends, and employs a retaining jaw, a barrel, a spacer and a sleeve. In various embodiments, the retaining jaw and spacer are formed as part or all of a replaceable cartridge and can include a fastening ring therebetween. Embodiments further include a bottom locking device for securely retaining the cartridge and elements within the barrel.

A self-locking securing device facilitates secure connection to cable or elongated object ends, and employs a retaining jaw, a barrel, a spacer and a sleeve. In various embodiments, the retaining jaw and spacer are formed as part or all of a replaceable cartridge and can include a fastening ring therebetween. Embodiments further include a bottom locking device for securely retaining the cartridge and elements within the barrel.

A hand operated tool for binding a load. The tool including a hollow tube with interior left hand and right hand threads at opposing ends. Opposing rods with exterior threads on one end and a releasable connection device on the other end that is screwed into each end of the tube. A gear rigidly mounted and encircling the tube allowing a pivotly attached ratcheting U-pawl to engage the gear teeth, the U-pawl attached to and carried by a handle assembly mounted on each side of the gear, the handle protruding perpendicular from the tube. The handle turning the tube in a first rotational direction drawing the rods closer together tightening the bind, the handle turning the tube in a second rotational direction moving the rods farther apart loosening the bind, the rods remaining stationary in rotation during rotation of the tube. A blocking device may be installed to prevent the U-pawl from pivoting into a position to turn the tube in the second rotational direction, that would loosen the bind on the load, the blocking device allowing normal ratcheting and turning of the tube in the first rotational direction tightening the bind on the load. A recessed-pawl partially pivoting independently of the U-pawl and engaging with the gear to prevent the tube from turning in the second-rotational-direction that would loosen the bind on the load when the U-pawl is in a neutral position whereby the U-pawl is not engaged with the gear.

A hand operated tool for binding a load. The tool including a hollow tube with interior left hand and right hand threads at opposing ends. Opposing rods with exterior threads on one end and a releasable connection device on the other end that is screwed into each end of the tube. A gear rigidly mounted and encircling the tube allowing a pivotly attached ratcheting U-pawl to engage the gear teeth, the U-pawl attached to and carried by a handle assembly mounted on each side of the gear, the handle protruding perpendicular from the tube. The handle turning the tube in a first rotational direction drawing the rods closer together tightening the bind, the handle turning the tube in a second rotational direction moving the rods farther apart loosening the bind, the rods remaining stationary in rotation during rotation of the tube. A blocking device may be installed to prevent the U-pawl from pivoting into a position to turn the tube in the second rotational direction, that would loosen the bind on the load, the blocking device allowing normal ratcheting and turning of the tube in the first rotational direction tightening the bind on the load. A recessed-pawl partially pivoting independently of the U-pawl and engaging with the gear to prevent the tube from turning in the second-rotational-direction that would loosen the bind on the load when the U-pawl is in a neutral position whereby the U-pawl is not engaged with the gear.

A mount system for a supporting a plurality of photovoltaic panels includes a plurality of stanchions. Each stanchion is spaced apart from other stanchions in a linear stanchion array having first and second ends. Each stanchion includes a vertical member and a transverse member supported by the vertical member. The transverse member has a plurality of support points. The system includes a plurality of anchor arrangements. A first anchor arrangement is located proximate the first end and a second anchor arrangement is located proximate the second end. The system includes a plurality of cables. Each cable is under tension and extends between the first and second anchor arrangements. Each cables extends to engage and is supported by a support point on a transverse member. The system includes a plurality of photovoltaic panel attachments. Each photovoltaic panel attachment is secured to a point on a photovoltaic panel and to a cable.

An attachment for a ratchet-type load binder comprises a mounting frame arranged for mounting to the load binder at a location registered with a ratchet mechanism thereof, a slot defined by the mounting frame and arranged to extend angularly of the axis of the ratchet gear so as to be adapted to receive a handle of the ratchet mechanism in rotary movement relative to a body of the load binder, and a transmission member having a shaft extending along an axis of rotation of the transmission member and transmission elements carried on the shaft and projecting outwardly therefrom for meshing with the teeth of the ratchet gear. It is one aspect of the invention that the transmission member is movable from a drive position in which the transmission member meshes with the ratchet gear to an idle position in which the ratchet gear can rotate freely of the transmission member, so that conventional operation of the ratchet mechanism with the handle is still available without removing the attachment. It is another aspect of the invention that the mounting frame has a pair of separable portions so that the attachment can be mounted to an existing load binder by connection of the separable portions to one another when respectively located on the body of the load binder.