Apparatus and associated methods relate to a ratchet strap system configured with a ball-shaped handgrip adapted to manipulate a ratchet strap drive shaft. In an illustrative example, the handgrip may include a substantially spherical distal portion coupled to the drive shaft via a substantially cylindrical neck member. The handgrip may, for example, be configured for after-market installation by receiving a shaft extension member of the drive shaft. Some handgrips may include opposing radial apertures for a retention pin to longitudinally fix the handgrip to the shaft extension member. A pliable resilient member disposed at the distal end may prevent decoupling prior to tensioning the strap. In various embodiments, the deployment time of a ratchet strap system may, for example, be reduced by using the handgrip to facilitate initial winding of a load securing strap, and to wind excess strap length for storage in conjunction with an elastic retaining loop.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a ratchet strap system configured with a ball-shaped handgrip adapted to manipulate a ratchet strap drive shaft. In an illustrative example, the handgrip may include a substantially spherical distal portion coupled to the drive shaft via a substantially cylindrical neck member. The handgrip may, for example, be configured for after-market installation by receiving a shaft extension member of the drive shaft. Some handgrips may include opposing radial apertures for a retention pin to longitudinally fix the handgrip to the shaft extension member. A pliable resilient member disposed at the distal end may prevent decoupling prior to tensioning the strap. In various embodiments, the deployment time of a ratchet strap system may, for example, be reduced by using the handgrip to facilitate initial winding of a load securing strap, and to wind excess strap length for storage in conjunction with an elastic retaining loop.

A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel comprising a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the reel can include a rotation limiter which can be configured to prevent over-tightening of the lacing system and/or to prevent rotation past the substantially fully loosened state.

A strap buckle has a base. The base has a bottom plate and two side plates each having one end formed with a pivot hole. The base has a retaining portion spaced from the bottom plate. An opening is defined between the bottom plate and the retaining portion. A swinging member has a pivot portion pivotally connected to the pivot hole. Two opposite sides of the pivot portion have two perforations, respectively. Two transverse rods pass through the perforations and are arranged in parallel. The swinging member is pivoted relative to the base to drive the two transverse rods to rotate together. A pressing assembly has a pressing member and an elastic member. The pressing member is disposed between the two side plates of the base. A first strap is inserted between the bottom plate and the pressing member and wound around the two transverse rods.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a ratchet strap system configured with a ball-shaped handgrip adapted to manipulate a ratchet strap drive shaft. In an illustrative example, the handgrip may include a substantially spherical distal portion coupled to the drive shaft via a substantially cylindrical neck member. The handgrip may, for example, be configured for after-market installation by receiving a shaft extension member of the drive shaft. Some handgrips may include opposing radial apertures for a retention pin to longitudinally fix the handgrip to the shaft extension member. A pliable resilient member disposed at the distal end may prevent decoupling prior to tensioning the strap. In various embodiments, the deployment time of a ratchet strap system may, for example, be reduced by using the handgrip to facilitate initial winding of a load securing strap, and to wind excess strap length for storage in conjunction with an elastic retaining loop.

An adjustment system has a housing, a cam lid and a ratchet strap. The housing has an elastic arm connected to each one of its side walls, a front opening and a rear opening. The cam lid is rotatably connected to the side walls of the housing, and has two elastic arms extending under the bottom surface, and a locking element disposed in an interior cavity of the cam lid. The cam lid locks the ratchet strap to the housing when the ratchet strap is fed through the housing and cam lid so that the locking element engages teeth on the ratchet strap. Pressing the elastic arms of the housing toward each other presses against the sides of the cam lid and causes the cam lid to rotate and release the locking element from the teeth of the ratchet strap.

A strap buckle has a base. The base has a bottom plate and two side plates each having one end formed with a pivot hole. The base has a retaining portion spaced from the bottom plate. An opening is defined between the bottom plate and the retaining portion. A swinging member has a pivot portion pivotally connected to the pivot hole. Two opposite sides of the pivot portion have two perforations, respectively. Two transverse rods pass through the perforations and are arranged in parallel. The swinging member is pivoted relative to the base to drive the two transverse rods to rotate together. A pressing assembly has a pressing member and an elastic member. The pressing member is disposed between the two side plates of the base. A first strap is inserted between the bottom plate and the pressing member and wound around the two transverse rods.

A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel comprising a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the reel can include a rotation limiter which can be configured to prevent over-tightening of the lacing system and/or to prevent rotation past the substantially fully loosened state.

A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel comprising a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the reel can include a rotation limiter which can be configured to prevent over-tightening of the lacing system and/or to prevent rotation past the substantially fully loosened state.

A lacing system for an article may include a tensioning mechanism, a plurality of guide members, and a lace that is operationally coupled with the tensioning mechanism and that is routed along a lace path of the article via the plurality of guide members. The lace is routed along the lace path so that a first portion of the lace is routed directly from the tensioning mechanism to a top end of the lace path and so that a second portion of the lace is routed directly from the tensioning mechanism to a position that is adjacent a bottom end of the lace path. Tensioning of the lace, via the tensioning mechanism, causes the top end of the lace path and the position adjacent the bottom end of the lace path to be initially tensioned.