A device for visually verifying tautness of a cargo strap includes a hinged body, itself including first and second platform surfaces configured to be shifted between an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the first and second surfaces form a confronting relationship. The device further includes a light source disposed on the first platform and is configured to emit light parallel to the first platform surface.

A load restraint fastener for use with a plurality of load restraint attachments is described. The load restraint fastener includes a body. The body includes a substantially planar portion having a front face and an opposite rear face. The substantially planar portion defines an opening and includes a first receiving portion having a receiving surface. The first receiving portion also defines a first portion of the opening. The substantially planar portion includes, in addition, a second receiving portion having a receiving surface. The second receiving portion is spaced apart from the first receiving portion and symmetric with the first receiving portion about at least one axis of symmetry. The second receiving portion defines a second portion of the opening. The body also includes a projecting portion having a receiving surface. The projecting portion extends outwardly from the rear face of the substantially planar portion.

A bi-directional tightening device and a method for tightening of a threadable line, the tightening device having: a rotatable spool; a frame for supporting the spool, the frame has a handle for rotating the spool; a ratchet mechanism rotationally fixed to the spool; a drive pawl coupled to the frame; a locking mechanism configured for keeping the ratchet mechanism in place during a return stroke of the handle, wherein the ratchet mechanism has at least one first ratchet wheel for rotating the spool in a first direction, and at least one second ratchet wheel for rotating the spool in a second direction opposite the first direction, to allow bi-directional tightening of the line.

A method for securing cargo boxes upon the bed of a pick-up truck includes the steps of securing cargo rings to a structural portion of each inner side wall of the pick-up truck; determining the distance separating adjacent cargo rings; providing strap members having connecting hooks that are detachable secured to adjacent cargo rings; and securing a preselected quantity of strap rings to each strap member, the strap rings ultimately receiving cross straps that engage top portions cargo boxes to forcibly urge the cargo boxes upon the floor of the pick-up truck.

A safety tensioning device includes a base, a handle, a winding mechanism and a first bundling strap. The first bundling strap is disposed on the main rotating shaft and the winding mechanism. The winding mechanism includes a box, a coil spring component and a winding shaft passing through the box with two ends exposed out of the box. One end of the winding shaft is attached to the coil spring component, a centrifugal self-locking mechanism to stop the winding shaft winding when a rotation speed is too fast, is attached to another end of the winding shaft.

An aircraft loading system is configured to tether equipment within an aircraft. The loading system has a wedge shaped bracket that has a front plate joined to two side plates and a bottom plate. A middle plate is parallel to the front plate and joins the two side plates. A front opening is arranged through the bottom plate between the front plate and the middle plate. The front opening is configured to accommodate an attachment ring. The attachment ring is used to tether the equipment within the aircraft.

A tool for holding a tie-down strap, which comprises a plate (1) and a magnet (2, 3), wherein the plate extends between a first surface, a second surface and an edge, wherein the magnet extends over a first height from the first surface, wherein the magnet is in mechanical contact with the first surface, wherein the plate comprises notches, wherein the notches comprise a first notch and a second notch, wherein the length of the first notch is of the order of magnitude of the width of a tie-down strap, wherein the width of the first notch is of the order of magnitude of the thickness of a tie-down strap, wherein the depth of the first notch is equal to the thickness of the plate, wherein the length of the second notch is of the order of magnitude of the width of a tie-down strap, wherein the width of the second notch is of the order of magnitude of the thickness of a tie-down strap, wherein the depth of the second notch is equal to the thickness of the plate, wherein the first notch and the second notch are guided in a first direction and wherein the magnet extends over the first surface between the notches and the edge of the plate along a first length and along a first width.

Disclosed herein is a wheel shield apparatus that includes a pair of elongated parallel tube members in perpendicular engagement with a pair of short parallel tube members, at least one removable side of the wheel shield apparatus is operable to be temporarily opened or removed such that the wheel shield apparatus may be placed around a wheel of a neurosurgical microscope or some other type of heavy wheeled machinery and the removable side may be placed in a closed position such that the wheel shield surrounds the wheel. Each of the pair of elongated parallel tube members and/or each of the pair of short parallel tube members comprises a cavity configured to receive a ballast material to provide sufficient weight to ensure that the wheel shield apparatus contacts the floor such that cables along the floor are pushed out of the way by the wheel shield apparatus and prevented from being run over while the machinery is being transported.

A retractor may include various features that reduce the amount of space necessary to secure an object, for example, a wheelchair in a vehicle. In one embodiment, the webbing is designed to come off of the top of the retractor spool, which shifts the webbing take-off point from the spool rearward, as compared to prior art retractors. In another embodiment, the retractor is provided with a webbing guide that rotates around at least a portion of the circumference of the retractor spool. The rotatable guide also shifts the take-off point from the webbing guide rearward, as compared to prior art retractors. In yet another embodiment, the retractor is provided with both a rotatable webbing guide and webbing that comes off of the top of the spool.

A vehicle assembly includes a vehicle body and a driver seat. The vehicle body defines a driver compartment having a first door with a first window and a second door with a second window. The driver seat is disposed within the driver compartment. When the driver seat is in a position that accommodates an operator being in a 95.sup.th male height percentile, the operator within the driver seat can see out of (i) the first window at a first angle relative to a forward looking direction that is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body and (ii) the second window at a second angle relative to the forward looking direction. Each of the first angle and the second angle is at least 95 degrees.