Self-lubricating tie-down

Abstract

A self-lubricating tie-down includes a frame including two walls, a reel, two ratchet wheels, two detents, a short strap and a long strap. The frame includes two walls each of which is formed with a bushing. The handle includes two blades each of which is formed with an aperture. The reel includes two terminal sections inserted in the bushings. The two ratchet wheels are connected to the reel. The first detent is movable on the frame and operable for engagement with the ratchet wheels. The second detent is movable on the handle and operable for engagement with the ratchet wheels. The short strap includes an end connected to the frame. The long strap includes an end connected to the reel so that the reel is operable to wind the long strap. Each of the bushings includes at least one recess and lubricant filled in the recess.

Claims

1. A self-lubricating tie-down comprising a frame comprising two walls each of which is formed with a bushing, a handle comprising two blades each of which is formed with an aperture, a reel comprising two terminal sections inserted in the bushings, two ratchet wheels connected to the reel, a first detent movable on the frame and operable for engagement with the ratchet wheels, a second detent movable on the handle and operable for engagement with the ratchet wheels, a short strap comprising an end connected to the frame, and a long strap comprising an end connected to the reel so that the reel is operable to wind the long strap, characterized in that each of the bushings comprises at least one recess and lubricant filled in the recess.

2. The self-lubricating tie-down according to claim 1, wherein each of the recesses is a longitudinal groove.

3. The self-lubricating tie-down according to claim 2, wherein each of the longitudinal grooves comprises two open ends.

4. The self-lubricating tie-down according to claim 2, wherein each of the longitudinal grooves comprises two closed ends.

5. The self-lubricating tie-down according to claim 1, wherein each of the recesses is an arched groove extending around the reel.

6. The self-lubricating tie-down according to claim 1, wherein each of the recesses is an annular groove.

7. The self-lubricating tie-down according to claim 1, wherein each of the recesses is in the form of a dot.

8. The self-lubricating tie-down according to claim 1, wherein the terminal sections of the reel extend beyond the ratchet wheels.

9. The self-lubricating tie-down according to claim 1, wherein the bushings extend toward each other.

10. The self-lubricating tie-down according to claim 1, wherein the bushings extend away from each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of five embodiments referring to the drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a typical tie-down;

(3) FIG. 2 is a partial and perspective view of a frame of a self-lubricating tie-down according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a partial and cross-sectional view of a reel in addition to the frame shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a partial and cut-away view of a frame of a self-lubricating tie-down according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a partial and cross-sectional view of a frame of a self-lubricating tie-down according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is another partial and cross-sectional view of the self-lubricating tie-down shown in FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 is a partial and cross-sectional view of a frame of a self-lubricating tie-down according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8 is a partial and perspective view of a frame of a self-lubricating tie-down according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; and

(10) FIG. 9 is a partial and cross-sectional view of a reel in addition to the frame shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(11) According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a self-lubricating tie-down includes the tie-down 10 described with reference to FIG. 1 and features to be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. That is, the self-lubricating tie-down includes all the elements of the tie-down 10.

(12) Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the bushings 26 includes several longitudinal grooves 21 in an internal face. Each of the longitudinal grooves 21 includes two open ends. Lubricant 23 is filled in each of the longitudinal grooves 21. The lubricant 23 is preferably made with high viscosity. That is, the lubricant 23 is in the form of paste. Hence, the lubricant 23 remains in the longitudinal grooves 21, with little risk of leakage.

(13) Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the reel 40 is inserted in the bushings 26. Thus, the reel 40 is supported by the bushings 26. Some of the lubricant 23 enters a gap between the reel 40 and the bushings 26, there forming a film. The film of lubricant 23 prevents the reel 40 from direct contact with the bushings 26, thereby allowing the reel 40 to rotate relative to the bushings 26. The film of lubricant 23 prevents the reel 40 and the bushings 26 from wearing away each other. The film of lubricant 23 prevents the reel 40 and the bushings 26 from air and moisture. Hence, the lubricant 23 keeps the reel 40 and the bushings 26 from rust and hence keeps the reel 40 smoothly rotatable relative to the bushings 26. Referring to FIG. 3, each of the longitudinal grooves 21 extends in a longitudinal direction of the reel 40.

(14) Referring to FIG. 4, shown is a self-lubricating tie-down according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except for including several longitudinal grooves 25 instead of the longitudinal grooves 21. The longitudinal grooves 25 are filled with the lubricant 23. Each of the longitudinal grooves 25 includes two closed ends. Thus, the longitudinal grooves 25 retain the lubricant 23 better than the longitudinal grooves 21.

(15) Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, shown is a self-lubricating tie-down according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is identical to the second embodiment except for including several bores 27 instead of the longitudinal grooves 25. The bores 27 are filled with the lubricant 23. Each of the bores 27 is in the form of a dot.

(16) Referring to FIG. 7, shown is a self-lubricating tie-down according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except for including an annular groove 29 instead of the longitudinal grooves 21. The annular groove 29 is filled with the lubricant 23.

(17) Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, shown is a self-lubricating tie-down according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except for that the bushings 26 extend away from each other. That is, each of the bushings 26 is formed on an external side of the corresponding wall 24.

(18) In another embodiment of the present invention, several arched grooves are used instead of the single annular groove 29. That is, the single annular groove 29 is divided into several arched grooves.

(19) The longitudinal grooves 21 and 25, the bores 27 and the annular groove 29 are recesses. Recesses in other shapes can be used in the bushings 26 of the frame 20 of the self-lubricating tie-down.

(20) The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.