Tensioning apparatus

Claim 2

A tensioning device for tensioning a flexible element comprising: a pair of substantially spaced parallel rigid members in fixed relation one to another; an attacher extending transversely between said members and rotatably mounted relative to each of said members; means for attaching the element to be tensioned to said attacher intermediate of said members to adjust the tensional forces in said material upon rotation of said attacher; and cooperating ratchet means being formed between interfacing surfaces of said attacher and one of said members for providing one-way stepped rotation of said attacher relative said one member; said ratchet means comprising a pluralilty of ratchet elements respectively formed on said attacher and on said one member and each element having a holding surface and a cam surface; the cam surfaces on said attacher ratchet elements and said one member ratchet elements being engageable on rotation in one direction and the holding surfaces on said attacher elements and said one member elements being engageable to prevent rotation in the other direction; and spring means for applying a spring force to said attacher relative said one member to resiliently urge said ratchet means on said attacher and said one member into holding engagement.

Claim 3

A tensioning device according to claim 1 with said spring means applying a substantially uniform resilient force for all rotational positions of said attacher.

Claim 4

A tensioning device according to claim 1 with: a relatively fixed anchor; and means for resiliently mounting said spaced parallel members to said anchor to provide resilient movement of said members relative said anchor in the direction of said tensioning.

Claim 5

A tensioning device according to claim 3 with said members being rigidly connected by a transverse base having an opening therein, said last means comprising a rod attached to said anchor and having an end insertable through said opening, and spring means interposed said rod end and said housing for exerting a resilient force between said rod end and said housing.

Claim 6

A tensioning device according to claim 4 with a stop member formed on said rod and registrable against said base to provide a travel limit of said rod relative said base.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 1 with: said cooperating ratchet means comprising a plurality of ratchet elements protruding from one of said attacher and said one member and a plurality of openings being formed in the other of said attacher and said one member which are registrable with said ratchet elements; and each of said ratchet elements having a cam surface and a holding surface perpendicularly oriented to said one member, each of said openings having a surface perpendicularly oriented to said one member engageable with said ratchet element surface to hold said bolt against rotation in one rotational direction relative said one member, said cam surfaces operating against said plate openings to lift said elements out of said openings and transversely separate said bolt from said one member upon a rotating force applied to said bolt in a rotational direction opposite to said one direction.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 1 with: said cooperating ratchet means comprising a plurality of ratchet elements protruding from interfacing surfaces of said one member and said attacher; and each of said elements having a cam surface and a holding surface, the holding surfaces of the elements on said one member facing and being registrable with the holding surfaces of the elements on said attacher to hold said attacher against rotation relative said one member in one direction, said cam surfaces on said elements on said one member and said attacher engageable with one another on rotation of said member relative said one plate in a direction opposite to said one direction, whereby said cam surfaces on said attacher and said one member will ride against one another to transversely separate said attacher and said one member when said attacher is rotated in said opposite direction.

Claim 9

A tensioning apparatus for tensioning a flexible element comprising: a rigid U-shaped housing having a transverse base portion from which extend two upstanding parallel walls; an elongated rigid cylindrical bolt having a head at one end and being threaded at the other end, openings formed in each of said walls, to receive and rotatably support said bolt transversely of said walls; a washer rigidly secured to said bolt proximal to said head; a plurality of washer ratchet elements formed on said washer, each of said elements having a cam surface and a holding surface; ratchet element holding means formed on one of said walls and registrable with said elements for holding said ratchet elements; said threaded end extending through the other of said U-shaped housing walls; a member threadedly engaged with said threaded end; a spring member interposed between said member and said other wall to exert a spring force longitudinally of said bolt to urge said elements into engagement with said element holding means; attaching means for attaching said flexible element to said elongated member intermediate of said walls; and said ratchet elements being engageable with said holding means to restrict rotational movement of said bolt in one direction and said cam surface being operable against said holding means to lift said washer away from said one wall against the longitudinal spring force of said spring member to provide for rotational movement of said bolt in the direction opposite to said one direction.

Claim 10

A tensioning apparatus for tensioning a flexible element comprising: a rigid U-shaped housing having a transverse base portion from which extend two upstanding parallel walls; an elongated rigid cylindrical bolt having a head at one end and being threaded at the other end, openings formed in each of said walls, to receive and rotatably support said bolt transversely of said walls; a washer rigidly secured to said bolt proximal to said head; a plurality of washer ratchet elements formed on said washer, each of said elements having a cam surface and a holding surface; ratchet element holding means formed on one of said walls and registrable with said elements for holding said ratchet elements; said threaded end extending through the other of said U-shaped housing walls; a member threadedly engaged with said threaded end; a spring member interposed between said member and said other wall to exert a spring force longitudinally of said bolt to urge said elements into engagement with said element holding means; attaching means for attaching said flexible element to said elongated member intermediate of said walls; and said ratchet elements being engageable with said holding means to restrict rotational movement of said bolt in one direction and said cam surface being operable against said holding means to lift said washer away from said one wall against the longitudinal spring force of said spring member to provide for rotational movement of said bolt in the direction opposite to said one direction.

Claim 11

The tensioning device of claim 1 including: a transverse base portion connecting said pair of rigid members; said attacher comprising an elongated rigid cylindrical bolt having a head at one end and being threaded at the other end; openings being formed in each of said rigid members to receive and rotatably support said bolt transversely of said rigid members; a washer rigidly secured to said bolt proximal to said head; said ratchet means comprising a plurality of washer ratchet elements formed on said washer, each of said elements having a cam surface and a holding surface; ratchet holding elements formed on one of said rigid members and registrable with said holding surfaces; said threaded end of said bolt extending through the other of said rigid members; a nut threadedly engaged with said threaded end; attaching means for attaching said flexible element to said elongated member intermediate of said rigid members; and said ratchet elements being engageable with said holding elements to restrict rotational movement of said bolt in one direction and said cam surfaces being operable against said holding elements to lift said washer away from said one wall to provide for rotational movement of said bolt in the direction opposite to said one direction.

Claim 12

The device according to claim 9 with said holding elements comprising a plurality of ratchet elements protruding from said one rigid member and engageable with said washer elements, said rigid member elements each having a cam surface and a holding surface, the holding surfaces of said rigid member elements being engageable with the cam surfaces on said washer elements upon rotation of said bolt in a direction opposite to said one direction, whereby said washer cam surfaces and said rigid member cam surfaces ride against one another to lift said washer away from said rigid member against the longitudinal force of said spring means.

Claim 13

The device of claim 9 with said cam holding means comprising openings in said one rigid member registrable with said washer ratchet elements, said openings having holding surfaces engageable with said washer holding surfaces of said washer elements to prevent rotation of said bolt in one direction, said openings having cam surfaces engageable with said washer cam surfaces to lift said washer away from said one rigid member against the longitudinal force of said spring member upon rotation of said bolt in a direction opposite to said one direction.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 8 with: a relatively fixed anchor; and means for resiliently mounting said U-shaped housing to said anchor to provide resilient movement of said members relative said anchor in direction of said tensioning.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 12 with: said base having an opening therein; said last means comprising an elongated rod attached to said anchor and having an end insertable through said opening, spring means being interposed said rod end and said housing, for exerting a resilient force between said rod end and said housing.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 12 with said rod end having a spring retaining washer member secured to the end thereof, a spring being mounted on said rod between said washer and said housing.

Claim 17

A tensioning device for tensioning a flexible element comprising: a housing; means for attaching the element to be tensioned to said housing; means in operative relation to said housing for applying tensional forces to said element to be tensioned; an anchor member; means for resiliently mounting said housing to said anchor member; said housing having an opening therein; and said last means comprising a rod attached to said anchor member and having an end insertable through said opening, spring means being interposed said rod end and said housing, for exerting a resilient force between said rod end and said housing.

Claim 18

A tensioning device for tensioning a flexible element comprising: a housing; means for attaching the element to be tensioned to said housing; means in operative relation to said housing for applying tensional forces to said element to be tensioned; an anchor member; means for resiliently mounting said housing to said anchor member; said housing having an opening therein; and said last means comprising a rod attached to said anchor member and having an end insertable through said opening, spring means being interposed said rod end and said housing, for exerting a resilient force between said rod end and said housing.

Claim 19

A tensioning device for tensioning a flexible element comprising: a housing; means for attaching the element to be tensioned to said housing; means in operative relation to said housing for applying tensional forces to said element to be tensioned; an anchor member; means for resiliently mounting said housing to said anchor member; said housing having an opening therein; said last means comprising a rod attached to said anchor member and having an end insertable through said opening, spring means being interposed said rod end and said housing, for exerting a resilient force between said rod end and said housing; and said rod end having a spring retaining washer member secured to the end thereof, a spring being mounted on said rod between said washer and said housing.

Claim 20

A tensioning device for tensioning a flexible element comprising: a housing; means for attaching the element to be tensioned to said housing; means in operative relation to said housing for applying tensional forces to said element to be tensioned; an anchor member; means for resiliently mounting said housing to said anchor member; said housing having an opening therein; said last means comprising a rod attached to said anchor member and having an end insertable through said opening, spring means being interposed said rod end and said housing, for exerting a resilient force between said rod end and said housing; and said rod end having a spring retaining washer member secured to the end thereof, a spring being mounted on said rod between said washer and said housing.