Systems and Methods of Wormgear Securement and Release

Abstract

Example embodiments of a wormgear securement and release device are described herein to include a device with a center shaft to hold a webbing/strap and an integrated wormgear to regulate the speed of the turning of the center shaft, thereby regulating the speed at which the webbing/strap releases the object that is strapped in. Optimally, a person would be able to use a length of conventional webbing to secure an item/object in a desired or required position.

Therefore, at least the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A secure and release device comprising:
 a rotatable shaft configured to receive a strap and rotate to tighten and release the strap, the rotatable shaft comprising:
 a first toothed gear; 
 a latch integrated with the first toothed gear to form a rachet mechanism; 
 a second toothed gear; and 
 a wormgear integrated with the second toothed gear configured to control the release of the strap when the latch is opened. 
   
     
     
         2 . The secure and release device of  claim 1 , wherein the second toothed gear is smaller than the first toothed gear. 
     
     
         3 . The secure and release device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second gear rotate on the same axis. 
     
     
         4 . The secure and release device of  claim 1 , wherein the second gear is offset from the first gear. 
     
     
         5 . The secure and release device of  claim 1 , wherein the wormgear rotates on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the second gear. 
     
     
         6 . The secure and release device of  claim 5 , wherein the wormgear is integrated with a wormgear shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The secure and release device of  claim 6 , wherein the axis of the wormgear shaft is at a 30-degree angle from the perpendicular. 
     
     
         8 . The secure and release device of  claim 6 , wherein the axis of the wormgear shaft is at a 20-degree angle from the perpendicular. 
     
     
         9 . The secure and release device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable shaft comprises a hollow cylindrical body comprising:
 a first end having an oval opening;   a second end having an oval opening;   a slot longitudinally extending from the first end to the second end; and   an oval wedge member comprising:
 a first section with a half-oval outer surface, an inner surface, and a cavity; and 
 a second section with a half-oval outer surface, an inner surface, and an outward-extending tab that is dimensioned to fit into the cavity in the first section. 
   
     
     
         10 . The secure and release device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a second ratchet gear configured to slidably fit over an end of the cylindrical body and remain on the cylindrical body, the second ratchet gear comprising:
 a center oval opening; 
 an internal oval section that is dimensioned to fit into the oval opening on the cylindrical body and function as a cap over one of the ends on the wedge member. 
   
     
     
         11 . The secure and release device of  claim 10 , wherein the second ratchet gear further comprises a support arm for the internal oval section. 
     
     
         12 . The secure and release device of  claim 1 , wherein the latch is spring loaded. 
     
     
         13 . The secure and release device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable shaft rotates in the center of the secure and release device. 
     
     
         14 . A method of securement and release, comprising:
 receiving a strap by a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft configured to rotate to tighten and to release the tension on a strap, the rotatable shaft integrated with a wormgear; and   turning the wormgear to control the release of the tension on the strap.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the wormgear is integrated with a toothed gear on the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the wormgear rotates on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the toothed gear. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the wormgear rotates on an axis at a substantially 30-degree angle from the perpendicular. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the wormgear rotates on an axis at a substantially 20-degree angle from the perpendicular. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the rotatable shaft comprises:
 a hollow cylindrical body comprising:   a first end having an oval opening;   a second end having an oval opening;   a slot longitudinally extending from the first end to the second end; and   an oval wedge member comprising:
 a first section with a half-oval outer surface, an inner surface, and a cavity; and 
 a second section with a half-oval outer surface, an inner surface, and an outward-extending tab that is dimensioned to fit into the cavity in the first section. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising a ratchet gear configured to slidably fit over an end of the cylindrical body and remain on the cylindrical body, the second ratchet gear comprising:
 a center oval opening;   an internal oval section that is dimensioned to fit into the oval opening on the cylindrical body and function as a cap over one of the ends on the wedge member.