US Patent 7108246 Winch for cargo tie-down straps

A winch for cargo tie-down straps to tie down straps comprising a winch frame havinga frame securing segment and a pair of integrally extending flanges;a winch drum rotatably mounted between said flanges;a pawl and ratchet mechanism attached at a longitudinal end of the winch frame;a fixed gear extending from an opposed longitudinal end of the winch drum;a free gear extending axially from the fixed gear;a worm gear mounted within a worm gear frame for driving a driving disc, the driving disc being adapted to selectively engage said fixed and free gears, depending on the positioning of the worm gear frame relative to a worm gear frame mounting assembly extending from the winch frame.