Ratchet mechanism

A securing mechanism for securing cargo that may include a body, a ratchet, a lever and a release mechanism. The body may be capable of receiving a strap therethrough, wherein the strap may includes opposing ends. The ratchet may include a pair of opposing arms connected to the body and a spool rotatably connected to the arms. The spool may include a slot to receive the strap into a z-fold configuration. The lever may be rotatably attached to the arms and reciprocated between an open position and a closed position, wherein the lever may include at least one pawl to engage the ratchet wheels and may rotate the spool when the lever is reciprocated. The release mechanism may be capable of selectively disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel. The securing mechanism may be selectively positionable along the strap when the strap is bi-directionally gathered onto the spool.