U.S. patent application number 09/911982 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-22 for strap system and method for making same.
Invention is credited to Heatherly, Eric, Hood, Michael.
Application Number | 20010042765 09/911982 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23827718 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010042765 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hood, Michael ; et
al. |
November 22, 2001 |
Strap system and method for making same
Abstract
A strap for guitars and the like made from recycled seat belt
components. The strap includes as its components a male seat belt
buckle member insertably retainable within a female seat belt
buckle member, a first length of seat belt strap material and a
second length of seat belt strap material, first and second slip
buckles; and a pair of connecting members, each having a length of
sheet material having an aperture defined adjacent an end
thereof.
Inventors: |
Hood, Michael; (Sevierville,
TN) ; Heatherly, Eric; (Murfreesboro, TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LUEDEKA NEELY & GRAHAM, P.C.
P O BOX 1871
KNOXVILLE
TN
37901-1871
US
|
Family ID: |
23827718 |
Appl. No.: |
09/911982 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09911982 |
Jul 24, 2001 |
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09460191 |
Dec 10, 1999 |
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6269991 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
224/257 ;
224/258; 224/910 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 13/30 20130101;
G10G 5/005 20130101; Y10T 24/45524 20150115; Y10T 24/4736 20150115;
A45F 3/14 20130101; Y10S 224/91 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/257 ;
224/258; 224/910 |
International
Class: |
A45F 003/14 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for recycling a seat belt assembly of an automobile by
taking components of the seat belt and making a strap member
therefrom, the method comprising the steps of: providing an
automobile seat belt buckle system comprising a male seat belt
buckle member insertably retainable within a female seat belt
buckle member, providing a pair of elongate strap members
comprising a first length of seat belt strap material and a second
length of seat belt strap material; providing first and second slip
buckles; providing first and second connecting members, each
comprising a length of sheet material having an aperture defined
adjacent an end thereof; attaching the first length of seat belt
strap material to the female seat belt buckle member and attaching
the first connecting member to the first length of seat belt strap
material opposite the female seat belt buckle member so that the
end of the connecting member having the aperture is free; attaching
the second connecting member to the first slip buckles to provide a
connecting/buckle member; attaching the second length of seat belt
strap material to the male buckle member to provide a buckle/strap
member having the male seat belt buckle defining one end thereof
and a free end of the second length of seat belt strap material
defining the other end thereof; slidably positioning the second
slip buckle along the buckle/strap member intermediate the ends
thereof; slidably positioning the connecting/buckle member along
the buckle/strap member so that the connecting/buckle member is
between the second slip buckle and the free end of the buckle/strap
member; passing the free end of the buckle/strap member through a
portion of the second slip buckle and attaching the free end of the
buckle/strap member to a portion of the second length of seat belt
strap material to fix the position of the free end of the
buckle/strap member relative to the second slip buckle.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of attaching
an indicia bearing member to a portion of the second length of seat
belt strap material.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the slip buckles
includes a pair of end posts spaced on either side from a middle
post to define a pair of apertures.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the slip buckles
includes a pair of end posts defining an aperture there
between.
5. A strap system, comprising a male seat belt buckle member
insertably retainable within a female seat belt buckle member, a
first length of seat belt strap material and a second length of
seat belt strap material, first and second slip buckles; and a pair
of connecting members, each comprising a length of sheet material
having an aperture defined adjacent an end thereof, wherein the
strap comprises a fixed length portion and an adjustable length
portion, with the fixed length portion comprising the first length
of seat belt strap material attached to a portion of the female
seat belt buckle member, and the adjustable length portion
comprises a connecting/buckle member comprising the first
connecting member attached to the first slip buckle, a buckle/strap
member comprising the second length of seat belt strap material
attached to the male buckle member, the second slip buckle slidably
positioned along the buckle/strap, the connecting/buckle member
slidably positioned along the buckle/strap member between the
second slip buckle and a terminal end of the buckle/strap member,
and a portion of the second length of seat belt strap material
adjacent the terminal end thereof positioned around a portion of
the second slip buckle with the terminal end of the second length
of seat belt strap material being attached to another portion of
the second length of seat belt strap material to provide a loop
defining the portion of the second length of seat belt strap
material that is positioned around the portion of the second slip
buckle.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to strap devices. More
particularly, this invention relates to straps made using parts of
seat belts and to a method for recycling seat belts in the
manufacture of straps.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional straps including straps for musical
instruments, such as guitars, desire improvement in that they often
have relatively low aesthetic appeal and other shortcomings. One
shortcoming is that guitar straps made from all new materials have
an undesirable environmental impact.
[0003] Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to
provide an improved strap system and, in particular, to a strap
suitable for use with musical instruments such as guitars.
[0004] A further object of the invention is to provide a strap of
the character described having improved aesthetics as compared to
conventional straps.
[0005] Another object of the invention is to provide a strap of the
character described that can be manufactured by recycling used
materials, particularly using seat belt components.
[0006] An additional object of the invention is to provide a strap
of the character described that is economical.
[0007] Still another object of the invention is to provide a method
for manufacturing straps of the character described using
components from seat belts.
[0008] With regard to the foregoing and other objects, the present
invention is directed to the recycling of a seat belt assembly of
an automobile by taking components of the seat belt and making a
strap member therefrom.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the strap includes as components
an automobile seat belt buckle system including a male seat belt
buckle member insertably retainable within a female seat belt
buckle member, a pair of elongate strap members including a first
length of seat belt strap material and a second length of seat belt
strap material, first and second slip buckles, first and second
connecting members, each including a length of sheet material
having an aperture defined adjacent an end thereof.
[0010] The components are assembled by attaching the first length
of seat belt strap material to the female seat belt buckle member
and attaching the first connecting member to the first length of
seat belt strap material opposite the female seat belt buckle
member so that the end of the connecting member having the aperture
is free. This provides a fixed length member.
[0011] An adjustable length member is made by attaching the second
connecting member to the first slip buckles to provide a
connecting/buckle member; attaching the second length of seat belt
strap material to the male buckle member to provide a buckle/strap
member having the male seat belt buckle defining one end thereof
and a free end of the second length of seat belt strap material
defining the other end thereof, slidably positioning the second
slip buckle along the buckle/strap member intermediate the ends
thereof, slidably positioning the connecting/buckle member along
the buckle/strap member so that the connecting/buckle member is
between the second slip buckle and the free end of the buckle/strap
member, passing the free end of the buckle/strap member through a
portion of the second slip buckle, and attaching the free end of
the buckle/strap member to a portion of the second length of seat
belt strap material to fix the position of the free end of the
buckle/strap member relative to the second slip buckle.
[0012] As will be appreciated, the strap has aesthetic appeal
unlike those of conventional straps. In a preferred embodiment, the
aesthetics are further enhanced by incorporating one or more
indicia bearing members onto the strap. These may be indicia also
recycled from an automobile, such as a hood ornament or the like.
In this regard, it will further be appreciated that the invention
also promotes recycling of used automobile parts in a constructive
and environmentally friendly manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Further advantages of the invention will become apparent by
reference to the detailed description of preferred embodiments when
considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale,
wherein like reference numbers, indicate like elements through the
several views, and wherein,
[0014] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a strap in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the strap of FIG. 1 showing the
two major components thereof separated from one another;
[0016] FIG. 3 is an exploded top plan view of the strap of FIG.
1;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the strap of FIG. 1
attached to a guitar;
[0018] FIGS. 5a-5c show steps in the manufacture of a first of the
major components of the strap of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIGS. 6a-6c are bottom plan views showing steps in the
manufacture of part of a second major component of the strap of
FIG. 1, namely attachment of a primary strap member to a male
buckle member.
[0020] FIGS. 7a-7b show steps in the manufacture of another portion
of the second major component of the strap of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIGS. 8 and 9 show additional steps in the manufacture of
the second major component of the strap of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8a
shows another embodiment of a slip buckle configuration; and
[0022] FIGS. 10a and 10b show steps in the manufacture of an
indicia bearing member which may attached to the second major
component for aesthetic purposes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] With initial reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a
preferred embodiment of a strap 10 in accordance with the
invention. The strap 10 is particularly suitable for use with
musical instruments, such as a guitar 12 having a head 14 and a
body 16 (FIG. 4).
[0024] The strap preferably includes a fixed length member 18
connectably attachable with an adjustable length component 20 (FIG.
2). Both members 18 and 20 are attachable with the guitar 12. The
fixed length member 18 preferably includes a female buckle member
22, a strap member 24 and a connecting member 26. The adjustable
length member 20 preferably includes a male buckle member 28, strap
member 30, slip buckles 32 and 34, a connecting member 36 and one
or more indicia bearing members 38.
[0025] While the preferred embodiment is described as having a
fixed length component and a length adjustable component, it will
be understood that a suitable strap system could have a fixed
length component modified in the manner of the adjustable length
component so as to be of adjustable length. Likewise, the
adjustable length component could be made of a fixed length. Thus,
the strap system could include two fixed length components or two
adjustable length components configured to be detachably connected
in the manner of the described embodiment.
[0026] Turning now to FIGS. 5a-5c, there are shown a preferred
assembly of the fixed length member 18 which includes the female
buckle member 22, strap member 24 and connecting member 26. The
female buckle member 22 is preferably a female buckle component of
a conventional buckle assembly of an automobile seatbelt system.
The male buckle member 28 is the corresponding male buckle
component of the buckle assembly. A preferred buckle assembly is
that obtainable from 1970's vintage automobiles, such as a 1970
Cadillac Fleetwood or the like.
[0027] The construction of the buckle member 22 is well-known and
includes a substantially rectangular body portion 40 having a
substantially flat or planar bottom surface opposite a top surface
42. Within the body portion 40 is a cavity 44 having an open
entrance end 46 and an associated spring-loaded latch mechanism 48
of a type that is well-known and common to seat belts for
selectively retaining a male buckle component inserted into the
cavity 44.
[0028] A button 50 is positioned within an aperture 52 extending
between the cavity 44 and the top surface 42. The button 50 is
urged away from the cavity 44 and toward the surface 42 by the
spring of the latch mechanism 48, but is limited in its movement
away from the cavity 44 by a flange or the like that engages the
edges of the aperture 52. The button 50 may be depressed to release
a male buckle member captured by the latch mechanism, as explained
below. Typically, a central portion of the button 50 includes
indicia 54 relating to the make or model of the automobile on which
the seat belt from which the female buckle member 22 was
installed.
[0029] A ring-like projection 56 extends from the end of the member
22 opposite the end 46. An end portion 58 of the strap member 24 is
attached to the projection 56 as shown in FIG. 5b. In this regard,
it is noted that the strap member 24 is preferably a portion of an
automobile seat belt strap or web and includes a top surface 60,
bottom surface 62, and an end portion 64 opposite the end portion
58. The strap member 24 preferably has a length of from about 2 to
about 10 inches, most preferably from about 3 to about 4 inches,
and a width of from about 11/2 to about 21/2 inches, most
preferably about 2 inches. The strap member 24 is attached to the
projection 56 by sliding the strap member 24 through an aperture 66
of the projection 56 so that the strap member can be folded in half
over itself. Stitches 68 may then be used to secure the halves of
the strap member 24 together around the projection 56. In this
regard, it is noted that the width of the aperture 66 is preferably
about half the width of the strap member 24. Thus, it is preferred
that the edges of the strap member 24 be folded inwardly as shown
in FIG. 5b for aesthetic purposes.
[0030] The connecting member 26 is used to attach the strap 10 to a
musical instrument and is preferably made from a strong sheet
material, such as leather or the like. The connecting member 26 is
substantially rectangular with a rounded free end 70, and is
preferably made from an elliptical blank folded over itself in the
manner described below for connecting member 36 in connection with
FIG. 7a below. However, the member 26 could also be a single
thickness made in the general configuration and not folded. An
aperture 72 with a slit portion 74 extends through the member 26
adjacent the end 70. The member 26 is attached to the strap member
24 opposite the portion of the strap member 24 secured to the
projection as by stitches 76. The length of the connecting member
is preferably from about 2 to about 4 inches, most preferably about
3 inches. Returning to FIG. 4, aperture 72 and slit portion 74 are
configured to frictionally engage a peg 76 located on a front
portion of the body 16 of the guitar 12.
[0031] Now, with reference to FIGS. 6a-6c, 7a - 7b, 8, and 9
preferred steps are shown in the manufacture of the adjustable
length member 20. As shown in FIGS. 6a-6c, the male buckle member
28 includes a rectangular body portion 80 having a substantially
flat or planar top surface 82 opposite an open bottom that defines
a blind bore 84 having a post 86 slidably positioned across the
width of the bore 84.
[0032] A projection 88 extends from one end of the body portion 80
for being inserted into the cavity 44 through the open end 46 of
the female buckle member 24. An aperture 90 extends through the
projection 88 for engaging the latch mechanism 48 of the female
buckle member 24 to enable the male buckle member 28 to be
selectively locked to the female buckle member 24. The button 50 of
the female buckle member 24 may be depressed to disengage the latch
mechanism 48 from the aperture 90 and the projection slid out of
the cavity 44 for detachment of the male buckle member 28 from the
female buckle member 24.
[0033] The strap member 30 includes opposite ends 92 and 94 and is
preferably identical to the strap member 24, except that it
preferably has a length of from about 35 to about 55 inches, most
preferably about 45 inches. The strap member 30 is connected to the
male buckle member 28 by sliding the end 92 of the strap into the
cavity 84 from the end of the cavity 84 opposite the projection 88.
The end 92 is then passed around the post 86 and pulled away from
the cavity 84 so that the end 92 overlaps about two or so inches of
the strap member 30 (FIG. 6b). The end 92 is secured in place to
the strap member 30 as by stitches 96 (FIG. 6c).
[0034] FIGS. 7a and 7b show attachment of connecting member 36 to
slip buckle 34. The connecting member 36 is preferably identical to
the connecting member 26 and is used to attach the strap 10 to a
peg 98 adjacent a rear end of the body 16 of the guitar 12. The
connecting member 36 is substantially rectangular with a rounded
free is end 100, and is preferably made from an elliptical blank
102 folded in half (about fold line M) around the slip buckle 34
and secured as by stitches 103 and/or adhesive. The blank 102
includes a pair of apertures 104 and 106 having respective slit
portions 108 and 110, which overlie one another to provide aperture
112 which frictionally engages the peg 98.
[0035] The slip buckle 34 is substantially rectangular and of
molded plastic or metal construction. The buckle 34 includes end
posts 114 and 116, with middle post 118 there between to define
apertures 120 and 122. The connecting member 36 is preferably
attached to the buckle 34 by folding the blank 102 through the
aperture 122 and around the end post 116 and then securing the
folded portions together with the apertures 104 and 106 aligned.
Alternatively, the slip buckle 34 could be configured as slip
buckle 34' and include only posts 114' and 116' (FIG. 8a).
[0036] The slip buckle 32 is preferably identical to the slip
buckle 34 and includes end posts 124 and 126, with middle post 128
there between to define apertures 130 and 132. Turning to FIG. 8,
further assembly of the adjustable length member 20 may be
accomplished by passing the end 94 of the strap member 30 through
the apertures 130 and 132 and around middle post 128 of the buckle
member 32. End 94 is then passed through aperture 120 and around
end post 114 of slip buckle 34.
[0037] Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the free end 94 of the strap
member 30 is passed in opposite directions through apertures 130
and 132 and around middle post 128 of the slip buckle 32, with the
end 94 being passed below the portion of the strap member 30
already installed on the slip buckle 32. The end 94 is then pulled
about 2 inches past the middle post 118 and secured to the strap 30
as by stitches 134.
[0038] Alternatively, the slip buckles 32 and 34 may be installed
on the strap 30 first, with the free end 94 then secured to itself
around the middle post 118. Then, the end 92 is passed around the
post 86 and secured to itself as by stitches 96. In this regard, it
will be understood that the order of assembly is not critical and
that the individual steps may be accomplished in various
sequences.
[0039] For the purpose of aesthetics, it is preferred to
incorporate one or more indicia bearing members 38 with the strap
10. As shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b, the indicia bearing member 38
preferably includes a portion 140 of a durable sheet material, such
as leather, having a width corresponding to the width of the straps
24 and 30 and a length slightly greater than that of preferably
decorative indicia 142 that is secured too the portion 140 as by
adhesive or stitches. The members 38 may be attached to the strap
30 (and/or the strap 24) as by mating hook/loop material, adhesive
or stitches 144 (FIG. 2). Also, the indicia 142 may be attached
directly to the strap 30 and/or the strap 24. The indicia may
preferably be other recycled components.
[0040] In accordance with the invention, the major components of
the strap 10 are recycled components of automobile seatbelts. For
environmental and nostalgic purposes, it is preferred that seat
belt components recovered from automobile junkyards be utilized. It
has been experienced that at least the male and female buckle
members 22 and 28 and the strap members 24 and 30 may be provided
by recycling components from used automobile seat belt assemblies.
In many cases, these components may need cleaning, but are
otherwise functional for the purposes of the invention with little
or no modification.
[0041] The foregoing description of certain exemplary embodiments
of the present invention has been provided for purposes of
illustration only, and it is understood that numerous modifications
or alterations may be made in and to the illustrated embodiments
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined in the following claims.
* * * * *