U.S. patent application number 12/799044 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-20 for length-adjustable elastic strap.
Invention is credited to Meredith Hansen.
Application Number | 20110252604 12/799044 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44786986 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110252604 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hansen; Meredith |
October 20, 2011 |
Length-adjustable elastic strap
Abstract
A length-adjustable flexible and elastic strap is comprised of
an elongated strap member having first and second ends with each of
the first and second ends having a hook member secured thereto. The
strap member has a plurality of spaced-apart hook connector loops
extending transversely therefrom with each of the loops having a
hook receiving opening formed therein. Each of the openings of the
hook connector loops are adapted to have at least one of the hook
members selectively secured thereto to effectively shorten the
length of the strap member.
Inventors: |
Hansen; Meredith; (Omaha,
NE) |
Family ID: |
44786986 |
Appl. No.: |
12/799044 |
Filed: |
April 16, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/301 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P 7/0823 20130101;
B65D 63/10 20130101; Y10T 24/316 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/301 |
International
Class: |
B65D 63/10 20060101
B65D063/10 |
Claims
1. A length-adjustable elastic strap, comprising: an elongated
flexible, elastic single strap member having first and second ends
with each of said first and second ends having a hook member
secured thereto; said strap member having a plurality of
spaced-apart hook connector loops extending transversely therefrom;
each of said loops having a hook receiving opening formed therein;
each of said openings of said hook connector loops adapted to have
at least one of said hook members selectively secured thereto to
effectively shorten the length of said strap member.
2. The strap of claim 1 wherein said hook members are selectively
removably secured to said first and second ends of said strap
member.
3. The strap of claim 1 wherein said strap member has a generally
rectangular-shaped cross-section.
4. The strap of claim 1 wherein said strap member has a generally
cylindrical cross-section.
5. The strap of claim 1 wherein said strap member is comprised of a
rubber material.
6. The strap of claim 1 wherein said loops are integrally formed
with said strap member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a strap such as a tarp strap or
bungee cord and more particularly to a length-adjustable elastic
strap having hooks at the opposite ends thereof with the strap
having a plurality of spaced-apart hook connector loops extending
transversely therefrom.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Many types of straps and elastic straps have been previously
provided for connecting or tying down such objects as cargo, tarps,
etc. In one form of the prior art, the strap is comprised of an
elongated elastic or rubber strap member having a generally
rectangular-shaped cross section with the opposite ends of the
strap having hooks selectively removably secured thereto. The
straps come in various lengths but frequently a person will find
that a strap is too long for the intended use which makes it
necessary for the person to acquire a shorter strap which will fit
the intended use. In another form of the prior art, an elongated
bungee cord is provided with hooks provided at the opposite ends
thereof. The same problems exist with the bungee cord as with the
rubber strap just described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter.
Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in
determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0006] A length-adjustable elastic strap is disclosed comprising an
elongated flexible and resilient single strap member having first
and second ends with each of the first and second ends having a
hook member selectively removably secured thereto. The strap member
has a plurality of spaced-apart hook connector loops extending
transversely therefrom with each of the loops having a hook
receiving opening formed therein. Each of the hook receiving
openings of the hook connector loops are adapted to have at least
one of the hook members selectively secured thereto to effectively
shorten the length of the strap.
[0007] In one embodiment of the invention, the strap member has a
rectangular-shaped cross-section such as commonly found in tarp
straps. In another embodiment of the invention, the strap member
has a generally cylindrical cross-section such as commonly utilized
in bungee cords.
[0008] The strap member may be length adjustable by simply forming
a loop with the hook member at the end thereof being inserted into
one of the hook receiving openings of the hook connector loops so
that one end of the strap member is looped around one of the
objects to be connected together. In another form of the invention,
one of the hook members may be removed from the strap and inserted
into one of the hook connector loops to effectively shorten the
length of the strap member without looping the strap member.
[0009] It is therefore a principal object of the invention to
provide a length-adjustable flexible and elastic strap.
[0010] A further object of the invention is to provide a strap of
the type described which has a generally rectangular-shaped
cross-section.
[0011] A further object of the invention is to provide a
length-adjustable strap of the type described which has a generally
cylindrical-shaped cross-section.
[0012] A further object of the invention is to provide a length
adjustable elastic or resilient strap which is comprised of an
elongated strap member having first and second ends with each of
the first and second ends having a hook member selectively
removably secured thereto with the strap member having a plurality
of spaced-apart hook connector loops extending transversely
therefrom.
[0013] A further object of the invention is to provide a
length-adjustable elastic and flexible strap wherein the length
thereof may be effectively shortened in one of two ways.
[0014] A further object of the invention is to provide a
length-adjustable elastic strap which economical of manufacture,
durable in use and refined in appearance. These and other objects
will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present
invention are described with reference to the following figures,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the
various views unless otherwise specified.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the strap
of this invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of the straps of FIG.
1 as they come from a mold with the dotted lines therein indicating
how the part may be separated into two straps;
[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the strap assembly
of FIG. 2 after the straps have been separated from one
another;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the
invention which is in the form of a bungee cord.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to
the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way
of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments
are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the
art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be
implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as
being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following
detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting
sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by
the appended claims.
[0021] In FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the invention is
illustrated with the same being designated by the reference numeral
10. The strap 10 is comprised of a flexible and resilient rubber
material as is commonly found in tarp straps and which has a body
portion 12 having ends 14 and 16 which usually have a thicker
cross-section than the main portion of the body 12. End portions 14
and 16 are provided with openings 18 and 20 formed therein adapted
to receive one end of the hooks or hook members 22 and 24 therein
respectively as illustrated in FIG. 1. Strap 10 includes a
plurality of spaced-apart and laterally extending loops 26 which
extend transversely therefrom and which have an opening 28 formed
therein. As seen in FIG. 1, the loops 26 are generally of the
truncated triangular-shaped configuration and have triangular
shaped openings 28 formed therein.
[0022] The length of the strap 10 may be adjusted in one of two
ways. In one method, the hook 22 is removed from the opening 18 and
inserted into one of the openings 28 as illustrated by broken lines
in FIG. 1 which effectively shortens the length of the strap member
10 since the hooks 24 and the hook 22 shown in dotted or dash form
effectively shortens the length of the strap 10. Another way of
shortening the strap 10 is to simply leave the hook member 22 in
the opening 18 and loop the strap member around one of the members
to be connected thereto so that the free end of the hook member 22
may be inserted into one of the openings 28 to shorten the length
of the strap 10.
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates one manner in which the strap 10 may be
formed. The mold which is used to produce strap would be of the
double-mold type so that a pair of the straps 10 come out of the
mold but are still joined together. The straps 10 may then be
separated by cutting the same along the dotted lines as illustrated
in FIG. 2 so that they may be separated into the two straps 10, as
illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention
wherein the strap 10' is in the form of a bungee cord having a
generally cylindrical cross-section. The bungee cord 10' has a
plurality of loops 26' extending laterally or transversely
therefrom, each of which have openings 28' formed therein. Strap
10' includes a body portion 12', ends 14' and 16' and hooks 22' and
24'
[0025] In use, if the hooks 22' and 24' are selectively removably
secured to the strap member 12', the length of the strap 10 may be
length adjustable by simply removing hook member 22' from opening
18' and inserting the hook 22' through one of the openings of the
loops 26' as illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 4. If the hooks
22' and 24' are not removable from the strap member 12' the only
way to shorten the length of the strap 10' is to loop end 14'
around so that the hook 22' may be secured to one of the openings
28'.
[0026] Thus it can be seen that a novel way has been provided to
provide a length-adjustable strap which may be either of the
rectangular-shaped cross-section or the round-shaped cross-section.
It can therefore be seen that the invention accomplishes at least
all of its stated objectives.
[0027] Although the invention has been described in language that
is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is
to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims
is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps
described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as
forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments
of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims
hereinafter appended.
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