RATCHET STRAP HOLDER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a holder that fastens upon itself or upon a portion of the ratchet or upon a portion of any one of a plurality of ratchet straps.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/951,999, filed Jul. 26, 2007 and expressly incorporates by reference the provisional application in its entirely.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates broadly to a holder for a ratchet and ratchet straps. More particularly, this invention relates to a holder that fastens upon itself or upon a portion of the ratchet or upon a portion of any one of the ratchet straps.

2. Related Art

Ratchets and ratchet straps have been used to secure loads. The operation allows the ratchet to fasten to the strap at several user selected lengths. Whether the ratchet and a user selected length of ratchet strap is in use or not in use, there may be additional ratchet strap that is not in use. When in use and depending upon the user selected length, the straps may be looped around the ratchet, possibly several times. When not in use, a common storage arrangement has the straps looped several times around the ratchet. Loose additional ratchet straps may become entangled. Loose additional ratchet strap may improperly catch on other items. Loose additional ratchet strap may be unsightly and disorganized.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a holder for use with an item, comprising a body including a first and a second side, the first and second side on opposing major surfaces, the first side including either hooks or loops, the second side including either hooks or loops, the body including a first body portion, a second body portion, and a third body portion, the first body portion not adjacent to the second body portion, the first body portion configured to fasten to the second body portion, and a handle fastened to the body.

The present invention also provides a holder for use with an item, comprising a body including a first and a second side, the first side including hooks or loops material, the second side including hooks or loops material, and a fastening piece including a first fastening piece side, the first fastening piece side including hooks or loops material or both, the fastening piece configured to fasten to the body, the fastening piece configured to fasten a first portion of the body to the item or a second portion of the body.

The present invention also provides a holder for use with an item, comprising a body including a first and a second side, the first and second side on opposing major surfaces, the first side including hooks or loops material, the second side including hooks or loops material, the body including a first body portion and a second body portion, a handle including hooks or loops material or both, the handle configured to fasten to the body, and a fastening piece including a first fastening piece side, the first fastening piece side including hooks or loops material or both, the fastening piece configured to fasten to the body, the fastening piece configured to fasten the first body portion to the item.

The present invention also provides a holder for an item comprising a first portion having a body capable of extending around the item; and means for releasably securing the first portion around the item.

The present invention also provides a ratchet strap holder assembly comprising a ratchet including at least one ratchet strap, a holder configured to fasten to the ratchet, the ratchet strap or the holder, the holder configured to extend around the ratchet and the at least one ratchet strap.

The present invention also provides a holder for use with an item, including a body including a first and a second piece, the first piece including a first side, the second piece including a second side, the first and second piece fastened together, the body including a first body portion, a second body portion, and a third body portion, the first body portion not adjacent to the second body portion, the first body portion configured to fasten to the second body portion, a fastening piece including a first fastening piece side, the fastening piece configured to fasten to the body, the fastening piece configured to fasten the first body portion to the item or the second portion of the body, and a handle configured to fasten to the body

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a ratchet strap holder.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ratchet strap holder of FIG. 1 in use with a ratchet and ratchet straps.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ratchet strap holder of FIG. 1 in use with a ratchet and ratchet straps.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ratchet strap holder of FIG. 1 in use with a ratchet and ratchet straps.

FIG. 4a is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a ratchet strap holder.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a ratchet strap holder.

FIG. 5a is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a ratchet strap holder.

FIG. 5b is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a ratchet strap holder.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a ratchet strap holder.

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a ratchet strap holder.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a ratchet strap holder.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a ratchet strap holder.

FIGS. 9A-9F are perspective views of alternative illustrative embodiments of a ratchet strap holder.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of another illustrative embodiment of a ratchet strap holder.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a ratchet strap holder.

FIGS. 12A-12E are perspective views of alternative illustrative embodiments of a ratchet strap holder.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the ratchet strap holder of FIG. 1 in use with bundled material.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, ratchet strap holder 10 is shown. Ratchet strap holder 10 is configured to hold materials, such as bundled materials 262 (FIG. 13), such as hangers. Ratchet strap holder 10 is also configured to bundle items for storages such as bike tire tubes, baseball caps, arrows, stakes such as tent stakes, tree or plant stakes, or sticks such as yardsticks, or cables such as computer cables, cords such as tool cords or extension cords. Ratchet strap holder 10 is also configured to secure items such as gates, lawn, yard or collapsible furniture, bikes, hangers, swing sets or chains, and similar items that can easily come loose or ajar or that are not secured down to stationary fixtures, such as truck beds, car racks, and similarly situated fixtures or support members. Ratchet strap holder 10 or a plurality of ratchet strap holders 10 is configured to strap down articles such as suitcases. For example, ratchet strap holder 10 is configured to fasten a suitcase to the roof of a car or strap suitcases together during travel or other similar fastening uses.

Ratchet strap holder 10 includes body 12. Body 12 may be made of several types of material including hooks or loops material such as Velcro® (Velcro® is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries v.v. of the Netherlands), cord such as bungee cord, laminar strip, block, string rope, cloth, fabric, and elastic materials. Body 12 may be a unitary material, a plurality of materials, or a composite of different types of materials. Body 12 includes first side 18 and second side 20. First side 18 and/or second side 20 may individually include hooks and loops material such as described above or other fasteners, cord, cloth, fabric, and elastic material as described above. In one embodiment, first side 18 includes hooks, second side 20 includes loops.

In an illustrated embodiment, body 12 includes first body portion 22, second body portion 24, and third body portion 26 adjacent to both first body portion 22 and second body portion 24. As illustrated in this embodiment, first body portion 22 is not directly adjacent to second body portion 24. However, during operation of ratchet strap holder 10, first body portion 22 may be adjacent to or fastened to second body portion 24 or fastened to third body portion 26.

Ratchet strap holder 10 optionally includes handle 30. Handle 30 includes handle body 32. Handle body 32 may comprise similar materials as body 12, alternatively, straps may be made of various materials such as cloth, rubber, or leather. Similar to body 12, handle body 32 may be a unitary material, a plurality of materials, or a composite of different types of materials. Handle 30 may be fastened to ratchet strap holder 10 by any suitable fastener such as rivets, snaps, clips, slits, welding, such as ultrasonic welding, ball and loop, or hook or loop material. Similar to body 12, handle body 32 may include hooks, loops, snaps, and other suitable fasteners on either side of handle body 32. In one embodiment, handle body 32 includes first handle portion 36, second handle portion 38, and third handle portion 30. As illustrated, third handle portion 40 is adjacent to first handle portion 36 and second handle portion 38. As also illustrated in this embodiment, first handle portion 36 and second handle portion 38 are not adjacent. As shown in this embodiment, first handle portion 36 and second handle portion 38 are coupled to body 12 such that third handle portion 40 is not directly coupled to body 12. As illustrated in FIG. 1, third handle portion 40 in conjunction with body 12 defines opening 34. As illustrated, opening 34 is configured to allow for a hand to grip handle 30 and therefore grip ratchet strap holder 10 in addition to whatever ratchet strap holder 10 is holding or securing. In one embodiment, handle body 32 comprises hook material on one side and loop material on another side, a first handle piece (not shown) may couple to third handle portion 40. First handle piece may include the hook or loop material on at least one side to fasten to third handle portion 40. In one embodiment, the side of handle piece 30 that is open to opening 34 does not expose the hand to fastening material such as hook or loop material.

Ratchet strap holder 10 optionally includes fastening piece 42. As illustrated, fastening piece 42 includes first fastening piece side 44. As illustrated, fastening piece 42 is configured to fasten to body 12 and more specifically to second body portion 24. First fastening piece side 44 is configured to fasten to second body portion 24. For example, in one embodiment, second body portion 24 includes hook or loop material, first fastening piece side 44 includes the compliment hook or loop material.

Fastening piece 42 includes materials similar to body 12. As illustrated, fastening piece 42 includes first fastening piece portion 46, second fastening piece portion 48, and third fastening piece portion 50. As illustrated, first fastening piece portion 50 is adjacent to first and second fastening piece portions 46 and 48. Also as illustrated, first fastening piece portion 46 is not adjacent to second fastening piece portion 48,. In operation, similar to handle 30, first fastening piece portion 46 and second fastening piece portion 48 couple to body 12. More specifically, second body portion 24 in combination with third fastening piece portion 50 may loop or surround an item, such as ratchet 10, ratchet strap 62, or other materials, such that ratchet strap holder 10 is fastened to the item.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 2, ratchet strap holder 10 is shown to hold ratchet 60 and ratchet strap 62. In one embodiment, fastening piece 42 is fastened to ratchet 60. In another embodiment, fastening piece 42 is fastened to ratchet strap 62. As shown in this embodiment, ratchet strap 62 is wrapped around ratchet 60, then body 12 of ratchet strap holder 10 is wrapped around ratchet 60 and ratchet strap 62. As shown, first body portion 22 (FIG. 1) is fastened to either second body portion 24 (FIG. 1) or third body portion 26 (FIG. 1) to secure ratchet strap 62 to ratchet 60 in the bundles configuration as shown. As shown in FIG. 2, ratchet strap holder 10 secures ratchet 60 and ratchet straps 62 in a tight bundled configuration. As also shown in FIG. 2, optional handle 30 provides a convenient carrying instrument for ratchet strap holder 10.

In an alternative embodiment, second body portion 24 is placed adjacent to the combination of ratchet 60 and bundled ratchet straps 62. As illustrated in FIG. 2, first body portion 22 (FIG. 1) is looped around ratchet 60 and ratchet strap 62 and fastened to second body portion 24 (FIG. 1) to provide a similar bundled configuration of ratchet straps 62 about ratchet 60.

As shown in FIG. 3, ratchet strap holder 10 is configured to fasten or secure excess bundled material such as excess ratchet strap 64. As illustrated, ratchet strap holder 10 is used to bundle excess ratchet strap 64 while ratchet 60 and ratchet strap 62 are in use or after use. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4, ratchet strap holder 10 is shown fastened to excess ratchet strap 64 and therefore ratchet 60. Unlike FIG. 3, in this embodiment, ratchet strap holder 10 is fastened to ratchet strap 62. Ratchet trap holder 10 may be wrapped around itself and kept fastened to ratchet strap 62 and out of the way during use of ratchet 60 and ratchet strap 62.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a form of fastening ratchet strap holder 110 to ratchet strap 62 is illustrated as one embodiment. Ratchet strap holder 110 is similar to ratchet strap holder 10, except for the changes described herein. Ratchet strap holder 110 includes body 112. As illustrated in this embodiment, body 112 is comprised of hook material 114. Body 112 also includes finished end 116. Ratchet strap holder 110 also includes fastening piece 116. As illustrated, fastening piece 116 is secured to body 112 by fastening mechanism 118, illustrated as sewn. Fastening mechanism 118 may include sewing, adhesive, snaps, welding, such as ultrasonic welding, or other suitable fastening mechanisms. Fastening piece 116, as illustrated in this embodiment, includes loop material 120 on the side of fastening piece 116 adjacent to hook material 114. As illustrated, hook material 114 and loop material 120 fasten together to define opening 122. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4A, ratchet strap 62 is located within opening 122 and therefore ratchet strap holder 110 is fastened to ratchet strap 62.

As an alternative embodiment in FIG. 5, fastening piece 130 is shown. As illustrated in this embodiment, fastening piece 130 is comprised of hook or loop material. Fastening piece 130 fastens to body 112 to create opening 122 to affix ratchet strap 62 as previously described. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, fastening piece 130 is secured to body 112 using any suitable fastening mechanism 118, including welding, metal links, hook and loop material, such as Velcro®, snaps, or any other securing devices. As shown in FIG. 5B in another alternative embodiment, fastening piece 130 includes first side 132 comprised of hook or loop material and second side 134 comprised of hook or loop material complimentary to first side 132. Fastening piece 130 is fastened to body 112 by any suitable fastening mechanism 118, as previously described. In this illustrative embodiment, body 112 includes side 136 which comprises hook or loop material, which compliments second side 134 such that fastening piece 130 is affixed to body 112.

As another alternative embodiment in FIG. 6, body 112 is shown comprised of hook and loop material. As shown in this embodiment, side 140 of body 112 is comprised of hook or loop material. Portion 146 of body 112 is shown as wrapped around ratchet strap 62. Body 112 is also shown as fastened to sliding piece 142. As shown in this embodiment, sliding piece 142 includes exterior surface 144 which comprises the complimentary hook or loop material to side 140. As shown in this embodiment, wrapped around portion 146 fastens to sliding piece 142. Wrapped-around portion 146 may be fastened to sliding piece 142 by any suitable fastening mechanism 118, as previously described. As shown in FIG. 6A, sliding piece 142 is shown as wrapped around body 112 such that sliding piece 142 may translate along longitudinal axis 148 of body 112.

As an alternative embodiment in FIG. 7, fastening piece 150 is shown, including first side 152 comprised of hook or loop material fastened to first side 154 of body 112 comprised of complimentary hook or loop material. As previously described, fastening piece 150 and body 112 define opening 122 in which ratchet strap 62 is located, thereby fastening to ratchet strap 62.

As an alternative embodiment in FIG. 8, ratchet strap holder 160 is shown. Ratchet strap holder 160 includes body 162, fastening piece 164, and coupler 166. Body 162 is wrapped around a portion of coupler 166 and fastened upon itself by any suitable fastening mechanism 118. Similarly, fastening piece 164 is also wrapped around a portion of coupler 166 and fastened upon itself by any suitable fastening mechanism 118. Coupler 166 is shown as a ring. However, coupler 166 may include a hook, a clasp, or any other securing device to attach the two pieces of material, such as body 162 and fastening piece 164. In an alternative embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 8A, ratchet strap holder 161 is shown. Ratchet strap holder 161 includes body 162, fastening piece 164, and coupler 167. Body 162 is wrapped around a portion of coupler 167 and fastened upon itself by any suitable fastening mechanism 118, illustrated as sewn. Similarly, fastening piece 164 is also configured to wrap around a portion of coupler 167 and fastened upon itself by any suitable fastening mechanism 118. Coupler 167 is shown as a multi-part ring. However, coupler 167 may include a hook, a clasp, or any other securing device to attach the two pieces of material, such as body 162 and fastening piece 164.

Alternative embodiments of fasteners are shown in FIGS. 9A through 9D. In FIG. 9A, fastener 170 is shown as clip 170. Clip 170 is fastened to body 112 by use of any suitable fastening mechanism 118, such as rivet 172. In another embodiment, clip 170 can be utilized with the end of a zipper or other suitable fastening mechanism 118. In FIG. 9B, fastening mechanism 118 is shown as clasp 174 fastened to body 112 by any suitable fastening mechanism 118. As shown in FIG. 9C, fastening mechanism 118 is shown as securing device 176, which may be a hinged system where hinge 178 is either spring or tension loaded. As shown in FIG. 9D, body 112 may be fastened to ratchet strap 162 using any suitable fastening mechanism 118, including rivets 180, buttons, clasps, or snaps. In FIG. 9E, fastener 180 includes plate 182. Plate 182 is illustrated as flat and fastened to body 112 by use of any suitable fastening mechanism 118. Plate 182 defines aperture 184 through which body 112 is located to define opening 122. In FIG. 9F, fastener 190 includes ball 192 and loop 194. Ball 192 and loop 194 are configured to wrap around the secured item such that loop 194 is secured against ball 192 as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

An alternative embodiment of ratchet strap holder 190 is shown in FIG. 10. Ratchet strap holder 190 includes female body portion 192 and male body portion 194. Ratchet strap holder 190 is similar to ratchet strap holder 10, except as described herein. The combination of female body portion 192 and male body portion 194 provide an adjustable length to ratchet strap holder 190. Male body portion 194 includes projections 196 designed to fit within aperture 198 defined by female body portion 192. As illustrated rivet 197 defines aperture 198. Apertures 198 can also be described as eyelets. As illustrated projections 196 are illustrated as catches. As illustrated in FIG. 10A, projections 196 (FIG. 10) are alternatively illustrated as cones 195. As shown in FIG. 11, another alternative embodiment of ratchet strap holder 200 is shown. Body 202 defines voids 204, such as notches 204. Body 202 also includes any suitable fastening mechanism 118, such as catch 206. Body 202 is configured to provide an adjustable length to ratchet strap holder 200.

As illustrated in FIG. 11A, another alternative embodiment of ratchet strap holder 201 is shown. In this embodiment, body 202 defines voids 203, such as apertures 203. Body 202 also includes any suitable fastening mechanism 118, such as grasp 207. Body 202 is configured to provide an adjustable length to ratchet strap holder 201.

FIGS. 12A through 12F show alternative embodiments for fastening piece 150 (FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 12A, fastening piece 210 is shown including adhesive portions 212. As shown in FIG. 12B, fastening piece 220 is shown including fastener 222. Retraction system 224, such as a retractable badge reel, provides adjustable length body 226. As previously described, fastening piece 220 is configured to attach fastener 222 to any sort of material, such as ratchet strap holder 10. Fastening piece 220 is configured to wrap adjustable length body 226 around any sort of material, such as bundle of material, excess material, and use fastener 222 to secure the hold on the material. As shown in FIG. 12C, fastening piece 230 includes snaps 232 and spring 234. As shown in FIG. 12D in another alternative embodiment, fastening portion 240 is shown with elastic material 242. As shown in FIG. 12E, fastening portion 250 is shown with magnetic coupling portions 252. As shown in FIG. 12F in another alternative embodiment, fastening portion 260 is shown including elastic material 262. Fastening portion 260 and elastic material 262 are configured to compress when not stretched.

As shown in FIG. 13, holder 260 is shown securing bundled material 262. Bundled materials may include items such as bike tire tubes, baseball caps, arrows, tent stakes, sticks, computer cable, tools, cords, tree or plant stakes, yard furniture, collapsible or retractable furniture, extension cords, ropes, hoses, or excess materials. As shown in FIG. 13A, holder 260 is configured to overlap excess strap 264 upon itself to adjust to a needed length to secure material 262.

While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this invention. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the invention as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.

Claims

1. A holder for use with an item, comprising:

a body including a first and a second side, the first and second side on opposing major surfaces, the first side including either hooks or loops, the second side including either hooks or loops, the body including a first body portion, a second body portion, and a third body portion, the first body portion not adjacent to the second body portion, the first body portion configured to fasten to the second body portion, and

a handle fastened to the body.

2. The holder of claim 1 wherein the handle includes a first handle portion, a second handle portion and a third handle portion, the second handle portion not adjacent to the first handle portion, wherein the first handle portion and the second handle portion fasten to the body, wherein the third handle portion is not fastened to the body.

3. The holder of claim 2 further comprising a handle piece, the handle piece including a first handle piece side, the first handle piece side including hooks or loops material or both, the handle piece configured to fasten to the handle.

4. The holder of claim 3 wherein the handle piece is fastened to the third handle portion.

5. A holder for use with an item, comprising:

a body including a first and a second side, the first side including hooks or loops material, the second side including hooks or loops material, and

a fastening piece including a first fastening piece side, the first fastening piece side including hooks or loops material or both, the fastening piece configured to fasten to the body, the fastening piece configured to fasten a first portion of the body to the item or a second portion of the body.

6. The holder of claim 5 further comprising a sliding piece wrapped around the body, the sliding piece configured to fasten to the fastening piece.

7. The holder of claim 5 wherein the fastening piece includes a first fastening piece portion, a second fastening piece portion and a third fastening piece portion, the first fastening piece portion not adjacent to the second fastening piece portion, wherein the first fastening piece portion and the second fastening piece portion are fastened to the body, wherein the third fastening piece portion is not fastened to body.

8. The holder of claim 7 wherein the item is secured to the body by wrapping a portion of the body and the third fastening piece portion around the item.

9. The holder of claim 5 further comprising a coupler configured to couple to the body and the fastening piece, the body and the fastening piece are each wrapped around portions of coupler, the body and the fastening piece each fastened upon itself.

10. The holder of claim 9 wherein the coupler is as a ring, a hook, or a clasp.

11. A holder for use with an item, comprising:

a body including a first and a second side, the first and second side on opposing major surfaces, the first side including hooks or loops material, the second side including hooks or loops material, the body including a first body portion and a second body portion,

a handle including hooks or loops material or both, the handle configured to fasten to the body, and

a fastening piece including a first fastening piece side, the first fastening piece side including hooks or loops material or both, the fastening piece configured to fasten to the body, the fastening piece configured to fasten the first body portion to the item.

12. The holder of claim 11 wherein the fastening piece is configured to secure the body around the item which is a ratchet or a ratchet strap.

13. A holder for an item comprising:

a first portion having a body capable of extending around the item; and

means for releasably securing the first portion around the item.

14. The holder of claim 13 further comprising a handle connected to the first portion.

15. The holder of claim 13 further comprising a clip coupled to the first portion.

16. The holder of claim 13 further comprising a clasp coupled to the first portion.

17. The holder of claim 13 further comprising a fastening mechanism coupled to the first portion, the fastening mechanism including a hinge.

18. A ratchet strap holder assembly comprising:

a ratchet including at least one ratchet strap,

a holder configured to fasten to the ratchet, the ratchet strap or the holder, the holder configured to extend around the ratchet and the at least one ratchet strap.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the holder includes at least one of a rivet, a button, a clasp, or a snap for fastening to the ratchet or the ratchet strap.

20. A holder for use with an item, comprising:

a body including a first and a second piece, the first piece including a first side, the second piece including a second side, the first and second piece fastened together, the body including a first body portion, a second body portion, and a third body portion, the first body portion not adjacent to the second body portion, the first body portion configured to fasten to the second body portion,

a fastening piece including a first fastening piece side, the fastening piece configured to fasten to the body, the fastening piece configured to fasten the first body portion to the item or the second portion of the body, and

a handle configured to fasten to the body.

21. The holder of claim 20 wherein the first side includes hooks or loops material.

22. The holder of claim 20 wherein the second side includes hooks or loops material.

23. The holder of claim 20 wherein the first fastening piece side includes hooks or loops material or both.

24. The holder of claim 20 wherein the handle includes hooks or loops material or both.

25. The holder of claim 20 wherein the first piece includes at least one projection, the second piece includes at least one aperture configured to accept the projection.

26. The holder of claim 25 wherein the aperture is an eyelet.

27. The holder of claim 20 wherein body defines notches.

28. The holder of claim 20 wherein the fastening piece includes at least one adhesive portion.

29. The holder of claim 20 wherein the fastening piece includes snaps.

30. The holder of claim 20 further comprising an adjustable length mechanism coupled to the body.

31. The holder of claim 30 wherein the adjustable length mechanism is a retractable badge reel.

32. The holder of claim 20 wherein the body includes a spring.

33. The holder of claim 20 wherein the fastening piece includes elastic material.