Strap with Breakaway Link

Abstract

A link for use in a breakaway portion of a strap includes a body portion and first and second opposing engagement portions. Each engagement portion has at least one hook.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

SEQUENTIAL LISTING

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a breakaway linkage for a strap, and more particularly, for a strap that is used as a detachable closure device for a bag.

2. Description of the Background of the Disclosure

Straps, such as handles, lanyards, camera straps, and the like, are often designed to be worn around a user's neck. Alternatively, some straps are provided with bags, pouches, or other products that are not intended to be worn around the neck, but are otherwise misused. As such, many of these straps include breakaway safety portions, which allow the strap to be released from around the user's neck or body if the strap becomes snagged on an object. However, once these prior art breakaway portions are used, they are often no longer useful and need to be replaced. In the instances that the prior art breakaway portions are made to be reusable, they often suffer from the deficiency of releasing at too high of a force and/or do not provide adequate direction to a user of how to reassemble the breakaway portion once the breakaway portion has been released.

Of particular concern is ensuring that any breakaway portion releases with a sufficiently low force to protect a user or the product that the strap is attached to. Many prior art breakaway portions are not capable of releasing at low forces, but rather need a significant force to release the strap. The present disclosure details a significant advance in the release of a breakaway portion through low forces. Indeed, the present breakaway portions of some embodiments disclosed herein include multiple points at which the breakaway portion may disconnect, which is also a significant advance over the prior art.

It has also been found that user's prefer breakaway portions that are interactive and/or are aesthetically pleasing. The presently disclosed breakaway portions may be fashioned to be interchangeable with other breakaway portions or parts of breakaway portions based on the user's preferences and aesthetic sensibilities.

Accordingly, it would be an advance in the art to provide solutions for one or more of the above issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, a link for use in a breakaway portion of a strap includes a body portion and first and second opposing engagement portions. Each engagement portion has at least one hook.

According to another embodiment, a link for use in a breakaway portion of a strap includes a body portion and at least one engagement portion adapted to engage with a connector. The at least one engagement portion includes a cutout portion therein to impart resiliency to the at least one engagement portion.

According to a different embodiment, a breakaway strap assembly includes at least one connector and a link having at least one engagement portion releasably retained within the connector. The link is released from the connector upon a maximum tensile force of 4 lbs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a strap assembly including a breakaway portion;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a link for use in the breakaway portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the link of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the link of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the link of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partial front elevational view of a connector for use in the breakaway portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the connector shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a partial front elevational view of the connector of FIG. 6 with the link inserted therein;

FIG. 8A is a partial rear elevational view of the connector and link of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the link of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the strap assembly of FIG. 1, wherein the breakaway portion has disengaged;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the link of FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the strap assembly of FIG. 1, with an alternative breakaway portion;

FIG. 12A is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 12;

FIGS. 13A-D are alternative embodiments of the link of FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the strap assembly of FIG. 1 shown as a closure device for a bag; and

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the strap assembly of FIG. 14, wherein the bag is in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a strap assembly 100. The strap assembly 100 includes a strap 102 having a breakaway portion 104. The breakaway portion 104 generally includes first and second connectors 106A, 106B with a breakaway link 108 therebetween. The link 108 is releasably retained within the connectors 106A, 106B, such that application of a tensile force F to the strap assembly 100 causes the link 108 to separate from one or both of the first and second connectors 106A, 106B as discussed in greater detail below. It is preferable that the link 108 is designed to be released from the connectors 106A, 106B under application of a maximum tensile force F of 4 lbs (17.8 N).

As shown in FIG. 2, the link generally includes first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B having a body portion 112 therebetween. The body portion 112 has a width W_B that is preferably between about 0.5 cm to about 10 cm, and more preferably between about 2 cm to about 5 cm, and a length L_B that is preferably between about 2 cm to about 30 cm, and more preferably between about 3 cm to about 15 cm. The first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B are located at distal ends 114A, 114B, respectively, of the link 108 and are generally defined by the location where the width W of the link 108 begins to increase to >W_B. In one embodiment, the width W of the link 108 continues to increase uniformly before reaching a widest point 116 having a width W_E. The width W_E is preferably between about 0.5 cm to about 15 cm, and more preferably between about 2.2 cm to about 7 cm. It is preferable that the difference K between the width W_B of the body and the width W_E of the widest portions 116A, 116B of the first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B is between about 0 cm to about 5 cm, and more preferably about 0.2 cm to about 2 cm. In one embodiment, the ratio between the length L_B and the width W_E is preferably between about 2.5:1 and about 75:1. The areas between the widest points 116A, 116B of the first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B and the body portion 112 are hooks 118A, 118B. In the present embodiment each of the first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B has two hooks 118A, 118B therein, however, it is contemplated that fewer or more hooks may be used. The hooks 118A, 118B are designed to engage with the first and second connectors 106A, 106B, respectively, to releasably retain the link 108 between the connectors 106A, 106B as will be described in greater detail below. In the present embodiment, the link is generally symmetrical across a longitudinal axis X extending the length of the link. It is also preferable that the link is symmetrical around an axis Y, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X.

As shown in FIGS. 2-5 the hooks 118A, 118B of the link 108 are disposed at an angle Ø from the longitudinal axis X of the link. The angle Ø is preferably between about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees, more preferably between about 2 degrees to about 60 degrees, and most preferably about 2.4 degrees. Increasing and decreasing the angle Ø changes the tensile force F required to release the link 108 from the connectors 106A, 106B. For example, as the angle Ø approaches 90 degrees, the tensile force F required to release the link 108 from the connectors 106A, 106B also increases. Alternatively, as the angle Ø approaches 0 degrees, such that the hook is parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the link and is essentially nonexistent, the tensile force F required to release the link 108 from the connectors 106A, 106B is reduced.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, the first and second connectors 106A, 106B are shown. The first and second connectors 106A, 106B are preferably made of a 0.8 mm thick polypropylene sheet; however, other materials may be used to construct the connectors. First ends 130A, 130B of the first and second connectors 106A, 106B are attached to the strap 102. The strap 102 is preferably made of polypropylene with a high thread count, however, the strap 102 may be made out of other similar materials such as a nylon material with a high thread count. The strap 102 may be attached to the first ends by grommets, an adhesive, stitching, or any other attachment means known in the art. For example, in the present embodiment, the strap 102 is threaded through apertures 132A, 132B disposed in the first ends 130A, 130B of the connectors 106A, 106B, respectively. The strap 102 is thereafter attached to the connectors by grommets 134A, 134B.

Second ends 136A, 136B of the first and second connectors 106A, 106B, respectively, are located opposite of the first ends 130A, 130B and each include first and second apertures 138A, 138B, 140A, 140B, disposed in first sidewalls 142A, 142B thereof. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the first aperture 138B has a generally rectangular shape and the second aperture 140B has two curved sides. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the first and second apertures 138B, 140B may be similarly shaped, i.e., both rectangular in shape. The first and second apertures 138B, 140B generally have a width W_A. The width W_A of the apertures is preferably ≦the width W_E of the widest points 116A, 116B of the engagement portions 110A, 110B of the link 108.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 8, and 8A, the link 108 is releasably retained within the apertures 138B, 140B of the second connector 106B. In use, the first engagement portion 110A is inserted through the apertures 138A, 140A of the first connector 106A. When the link 108 is fully inserted within the apertures 138A, 140A, the hooks 118A on the first engagement portion 110A interact with the sidewall 142A of the connector 106A and wall portions defining the second aperture 140A, thereby holding the link 108 within the connector 106A. Thereafter, the second engagement portion 110B is inserted through the first and second apertures 138B, 140B (see FIGS. 8 and 8A) disposed in the second end 136B of the second connector 110B and the hooks 118E disposed on the second engagement portion 106B interact with the sidewall 142B of the second connector 106B and wall portions defining the second aperture 140B, thereby retaining the link 108 within the second connector 106B.

The first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B and the sidewalls 142A, 142B and wall portions defining the first and second apertures 138A, 138B, 140A, 140B are flexible and resilient enough to allow the widest portions 116A, 116B of the first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B to pass through the apertures 138A, 138B, 140A, 140B even if the width W_E of the widest portions 116A, 116B of the first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B is larger than the width W_A of the apertures 138A, 138B, 140A, 140B. Further, the widest portions 116A, 116B of the first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B may have a radius of curvature ranging from about 0 cm to about 1 cm. The rounded shape of the first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B allows the widest portions 116A, 116B to more easily pass through the apertures 138A, 138B, 140A, 140B, thereby allowing the link 108 to be more easily inserted within the connectors 106A, 106B.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 9, the link 108 may include cutouts 150A, 150B in the first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B, respectively, which assist in the insertion and removal of the link 108 from the connectors 106A, 106B. The cutouts 150A, 150B define narrowed legs 152, within the first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B. The narrowed legs 152 preferably have a width W_L of between about 0.01 cm to about 0.15 cm. The narrowed legs 152 allow the widest points 116A, 116B of the engagement portions 110A, 110B of the link 108 to more easily pass through the apertures 138A, 138B, 140A, 140B during insertion of the link 108 within the first and second apertures. Further, the narrowed legs 152 allow the link 108 to release from the connectors 106A, 106B under a lower tensile force F. Adjusting the width W_L of the narrowed legs 152 of the first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B changes the amount of tensile force F required to release the link 108 from the connectors 106A, 106B. For example, if the width W_L of the narrowed legs 152 is increased, the amount of tensile force F required to release the link 108 from the connectors 106A, 106B would also be increased as the engagement portions 110A, 110B would not flex as easily during passage through the apertures 138A, 138B, 140A, 140B.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the strap assembly 100 is shown in an assembled position, in which the link 108 is inserted within and retained between the first and second connectors 106A, 106B. The link 108 will remain within the first and second connectors 106A, 106B until a tensile force F is applied to the strap assembly 100. Upon application of a sufficient amount of tensile force F, the link 108 will disengage from one and/or both of the first and second connectors 106A, 106B (See FIG. 10). FIG. 10 illustrates the strap assembly 100 after application of a tensile force F sufficient enough to cause the first engagement portion 110A of the link 108 to disengage from the first connector 106A. After disengagement of the link 108 from the first connector 106A, the break away portion 104 may be reused and reassembled by merely reinserting the link 108 into the first connector 106A as discussed above. It is advantageous that the link 108 and breakaway portion 104 are symmetrical on opposing sides, e.g., about the Y axis illustrated in FIG. 2. The symmetry of the link 108 and breakaway portion 104 allow a user to view the second connector 106B, which is still engaged with the link 108, to see the proper way to reinsert the first engagement portion 110A into the first connector 106A.

Referring now to FIGS. 11, 12, and 12A a further embodiment of the link 108 is shown to include a body portion 112 having an enlarged central portion 160. The enlarged central portion 160 includes shoulders 162A, 162B, in which the width W_B of the body 112 of the link 108 decreases to two neck portions 164A, 164B defined between the enlarged central portion 160 and the first and second engagement portions 110A, 110B. The width W_B′ of the body of the link at the enlarged central portion 160 is preferably larger than the width W_B of the body 112 at the two neck portions 164A, 164B of the body 112. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 12A, when the link 108 is inserted into the connectors 106A, 106B, the enlarged central portion 160 of the body 112 may provide an aesthetic benefit of making the breakaway portion 104 of the strap assembly 100 appear like a uniform piece instead of a separate link in between the two connectors 106A, 106B. The larger width W_B′ of the enlarged central portion 160 of the body 112 makes the link 108 appear to be merely an extension of the first and second connectors 106A, 106B, which may be more aesthetically pleasing to some users than links in which the body portion 112 has a narrower width. In addition to providing aesthetic benefits, the enlarged central portion 160 of the body 112 also orients the link 108 within the strap assembly 100 by preventing the link 108 from being inserted too far within the connectors 106A, 106B. As shown in FIG. 12A, the enlarged central portion 160 of the link 108 has a width W_B′ that is significantly larger than the width W_A of the apertures 138A, 138B, 140A, 140B in the connectors 106A, 106B. As such, when the link 108 is inserted within the apertures 138A, 138B, 140A, 140B, the shoulders 162A, 162B interact with portions of the sidewall defining the first apertures 138A, 138B thereby preventing the link 108 from being inserted too far within the first and second connectors 106A, 106B.

Further embodiments of the link are shown in FIGS. 13A-D. As shown in FIGS. 13A-D, the link 108 may include various indicia or designs, which are printed or embossed onto the body portion 112 thereof. Alternatively, a user may write a message or draw an image on the body portion 112 of the link 108 prior to inserting the link 108 into the strap assembly 100. The indicia may interact with indicia (not shown) on the connector portions 106A, 106B. Additionally, the user may remove the link 108 from the connectors 106A, 106B and replace the link 108 with a different link having a different indicia or design applied thereon, thereby allowing the user to customize the strap assembly 100 depending on the user's preferences.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 14, and 15, in one exemplary embodiment the strap assembly 100 with break away portion 104 may be a detachable closure device 170 for a bag 172 such as that described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/491,532. In this embodiment, the first and second connectors 106A, 106B include second sidewalls 174A, 174B (see FIG. 1). Complementary latching elements 176, e.g., snaps and clasps, are disposed on the first and second sidewalls 142A, 142B, 174A, 174B. The latching elements 176 engage with an engaging mechanism (not shown), e.g., complementary holes, adjacent a top edge 178 of a side panel 180 of the bag 172, thereby detachably affixing the strap assembly 100 to the bag 172. In use, the strap assembly 100 is attached to the bag 172. Once the strap assembly 100 is attached to the side panel 180, an open top 182 of the bag 172 is occluded by bringing an opposing side panel 184 of the bag 172 in proximity to the affixed strap assembly 100. The two opposing panels 180, 184 of the bag 172 are rolled down over each other toward a bottom panel 186 of the bag 172. After rolling, opposing ends of the strap assembly 100 interconnect via an attachment mechanism 188 such as a buckle, button, clip, or the like, thereby releasably affixing the rolled down portion of the bag 172 in a closed position (see FIG. 15). The bag 172 is opened by releasing the attachment mechanism 188 and unrolling the bag 172. The strap assembly 100 may subsequently be detached from the bag 172. The strap assembly 100 is then reusable with the bag or with another bag (not shown).

When the strap assembly 100 is attached to the bag. The latching elements 176 attaching the strap assembly 100 to the bag 172, prevent a tensile force F from being applied to the breakaway portion 104, thereby preventing the link 108 from being released from the first and/or second connector 106A, 106B. As such, the strap assembly 100 of the present embodiment can be used as a handle to carry the bag 172 without the link 108 disengaging from the first and/or second connectors 106A, 106B. However, when the strap assembly 100 is removed from the bag 172 the application of the tensile force F at a maximum of 4 pounds (17.8 N) causes the link 108 to be released from the first and/or second connectors 106A, 106B. For example, if a user removes the strap assembly from the bag and retains it on their person in some manner, the breakaway portion 104 will safely release if the closure element gets snagged on an object.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to certain embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which have been presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.

All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Numerous modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use what is herein disclosed and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of this disclosure are reserved.

Claims

1. A link for use in a breakaway portion of a strap, comprising:

a body portion; and

first and second opposing engagement portions, each engagement portion having at least one hook.

2. The link of claim 1, wherein the at least one hook is disposed at an angle θ about a longitudinal axis of the link.

3. The link of claim 2, wherein the at least one hook of the first and second engagement portions are disposed at the same angle θ about the longitudinal axis of the link.

4. The link of claim 2, wherein the at least one hook of the first and second engagement portions are disposed at a different angle θ from one another about the longitudinal axis of the link.

5. The link of claim 2, wherein the angle θ is between about 2 degrees to about 60 degrees.

6. The link of claim 1, wherein the first engagement portion includes at least two hooks thereon.

7. The link of claim 6, wherein the second engagement portion includes at least two hooks thereon.

8. The link of claim 7, where the link is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the link.

9. The link of claim 7, wherein a distance between the two hooks of the first engagement portion defines a width WE, which is >a largest width WB of the body portion.

10. The link of claim 7, wherein a distance between the two hooks of the first engagement portion defines a width WE, which is <a largest width WB of the body portion.

11. The link of claim 7, wherein a distance between the two hooks of the first engagement portion defines a width WE, a length of the body portion of the link about a longitudinal axis is defined by a length LB, and wherein the ratio of LB to WE is between about 2.5:1 and about 75:1.

12. A link for use in a breakaway portion of a strap, comprising:

a body portion; and

at least one engagement portion adapted to engage with a connector,

wherein the at least one engagement portion includes a cutout portion therein to impart resiliency to the at least one engagement portion.

13. The link of claim 12, wherein the at least one engagement portion includes at least one hook.

14. The link of claim 13, wherein a second engagement portion is provided on the body portion opposite the first engagement portion that is adapted for engagement with a second connector.

15. The link of claim 14, wherein the second engagement portion includes at least one hook.

16. The link of claim 15, wherein the second engagement portion includes a cutout portion therein to impart resiliency to the second engagement portion.

17. A breakaway strap assembly, comprising:

at least one connector; and

a link having at least one engagement portion releasably retained within the connector,

wherein the link is released from the connector upon a maximum tensile force of 4 lbs.

18. The breakaway strap assembly of claim 17, wherein first and second connectors are attached to a strap, each of the first and second connectors include first and second apertures on an end thereof, wherein the link includes first and second opposing engagement portions, each of the engagement portions including at least one hook, and wherein the first engagement portion and at least one hook are releasably received by the first and second apertures of the first connector and the second engagement portion and at least one hook are releasably received by the first and second apertures of the second connector.

19. The breakaway strap assembly of claim 18, wherein the first engagement portion includes two opposing hooks and the second engagement portion includes two opposing hooks.

20. The breakaway strap assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second apertures have a width WA that is ≦a width WE between opposing hooks of the first and second engagement portions.