Bungi-claw

Abstract

A tie down which has a bungi cord that has a hook at one end for securing the bungi cord to a first object and a clasp at the other end. The clasp has a pair of pivoted jaws with teeth on at least one of the jaws for securing the other end of the bungi cord to an object.

Description

[0001] Applicant claims the priority of Provisional application Ser. No. 60/208,911, filed Jun. 5, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates, in general, to securing devices, and, in particular, to securing devices with versatile attaching means on each end.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] In the prior art various types of securing devices have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,531 to Skyba discloses an elastic tie-down having an elastic tube with two hooks secured at opposite ends.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,990 to Schutte discloses a fastening device for rope having an aperture through which the rope is attached and a hook for securing the rope.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,188 to Smith discloses a tie down having a flexible metal cable with a loop at one end and an apertured plate for receiving a screw anchor a the other end.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,570 to Rasmussen discloses a tie down having a plate secured to a support and having an aperture for receiving a hook. The hook is secured to a turn buckle which in turn has a hook for securing the device to an object to be secured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is directed to a tie down which has a bungi cord that has a hook at one end for securing the bungi cord to a first object and a clasp at the other end. The clasp has a pair of pivoted jaws with teeth on at least one of the jaws for securing the other end of the bungi cord to an object.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved tie down.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved tie down that is more versatile in attaching various objects.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved tie down which has different types of securing devices on opposite ends of the tie down.

[0011] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the prior art.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of one of the securing clasps of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows the conventional prior art bungi cord tie down 1. The tie down 1 has a resilient cord 2 which has a securing means 4 in the shape of a hook at opposite ends. Each hook 4 has a coil 10 unitary therewith, and the coil forms an aperture through the center of the coil. An end of the cord 2 is passed through this aperture and an enlargement 3 is formed on the end of the cord 2 so the end can not pass back through the aperture in the coil 10. In this manner the hook is secured to the bungi cord 2.

[0016] The bungi cords of the prior art are used to secure a variety of objects such as luggage to the top of an automobile. One of the hooks 4 is secured to the automobile at one side and then the cord 2 is stretched across the top of the luggage and the other hook 4 is secured to the opposite end of the automobile.

[0017] While the conventional bungi cord, shown in FIG. 1, works in a satisfactory manner in most cases, there are times when there is no convenient place to attach one of the hooks 4. In these instances, the conventional bungi cord can not be used and other less convenient methods of securing objects must be employed.

[0018] The present invention is designed to solve this problem by providing a universal clamp to one end of the bungi cord so this end can be secured where a conventional hook 4 can not be secured.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the bungi cord tie down of the present invention has a bungi cord 2 which has a hook 4 secured to an enlarged end 3 of the bungi cord in the conventional manner. The other end of the bungi cord is secured, in any conventional manner to a clasp 5. The clasp 5 is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. The clasp 5 has a pair of jaws 6, 7 which are pivoted together at 8, so the jaws can be moved toward and away from each other. Each of the jaws 6, 7 have a plurality of teeth 9 which will dig into an object from opposite sides and thereby secure the clasp firmly to the object. Since the clasp 5 of the present invention does not need an aperture or a ledge, or some other form of support that the conventional hook 4 needs in order to secure the hook to a support, the clasp 5 of the present invention, is much more versatile than the conventional hook 4.

[0020] Also, it should be noted that the clasp 5 could be provided with means to assist the clasp in remaining in the closed position. For example, a catch could be provided to hold the clasp 5 in the closed position. Also, a spring 10 could be provided that will hold the jaws 6, 7 in a closed position. In order to attach the clasp to a support, the jaws would be separated against the tension of the spring 10, and once the clasp 5 is attached to a support, the jaws could be released so they will be secured to the support by the tension in the spring, 10, tending to close the jaws, and the frictional engagement between the teeth 9 and the support.

[0021] Although the Bungi-Claw and the method of using the same according to the present invention has been described in the foregoing specification with considerable details, it is to be understood that modifications may be made to the invention which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims and modified forms of the present invention done by others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be considered infringements of this invention when those modified forms fall within the claimed scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A bungi cord comprising:

an elastic cord having a first end and a second end,

said first end having a hook secured thereto, and

said second end having means for securing said second end to a support,

said means for securing said second end to a support comprising a first jaw and a second jaw,

said first and second jaws being secured together by a pivot, and

said first and second jaws being movable from a first position to a second position about said pivot, and

wherein when said first and second jaws are in said first position, they are closely adjacent one another, and

when said first and second jaws are in said second position, they are remote from one another, and

means for holding said first and second jaws in said first position.

2. The bungi cord as claimed in

claim 1, wherein said means for holding said first and second jaws in said first position is a spring.

3. The bungi cord as claimed in

claim 2, wherein said spring is wound around said pivot and has a pair of arms,

one of said pair of arms engaging an outside surface of said first jaw, and

another of said pair of arms engaging an outside surface of said second jaw.

4. The bungi cord as claimed in

claim 1, wherein said first and second jaws have a plurality of teeth positioned on an inside surface of said first and second jaws.