Mounting Straps for Barriers

Abstract

Mounting straps for a barrier are provided. The barriers comprise an intersecting mesh of barrier elements and an outer edge at the perimeter of the barrier. The mounting straps are attachable to the outer edge of the barrier. The mounting straps comprise at least one finished hole and are anchorable frame elements by fastening mounting hardware through one of the mounting strap's finished holes.

Description

This application takes priority from U.S. provisional application 60/969,009 filed Aug. 30, 2007.

BACKGROUND

Barriers are used in many industrial and commercial applications for a variety of purposes. They are often used as barricades to cordon off areas, as safety harnesses on storage racks, etc. The barriers are assembled from barrier elements formed into a mesh or net. The barrier elements are usually straps, ropes or chains, and are made of nylon, polypropylene, cotton, or other material.

SUMMARY

Mounting straps for a barrier are provided. The barriers comprise an intersecting mesh of barrier elements and an outer edge at the perimeter of the barrier. The mounting straps are attachable to the outer edge of the barrier. The mounting straps comprise at least one finished hole and are anchorable to frame elements by fastening mounting hardware through one of the mounting strap's finished holes.

In embodiments in which the mounting straps have two finished holes, each mounting strap is anchorable by wrapping the mounting strap around frame elements, aligning the two finished holes to overlap, and fastening mounting hardware through both aligned finished holes. Alternatively the mounting straps could be fastened to anchoring hardware that is in turn anchored to the frame elements.

Those skilled in the art will realize that this invention is capable of embodiments different from those shown and described herein and that details of the devices and methods can be changed in various manners without departing from the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as including such equivalent embodiments as do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding and appreciation of this invention, and its many advantages, reference will be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a barrier having a plurality of mounting straps attached to all sides of the barrier;

FIG. 2 is a close up view of one mounting strap attached to the barrier shown in FIG. 1 in which the mounting strap has three finished holes;

FIG. 3 is a close up view of the mounting strap shown in FIG. 2 in which the mounting strap is anchored to a slotted frame element with mounting hardware fastened to the mounting strap through one finished hole;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a barrier having a plurality of mounting straps attached to two sides of the barrier in which the barrier is anchored between two vertical slotted frame elements;

FIG. 5 is a close up view of the mounting strap shown in FIG. 2 in which the mounting strap is anchored to a frame element by wrapping the mounting strap around the frame element, aligning the two finished holes to overlap, and fastening mounting hardware through the two aligned finished holes;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a barrier having a plurality of mounting straps attached to one side of the barrier in which the barrier is hanging from a horizontal frame element and the mounting straps are anchored to the frame element by fastening mounting hardware through two finished holes as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a barrier having a plurality of mounting straps attached to three sides of the barrier in which the barrier is anchored to anchoring hardware by fastening mounting hardware through two finished holes, and the anchoring hardware in turn anchored to three sides of a passageway;

FIG. 8A is a close up view of a mounting strap anchored to anchoring hardware that is an eyebolt;

FIG. 8B is a close up view of a mounting strap anchored to anchoring hardware that is an O-ring;

FIG. 8C is a close up view of a mounting strap anchored to anchoring hardware that is a D-ring;

FIG. 8D is a close up view of a mounting strap anchored to anchoring hardware that is a hook;

FIG. 8E is a close up view of a mounting strap anchored to anchoring hardware that is a spring clip;

FIG. 8F is a close up view of a mounting strap anchored to anchoring hardware that is a clamp;

FIG. 8G is a close up view of a mounting strap anchored to anchoring hardware that is a carabineer;

FIG. 9 is a close up of a mounting strap that is stitched to the outer edge of a barrier;

FIG. 10 is a close up of a mounting strap that is riveted to the outer edge of a barrier;

FIG. 11 is a close up of a mounting strap that is bolted to openings in the outer edge of a barrier; and

FIG. 12 is a close up of a mounting strap that is an extension of the barrier elements of a barrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, some of the reference numerals are used to designate the same or corresponding parts through several of the embodiments and figures shown and described. Corresponding parts are denoted in different embodiments with the addition of lowercase letters. Variations of corresponding parts in form or function that are depicted in the figures are described. It will be understood that variations in the embodiments can generally be interchanged without deviating from the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a barrier 10 having a plurality of barrier elements 12 that are arranged into a mesh. The barrier elements 12 shown in FIG. 1 are ropes, but they can be straps, chains, or any other appropriate elements. In any case the barrier elements 12 can be fixed at their overlapping intersections if called for by the particular application. An outer edge 14 is attached to the perimeter of the barrier 10 by stitches, rivets, or other fastening methods. (If the barrier 10 were made of straps, the outer edge 14 can be the outermost straps of the barrier elements 12 of the barrier 10.) A plurality of mounting straps 16 are attached to the outer edge 14. The barrier 10 in FIG. 1 is shown with mounting straps 16 on the perimeter of the barrier 10, but, as demonstrated herein, it will be understood that mounting straps 16 may be installed on any number of sides as required for the particular application. Each mounting strap 16 is attached to the outer edge 14 with fasteners 15. In FIG. 1, the fasteners 15 are stitches, but as shown herein, other methods of attachment are also possible.

As shown in FIG. 2, each mounting strap 16 has at least one finished hole 18 located along its length. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has three finished holes 18 that are reinforced with metal grommets 20. The length of the mounting straps 16 and the number of finished holes 18 can be varied depending on the application or the amount of adjustability required. The mounting strap 16 can be made of nylon, polypropylene, cotton, or other appropriate material.

The mounting straps 16 give users the option of setting up barriers quickly and easily in a variety of ways. For example, FIG. 3 shows a mounting strap 16a anchored directly to a frame element 22a that has openings 24a formed in it. Each mounting strap 16a is anchorable to the frame element 22a by fastening mounting hardware 26a through a finished hole 18a that is aligned with an opening 24a in the frame element 22a. In FIG. 3, the mounting hardware 26a comprises a nut 28a, a bolt 30a and a washer 32a, but other types of hardware can be used as required by the particular application. FIG. 4 shows a barrier 10a having a plurality of mounting straps 16a attached to two sides of the barrier 10a in which the mounting straps 16a are anchored to two vertical frame elements 22a of storage rack 34a. The vertical frame elements 22a have openings 24a to which the finished holes 18a of the mounting straps 16a are aligned and through which mounting hardware 26a is fastened.

The mounting straps can be used to anchor barriers in other ways and for other applications. In FIG. 5 a mounting strap 16b is anchored to a frame element 22b, such as a pole, the support beam of a storage rack, the I-beam of building, etc. The mounting strap 16b is wrapped around the frame element 22b and two finished holes (hidden behind the mounting hardware 26b) are aligned to overlap. Mounting hardware 26b is fastened through the aligned finished holes 18b. In FIG. 5, the mounting hardware 26b comprises a nut 28b, a bolt 30b and a washer 32b, but other types of hardware can be used as required by the particular application. FIG. 6 shows a barrier 10b having a plurality of mounting straps 16b attached to one side of a barrier 10b in which the mounting straps 16b are anchored to a horizontal frame element 22b as described in FIG. 5, above.

As shown in FIG. 7, where mounting straps 16c cannot be wrapped around or anchored directly to support components, the mounting straps 16c of a barrier 10ccan be fastened to anchoring hardware 36c that are in turn anchored to frame elements 22c. In FIG. 7 the barrier 10c has a plurality of mounting straps 16c attached to three sides of the barrier 10c. Each mounting strap 16c has a pair of finished holes (hidden behind the mounting hardware 26c). Each mounting strap is wrapped around anchoring hardware 36c and the finished holes are aligned and fastened to the anchoring hardware 36c with mounting hardware 26c. The anchoring hardware 36c can in turn be anchored to frame elements 22a, in this case the frame of a doorway.

FIGS. 8A-8G show close ups of examples of different kinds of anchoring hardware 36c-i that can be used. The anchoring hardware 36c-i can variously be anchored directly to a surface or be anchored to various other hardware devices (not shown) such as clips, quick clamps, spring clamps, eye-bolts, hooks, etc. FIG. 8A-8G shows a mounting strap 16c-i fastened to anchoring hardware 36c-1 that are an eyebolt, an O-ring, a D-ring, a hook, a spring clip, a clamp, and a carabineer, respectively. Other combinations of mounting hardware are readily apparent.

Mounting straps can be attached to barriers in different ways. FIG. 9 shows a close up of a barrier 10j showing a pair of mounting straps 16j that are attached to the outer edge 14j of the barrier 10j with fasteners 15j that are stitches. FIG. 10 shows a pair of mounting straps 16k attached to the outer edge 14k of a barrier 10k with fasteners 15k that are rivets. FIG. 11 shows a pair of mounting straps 16l attached to a barrier 10l with fasteners 15l that are bolts through openings 38l in the outer edge 14l. The mounting straps can also be extensions of the barrier elements 12m that are secured to the outer edge 14m with fasteners 15m that are stitches as shown in FIG. 12.

This invention has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments. Many modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such alterations and modifications in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents of these claims.

Claims

1. A mounting strap for a barrier, the barrier comprising an intersecting mesh of barrier elements, the barrier having an outer edge at the perimeter of the barrier, the mounting strap comprising:

at least one finished hole,

said mounting strap attachable to the outer edge of the barrier; and

said mounting strap anchorable to a frame element by fastening mounting hardware through one of said at least one finished hole.

2. The mounting strap of claim 1 in which each said finished hole is reinforced with grommets.

3. The mounting strap of claim 1 in which said mounting strap has a plurality of finished holes.

4. The mounting strap of claim 1 further comprising:

two finished holes; and

said mounting strap anchorable by wrapping said mounting strap around the frame element, aligning said two finished holes to overlap, and fastening mounting hardware through both aligned said two finished holes.

5. The mounting strap of claim 1 further comprising:

two finished holes;

said mounting strap anchorable by wrapping said mounting strap around a frame element, aligning said two finished holes to overlap, and fastening mounting hardware through both aligned said two finished holes; and

said frame element is a pole, a beam, a girder, a frame, or a post.

6. The mounting strap of claim 1 further comprising:

two finished holes;

said mounting strap anchorable by wrapping said mounting strap around anchoring hardware, aligning said two finished holes to overlap, and fastening mounting hardware through both aligned said two finished holes; and

each said anchoring hardware archorable to a frame element.

7. The mounting strap of claim 1 further comprising:

each said mounting strap having two finished holes;

each said mounting strap anchorable by wrapping said mounting strap around anchoring hardware, aligning said two finished holes to overlap, and fastening mounting hardware through both aligned said two finished holes;

each said anchoring hardware archorable to a frame element; and

said anchoring hardware is an eyebolt, an O-ring, a D-ring, a hook, a spring clip, a clamp, or a carabineer.

8. The mounting strap of claim 1 in which said mounting hardware comprises a nut and bolt.

9. The mounting strap of claim 1 in which said mounting strap is attached to the outer edge with stitches, bolts, or rivets.

10. The mounting strap of claim 1 in which said mounting strap is an extension of the barrier elements.

11. A barrier comprising:

an intersecting mesh of barrier elements having an outer edge at the perimeter of the barrier,

a plurality of mounting straps attached to at least a portion of said outer edge,

each said mounting strap having at least one finished hole,

each said mounting strap anchorable to a frame element by fastening mounting hardware through at least one of said at least one finished hole.

12. The barrier of claim 11 in which each said barrier elements are ropes, straps or chains.

13. The barrier of claim 11 in which each said finished hole is reinforced with grommets.

14. The barrier of claim 11 in which each said mounting strap has a plurality of finished holes.

15. The barrier of claim 11 further comprising:

each said mounting strap having two finished holes; and

each said mounting strap anchorable to the frame element by wrapping said mounting strap around the frame element, aligning said two finished holes to overlap, and fastening mounting hardware through both aligned said two finished holes.

16. The barrier of claim 11 further comprising:

each said mounting strap having two finished holes;

each said mounting strap anchorable to the frame element by wrapping said mounting strap around the frame element, aligning said two finished holes to overlap, and fastening mounting hardware through both aligned said two finished holes; and

the frame element is a pole, a beam, a girder) a frame, or a post.

17. The barrier of claim 11 further comprising:

each said mounting strap having two finished holes;

each said mounting strap anchorable to the frame element by wrapping said mounting strap around anchoring hardware, aligning said two finished holes to overlap, and fastening mounting hardware through both aligned said two finished holes; and

each said anchoring hardware archorable to the frame element.

18. The barrier of claim 11 further comprising:

each said mounting strap having two finished holes;

each said mounting strap anchorable by wrapping said mounting strap around anchoring hardware, aligning said two finished holes to overlap, and fastening mounting hardware through both aligned said two finished holes;

each said anchoring hardware archorable to a frame element; and

said anchoring hardware is an eyebolt, an O-ring, a D-ring, a hook, a spring clip, a clamp, or a carabineer.

19. The barrier of claim 11 in which said mounting hardware comprises a nut and bolt.

20. The barrier of claim 11 in which said outer edge forms the shape of a polygon and said plurality of mounting straps are located on one side of said outer edge.

21. The barrier of claim 11 in which said outer edge forms the shape of a polygon and said plurality of mounting straps are located on two sides of said outer edge.

22. The barrier of claim 11 in which said outer edge forms the shape of a polygon and said plurality of mounting straps are located on three sides of said outer edge.

23. The barrier of claim 11 in which said outer edge forms the shape of a polygon and said plurality of mounting straps are located on all sides of said outer edge.

24. The barrier of claim 11 in which each said mounting strap is attached to said outer edge of the barrier with stitching, bolts, or rivets.

25. The barrier of claim 11 in which each said mounting strap is an extension of said barrier elements.