STRETCHABLE FASTENING CORD WITH HOOK AND LOOP STRAP CONNECTOR ENDS

Abstract

A fastening cord includes an elongated elastic member including at least one hook and loop strap connector secured to at least one end of the elongated elastic member. A flexible base material portion attached to an end of a bungee cord, the flexible base material portion adapted to attach Velcro® hook and loop portions thereon. Velcro® hook and loop portions are attached to the flexible base material portion and separated by a flexible gap formed on the flexible base material portion between said Velcro® hook loop portions. A pull tab can be secured to an edge of said flexible base material portion to facilitate user control over said Velcro® hook and loop portions.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is generally related to the field of fasteners and fastening cords used to secure equipment, tie down loads during shipping, and otherwise hold objects in place. More particularly, the present invention is related to a fastening cord in the form of an elongated elastic member resiliently stretchable between first and second member ends (e.g., “bungee” cords, elastic straps, etc.) and utilizing hook and loop fastening materials (i.e., Velcro®) as strap connectors in place of metal hooks typically found at the ends of elongated elastic members resiliently stretchable between first and second member ends.

BACKGROUND

“Hook and loop” fastening material is commonly referred to as “Velcro®”. Velcro® is a trademark owned by Velcro Industries B.V., a Netherlands Limited Liability Company. Velcro® has long been used as a material fastener in association with securing openings or as flaps found on or in association with clothing, furnishings and equipment. The “hook” portion of Velcro® is commonly known for its rigid comb, or teeth-like, texture which is adapted to adhere to complimentary material in the form of soft nylon “loops”. Hooks and loops are typically sewn onto opposite portions of an article of clothing to replace the need for buttons or zippers. Velcro® is a very versatile fastening system that has found its way onto a multitude of products from children's clothing and shoes to its use in commercial fastening applications such as along the openings of a tent or along the edges of a tarp.

Rope and cord have long been used to tie down a load to prevent it from shifting or become loose during shipping, or to prevent a load or equipment in static placement from being disturbed by weather (e.g., wind). Elongated elastic members stretchable between first and second member ends are well known with a common, widely available product that is often referred to as “bungee cord.” Rubber or elastic materials are typically used for the stretchable members often presented in a cord, strap or rope-like fastening system including metallic hooks or metallic hooks coated with various composite materials secured to each end of the stretchable member.

Referring to FIG. 1, labeled as “Prior Art”, a fastening system 100 including typical bungee cord 10 is illustrated, which is available and has been in wide use prior to the present invention is shown. The bungee cord 10 is stretchable, but can also maintain an elastic memory, which keeps the cord at a normal length when not in use. Stretchable bungee cords can keep a continuous tension or force against an object while holding the object during shipment. Other ropes, cables or cords without the elasticity are generally suitable for securing loads, but they cannot always absorb a shift or a change in shape, often encountered with a moving load, without the benefit of elasticity.

Bungee cords currently in use include hard metal hooks 20 and 30 that are firmly secured to each of the bungee cord's ends. The metal hooks 20/30 can be very dangerous if inadvertently released while a bungee cord 10 is being stretched during use. Physical damage to person or property can result from the accidental release of a hook end of a bungee cord. The metal hooks are also prone to slipping or sliding along objects they are attached to during use, which can result in a change in hook position and the possible loosening or loss of a load. The metal end hooks 20/30, although typically covered by plastic or composite material, often terminate at a sharp plastic or composite coated metal point (coatings not shown), are what present the actual hazard to users and secured equipment. The metal hooks, whether plastic or composite coated or not, are hard and have sharp points that can leave unsightly impressions on surfaces (e.g., paint, wood, plastic) of articles, furnishings or equipment that may be tightly secured during shipping by bungee cords in use today.

What is apparently needed is an improved stretchable fastening cord design, a design that includes less dangerous and damaging fasteners at its ends, yet capable of being firmly secured to a variety of hardware when used to secure equipment, furnishings or a load.

The present inventor has developed an improved stretchable fastening cord (e.g., bungee cord) including hook and loop (e.g., Velcro®) fastening material permanently formed as a strap connector at each end of the bungee cord and designed to be secured firmly to a variety of hardware during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following summary of the invention is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the present invention and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the invention can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.

In accordance with features of the present invention, a fastening cord is provided that includes an elongated elastic member including at least one hook and loop strap connector secured to at least one end of the elongated elastic member.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the fastening cord includes an elongated elastic member that may be of varying length and thickness dimension, depending upon the intended use. The elastic cord can also be rounded, flat, oval or square; although round or flat cords would be most common and preferred. The common feature to all such forms of members is that they are all elastic along their lengths. The term “elastic” can be taken to mean flexible, stretchable and/or resilient while under tension.

The elongated elastic member can be formed of a stretchable material such as rubber. The material commonly used for “bungee cords” is preferred and can be supplied in lengths and thickness dimensions according to the need of the user; although other stretchable material such as rubber and elastic straps can be used in the current invention.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a hook and loop connector, including a hook and loop material such as Velcro®, is secured at or to one of the first and second end of the elongated elastic material.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the hook and loop material is provided in the form of Velcro®.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a pull tab is attached to an edge of the hook and loop connector end to provide user control over the hook and loop connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally-similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1, labeled as “Prior Art”, is an illustration of a typically available stretchable cord with metallic hook ends and in use prior to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a hook and loop fastening apparatus including an end portion of an elongated elastic member (e.g., bungee cord) with hook and loop fastener secured at its end, in accordance with features of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative hook and loop fastening apparatus that can be secured at ends of the elongated elastic member (e.g., bungee cord), in accordance with additional features of the present invention;

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate additional features of the hook and loop fastener end that are attachable to elongated elastic members (e.g., bungee cord), in accordance with features of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates additional features of the hook and loop fastener end illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 wherein additional hook and loop portions are located opposite first hook and loop portions;

FIGS. 8A-8B illustrate two separate end sections attached to each other, end-to-end, by matching complimentary hook and loop portions for each hook and loop section and attaching them together;

FIG. 9 illustrates an elongated elastic member including a hook and loop strap connector end wrapped around and secured to hardware;

FIG. 10 illustrates an elongated elastic member including hook and loop material strap connector end wrapped around hardware and secured to the elongated elastic member;

FIG. 11 illustrates a hook and loop system utilized to tie and hold an item (e.g., pipe) down by attaching the hook and loop end sections to fixed hardware located on/with a base/platform; and

FIG. 12 illustrates another view of multiple items being held down to a platform with rails adapted to secure the hook and loop end sections thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates features of a hook and loop fastener 200 connected to an elongated elastic member 10, such as bungee cord. The hook and loop fastener 200 includes a hook portion 60 and a loop portion 70, each having complimentary surfaces operable to become attached to each other during use. A hook and loop fastener 200 can be secured to the end of an elongated elastic member 10 by high strength stitches 80 or other means of known to secure two materials together. A durable, flexible base material portion 50, such as polyester, nylon, or a mix of strong materials known in the art, is secured at an end of the elongated elastic member 10, as shown. The base material should be a flexible material (e.g., nylon fabric base material) that can be wrapped around various hardware and then enable the loop material to be securely attached to the hook material also formed thereon. Alternatively, the elongated elastic member 10 can be wrapped around hardware or equipment and then the hook and loop fastener 200 can be wrapped around and secured to the elongated elastic member 10, which allows for more flexibility when used with target hardware that is of a larger diameter than can be accommodated directly within the fold 90 of the hook and loop fastener 200.

Secured/attached onto the flexible base material portion 50 are at least one loop portion 60 and at least one hook portion 70 that are further spaced by a flexible gap portion 90. The hook and loop material portions 60/70 can be sewn onto the flexible base material 50 by high strength stitches. An optional pull tab 105 can be secured to the edge of the flexible base material 50, as shown in the figure, in order to facilitate user control over the hook and loop fastener 200 during its use.

A hook and loop fastening apparatus can have more than one hook and loop fasteners located on one end of an elastic member. In FIG. 3, a hook and loop fastener 300 including two separate fastening sections such as 310 and 320 and secured to one end of the elongated elastic member 10 is shown. The shown fastener can provided added strength and redundancy when fastened to hardware during use, or can also facilitate fastening to more than one hardware item, or to another hook an loop faster associated with another elongated elastic member as a means to form a web for securing a load or hardware.

As with the single section fastener described in FIG. 2, the hook and loop fastener 300 of FIG. 3 can be sewn onto the end of an elongated elastic member 10, such as bungee cord, with high strength stitching 80. The first fastening section 310 includes a loop portion 160 and a hook portion 170 attached onto a base material 150 and separated by a flexible gap portion 190. A pull tab 115 associated with the first fastening section 310 can be secured to the edge of the flexible base material 150 associated with the first fastening section 310 as shown. The second fastening section 320 includes a loop portion 165 and a hook portion 175 attached onto a base material 155 and separated by a flexible gap portion 195. A pull tab 125 associated with the second fastening section 320 can be secured to the edge of the flexible base material 155 associated with the first fastening section 320 as shown.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate various views of a hook and loop fastener portion 400. FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of the flexible base material 50 including a loop portion 60 that is larger and longer than an associated hook portion 70. The loop and hook portions are separated by a flexible gap portion 90 on the flexible base material 50 and secured to the flexible base material 50. An optional pull tab 105 is also shown attached to the edge of the flexible base material 50 near the hook portion 70.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the hook and loop fastener portion 400 shown in FIG. 4. A durable, flexible material surface 50 serving as the base for the hook 60 and loop 70 material is referenced.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the hook and loop fastener portion 400 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The flexible base material 50 is shown wrapped around the end of the elongated elastic member 10 and secured onto the end by several high strength stitches 80. The loop portion 60 and hook portion 70 are shown separated by a flexible gap 90. Optional tab 105 is shown attached to the edge of the flexible material surface 50.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of a hook and loop fastener portion 500 in accordance with another feature of the present invention. The hook and loop portion 500 is similar to that depicted in FIG. 6 with the addition of a second loop 565 and a second hook portion 575 on the side of flexible base material 550 that is opposite to first loop portion 560 and first hook portions 570. The provision of additional hook and loop portions 565 and 575 can enable, for example, the attachment of additional hook and loop fastener system to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 8A-8B below.

FIGS. 8A-8B illustrate a system 600 wherein two hook and loop fastener portions 610/620 are attached to each other, end-to-end, which can facilitate the use of several hook and loop fastener cords to vary the length of cords that might be needed for various jobs. FIG. 8A depicts a first hook and loop end section 610 facing downwards toward a second hook and loop end section 620 oriented opposite and flipped opposite the first hook and loop end section 610. Arrows shown in-between the section illustrate the direction the two sections would be moved to secure them together. When secured, the two hook and loop end section 610 and 620 are secured together by opposing hook or loop material portions associated with each hook and loop end section. Attachment to each other is possible for the two hook and loop end sections 610/620 because each is rotated 90 degreed and flipped 90 degrees with respect to each other, enabling complimentary hook and loop, loop and hook, portions to be secured to each other with opposing material portions from the other hook and loop end section.

FIG. 9 illustrates a plan view of a hook and loop strap connector 700 attached to an end of an elongated elastic member 10. The hook and loop strap connector 700 is shown wrapped around and secured to hardware 710. The loop portion 60 is shown with the edge of the flexible base material 50 attached thereto. The hook and loop strap connector 700 can be easily detached from the hardware 710 by pulling on the pull tab 105 to remove the hook portion (not shown) from loop portion 60; thereby releasing the connector 700 from the hardware 710.

FIG. 10 illustrates a plan view of a hook and loop strap connector 800 secured to an elongated elastic member 10, the hook and loop connector strap 700 and elongated elastic member 10 surrounding a large diameter piece of hardware 810. The hook and loop strap connector 800 must therefore be attached around the elongated elastic member 10 in order to accommodate the size of hardware 810, which provides flexibility over use of the hook and loop connector strap 700.

FIGS. 11-12 illustrate examples where the hook and loop strap connector system, in accordance with features of the present invention, is used to secure items or a load. Referring to FIG. 11, a large tube 910 is shown sitting on a platform 920. The elongated elastic member 10 is stretched and wrapped around the large tube 950 sitting on a platform 920. The hook and loop end connectors 700 are then secured around to fixed hardware 910 associated with the platform 920. Referring to FIG. 12, another example of using the hook and loop strap connector system 1000 is shown wherein several large tubes 950 sitting on a platform 920 (e.g., flatbed of a truck) are secured to the platform 920 when elongated elastic members 10 are stretched around the load 950 and then the hook and loop strap connectors are secured to hardware 910 associated with two sides of the platform 920 (and also at each side of the load).

The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching without departing from the scope of the following claims. It is contemplated that the use of the present invention can involve components having different characteristics. It is intended that the scope of the present invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects.

Claims

1. A fastening cord, comprising:

an elongated elastic member including first and second ends; and

at least one hook and loop connector located on at least one of said first and second ends of said elongated elastic member.

2. The fastening cord of claim 1, further comprising a flexible base material portion attached to the end of the elongated elastic member and adapted to attach a hook portion and a loop portion separated by a flexible gap onto said flexible base material portion.

3. The fastening cord of claim 1, wherein said at least one hook and loop connector further comprises a flexible base material portion adapted to be wrapped around various hardware during use and adapted to attached a loop portions and a hook portion separated from said loop portion by a flexible gap formed between said hook portion and said loop portion on said flexible base material portion.

4. The fastening cord of claim 1, wherein said hook and said loop material portions are sewn onto said flexible base material.

5. The fastening cord of claim 1, further comprising a pull tab secured to an edge of said flexible base material, said pull tab adapted to facilitate user control over the hook and loop fastener during use.

6. The fastening cord of claim 1, wherein said elongated elastic member further comprises bungee cord.

7. The fastening cord of claim 1, wherein said at least one hook and loop connector further comprises Velcro®.

8. The fastening cord of claim 1, wherein said elongated elastic member further comprises bungee cord and said at least one hook and loop connector further comprises Velcro®.

9. The fastening cord of claim 2, wherein said elongated elastic member further comprises bungee cord and said at least one hook and loop connector further comprises Velcro®.

10. The fastening cord of claim 3, wherein said elongated elastic member further comprises bungee cord and said at least one hook and loop connector further comprises Velcro®.

11. The fastening cord of claim 3, further comprising a pull tab secured to an edge of said flexible base material, said pull tab adapted to facilitate user control over the hook and loop fastener during use.

12. The fastening cord of claim 10, further comprising a pull tab secured to an edge of said flexible base material, said pull tab adapted to facilitate user control over the hook and loop fastener during use.

13. A fastening cord, comprising:

a flexible base material portion attached to an end of an elongated elastic member and adapted to attach a hook portion and a loop portion separated by a flexible gap onto said flexible base material portion; and

a hook portion and a loop portion attached to said flexible base material portion and separated by a flexible gap formed onto said flexible base material portion between said hook portion and said loop portion.

14. The fastening cord of claim 13, wherein said hook and said loop material portions are sewn onto said flexible base material.

15. The fastening cord of claim 13, further comprising a pull tab secured to an edge of said flexible base material, said pull tab adapted to facilitate user control over the hook and loop fastener during use.

16. The fastening cord of claim 13, wherein said elongated elastic member further comprises bungee cord.

17. The fastening cord of claim 13, wherein said at least one hook and loop connector further comprises Velcro®.

18. The fastening cord of claim 13, wherein said elongated elastic member further comprises bungee cord and said at least one hook and loop connector further comprises Velcro®.

19. A fastening cord, comprising:

a flexible base material portion attached to an end of a bungee cord, said flexible base material portion adapted to attach Velcro® hook and loop portions thereon; and

Velcro® hook and loop portions attached to said flexible base material portion and separated by a flexible gap formed on said flexible base material portion between said Velcro® hook loop portions.

20. The fastening cord of claim 19, further comprising a pull tab secured to an edge of said flexible base material portion, said pull tab adapted to facilitate user control over said Velcro® hook and loop portions.